A Brief Message from Luther

KJV Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The bold font is verbatim from the WELS congregation in Laveen (Phoenix, Arizona), CrossWalk.

The words of Luther, from the Book of Concord, are in italics.

Studies show that many men—and more and more women too—will not even set foot inside a church today. Way too much of church is boring and irrelevant.

99] Likewise those fastidious spirits are to be reproved who, when they have heard a sermon or two, find it tedious and dull, thinking that they know all that well enough, and need no more instruction. For just that is the sin which has been hitherto reckoned among mortal sins, and is called ajkhdia, i.e., torpor or satiety, a malignant, dangerous plague with which the devil bewitches and deceives the hearts of many, that he may surprise us and secretly withdraw God's Word from us. Large Catechism

1] That Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins, and was raised again for our justification, Rom. 4, 25.

2] And He alone is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world, John 1, 29; and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all, Is. 53, 6.

3] Likewise: All have sinned and are justified without merit [freely, and without their own works or merits] by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood, Rom. 3, 23f

4] Now, since it is necessary to believe this, and it cannot be otherwise acquired or apprehended by any work, law, or merit, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us as St. Paul says, Rom. 3, 28: For we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the Law. Likewise 3, 26: That He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Christ. Smalcald Articles.

Many of us feel like we don't have time. We don't want to be constantly asked for money. And frankly, many of us believe church is for wimps. Beyond all that, the number one reason most of us don't like to go to church is obvious—there are way too many hypocrites there!

We will now return to the Gospel, which not merely in one way gives us counsel and aid against sin; for God is superabundantly rich [and liberal] in His grace [and goodness]. First, through the spoken Word by which the forgiveness of sins is preached [He commands to be preached] in the whole world; which is the peculiar office of the Gospel. Secondly, through Baptism. Thirdly, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar. Fourthly, through the power of the keys, and also through the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren, Matt. 18, 20: Where two or three are gathered together, etc. Smalcald Articles.

If you hate going to church, CrossWalk was built with you in mind.

The Third Commandment.

Thou shalt sanctify the holy-day.

What does this mean?--Answer.

We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it. Small Catechism.

At CrossWalk we're casual in our approach, yet what we have to communicate is extremely serious stuff. We strive to make every message and every service relevant and applicable to real life, as well as excellent in quality. At the same time, you can come to church in your jeans, or your shorts (or even in your jean shorts) and feel perfectly comfortable in one of our services. Grab a cup of coffee and a bagel on your way in and settle in for a high-octane hour of power-learning about God.

100] For let me tell you this, even though you know it perfectly and be already master in all things, still you are daily in the dominion of the devil, who ceases neither day nor night to steal unawares upon you, to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against the foregoing and all the commandments. Therefore you must always have God's Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle, and the Word does not sound, he breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware. 101] On the other hand, such is the efficacy of the Word, whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, that it is bound never to be without fruit, but always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness, and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not inoperative or dead, but creative, living words. 102] And even though no other interest or necessity impel us, yet this ought to urge every one thereunto, because thereby the devil is put to Right and driven away, and, besides, this commandment is fulfilled, and [this exercise in the Word] is more pleasing to God than any work of hypocrisy, however brilliant. Large Catechism.

KJV Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

***

GJ - Our daily cross to bear - those who use cutesy cross titles for their organizations so they can preach a God without wrath sending His Son without a cross into a world without sin. And they call themselves Lutheran, albeit stealthily, covertly, furtively, whispering low in Jerusalem lest they be heard in the streets of Gath. 2 Samuel 1:20.

From the Social Director of the Love Boat

The Love Boat

If you hate going to church, we understand.

Studies show that many men—and more and more women too—will not even set foot inside a church today. Way too much of church is boring and irrelevant. Many of us feel like we don't have time. We don't want to be constantly asked for money. And frankly, many of us believe church is for wimps. Beyond all that, the number one reason most of us don't like to go to church is obvious—there are way too many hypocrites there!

If you hate going to church, CrossWalk was built with you in mind. At CrossWalk we're casual in our approach, yet what we have to communicate is extremely serious stuff. We strive to make every message and every service relevant and applicable to real life, as well as excellent in quality. At the same time, you can come to church in your jeans, or your shorts (or even in your jean shorts) and feel perfectly comfortable in one of our services. Grab a cup of coffee and a bagel on your way in and settle in for a high-octane hour of power-learning about God.

The early Christians were not lambs. They were lions—take-charge people who risked everything they had to serve God. They fought valiantly for their faith in God. They spoke their minds and stepped on toes, especially the toes of the religious establishment. They were true leaders—tough guys and gals who were both feared and respected in their communities. They weren't always "saintly," but they had an intense commitment to God and to his message. That's the kind of church CrossWalk is striving to become.

If you're looking for a church that will—

Meet you wherever you're at
Engage you where your soul meets real life
Teach you, not preach at you
Help you really deeply understand what's in the Bible
Challenge you to whole-hearted faith in God
And do all of that in a way that's not wimpy or hypocritical
—then, we challenge you to check out CrossWalk! You won't go away disappointed. That's our promise.


New Residents

Are you brand new to the Laveen and South Mountain Village communities?
CrossWalk is built for you. We have great people who can help you get plugged in and connect with your neighbors. We're a church that's passionate about our community. If you're new to Laveen and South Mountain Village, and trying to get your feet on the ground, join us this coming Sunday at CrossWalk. When you get here, just ask for Melody, our community resource guru, and she'll get you the info to find the services you're looking for.

If you can't wait until Sunday, and need information about your community today, call us at the CrossWalk office (602) 304-0072, and we'll help you find directions to what you need. Here are some great websites and phone numbers to help you get connected.

Community
Laveen Community Website - www.laveen.org
South Mountain - Laveen Chamber of Commerce - http://www.phoenixchamber.com/smlc/Index/

Schools
Arizona Lutheran Academy - Christian High School Education - www.alacoyotes.org, Ph: (602) 268-8686

Emmanuel Lutheran School - Christian Elementary School Education - http://www.elstempe.org, Ph: (480) 967-3991

Eagle College Prep - K-3 Elementary Charter School - www.eagleprep.org, Ph: (602) 672-2007

Laveen Elementary School District - K-8 Elementary Public Education http://www.laveeneld.org, Ph: (602) 237-7040
Roosevelt Elementary School District - K-8 Elementary Public Education http://www.rsd.k12.az.us, Ph: (602) 243-4800

***

GJ - Why would anyone favor the incense of Eastern Orthodox worship over the community resource guru of CrossWalk?

Mrs. Ichabod is motioning to me.

"Felt needs," she says.

Now I remember. If a church (dare we call it that?) appeals to the felt needs of a community, then people will stay for the Gospel.

But, if the message on the website is so attenuated that the Word of God is hidden away, then when will the efficacious Gospel be allowed to work?

KJV 1 Corinthians 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

Triglotta at NPH

Texas Pastor has left a new comment on your post "Timotheus Verinus":

Northwestern Publishing House's online cataglog (sic) does offer the Triglotta on DVD for $50 including the Historical Introductions.

***

GJ - Yup, he is a WELS pastor. Or he is using the phonetic Norwegian spelling for catalogue.

I am pleased that they are offering the Triglotta on a CD. I am inclined to order it myself. When I get it, I will publish a review on how it works. I am hoping that it makes searching, copying and pasting easy.

The Tappert is easier to carry but not as lethal against bugs. One swat with the Triglotta can take out small mammals. I do not fuss about Tappert being not so good. Tappert is better than no Book of Concord at all.

Bente's Introductions are great. There are many older publications that, by themselves, outshine the entire lifetime production of all the Lutheran Church Growth experts.

Borrowing from Luther, my favorite humorist - The Lutheran CG experts teach against the effectiveness of the Word, but they fill the world with all their words. If the Word is so ineffective, why do we need so much of their word?

Paul Kelm - take note.

---

Texas Pastor has left a new comment on your post "Triglotta at NPH":

"cataglog"?!?!?! "cataglog"!?!?!?!

("Sedagive??!?!?! Sedagive?!?!!? --Obligatory "Young Frankenstein" reference)

Argh!!!!!

Many thousands of apologies for such a silly slip of the fingers...that's what I get for commenting too late at night and not proofreading...that bothers me so much because I can't even explain it away by neighboring keys! Argh!

But at least NPH DOES have the Triglotta (and you can still get the printed version at the bookstores at MLC and the Seminary). It's even possible that they have printed versions available to order if you call NPH. That's happened to me before when I order things and ask about other things. Items not in the catalog (or catalogue) are sometimes still available. Why they aren't in the catalog (catalogue), I have no earthly idea.

Though, you are correct, an electronic Triglotta does not replace the fun of the massive hard copy that doesn't fit in any bookbag or briefcase known to man. I'm sure I wouldn't have been allowed to bring my Triglotta to jury duty last week as it would most likely be considered something "that could be a weapon."

Timotheus Verinus

Spener began Pietism with his Pious Wishes essay, which was a long introduction to an orthodox book. Nice piggy-back, PJ.

From a WELS layman:

I don't know if the book advertised in the link has been a staple at NPH. It is The Complete Timotheus Verinus, advertised as a refutation of Pietism.

I think I see more doctrinally-square books on the pastoral list. Then, again, I haven't looked for a couple of years, and it's hard to tell from the listings in many cases.

Timotheus Verinus

Translated into English for the first time, this an essential work for those studying the orthodox Lutheran response to Pietism. Author, Valentin Ernst Loescher (1673-1749), the most capable opponent to the Pietists, was moderate and patient during the bitter conflict that divided German Lutheran. The two parts of this book are his defense of Orthodoxy against the violent attacks of the Halle theologian. Part one -- systematic presentation of pietistic theology and Loescher's evaluation of it. Part two -- response to a Pietist refutation of Part one, and makes a plea for honesty in the judgments of embroiled theologians. In sum, these volumes represent the only complete and mature analysis of Pietism by someone who experienced it firsthand. Part One (1718) is translated by James L. Langebartels and Part Two (1721) by Robert J. Koester. Hardcover. Size, 8 5/8 x 11 1/4 inches. 488 pages. Published 1998.

NPH is not selling the Triglotta, only the Tappert.

Someone wrote, so I don't have to:

PIETISM,

which stems from a tendency to deemphasize doctrine and to emphasize the personal spiritual life of believers, grew out of a reaction to what was seen as dead, academic orthodoxy in the late 16th and early 17th centuries in Lutheran Germany. It became a problem for the church after the publication in 1675 of a tract entitled Pia Desideria, by the renowned Philipp Jacob Spener.

Valentin Ernst Loescher was one of the last of the orthodox theologians. He was born just two years before Spener's tract was published, and thus grew up in a sea of pietistic sentiment and teaching in the German church. By the time he had found his theological voice, Pietism was in full flower. As a result, his very moderate criticism of the movement got him censured by the Powers That Be, in this case the theologicans at the University of Halle. His response to this was to publish a series of newsletters and columns whose aim was to expose the errors of Pietism and restore the proper balance to the church. These have been collected in a volume entitled The Complete Timotheus Verinus, (Northwestern Publishing House) which means the true Timothy.

Loescher's approach to the issues is instructive. Rather than publish a caustic polemic against the Pietists, his approach was above all objective and quietly firm. He first began by describing the classic heresies of Arianism and Crypto-Calvinism, going into great historical detail as a means of sensitizing the reader to the fine little details wherein the devil ever-so-slightly twists the truth. In so doing, one is prepared to investigate the little details--which Loescher quickly emphasizes are much less in error than Arianism--which comprise the Pietist approach to Christianity.

Next, Loescher writes about the seed of this religious evil. Here is where he gets personal. Now tell me which of THESE you identify with:


"...This seed exists in the following heart malignities, which are a part of original sin, and have their full force and activity in unbelief.

1. In the contempt and disregard of the arrangement prescribed, or at least advised by God. For example, Naaman despised the sevenfold washing in the Jordan which the man of God had ordered for him (2Ki 5:11, 12). The human heart, according to its sinful birth, is permeated with this desire to know and to want everything better, holier, stronger than God has orderd it, or than it can be...The Holy Spirit calls those infected in that way, those who are free from order [See Thes. 5:14].
   
2. In the so-called perfectionism. In this state of mind the man wants to know, have or do perfectly (from the residue of the damnable longing of our first parents,when they wanted to be like God), with fixed standard, restriction, and precaution, what he can only know, have, or do by himself as bungled work. This finally ends in a fanatical independence in everything.
   
3. In lavishing the mental powers on one matter, while forgetting and neglecting other matters, on which one oght to lavish as much, if not more, mental powers. E.g., the fruits of the sanctified life are urged so much that we think less of and at last even forget the means and support of our salvation.
   
4. In unlimited love for secret, peculiar, and lofty things. This usually degenerates into mysticism and the like evils, or even into the expectation and longing for great things and world transformations. From this, millenialism arises.
   
5. In mixing the powers of soul and spirit, i.e., our own moderate inclinations and the divine impulse in us. From this, the so-called rigidism usually arises in earnest minds.
   
6. In the excessive freedom which one allows to the power of the imagination, from which finally comes the rule of fantasy, which is the mother of enthusiasm.
   
7. In the confusion of the things which ought to be grasped and treated distinctly. This confusion adheres strongly and commonly among men. Such rudeness, if we know and examine ourselves correctly, is in all our hearts,and is the real seed from which the so-called pietism grows, the disorderly and dangerous attitude in the impulse to godliness.

Loescher p. 11-12.

***

GJ - I bought my copy a long time ago and enjoyed it. This book is not easy reading, but the parallels to Church Growth excitement, falsehoods, and divisiveness are staggering. Any reader can substitute CG cellgroups for the groups described here and the observations will be just as germane.

I commend the translators - quite a job. Now the ministerium needs to apply the lessons and not just hint at the problems. I see a lot of positive beginnings already.

The phrase is Contend for the Faith, not Contented with the Synod.

Faith vs Fear

Run! run! They didn't grow up in Waukesha,
or study at Watertown, or go to New Ulm. Faster!

Some people from WELS expect a creature to burst from my stomach and skitter into a corner, only to start multiplying, like those from the movie franchise Alien, Aliens, Alien Cubed, and Alien Resurrection.

However, others in WELS are not like that at all. The difference may be explained by faith in the Word and confidence in Biblical doctrine. The opposite of faith is fear.

Sectarians teach their disciples to fear anything different from the template issued by Holy Mother Synod. To stoke this fear, they engage the grapevine in spreading scary stories that make the Alien franchise look tame.

To make matters worse, these law-mongers teach people to trust in themselves, to emphasize their talents, merits, social skills, and DNA. Any teaching of the law alone--but especially man-made law--makes people more timid. Man-made law makes people afraid they are not good enough, and the law-mongers enforce that feeling by providing law solutions for their victims.

[woman in travail] "The woman is here in such a state of mind that she is fearful of great danger, and yet she knows that the whole work lies in the hands of God; in Him she trusts; upon Him it is she depends; He also helps her and accomplishes the work, which the whole world could not do, and she thinks of nothing but the time that shall follow, when she shall again rejoice; and her heart feels and says, A dangerous hour is at hand, but afterwards it will be well. Courage and the heart press through all obstacles. Thus it will also be with you, when you are in sorrow and adversity, and when you become new creatures. Only quietly wait and permit God to work. He will accomplish everything without your assistance."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed. John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 81. Third Sunday after Easter John 16:16-23

Improbability Drive on Max

One long-time friend wrote, "Have you seen the blog Bailing Water?" I suppose so. I mention it frequently. I asked him if he had seen mine.

I talked to some blog readers today. There is definitely an effort to tell me that Church Growth is no longer the cat's meow in WELS. We all seem to agree with C. Peter Wagner, whose only correct statement has long been ignored by WELS, Missouri, and ELCA: "Church Growth principles do not work."

Who is going to say now that I never agreed with a single Church Growth expert? David Valleskey used to say in a huff, "They are Christians. We can learn from them, too." I learned this one pearl of wisdom from C. Peter Wager: "Church Growth principles do not work." He was quoted saying that in Christianity Today, that journal of middle-of-the-road generic Protestantism.

The question is - what works? The Biblical answer is - preaching and teaching the Word work, because the Holy Spirit is never divorced from the Word. The Greek word for effective or efficacious could easily be translated as - it works.

A businessman says, "What are your numbers?"

The Word of God asks, "Do you trust God's Word enough to be faithful and let Him work His will in His time?"

My favorite satire book, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, has a space ship with an improbability drive. Every so often, something completely improbable happens, such as being injected into the vacuum of space and being picked up at the exact same moment by a spaceship, The Heart of Gold. All the expected things do not happen because of this improbability.

Flopsweat Dripping from Church Growth Brows

I predict increasing howls of protests from the WELS apostates, more frantic efforts to put the brakes on the study of Lutheran doctrine. The volume of screeching is directly related to their panic at losing power.

When Church Growth was seizing control in WELS, the Enthusiasts were quiet and confident.

The Kelm/Parlow message to Rick Johnson's blog was a public way of saying, "We are big and strong." That is a sign of weakness. Gathering people around a Deformed-marketing model and bragging up the numbers is another sign of weakness. Herding more people into apostasy is not success. Fidelity to the Word is success.

Everything exposed on Bailing Water and Ichabod has been tucked away or changed. If they really believed they were in harmony with Lutheran doctrine and practice, they would not hide their gushy Sweet reviews, catastrophic offering reports, life coach positions, plagiarized sermons, etc.

These Baptist-Pentecostal tidbits disappear overnight, so that means the blog-minders are reading BW and Ichabod, notifying each other, and changing their websites or blogs at once.

Blessed by Kelm/Parlow

An actual church sign created by Church Sign Generator


Posted at Pastor Rick's WELS CG Blog

Anonymous said...

Pr. Johnson,

Thanks for your insights and work. There are more who support your position than you know. I am thankful that our church (offers both styles) continues to reach more and more people with the Means. More and more babies baptized, adult confirmations continue to increase, Bible classes multiply, the Lord's Supper offered every weekend. To God be the glory!

Blessed at St. Mark - De Pere

***

GJ - It must be that yakkity-yak sax at Crown of Life, Corona, California.

Pennsylvania asked me to predict the future of WELS.

I said, "In five years, if nothing is done, there won't be a WELS. The Church Growth congregations are training people to be Baptist-Pentecostal. Eventually the members and pastors who like Church Growth will join the sects that do it better. Meanwhile, the ones fleeing Church Growth will join Rome or Eastern Orthodoxy."

I also said, "If anyone pushes Kelm or Parlow about being Lutheran, they can pack up and join Missouri, where Kieschnick would welcome them."

The Deformed-Lutheran union congregations of the 19th century all went Deformed eventually. They are United Church of Christ (all the religions the same) today. A few congregations let the Deformed and Masons leave. Some of them welcomed the Deformed back via the Church Growth Movement. The LCA (now ELCA) did that in another way, breaking up the old union congregations in Pennsylvania (in the name of the Confessions), then creating new ones much later in the name of ecumenism.

Church Growth pastors are not Lutheran, except sometimes by accident of membership. They are Deformed. Many end up like Marryin' Sam, Mark Freier, who gladly performs the marriages of Hindus and Atheists. (Question: Does Mark bless the suttee ceremony, when the dead husband is cremated and the wife is tossed on the flames, to honor him?)

The cutting edge of Church Growth in WELS bows to the image of Leonard Sweet. They love his books, study his malarkey, and invite him to teach them the Word.

---

A Word from Our Sponsor:

91] For the Word of God is the sanctuary above all sanctuaries, yea, the only one which we Christians know and have. For though we had the bones of all the saints or all holy and consecrated garments upon a heap, still that would help us nothing; for all that is a dead thing which can sanctify nobody. But God's Word is the treasure which sanctifies everything, and by which even all the saints themselves were sanctified. At whatever hour, then, God's Word is taught, preached, heard, read or meditated upon, there the person, day, and work are sanctified thereby, not because of the external work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all. 92] Therefore I constantly say that all our life and work must be ordered according to God's Word, if it is to be God-pleasing or holy. Where this is done, this commandment is in force and being fulfilled.

100] For let me tell you this, even though you know it perfectly and be already master in all things, still you are daily in the dominion of the devil, who ceases neither day nor night to steal unawares upon you, to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against the foregoing and all the commandments. Therefore you must always have God's Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle, and the Word does not sound, he breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware. 101] On the other hand, such is the efficacy of the Word, whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, that it is bound never to be without fruit, but always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness, and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not inoperative or dead, but creative, living words. 102] And even though no other interest or necessity impel us, yet this ought to urge every one thereunto, because thereby the devil is put to Right and driven away, and, besides, this commandment is fulfilled, and [this exercise in the Word] is more pleasing to God than any work of hypocrisy, however brilliant.

Martin Luther, Large Catechism, Third Commandment, The Book of Concord

Babies Are Good News

However the presidential campaign turns out this year, one thing will be different. Americans have never seen such a positive emphasis on babies.

Sarah Palin had her fifth child, knowing the baby boy had Down's Syndrome. Thirty years ago, doctors were saying to parents, "We can test the baby, just in case, you know..." The campaign will do a lot to emphasize how parents have accepted, loved, even adored their special children. Down's Syndrome children are the most lovable of all children. God gives handicapped children a special quotient of charm and special characteristics, to make up for the extra challenges. The difficulties are a shock at first, but parents learn to love the child especially, not in spite of, but because of those qualities, the combination of difficulties and unique blessings.

The Palin's oldest daughter jumped the gun and started a family early. Having the baby and getting married are two great testimonies in an age of convenience and destruction. Our Pharisaical prudery makes it easy for people to take the easy way out. The grandchild is being given a chance to live, to love and be loved. The path is not easy for any of the Palins, in the glare of national publicity.

Meanwhile, the Left rages. I am not surprised. Years ago, before Clinton, I witnessed conservative pastors defending and lying for a clergy sex offender while attacking those who happened to be ill. People like that dig their own holes and never see it is getting darker and darker where they dwell and delve.

Leonard Sweet Disciple - On WELS Worship Wars

Leonard Sweet: "That's my boy."

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Worship Wars, by Pastor Rick Johnson, WELS

Lately I've been reading the discussion on another blog about worship in Lutheran churches. The title of the first blog post that sparked the discussion was "Worship Wars in the WELS." Some of the posts are thoughtful and thought provoking, even if I have reached a different conclusion. Some of the posts reflect an attitude that seems to be, "if only I present my way of thinking with enough force, make unsubstantiated and often times false accusations and resort to sarcasm, I win the day." [GJ - Straw Man fallacy alert] Most of the posters believe that traditional worship using traditional liturgy is the only way in which Lutherans can and should worship. Some even go so far as to state that those who offer other worship styles such as contemporary are not really Lutherans or at the very best, suspect in their theology. [GJ - Straw Man fallacy alert] It comes very close to making a New Testament ceremonial law. [GJ - Straw Man fallacy alert] As one brother pastor put it, their argument is the "dirty dog" argument. There is no New Testament law regarding worship but "you're a dirty dog if you don't do it my way." [GJ - Straw Man fallacy alert] A few have expressed the belief that when it comes to worship in our church body, it's "my way or the highway." [GJ - Straw Man fallacy alert] They would rather see the Synod be divided than allow that other churches have the Christian freedom to select a worship style of which they do not approve even if they know nothing about the ministry context of those churches and probably will never worship there. [GJ - Straw Man in a run-on sentence]

Here's my take.
1. It seems that the "worship wars" are only being fought by one side. Churches such as Crown of Life that offer worship choices to members and visitors are not fighting the worship wars. We understand that in Christian freedom, we are able to be flexible in how we proclaim the Gospel. In order to get people before the Word, if we have to do it in a different language, so be it; if using visuals, so be it; if a more contemporary musical style, so be it. The harsh words, judging hearts and fighting the worship wars is coming only from the side of those who see no other way but their way. The worship warriors are fighting but they are all alone in the battle. Is it really a war if there are not two sides fighting?
2. God is his mercy and grace is bringing new worshipers to our church in both the traditional service and the contemporary service. He is honored in both services. The Word is preached. The Sacraments are administered. The Holy Spirit is working through His means. All of this in both services. Last Sunday, one member who sometimes worships at the traditional service and sometimes at the contemporary service told me, "I love how the same Jesus Christ is preached at both our services."
3. I am thankful that at Crown of Life, we do not have worship wars. Most of our worshipers attend the same service, be it traditional or contemporary, whether out of personal preference for the style, force of habit or just because they like the service time. New people show up at both. However, thank God that we are blessed with no rancor about personal preferences couched theological arguments.

As an aside, I am also thankful that especially our contemporary service provides an opportunity for many Christians to use their gifts and talents to serve God and their brothers and sisters. Last Sunday, the band included a high school sophomore on bass who has been playing now for almost a year and a junior high student singing for her first time. A lead guitarist in his fifties plays with one of our bands. High school students, college students, young adults and adults in their prime (how I like to describe middle age) also play. There are young adults who run the sound, videos and lights. We are blessed with keyboardists, guitar players, drummers, singers and even a sax player. While I would love to have a piano player or organist to play at our early service (we used to have two but they both moved to different cities), I believe that the organ or piano is not the only God-pleasing musical instrument.

***

GJ - I believe Rick Johnson is talking about Bailing Water, where another Church Growth advocate is making fun of the historical liturgy and those who favor worship based on the efficacy of the Means of Grace.

Ichabodians may remember Johnson as the pastor who removed a gushing mention of the latest Leonard Sweet book from his blog (without mentioned that fact) while complaining I discussed his published offering figures.

He said it was "unclassy" to mention his offerings.

RJ said it was "unclassy" to publish them in the first place.

At another WELS Church Growth site, the sermons went from being plagiarized, to being plagiarized and footnoted, to being removed from the website altogether. Printed copies are now available in a plain brown wrapper at an undisclosed location.

Readers will notice the typical WELS argument that everything is an adiaphoron, a matter of indifference. If so, then why does Rick Johnson use the Straw Man logical fallacy to argue against traditional worship? A Straw Man fallacy constructs a parody of the other position and then attacks the parody. Voila. What brilliance. As I often tell my college classes, a Straw Man argument only convinces the people who agree. Using the Straw Man is a sign of intellectual weakness.

As Augustine noted a few centuries ago, error progresses through three stages:
1. We have a right to be heard.
2. We deserve an equal voice.
3. We will not tolerate any opposition.

Pastor Rick is proud of his contemporary services. I, for one, would be happy to have a saxophone honking his way through the Gloria in Excelsis. But why not substitute "Morning Has Broken" for the Gloria? A good recessional would be "Time To Say Goodbye" with Cousin Brunhilda belting out the high notes.

Lutherans wonder why the Eastern Orthodox services are filling up with their former members. I have been at a few Greek Orthodox services. Nobody played the sax or snare drums.

A Moment for the His-tory Books

Watch this video.

Warning. Try not to laugh while enjoying that snack at the computer.

Bente Introductions Here

Martin Chemnitz, Chief Editor of the Book of Concord, 1580

Eric Gutz has posted a comment: The Bente Historical Introductions to the Book of Concord can be found here:

http://www.bookofconcord.org/historicalintros.html

You can find the whole Book of Concord here:

http://www.bookofconcord.org.

What if they had a free conference where the greatest Lutheran theologians in history all gave presentations? I believe the attendance would be even greater than having the Church and Change boys invite Waldo Werning and Leonard Sweet.

The Book of Concord is that conference, starring:

1. Martin Luther (Small Catechism, Large Catechism, Smalcald Articles).
   
2. Philip Melanchthon (Augsburg Confession, Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Treatise on the Pope).
   
3. Martin Chemnitz (Formula of Concord writer, Book of Concord chief editor).
   
4. Jacob Andreae (Book of Concord instigator and editor).
   
5. David Chytraeus (Book of Concord editor, Formula of Concord writer).

Apart from J. Gerhard, who came along later, the men listed above are the greatest Christian theologians who have taught the Word. Gerhard was almost completely unavailable to English readers until recently. Jack Preus (not alone) made Chemnitz available and also wrote a fine biography of The Second Martin. Chytraeus is now available too.

Someone wrote, "Why are you the only person quoting Chytraeus?" Answer - Because I am one of the few who reads the great theologians. The rest are getting their copies of Sweet, Maxwell, Hunter, and Werning signed. That does not make me superior: it means the others are lazy, deserving to be "deprived of food, baited by dogs, driven out of town, and pelted with manure." (From the Large Catechism, but you knew that already)

---

Brian P Westgate has left a new comment on your post "This Brief BoC Section Destroys the Crypto-Calvini...":

Bente is sold in a separate volume at both the WLS and CTSFW bookstores, and it's still published by CPH.

***

GJ - That is good news. Is it bought and read? The Surrendered Fort is not exactly a bastion of Lutheran doctrine.

This Brief BoC Section Destroys the Crypto-Calvinist Church Growthers

One must properly distinguish the cat from the dog.

Book of Concord, Smalcald Articles. VIII. Of Confession

3] And in those things which concern the spoken, outward Word, we must firmly hold that God grants His Spirit or grace to no one, except through or with the preceding outward Word, in order that we may [thus] be protected against the enthusiasts, i.e., spirits who boast that they have the Spirit without and before the Word, and accordingly judge Scripture or the spoken Word, and explain and stretch it at their pleasure, as Muenzer did, and many still do at the present day, who wish to be acute judges between the Spirit and the letter, and yet know not what they say or declare. 4] For [indeed] the Papacy also is nothing but sheer enthusiasm, by which the Pope boasts that all rights exist in the shrine of his heart, and whatever he decides and commands with [in] his church is spirit and right, even though it is above and contrary to Scripture and the spoken Word.

5] All this is the old devil and old serpent, who also converted Adam and Eve into enthusiasts, and led them from the outward Word of God to spiritualizing and self-conceit, and nevertheless he accomplished this through other outward words. 6] Just as also our enthusiasts [at the present day] condemn the outward Word, and nevertheless they themselves are not silent, but they fill the world with their pratings and writings, as though, indeed, the Spirit could not come through the writings and spoken word of the apostles, but [first] through their writings and words he must come. Why [then] do not they also omit their own sermons and writings, until the Spirit Himself come to men, without their writings and before them, as they boast that He has come into them without the preaching of the Scriptures? But of these matters there is not time now to dispute at greater length; we have elsewhere sufficiently urged this subject.

9] In a word, enthusiasm inheres in Adam and his children from the beginning [from the first fall] to the end of the world, [its poison] having been implanted and infused into them by the old dragon, and is the origin, power [life], and strength of all heresy, especially of that of the Papacy and Mahomet. 10] Therefore we ought and must constantly maintain this point, that God does not wish to deal with us otherwise than through the spoken Word and the Sacraments. 11] It is the devil himself whatsoever is extolled as Spirit without the Word and Sacraments. For God wished to appear even to Moses through the burning bush and spoken Word; and no prophet neither Elijah nor Elisha, received the Spirit without the Ten Commandments [or spoken Word]. 12] Neither was John the Baptist conceived without the preceding word of Gabriel, nor did he leap in his mother's womb without the voice of Mary. 13] And Peter says, 2 Pet. 1, 21: The prophecy came not by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Without the outward Word, however, they were not holy, much less would the Holy Ghost have moved them to speak when they still were unholy [or profane]; for they were holy, says he, since the Holy Ghost spake through them.

---

GJ - Several people have mentioned the close connection between the Crypto-Calvinists described in Bente (Concordia Triglotta, Historical Introductions) and the Church Growthers. I noticed Paul McCain, MDiv, trying to sell his CPH Concordia cheap. I did not see any reference to Bente's Introductions. James Heiser, MDiv, another graduate of The Surrendered Fort, expressed a loathing for Bente. Now Missouri has safely buried the work. To get one, someone needs to hover around used book sales or find a Triglotta.

I am glad these two Lutherans mentioned the Crypto-Calvinists and Church Growth, because I made the same point some time ago. I am pleased at how obvious this is to anyone who reads the history of the post-Luther era, a time few people study or know.

The post-Luther era gave us the Book of Concord, thanks to the unraveling of the Lutherans into many different factions. The Book of Concord united the factions by condemning false doctrine and teaching sound doctrine from the Scriptures. Both are necessary.

After Luther died, the Crypto-Calvinists took over completely and pretended they were the real Lutherans. They got the Elector to persecute the genuine Lutherans while advancing their pals who hated Luther's doctrine. The Cryptos were liars and sneaks. They plotted their moves. One of their letters got into the hands of the Elector by mistake. He had the power to search the dwellings of the Cryptos. Plenty of evidence showed up. The tables were turned.

The same movement has taken place in all the Lutheran synods, big and small, from the lavender ELCA to the incestuous CLC (sic). In every case, the Crypto-Calvinist Church Growthers have claimed to be Lutheran, protested their methods were neutral, and actively persecuted the genuine Lutherans.

They quietly placed their buddies in positions of power. The turtles are not decorating the fenceposts by accident. Some details:

1. All the world mission leaders became CG.
   
2. All the American mission leaders became CG.
   
3. Evangelism was defined purely from CG books, especially the Crypto-Calvinist Hunter, Werning, and Valleskey books.
   
4. Significant bureaucratic positions were handed to Cryptos.
   
5. The seminaries--all of them--taught CG. Kincaid Smith got his DMin in Church Growth while Robert Preus was president of The Surrendered Fort.
   
6. The district popes were patiently taught that CG was good, Lutheran, and necessary because "We are wetting our pants in terror over our future loss of membership and money! Don't let critics get in the way! Mow them down!"
   
7. The periodicals and conferences were given over to promoting CG.
   
8. People like Valleskey became seminary president by promoting CG while denying it. No one got anywhere criticizing CG.
   
9. The CG people all promoted each other's writing, defended each other's honor, and rose in a chorus of Anathema Sit anyone who dissented from their Gospel-drenched and Spirit-anointed mission.

The get-along go-along Boomers are the worst advocates of this slimy campaign. The Love Shack in WELS is full of Church Growthers. Ditto the Purple Palace, because Al Barry and Paul McCain did nothing against Crypto-Calvinism. The Little Shack on the Prairie (ELS) has also sheltered and promoted CG. I found out (no suprise) that Norm Berg, the Fuller-trained WELS guy, knew Mac Minnick the Fuller-trained ELCA missions leader. How did they know each other so well? How could they spout the same inanities so fluently? They studied at the same school in Pasadena, the Great Sewer of Protestantism today.

Here is one little anecdote from WELS days, so illustrative of they way these things work. I was invited to give a paper to another conference, in Michigan proper. I was in Ohio at the time. I think it was the Northern Conference. Frosty Bivens was still in Saginaw. John Seifert was still a lowly parish pastor. Slick Brenner was retired but still active in all discussions. District Pope Mueller, guardian of the Cryptos, was present.

I mentioned in the paper that Paul Kelm endorsed a pan-Lutheran program being led by Kent Hunter (DMin, Fuller). Kelm was at the Love Shack at the time.

The first question was, "Do you have proof?" I quoted Kelm and cited the pamphlet sent to me. Doubtless everyone had the same pamphlet. I was prepared, carrying the the thing in my briefcase.

I passed the ipsissima verba of Kelm around.

Next question, "How do you know Kelm really said this, that he meant to endorse this? It could have been an accident?"

Bivens, who lated confessed and denied that he studied at Fuller, rose to speak: "I want to defend the good name of Paul Kelm." In other words, he was accusing me of slandering Kelm.

A hub-bub followed, more about me daring to quote Kelm verbatim than what Kelm actually wrote. Slick Brenner loudly mentioned that every time Kelm got into a mess like this, "It was an accident." Church Growthers really hated Brenner, who said what he meant instead of trying to be a chameleon.

Later, I spoke with Kent Hunter on the phone. He said he requested the endorsement from Kelm and got it. Even later, James Huebner (now a mucky-muck, another turtle on the fencepost) admitted that he, Kelm, and Olson (DMin, Fuller) were all trained at Fuller to be WELS Church Consultants.

Kelm earned his DMin at Concordia, St. Louis - in Church Growth.

Fellow Boomers - you let the Cryptos take over your synod. You stood around and dithered, cracked a few jokes during the coffee break, and ran for cover whenever a serious topic came up. Let's face it. Your methods worked well for you. You got to pose as Confessional Lutherans while suffering no harm and moving up the ladder.

You Boomers must accept a lot of the blame for the laity and clergy seeking shelter in the Church of Rome and Eastern Orthodoxy. They find no arguments against women usurping authority and teaching men in their own synods. They hear no statements against the absurd worship practices and false doctrine of the Cryptos. They are tired of the verbal abuse and shunning that comes from bringing up serious topics.

The answer is Lutheran doctrine. If someone heads for Chicago from Columbus and takes I-75 South, somewhere he is going to have to say:
1. I am headed the wrong way.
2. I need to read a map and find the right directions.

The Word of God is the map. The Book of Concord is the finest commentary, the best and clearest exposition of the Scriptures. The Book of Concord is even better than Your Church Can Grow! yy C. Peter Wagner, one of many books of false doctrine endorsed by Sausage Factory president Valleskey, who did/did not study at Fuller.

Strange Stirrings in WELS

Lord of the Rings image: Sauron, in Pasadena, searching for the Word-bearer, hoping to end the quest.

Several laymen in WELS alerted me to the new presidium in the Arizona-California district. Here is the new lineup:

District Presidium
President Rev. Jon Buchholz
First Vice President Rev. Steven Degner
Second Vice President Rev. Snowden Sims
Secretary Rev. David Clark

Circuit Pastors
Apache Conference
Apache Circuit Rev. Dan Rautenberg

Black Canyon Conference
Grand Canyon Circuit Rev. Dave Karow
Metro East Circuit Rev. Stephen Luchterhand
Metro West Circuit Rev. John Sprain
Superstition Mountain Circuit Rev. Steven Wagenknecht

Northern California Conference
Golden Gate Circuit Rev. Paul Mueller
Sierra Circuit Rev. Ron Waterstradt

Southern California Conference
Las Vegas Circuit Rev. Donald Pieper
Los Angeles Circuit Rev. Jim Proeber
Mountain View Circuit Rev. David Salinas
San Diego Circuit Rev. H. Curtis Lyon

Gadsden Conference
Rio Grande Circuit Rev. George Swanson
Saguaro Circuit Rev. Ronald Koehler III
Chiricahua Circuit Rev. Steven Spencer

I found a document download page, which has bulletin inserts on closed communion.

Whatever happened to Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell open communion? That was official WELS polity under the Dark Lord for decades. Opponents of Church Growth, cell groups, women's ordination, and generic community churches were punished in the past. Fuller Seminary and Willow Creek were going to lead WELS into the future.

The main role of an overseer (literal meaning of episcope, bishop) is teaching the Word of God. Whatever someone may do, the action may be less than perfect, no matter who it is. However, every person in a leadership role can be confident in teaching the Word of God in its purity and truth. Relying on the Word will always bring about divine results.

Trying to uphold the organization in its perfection is a waste of time and energy. No one can serve two masters. If the synod is perfect, the Word of God is an endless expanse of g-r-e-y areas. If the Word of God is clear, authoritative, and effective, the problems of the synod can be addressed as they are.

WELS has about a dozen district presidents. If they use their websites to teach Lutheran doctrine, instead of using their office to promote Enthusiasm, WELS will recover from the Age of Sauron, when good was evil and evil good.

What About ELDONA?

A pastor asked me about ELDONA, so I replied that I would respond on Ichabod.

James Heiser started the group of LCMS expatriates. The supposed motivation for creating another micro-synod was the DP Bente participation in the Yankee Stadium pan-religious Oprah Winfrey Show, a 9-11 memorial. Dan Preus turned turtle, Wally Schulz said "Naughty, naughty," but both were turned out of office. The Missouri Synod is supposedly against unionism, but every LCMS circuit meeting is an act of unionism.

So ELDONA began as a protest against syncretism, which is being cosy with non-Christian groups, aka unionism on steroids, aka taking a world religion course at the community college.

Nevertheless, Heiser began a Center for the Study of Lutheran Orthodoxy with an ELCA layman on the board. Did the evil Texas DP force him? Did Benke mesmerize him? No, he said, "I had to - he bought so many books." That is a fine start for Lutheran orthodoxy. "Unionism is bad, unless I can sell more publications," as Otten has expressed in so many different ways.

Something bothered me far more - even more than the secrecy with which the group operates, like some branch of the John Birch Society, which is Heiser's number one love.

The Heiser confab is far too friendly with Eastern Orthodoxy. Long ago and far way, when he ran the print shop for the LCS in Decatur, Illinois (Bishop-for-Life Randy DeJaynes and his Bishopette wife, who preached for Randy), Heiser got involved with infant baptism. I don't know what happened, but the LCS (in fellowship with the ELS for one, brief, shining moment) got into some issue over infant communion and the little group blew apart. One version is that DeJaynes recruited an infant communion fanatic to join the LCS. I am not so sure.

Another group Heiser serves--as a covert operator--is the oddly named Augustana (sic) Ministerium. (There already was an Augustana Ministerium, but perhaps we have used all the good names and now need reruns and remakes, like King Kong, Father of the Bride, and Cape Fear.) When the Augustana (sic) group met, they had Gary Gehlbach speak to them. Gehlbach is known throughout the LCMS as the guru of infant communion.

And infant communion is the distinguishing characteristic of Eastern Orthodoxy. The LCMS pastors are going bonkers over it, a day late and a dollar short, as usual. The LCA was yakking up infant communion in 1975 when I was at Notre Dame.

Here is one Augustana (sic) conference:

“Eastern Orthodoxy and Lutheranism on Original Sin,” by Rev. John Rutowicz, Part 1 Part 2

“Eastern Orthodoxy and Lutheranism on Justification,” by Rev. David Juhl, Part 1 Part 2

“Eastern Orthodoxy and Lutheranism on Sanctification/Theosis,” by Rev. Gary Gehlbach,

Arjay noted that the advantage of joining the Augustana (sic) group was "Each new pastor can be a dean of something."

Administrative Council:
Rev. Bruce Ley, Superintendent; Rev. Dr. Kent Heimbigner, Legate;
Rev. Drew Newman, Recording Secretary; Rev. Gregory Schultz, Bursar;
Rev. Eric Stefanski, Dean of Communications; Rev. Dr. Steven Hein, Dean of Education; Rt. Rev. James Heiser, Dean of Missions; Rev. Dr. Micheal Strong, Dean of Pastoral Care; Rev. Jeffrey Ahonen, Dean of Pastoral Recruitment

ELDONA has about 10 congregations. Malone, Texas has its own building while Nile, Michigan has its own trailer. I am often baffled by the Nile website, where the links appear and disappear, Brigadoon-like.

ELDONA is very concerned about vestments and the office of bishop.

All the cryptos are turning adiaphora into matters of confession. My intuition tells me these people are sinuflecting toward Rome, taking as many gullible people with them as they go. I could accept the incense, purple shirts, long beards, and episcopal titles, if they were not baby steps to Rome. Because they are baby steps to Rome, the trappings of the Antichrist should be avoided at all costs.

"Oh no," they cry. "We are being true to the Reformation and the Early Church." So was John W. Fenton (still working in LCMS circles) until he joined Eastern Orthodoxy and repudiated Lutheran doctrine.

Richard J. Neuhaus called himself a "confessional Lutheran" until he became a priest. He became the Catholic he always was, but he never marketed himself as a papist until he officially joined.

Benjamin Kjendal joined Eastern Orthodoxy only two years after being ordained in the LCMS. His statement is still on the congregation's website, months later. Would WELS have left my statement on their website - "I have decided to leave the Wisconsin sect so I could become the Lutheran I always was"? I doubt it. Not three months. Not three seconds.

Here is some material from an earlier post on this EO business:

"I ran into Lutheran Enignma because I was searching a source for Berg's infant communion material. Gary Gehlbach is the author of this blog:

Theosis: Achieving Your Potential in Christ (1)

In preparation for my presentation (directed discussion) for The Augustana Ministerium's Theological Conference (30-31 August 2007) in Burleson, Texas, one of the readings which I suggested was Achieving Your Potential in Christ: Theosis by Anthony M. Coniaris. Selected portions of his book can be found on the internet.

As John Fenton points out on his blog, "Orthodoxy has no central body of "confessional documents" because it does not have a central hierarchical authority." Thus I cannot attribute to Coniaris's book any authoritative status on the subject of theosis. However, numerous Orthodox parishes refer to his book as an excellent resource for those interested in discovering more about theosis. Coniaris may not necessarily be the final authority but his presentation is highly regarded among the Eastern Orthodox."

So here is my prediction once again - ELDONA and the Augustana (sic) Ministerium will be Eastern Orthodox or Roman Catholic within a few years.

The Second Martin

Chemnitz, the Second Martin

Si Martinus non fuisset, Martinus vix stetisset.

("If Martin [Chemnitz] had not come along, Martin [Luther] would hardly have survived") goes a common saying concerning him.

That saying reminds me of the opinion that Paul created the Christian faith with his world-wide travels.

If Martin Chemnitz had not come along, God would have provided another genius to do the same work.

Old WELS Conference Paper

Lutheran Orthodox cat addresses fuzzy doctrine.

Several people indicated an interest in having a Word version of the conference paper I just posted. The paper was 15 years old and prophetic.

Anyone who wants the Word file can send an email to my other address. The user name is the last name of the Second Martin. The service is cox.net.

Or, post a comment with your email on it. I will block the comment but send the file. I am getting my mega-website ready so I can make these things more available for downloads. Or maybe Blogger will upgrade.

Typical Dishonesty from a UOJ Fanatic

Bow, bow, to the Kiwanis President-Elect

Several people have been discussing UOJ with me, so I looked up this post from Jack Cascione (Cascione Synod, former ELS reject, former English District reject, former LCMS):

Robert Preus on Justification Without Faith

Here is the verbatim quotation from The Cardinal, as he styles himself on LutherQuest(sic):

Dr. Greg Jackson has repeatedly stated on Luther Quest (sic) that Dr. Robert Preus was not in agreement with Objective Justification. I served as the PR Director for Fort Wayne from 1978-1981. “Missouri In Perspective” the ELIM paper, criticized the LC-MS position on Objective Justification. As editor for the Concordia Theological Seminary - Fort Wayne “News Letters” I asked Dr. Preus to respond in the Spring 1981 Issue. The following is his reply, plus other relative excerpts.

Cascione could not deal with my basic, simple, plain argument - Robert Preus repudiated UOJ in his final book, Justification and Rome. [Note to readers - Pope John the Malefactor ordered the book because he thought the title was Just a Vacation in Rome.]

Preus would have done the world and his semi-literate sons a favor by clearly stating this repudiation. Or maybe he did and they took it out. At any rate, Preus adopted the Norwegian/Waltherian position most of his life but dared to keep studying. His final book is a gem, apparently designed to keep The Fort from running off to Rome. Preus started a Church Growth program at The Fort when he was a UOJ proponent. He turned against UOJ and CG. Is there a connection?

Now the good members of the Missouri Synod are heavily subsidizing a seminary where the graduates become Eastern Orthodox priests, crypto-EO priests, Roman Catholic priests, crypto-Roman priests, or sympathizers and apologists for both.

As Chemnitz wrote, "These are the last times of an insane, old world."

The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

Symbol by Norma Boeckler

The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity


Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 8 AM Phoenix Time

The Hymn #246 – Nicea
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual Galatians 5:25 - 6:10
The Gospel Matthew 6:24-34
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn # 479 Fahre Fort

The Spirit Effective in the Word

The Hymn #305:6-9 Schmueke dich
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 265 Erhalt Uns Herr

Happy Birthday – Diane Popp, September 4th.

The hymn texts and a melody link are at the end of the sermon.

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

KJV Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Fifteenth Sunday After Trinity, from the Collects of Veit Dietrich
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee for all Thy benefits: that Thou hast given us life and graciously sustained us unto this day: We beseech Thee, take not Thy blessing from us; preserve us from covetousness, that we may serve Thee only, love and abide in Thee, and not defile ourselves by idolatrous love of mammon, but hope and trust only in Thy grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.





This Epistle directly follows one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible, the contrast between the endless works of the flesh and the nine-fold fruits of the Spirit. Law and Gospel are clearly taught in a few verses.

Galatians 6:8 has a clear Law Gospel distinction in one verse. The first part condemns with God’s wrath – whoever sows to benefit his flesh will reap corruption. The second part promises the blessings of the Gospel – whoever sows to the Spirit will reap everlasting life.

The Pentecostals will grab this verse for themselves if we do not explain it properly.

Every passage about the Word is also about the Spirit. Every passage about the Spirit is also about the Word. They are never separated in the Scriptures and cannot be separated in the work of Christianity. Those who separate Word and Spirit are Enthusiasts, false teachers. All false doctrine is based upon Enthusiasm, whether that error comes from the Pope, the Muslim Prophet, or the tongue-speaker. Adam and Eve were the first Enthusiasts. (See the quotations below.)

Isaiah has the greatest passage about Word and Spirit. Note the Promises made.

KJV Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

The Promises are:
1. God’s Word will always have an effect, just like rain and snow upon all the plants of the earth, something especially noticeable in a desert region. (Verse 10)
2. God’s Word will not return void. This double-negative or litotes is the strongest possible expression, just like “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” No exceptions are allowed with a double-negative. (Verse 11)
3. God’s Word will accomplish what God pleases. (Verse 11)
4. God’s Word will prosper in God’s cause. (Verse 11)

The Scriptures are utterly consistent about the Word always having the power of the Spirit of God:

KJV Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
KJV 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

St. Paul admonished Titus to teach sound (literally – healthy) doctrine, which is God’s Word, and not another’s word:

KJV Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Healthy doctrine creates spiritual health because the preaching and teaching of the Word is the work of the Holy Spirit. Appointed pastors are called to preach through the Holy Spirit in the Word. Believers could not have faith without the Spirit converting them and keeping them in the Faith through the power of the Gospel.

Flesh versus the Word

Paul is teaching us to invest ourselves in the Word rather than the flesh. One advantage of being older is seeing how many have devoted themselves to the flesh and reaped its reward over time. And yet, how fleeting were the rewards they sought for themselves.

The best way to advance in life is to use others before they use you (an LCA pastors’ motto), to lie without shame and backtrack only when caught (church bureaucracy), to pursue money, prestige, and power.

We are all tainted, thanks to Original Sin. However, the Word is given to us so that Original Sin does not take hold of our lives. That is why Paul urges us to sow to the Spirit, to invest in the Word, to trust in God’s Promises.

Deception and bribes have great power, but God’s Word has even more power. Recently, one pastor told me it was difficult to unmask the crypto-Calvinists who promote Church Growth doctrine and then retreat into Lutheran doctrine when confronted.

I disagree. People will answer truthfully when asked the right questions. I believe it is the power of the Word (Hebrews 4), which cannot be resisted.

I unmasked one fraud with a single question: “If an evangelism program fails to bring about any visible results, is it because the wrong method was used?” The Church Growth expert, Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, immediately said “Yes!” He was the expert. He knew all the right methods. District Pacifier Mueller began to rebuke him. VP Kuske jumped in to defend the false doctrine. Before Kuske could make a complete fool of himself, Mueller shut him down, with Floyd sputtering. A little later, the praesidium began lying about what happened. “It isn’t in my notes,” said VP Schroer, using the innocent look kids try on their parents when something is broken, smashed, or missing. “Never happened.” And of course, “He’s lying” or “He’s exaggerating about it.” God’s Word unmasks false teachers and makes powerful enemies.

J-683.1
"While only the Word is efficacious, the methods we use to minister to people with that Word may vary in their effectiveness."
Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "See How It Grows: Perspectives on Growth and the Church," EVANGELISM, February, 1991, p. 2.

J-684.1
"We cannot add anything to the Word, but we may be able to remove the human barriers which might be in the way of the Word."
Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "See How It Grows: Perspectives on Growth and the Church," EVANGELISM, February, 1991, p. 3.

J-685.1
"Faithfulness is the standard by which God judges those he calls into the public ministry. That faithfulness may or may not be 'effective' in terms of visible results; results are up to God, not us. But part of faithfulness ought to include striving to be as 'effective' as we can be in the methods that we use to take the Means of Grace to people."
Lawrence Otto Olson, D. Min., Fuller Seminary, "A Response to Gregory L. Jackson, Ph.D.," Christian News, 3-28-94, p. 23.

J-689.1
"Our decision not to use the name Lutheran in the name of the congregation seems to have caused some concern. We point you to the Lutheran confessions which clearly state that a name is an adiaphoron. So only when not using the name is a denial of what the name stands for is there a problem. We reject the inferences that have been drawn that have been drawn [sic] that it is our intention to deny the biblical teach [sic] (ibid. conservative Lutheran teaching). Put in very practical terms our question is: Can we reach more of the unchurched if we can begin with sin and grace, guilt and forgiveness, rather than having to deal with lodge, scouts, the vagaries of ELCA, etc. at the beginning."
WELS Michigan District Vice-president Paul Kuske, Letter to the Ohio Conference, Pilgrim Community Church, sponsored from Grove City by Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church Fall Conference, Gibsonia, 1989. [44] [emphasis in original]

J-690.1
"We have discovered that the Early Church was an institution that unknowingly saw its world through Church Growth eyes. We have some benefits they did not have in that we can look back today and analyze their successes and failures."
Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, "Church Growth - the Acts of the Apostles," Taught at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Columbus, Ohio.



I would ask any of the gurus of today – “Is God’s Word always effective?” And, “If so, how do you show this trust in God’s Word.” A doctrinal error is exposed by doctrine. Otherwise, people defend themselves by saying, “My grandfather was a DP” or “This is what I learned at the sem.” Luther learned Medieval error in is training. The issue is not the school but the doctrine, not the DNA but the teaching.

KJV Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

One WELS pastor said to Valleskey, the man who became president of the Wisconsin Seminary by promoting Church Growth false doctrine, “You are dealing with principalities and powers.” The pastor was forced out of the ministry, without cause.

Another pastor in the same town said, “God’s Word is always effective.” He was forced out of the ministry, without cause. He asked me once how he could get the synod to support him. I said, “Murder your wife. That always works.” He laughed because it was true.

A third pastor in the same town criticized the Church Growth methods promoted by WELS. He was a circuit pastor, but forced out of the ministry after being undermined by his fellow pastors.

Short-term sufferings are guaranteed in teaching the Word. The cross always accompanies the Word and reminds us of our Old Adam protesting against what the Scriptures teach as a necessity:

KJV Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Long-term blessings also accompany the Word. Many people give up the long-term blessings for the short-term rewards of the flesh. The time of greatest temptation is when it seems to be too much. That is almost certainly a sign that the time of trial will be over. As Luther said, Satan tempts us by making any trial seem just too long, too stretched out to bear any longer. That is why endurance or steadfastness under trial is so important.

Investing our time in the Word reaps those rewards. No one is spared. Jesus was not exempted, and He was perfect. The saints of the early Church were men and women who remained steadfast when the Roman Empire tortured and murdered them. That persecution continues today throughout the world. Christians are killed in many countries just for their beliefs. So, we have no difficulties in comparison. Nevertheless, emotional stress can be or seem overwhelming.

Stress and trial are not all bad. Only those who have suffered spiritual onslaughts can be counselors to others. That is also where we learn Biblical wisdom. The first stage of learning is important. We need to know the content and the unity of the Bible. But we do not hunger and thirst for righteousness until someone is trying to destroy the truths we take for granted.

The teaching of the Book of Concord is important because it is Biblical exposition. What does God’s Word say about each of these issues? The same false claims are repeated in each generation, so this is not delving in antiquities, Medieval history, or the development of the Lutheran brand. The Book of Concord was patiently edited to unify the Lutherans about Biblical truths. The early Church Fathers were also quoted extensively because the Church of Rome tried to defend false doctrine with Augustine, Jerome, and the others. (I have witnessed Lutherans doing the same thing.)

If someone does not first stir us up, we do not cling to those instruments of the Spirit. Once agitated, bewildered, angered, and confused, we look for the truths and shake out the falsehoods. So we learn them better and nothing can be shaken loose again.

"Oratio, Meditatio, Tentatio: A Right Way to Study Theology" – Martin Luther.

Quoted from Humann:

http://www.westfieldhouse.org.uk/staff/humann/golb/archives/2008/07/index.html
oratio, meditatio, tentatio
In his Preface to the Wittenberg edition of his German writings, Martin Luther presents a brief, utterly profound outline of a correct way of studying theology. Drawing attention to Psalm 119, Luther articulates three "rules," amply presented throughout the whole Psalm. They are, in Latin, Oratio, Meditatio, and Tentatio; prayer, meditation, and temptation.
Prayer begins the whole process of study:
Firstly, you should know that the Holy Scriptures constitute a book which turns the wisdom of all other books into foolishness, because not one teaches about eternal life except this one alone. Therefore you should straightway despair of your reason and understanding. With them you will not attain eternal life, but on the contrary, your presumptuousness will plunge you and others with you out of heaven (as happened to Lucifer) into the abyss of hell. But kneel down in your little room [Matt. 6:6] and pray to God with real humility and earnestness, that he through his dear Son may give you his Holy Spirit, who will enlighten you, lead you, and give you understanding.
The second step, Meditatio is not what we have come to understand as "meditation" in the modern sense, but rather careful rumination and reflection on the words of Holy Scripture:
Secondly, you should meditate, that is, not only in your heart, but also externally, by actually repeating and comparing oral speech and literal words of the book, reading and rereading them with diligent attention and reflection, so that you may see what the Holy Spirit means by them. And take care that you do not grow weary or think you have done enough when you have read, heard, and spoken them once or twice, and that you then have complete understanding. You will never be a particularly good theologian if you do that, for you will be like untimely fruit which falls to the ground before it is half ripe.
Thus you see in this same Psalm how David constantly boasts that he will talk, meditate, speak, sing, hear, read, by day and night and always, about nothing except God's Word and commandments. For God will not give you his Spirit without the external Word; so take your cue from that. His command to write, preach, read, hear, sing, speak, etc. outwardly was not given in vain.
Lastly, theology is practical. It comes into being not in some monastic isolation and retreat from the cares and worries of life, but rather in the very midst of such suffering and anxiety. And so:
Thirdly, there is "Tentatio." This is the touchstone which teaches you not only to know and understand, but also to experience how right, how true, how sweet, how lovely, how mighty, how comforting God's Word is, wisdom beyond all wisdom.
Thus you see how David, in the Psalm mentioned, complains so often about all kinds of enemies, arrogant princes or tyrants, false spirits and factions, whom he must tolerate because he meditates, that is, because he is occupied with God's Word (as has been said) in all manner of ways. For as soon as God's Word takes root and grows in you, the devil will harry you, and will make a real doctor of you, and by his assaults will teach you to seek and love God's Word.

There are many different types of leaders in the Christian faith. Some laymen distribute the Word various ways, through the Net, through giving away books, through support of those who teach the Word. Some pastors take a leading role in supporting sound doctrine and willingly pay the price. A few elected or appointed leaders give up the perks of high office by being faithful. In all these circumstances, the last stage of sowing to the Spirit is also the most rewarding. The comfort and power of God’s Promises are so powerful that they would rather have them than the treasures that rust and decay.

Quotations on Enthusiasm

"The Lutheran Confessions take a decisive stand against 'enthusiasts,' who teach that the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of men without the Word and Sacraments (SA-III VIII 3-13; LC II 34-62; FC Ep II 13)."
John T. Mueller, "Grace, Means of," Lutheran Cyclopedia, Erwin L. Lueker, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1975, p. 344.

"On the contrary, with the Anabaptists and the Reformed Church in general, the Mennonites are Enthusiasts, lay great stress on the immediate working of the Holy Ghost, who is said to 'guide the saints into all truth.' In his Geschichte der Mennonitengemeinden John Horsch, a prominent Mennonite, states that the Holy Spirit is the 'inner word,' who enables Christians to understand the Scriptures. Without the inner word, or the light, the Scripture is a dead letter and a dark lantern."
The. Engelder, W. Arndt, Th. Graebner, F. E. Mayer, Popular Symbolics, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p. 260.

Luther: "True, the enthusiasts confess that Christ died on the cross and saved us; but they repudiate that by which we obtain Him; that is, the means, the way, the bridge, the approach to Him they destroy...They lock up the treasure which they should place before us and lead me a fool's chase; they refuse to admit me to it; they refuse to transmit it; they deny me its possession and use." (III, 1692)
The. Engelder, W. Arndt, Th. Graebner, F. E. Mayer, Popular Symbolics, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p. 5.

"A denial of the efficacy and sufficiency of the means of grace is contained in the theological systems of all religious enthusiasts."
Edwin E. Pieplow, "The Means of Grace," The Abiding Word, ed., Theodore Laetsch, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1946, II, p. 343.

"And in those things which concern the spoken, outward Word, we must firmly hold that God grants His Spirit or grace to no one, except through or with the preceding outward Word, in order that we may [thus] be protected against the enthusiasts, i. e., spirits who boast that they have the Spirit without and before the Word, and accordingly judge Scripture or the spoken Word, and explain and stretch it at their pleasure, as Muenzer did, and many still do at the present day, who wish to be acute judges between the Spirit and the letter, and yet know not what they say or declare. For [indeed] the Papacy also is nothing but sheer enthusiasm, by which the Pope boasts that all rights exist in the shrine of his heart, and whatever he decides and commands with [in] his church is spirit and right, even though it is above and contrary to Scripture and the spoken Word."
Smalcald Articles, VIII., Confession, 3-5, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 495. Tappert, p. 312.

"The practical result of the separation of the divine power from the divine Word of Scripture is the rejection of the Bible as the only source and norm of faith (norma normans). This is proved by the very fact that the enthusiasts have invariably placed the 'inner word' (verbum internum), or the 'spirit,' above Holy Scripture (verbum externum), assigning to the latter an inferior place in the realm of divine revelation. To the enthusiasts the Bible is only a norma normata, or a rule of faith subject to the 'inner word,' that is, to their own notions and figments of reason."
John Theodore Mueller, Christian Dogmatics, A Handbook of Doctrinal Theology, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p. 135.

"The Christian doctrine of the means of grace is abolished by all 'enthusiasts,' all who assume a revealing and effective operation of the Holy Spirit without and alongside the divinely ordained means of grace."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., trans., Walter W. F. Albrecht, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953, III, p. 127.

"To remain properly humble while firmly rejecting all erroneous teachings regarding the means of grace, we should remind ourselves how even Christians who teach and, as a rule, also believe, the correct doctrine of the means of grace, in their personal practice very often lose sight of the means of grace. This is done whenever they base the certainty of grace, or of the forgiveness of sin, on their feeling of grace or the gratia infusa, instead of on God's promise in the objective means of grace. All of us are by nature 'enthusiasts.'"
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., trans., Walter W. F. Albrecht, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953, III, p. 131.

"Our opponents hold that saving faith must be founded on Christ Himself, not on the means of grace. This reasoning, common to the Reformed, the 'enthusiasts' of all shades, and modern 'experience' theologians, assumes that faith can and should be based on Christ to the exclusion of the means of grace."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., trans., Walter W. F. Albrecht, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953, III, p. 152.

"The Lutheran theologians, in general, had reason to illustrate very particularly the doctrine of the operation of the Word of God, in order to oppose the Enthusiasts and Mystics, who held that the Holy Spirit operated rather irrespectively of the Word than through it; and to oppose also the Calvinists, who, led by their doctrine of predestination, would not grant that the Word possessed this power per se, but only in such cases where God chose...."
Heinrich Schmid, The Doctrinal Theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, trans., Charles A. Hay, Henry E. Jacobs, Philadelphia: Lutheran Publication Society, 1889, p. 511.