Virtue Online - Church of England Bishop Justin Welby - No Confidence

 

 David Virtue

Mere Anglican Conference Blows up over Women's Ordination * Church of England's Growing Entanglement over Same-Sex Blessings * Two TEC dioceses look to Merge * Nigerian Archbishop Suspends NA American Bishop * ABC called to resign over P.O. selection debacle * Future of Christianity in UK in doubt

 Bishop of Canterbury Justin Welby

The Church of the West has descended to the very nadir of flagrant apostasy, twisted-ness, dishonesty and hypocrisy, far worse, it would seem, than its condition at the Reformation. -- Roger Salter

Evangelicalism is not immune to the cultural mood. Quite the opposite. We've been infected by it, and our current coterie of leaders seem incapable of resisting. --- Mere Orthodoxy

To offer a positive vision is to welcome misunderstanding from evangelicalism's leadership class and many of their most committed followers. --- Patrick Miller

THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION began to crack as traditional leaders -- representing about 85% of the global Anglican worshippers -- declared no confidence in Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the church's power structures in England. This followed a Church of England vote to allow blessing rites for same-sex unions. -- Terry Mattingly -- OnReligion

The people who call themselves LGBTQ activists are now recruiting many people, including our children. They don't know what they are doing, but they are destroying people's lives by engaging them in unethical activities. The West wants to make our country Sodom and Gomorrah, and we won't accept it.--- Gilbert Lubega of Uganda

"Christianity is not shrinking; it's shifting (dramatically) from the northern hemisphere to the south. There's a pernicious myth out there that the Church is in decline when it's actually growing. Fast. Since the year 2000, the world population has been growing at 1% per annum, but the church has been growing at 2% - 100% faster than the global population (with Pentecostalism growing at 4%.) -- Rick Warren

God continues to speak through what he has spoken -- John Stott

"When the Christian faith is politicized, churches become repositories not of grace but of grievances, places where tribal identities are reinforced, where fears are nurtured, and where aggression and nastiness are sacralized," --- Peter Wehner

By David W. Virtue DD
www.virtueonline.org
February 2, 2024

IN past years the Mere Anglican conference held in Charleston, SC drew noted Anglican heavy hitters to explore various themes. Last year it was C.S. Lewis; this year it centered more around apologetics.

The conference drew a distinguished group of presenters to theologically discuss, "Speaking the Truth in Love: The Church and the Challenge of the New Morality." The list included: The Rev. Dr. John Dickson, Anglican priest and apologist; the Rev. Sam Allberry, Anglican priest and apologist; Dr. D.A. Carson, Renowned New Testament scholar and author; the Rev. Dr. Carl Trueman, Professor, Grove City College; Dr. Rebecca McLaughlin, Apologist and author; the Rev. Vaughan Roberts, Anglican Rector of St. Ebbe's Church, Oxford; Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing, Senior Fellow, Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics; and the Rev. Calvin Robinson, priest, writer, and social commentator. Archbishop Foley Beach (ACNA II) was the Conference's Festival Eucharist celebrant.

Then it all blew up.

One invitee, the Rev. Calvin Robinson threw a monkey wrench into the works when he riffed off text and talked about the highly controversial issue of Women's Ordination. It is the third rail: Women in Holy Orders, as one commentator described it.

"It was my point that the reason Gender Theory, Queer Theory and Critical Race Theory are so prevalent in the Church today is because we have conceded too much ground to Feminism," wrote Robinson on his sub stack.

But then he hurled a hand grenade into the conference and tackled Women's Ordination head on.

"I put it to you that Feminism -- an arm of liberalism -- is the gate by which all the other woke ideas gain ground. They are all part of the same ideology, but Feminism is the brute force which breaks down the wall for all the others," he said.

"The Church has become effeminate and, therefore, vulnerable in a way that it needn't be. Men, being the stronger sex of the species, offer talents different from those of women. That is not to say they are better; goodness no, women are far better than men at a great many things. Men are simple beings. But we do have a practical role to play in the Church, which can only be played by men."

The conference host, one Rev Jeffrey S. Miller promptly banned Robinson from a final round table discussion "because he failed to address the topic assigned to him," with South Carolina Anglican Bishop Chip Edgar weighing in and saying that Robinson was not "cancelled" due to his position on Women in Holy Orders but was removed from the final panel because his talk was deemed to have veered substantively from the topic he was asked to address.

"Instead, he took advantage of the opportunity and opined on what he considers the exceeding evil of women in Holy Orders. Most importantly, he did so in a way which was inexcusably provocative, and completely lacking in charity and pastoral consideration of the people in attendance--especially the many women clergy both of our diocese and others who attended."

Edgar went on to explain that The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has maintained a "dual integrities" position allowing dioceses to choose what direction to take.

This then prompted the Rt. Rev. Alex Farmer, Bishop of the Diocese of the Gulf Atlantic (ACNA) declaring that Robinson had an "unclean spirit" when he spoke at the Mere Anglican conference in Charleston, SC. Alarm bells went off. The bishop later apologized for his remarks saying he was sorry for the way he questioned the spirit behind his motivations. "That was improper of me, and especially in the context inappropriate. I am deeply sorry for the harm that this has caused to the wider Body of Christ."

Nonetheless the whole subject stirred a hornet's nest of opinion, with commentaries coming down mostly on the side of Robinson with some even suggesting it could blow up the ACNA! That is not going to happen. Since 2009, the ACNA has lived with the "two integrities" and that seems likely in the foreseeable future. In truth there is nowhere else for the Anglo-Catholic to go to. The Continuing Church groups are way too splintered amongst themselves to offer a safe haven for ACNA's traditionalist wing.

American Bishop Jefferts-Shori took a wrecking ball to conservative churches.

The following links will give you a fuller picture on all sides of the issue.

https://virtueonline.org/anglicans-clash-over-anglo-catholic-priests-disinvitation-mere-anglican-conference

https://virtueonline.org/calvin-robinson-kerfuffle-widens

https://virtueonline.org/calvin-robinson-declared-have-deceiving-unclean-spirit-acna-bishop

https://virtueonline.org/apology-and-public-statement-bishop-alex-farmer

https://anglicanmainstream.org/cancelling-calvin-robinson-the-american-anglican-crisis-as-feminism-takes-truth-integrity-hostage/

https://virtueonline.org/forward-faith-north-america-response-mere-anglicanism-conference

https://northamanglican.com/the-day-the-gloves-came-off-an-end-to-detente-in-the-acna/

***

Last week, the lead bishops for Living in Love and Faith (LLF) reconciliation process, the Rt. Rev. Helen-Ann Hartley and Rt. Rev. Martyn Snow wrote a piece for the Church Times, in which they said,
"We are at a crossroads: either we have reached the point of separation, accepting that different views cannot co-exist within the same Church, or we must shift the debate to the question how we live well with difference. We believe firmly in the latter approach, and, therefore, we are issuing a call for reconciliation and bridge-building."

Their attempt to 'reset' the debate will rest on a number of commitments, which will be brought to General Synod for discussion in February. They have yet to be published -- but for once the devil will not be in the detail - but in their purpose and underlying premise, writes Susie Leafe of Anglican Futures.

"These commitments will honor the votes already taken by the Synod and the general sense of direction, while also inviting the whole of the Synod to make a commitment to the principle of being a broad Church in which different views are not just accepted, but honored as part of what it means to be the living, dynamic, and beautiful body of Christ."

The orthodox should be shocked. There is a danger that this development is being seen as a partial victory.

Why? Because the bishops have used a simple bait and switch. Alongside the 'broad church' principle was the offer of a 'prize' -- a delay to the introduction of standalone services and a promise that Synod will examine "legal safeguards and appropriate structures" for those needing reassurance.

And that is the bait.

But the switch is devastating.

If the bishops are to be believed, Synod will be asked to commit to:
"...the principle of being a broad Church in which different views are not just accepted but honored as part of what it means to be the living, dynamic, and beautiful body of Christ."

If words mean anything, such a commitment has serious implications:
• It means accepting that the presenting issue of same-sex blessings and the underlying debates about the nature of marriage, the authority of Scripture and the means of salvation -- are to be considered adiaphora -- things indifferent.
• It is a commitment to accept those who deny the teaching of Christ, rather than rebuke them, and to honor those who promote a false gospel, rather than avoid them.
• It is to affirm that the presence of sin makes the body of Christ more beautiful.

You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/living-love-faith-and-reconciliation-exercise-bait-and-switch

You can read a Masterclass in Manipulation here:
https://virtueonline.org/masterclass-manipulation

ARCHBISHOP JUSTIN WELBY has faced yet another call for him to resign, this time he 'should quit' over claims he backed the disgraced former Post Office boss Paula Vennells to be Bishop of London.

Gabriella Swerling, Social and Religious Affairs Editor for the Telegraph
says the Archbishop of Canterbury, is accused of endorsing Paula Vennells while some 700 sub-postmasters were falsely accused of money that went missing from their sites.

The late Queen's former chaplain, the Rev Canon Jeremy Haselock, an associate priest at Great St Bartholomew's in the City of London, criticised the alleged endorsement, writing on social media: "Surely this is the point at which Welby must go. Another demonstration of his complete lack of sound judgment."

Paula Vennells, who was the Post Office chief executive from 2012 to 2019, handed back her CBE last week.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/justin-welby-should-quit-over-claims-he-backed-paula-vennells-be-bishop-london

***

An insightful piece on the future of Christianity in England, titled, IT'S OVER -- PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE by someone called Campbell documents that too many Christians in the UK are living with an illusion. "Let me tell you plainly: it's over. The days of being a Christian country have gone, and they are not coming back any time soon. It is imperative that we grasp this. Instead of pretending we are living in a pale imitation of the past, we have to work out how to live in the present and prepare for the future."

"I pray (literally) that there might be a recovery of both church and nation, that the Holy Spirit will sweep through the land and we will have godly leaders in church and state. In the meantime, until God does this, we Christians have to get our own house in order. Merely doing what we have always done in the hope that this time it will work is to embrace failure."

You can read more here: https://possil.wordpress.com/2024/02/02/its-over-prepare-for-the-future/

***

 Anglican Bishop marries partner

MORE TEC DIOCESES look to merge. The dioceses of Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan will merge later this yea

 The Bishop Robinson marriage ended in divorce and accelerated the demise of American Episcopalians.

r.

According to the Episcopal News Service the two dioceses, after more than four years of administrative sharing and ministry cooperation, are finalizing plans for a potential merger. Final approval would take place at the 81st General Convention in June when it meets in Louisville, Kentucky.

Across TEC as dioceses shrink with aging and dying parishioners, and with no new young people coming along to replace them, church coffers are drying up.

Zoom Live Trials This Week

I believe we have the set up settled, and I will Zoom only at the chapel. I will do some practices there and always use chapel for the church services. I know there are ways to move my "ownership," but I want to be a lot more familiar. 

 

It is exciting to expand what we can do with the Word of God. Brett Meyer and my wife Christina gained up on me to go live with Ustream. She set up the altar and Brett mailed a Logitech camera.

We have reached All Time 10,555,399 views.

We Will Do Vimeo Today - Zoom Has More Security Than Ft. Knox

 

 HAL

I worked on Zoom most of yesterday and woke up at 2 AM. I have caught on to most of it, but my mistake was not coding it from the chapel. I got the link open in the chapel but HAL was very suspicious of my attempt to use their software.

I am setting up Vimeo for today, which is easy and fast, but I will work on Zoom again tomorrow.

The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, 2024

The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, 2024

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 10 AM Central 

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The Hymn #465                    Christ Is Our Cornerstone
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Worship Him, all ye His angels: Zion heard and was glad.

The daughters of Judah rejoiced: because of Thy judgments, O Lord.

Psalm. The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice: let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual Colossians 3:12-17

Gradual

The heathen shall fear the name of the Lord: and all the kings of the earth Thy glory.

V. When the Lord shall build up Zion: He shall appear in His glory. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice: let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Hallelujah!

The Gospel Matthew 13:24-30
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #49         Almighty God, Thy Word Is Cast

A Forest of Weeds

The Hymn #311 Huss - Jesus Christ Our Blessed Savior
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 #50                            Lord Dismiss Us

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that Thou hast sown the good seed, Thy holy word, in our hearts: We pray Thee that by Thy Holy Spirit Thou wilt cause this seed to grow and bring forth fruit, and defend us from the enemy, that he may not sow tares therein. Keep us from carnal security, help us in all temptations, and give us at last eternal salvation; through Thy beloved Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

                                    A Forest of Weeds

Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 

This section, which we call Matthew 13, begins with the well known parable of The Sower and the Seed. This parable follows and perhaps confuses people. Tares are weed seeds, using the older English. This sort of thing happens easily and with stealth, because good, new seeds are just starting to germinate when an enemy tosses the weed seeds across the newly prepared wheat field.

People probably remember that I used buckwheat to improve the soil in the rose garden. The supposedly short buckwheat plants grew so tall and thickly that the roses could not be seen. My Laotian neighbor and her son pointed at the Weed Garden and laughed. Our helpers weed-whacked the buckwheat plants at the perfect time, but the buckwheat seeds were mature and started the cycle all over again. I could have made buckwheat pancakes for weeks.

The main parable in Mark 13 is the Sower and the Seed, starting Matthew 13's chapter. There the emphasis is upon the efficacious Word of God as the seed. The Word has equal power but it falls on different types of soil with different results. The two parables have similar results because the Word energized by the Holy Spirit accomplishes God's will. But in this parable, the seed represents faithful believers rather than the Word.

This chapter is what gives away so many pastors, who do not know the meaning of the Word - efficacious - and do not understand God's Creation at work. This word-group in Greek (and English) relates to the English word energy and is found many places throughout the New Testament. The same is true in Hebrew using different expressions of God acting through His Word.

Besides that, the Lord of Creation fills His sermons and parables with the Creation perspective since He is the creating Word of Genesis 1 and John 1, plus many other passages.

Let's compare the effective Word with the Church Growth approach.

Teaching children Bible stories - effective.

Giving children soft drinks and food during the service - not effective.

Preaching a sermon based on a Biblical passage - effective.

Telling a string of funny stories about nothing in particular - not effective.

Giving away KJV Bibles for a prison ministry - effective.

Raising money to hire a growth consultant from Pasadena - not effective. LCMS did that.

These two concepts go together - the efficacy of the Word and God's Creation, which is clearly established by the Word. 

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

The enemy is Satan and the tares are false doctrine mixed with sound doctrine, which is not obvious at first. Most gardeners will admit that they planted good seed and thought the new plants coming up were the crop. The weeds are almost always vigorous, fast growing, and responsive to rain. But alas, when someone tries to pull a weed away from a nearby seedling, both are dislodged and the good plant is weakened if not ruined altogether.

People denounce weeds because they grow so fast and so easily, especially when the conditions are not good for the desired crop of food. But that is also part of God's plan. Exposed soil always welcomes the weeds that arrive from the wind and the birds. They can build up poor soil by growing and dying in the same field that could not support ordinary crops, or demanding crops like corn. The Midwest has topsoil that can be 20 feet deep, which happened by God's plan with prairie grass growing and rotting, buffalos eating the grass and fertilizing the result.

So here we see the Word of God growing but the tares growing along side of the Word. The intended crop of wheat is fruitful, bearing good seeds, but the tares grow up along side it.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

The servants are eager to get rid of the tares. The householder had the good seeds planted so how did all the weeds spring up? The household said, "An enemy has done this," so the servants want to go out into the fields and rip up the weeds. I tried to grow corn in Columbus and a tall grass grew up instead. People said, "I told you - gardens don't work well here. The birds got the corn and the weeds fooled you for a time." 

I saw no corn there, but the weeds grew to six feet.

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 

I should have known that about the corn versus the weeds. And it is true. Food plants are almost always tender and easily harmed. But God provides all kinds of insect and soil life - plus the birds - to help the crops grow and thrive.

The tares are false prophets and their followers. Anything new and different is appealing. False teachers show up at the door and provide an attractive sales pitch, which works well when people lonely and misinformed.

Jesus is teaching that this mix of sound and false doctrine should continue since so many can be harmed by rigorous prosecution. In fact, opposition to the Christian Faith is encouraged and enlivened by opposition. Many of us were baptized in denominations that became tares. I was baptized at a Congregational church which merged into the radical United Church of Christ. My parents took us to the Disciples of Christ church in town, and that denomination is racing into oblivion with radicalism. And now we have so-called Lutherans who do not know or appreciate the Reformation created by the teaching of Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

This describes the ultimate destruction of those who die without faith in Christ, while the believers are gathered into heaven.

Luther wrote:

For the sower of the good seed says again, they should not uproot it, that is, they should have patience, and suffer such blasphemy, and commend all to God; for although the tares hinder the wheat, yet they make it the more beautiful to behold, compared with the tares, as St. Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 11:19: “For there must be false factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you.” This is sufficient on today’s text.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Epiphany 5 Epistle - "Though the peace of the world and the flesh abides not, though you must witness the forces of discord and disruption, nevertheless let your hearts have peace in Christ."

 

 Veterans Honor Rose on the altar at Bethany, in memory of Peter Ellenberger.

Complete Epistle Sermon for Epiphany 5 - Colossians 3:12-17. Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

17. Some, enumerating the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23, say a Christian should be gentle, meek, longsuffering, chaste; and they look upon this passage as a law commanding such fruits. Hence they refuse to recognize as Christians any who fail to possess the fruits in perfection. Now, such individuals cannot believe there is a Christ, certain as the fact is. They judge malignantly, complaining that Christians do not exist. They take offense at Christ for his superior wisdom. For Christ has given us scriptural authority for knowing Christians by their fruits. He says ( Matthew 7:16), “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Here they are emphatic.

18. Can you locate the failure of such an individual? He fails in the fact that he understands absolutely nothing of Christ’s kingdom. For he misinterprets the passages referring to Christians. He understands the statement that Christians should be kind and meek, to mean they must never become angry, must bear anything and show impatience toward none; if they do not so, they cannot be Christians, for they have not the fruits. Dear man, what but his own blindness can lead him to such a conclusion? He fancies Christianity to be a holy order of perfection, altogether without infirmity, a perfection as in heaven among the angels.

But tell me, where do the Scriptures speak thus of Christians?

But whoso recognizes Christianity as a progressive order yet in its beginning, will not be offended at the occasional manifestation of ungentleness, unkindness and impatience on the part of a Christian; for he remembers that Christians are commanded to bear one another’s burdens and infirmities. He knows that the enumeration of the fruits of the Spirit is not a record of laws the observance of which is imperative or Christ will be denied. He is aware the passage is to be interpreted as meaning that Christians are to strive to be kind; that is the mark at which they aim.

However, even though they have made a beginning and some progress in this virtue, they often are unkind and bear fruits directly the opposite of the fruits of the Spirit. True, the text quoted says we should be kind, but it does not say we are kind. We are tending toward it, we are in a state of progression; but during the progress much of the old and as yet untransformed nature is intermingled.

19. Know, then, that in a mysterious way Christ is in his saints, and beware of judging or condemning anyone when you have not positive assurance that he believes and teaches contrary to the Gospel. But whoso does oppose the Gospel, you may safely judge to be without Christ, and under the sway of the devil. Pray for such a one and admonish him, in the hope of his conversion. But in the case of one who endorses and honors the Gospel, observe Paul’s comment (Romans 14:4): “Who art thou that judgest the servant of another?, to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand.”

And again (1 Corinthians 10:12): “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Christ would be at the same time hidden and revealed, found and not found. He permits the intermingling of some infirmities with the fruits of the Spirit, that he may conceal himself, and that malicious judges may be offended. “And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.”

20. From longsuffering and meekness the apostle distinguishes love and other jewels of spiritual beauty whereof we have already heard, though all are comprehended in love. As faith is the chief element of Christian character, so love is chief of the fruits of the Spirit, the jewel of surpassing beauty. Therefore Paul says, “Above all these things put on love.” Love transcends mercy, kindness, meekness and humility. Paul calls it “the bond of perfectness” because it unites human hearts; not a partial unity, based on similarity or close relationship, but a complete unity among all men and in all relations. It makes us of one mind, one heart, one desire. It permits no one to originate a peculiar order of doctrine or faith. All who love are of the same belief. Consequently there is the same purpose of heart with the poor and the rich, with rulers and subjects, the ill and the well, the high and the low, the honored and the disgraced. The loving heart permits all to share in its good; more, it participates in the adversities of all men, regarding them as its own. Where love is, perfect unity and communion obtain in every event, good or bad. It is a most perfect bond.

21. Where love is lacking, hearts are united and aims single in but few relations; in most things there is disagreement. For instance: Robbers have a common bond, but it is no more than a common purpose in committing robbery and murder. Worldly friends are of the same mind so far as concerns their own interests. Monks are united in relation to their order and their honor. Herod and Pilate agreed, but simply in regard to Christ.

For the most part it is exceptional that one monk, priest or layman agrees with another. Their bond of union is weak; they are as chaff bound with straw. “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which also ye were called.”

22. There is much to threaten the sundering of love’s bond. The devil never sleeps, but continually stirs up discord and unrest. Paul does not deny that the bond is assailed. But he exhorts us to resist, remembering that love must be exercised by opposition. He admonishes us to let the peace of Christ have dominion in our hearts. The thought of the verse is: Though the peace of the world and the flesh abides not, though you must witness the forces of discord and disruption, nevertheless let your hearts have peace in Christ.

Protestant Membership Loss - From the American Spectator

 

WELS is too small to count, getting smaller. Olson quasi-semi-lied about earning a coveted D.Min. at Fuller Seminary. The WELS protocol is to lie about the truth and slander anyone who questions the liar.

The American Spectator has an unsurprising survey of Protestant decline - Tom Raabe - Mainline Protestantism Is Heading Toward Its Grave A membership skewing older and older makes for a dismal future.

"Half of the Episcopal membership is over 65 years old; as for the Presbyterians, 58 percent are 56 or older (one-third are over 70)."

Here are some facts about the Lutherans -

"Unlike my church, the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), which recently paid a consultant big bucks to do a survey and recommend that the answer to the church’s declining membership problem was to encourage its members to have more babies. I’ll keep you posted on how that’s working."

ELCA declined 39% from 2000 to 2020.

LCMS declined by 27% in the same time period. Is that a win for Matt the Fatt at the Purple Palace?

Amish double in numbers every 20 years. They are now bigger in number than the Disciples of Christ, which is plummeting.

The insiders grabbed the money and bragged to each other about Church Growth, but lied about it to the hoi polloi.

ELCA-WELS-LCMS together have promoted Fuller's Church Growth Movement - irony at its best - since 1977, and even before that precious date. WELS bragged about the 1977 TELL date because that was their coming out party. Let's just say - all three sects have squandered millions of dollars for the last 50 years.

The hilarious truth is that WELS was wolfing down and gobbling up every scrap of Church Growth materials, sending as many as possible to Pasadena, and screaming at the few who dared to object. They never went to Fuller, but always quoted Fuller, and pounced on anyone literate enough to ask questions about the obvious gusher coming from their hellish treasure-chest.

C. Peter Wagner was one of the key "brains" at Fuller. He was a miracle making Pentecostal magician in his mind, but he certainly told a truth ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) could not fathom.

What Are the Major Errors in the LCMS-WELS-ELS-ELDONA-CLC (sic)?

Readers! Do you realize that all the sects listed above -  LCMS-WELS-ELS-ELDONA-CLC (sic) - have spitefully rejected the Scriptures, working in harmony with the ELCA-Methodist-Calvinist-Catholic groups? The fragmented Lutherans love every Bible - except the KJV - because the King James uses the Apostolic (Traditional) Text of the New Testament and the historic Old Testament in Hebrew. 

All the modern Bibles - including the Bogus Beck Bible for Buck$ - participate in multiple errors, including such atrocities as ending Mark's Gospel with Mark 16:8, which is like hearing "I have something to........." Overall, the Bible brokers enjoy erasing words, verses, and passages. They are deliberately destroying faith this way, because the minority apostate Bibles question - erratically - the basic teaching of the Word of God. They use their half-digested works, like vomit, to appall and confuse people since they have so many variations. 

The National Council of Churches Bibles - Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version - started off with denying the Virgin Birth of Christ in the RSV, off and on, but always keeping the question, whether virgin birth was in the footnote or the text. Those who buy NCC Bibles are paying them money and promoting their radical Leftist and anti-heterosexual agenda. The NCC pioneered the removal of the Virgin Birth of Christ, so what else is there to prove? Oh, so much more.

  ELDONA's self-made bishop would love to add a mitre and a robe. He already has an expensive stick. These European prelates are not all as duded up as Matt the Fatt.

 ELDONA

ELCA-LCMS-ELDONA ( together as one in papal hypnosis) loves the trappings of Roman Catholicism, intense about traditions from Rome but awfully lax about what the Scriptures and the Reformation teach. The left-behind papal Lutherans enjoy praising their fellow pastors who move up to Rome - like Richard John Neuhaus. The ALPB Online Discussion Forum maintains an elderly coven hoping to make the change or encourage the brave smells and belles. 

All this apostasy, in various flavors, comes from the pellucid dishonesty of the 19th century:

The hilariously bad forgery of Codex Sinaiticus was "discovered" by Tischendorf, pure white leather pages until it was convenient to make them look old, very old, and all smeared up. Hahaha.

The papal release of Codex Vaticanus, which conveniently helped Tischendorf to have something as bogus as his suddenly discovered 1500 year old leather work which the monks were going to burn to keep the library warm. Hahahaha. Have you smelled the aroma of burning leather?

The snake oil salesman Tischendorf put his 50 honorary titles on the title page of a book. Insecure? 

 

Westcott and Hort, very close friends, put together a secret Greek New Testament for the scribblers of the Revised KJV, 1881, which was unreadable and impossible to fix. That secret Greek New Testament was printed at the same time as the Revised KJV. Yes, I have a copy of that. As I have published before, the Westcott/Hort Gospel of Mark starts with "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Omitted without any mention - "The Son of God."

No, the other Bibles were not that bad, but many followed the invented missing ending of Mark 16, which lost verses 9-20, the empty tomb and the resurrection of Christ. 

The modern Bibles as a whole, disparage faith in Jesus Christ and His divinity. They march out of order, so their apostate friends can say, "But this Bible, translated by great scholars, do not agree with your old KJV!" Their droppings are everywhere but never consistent.

One final note should be stressed - The KJV was edited by 50 of the greatest language scholars, at the peak of the English language, with enormous backgrounds in languages. Using Tyndale's great language ability, they formed a unified, English Bible that went all over the world and still dominates American Bible readers today. 

The quickie translators of today are often nitwits whose twaddle is paraded as the greatest thing since diet candy. 

The Lutheran sects have failed because they rest their clownish dogma on Calvinism, Pietism, Unitarianism, and the management virtuosity of Fuller Seminary and adulterous Willow Creek. Their solemn announcements are junk food for their managers, poison for the members.

ELCA eats up their offal too, but adds papal dressing to make it taste better.

WELS Has Principals But No Principles - Questions About Wisconsin Lutheran High School and Principles

 

"As a WLHS alumnus and conference delegate, I have found this all to be a real head-scratcher. I encourage you to read this and the relevant attached data and try to draw your own conclusions. 

Having done so, I pose the following: If female suffrage and leadership are to be allowed in our Synod, why not go through the proper channels and rescind our existing doctrinal statements at Synod Convention?"

***

"It seems clear that WLHS is intent on deviating from long held doctrine and practice in the Wisconsin Synod. If I understand right, the "headship committee" is selected by the delegates which theoretically could be all female, and thus the headship committee is more for show than anything."

***

WELS always creates clouds of fog to obscure the Scriptures, and dealing with the fog only makes it worse, because of the sect's dishonesty.

The two adverbs in KJV 1 Timothy 2:12 are clear. 

"12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."

The issues are teaching men and taking away authority from men.

Decades ago, the WELS managers (not leaders - they couldn't lead if they wanted to) surrendered to the feminists at Fuller Seminary. Any man attending that joke of a school had to silence himself about feminist demands. If not, those men would be counseled by a team of witches who would set them straight (implied) and kick them out (definitely). Most, if not all of the managers attended Fuller, loved it, and lied about going there. The world missionaries also went there. 

One WELS pastor said, "We have to use Fuller, because they have all the statistics for world missions!"

Moreover, the managers have been working with ELCA for decades, following the same corrupt principles, kissing up to Thrivent, of course.

WELS sent pastors to Willow Creek Community Church, where the senior pastor refused to use Bibles that were NOT feminist and chased women around the altar until he was finally caught and ejected. I recall one Ohio pastor just glowing about what he learned and stated, "We are following what Willow Creek had to say, that the bulletins should say visitors do not have to give during the offering." Free tuition to go! For some reason they never asked me to go to Willow Creek for free. When a pastor's son criticized Willow Creek at the late Northwestern College, the professor said, "Have you been there?!" The answer was "Yes." Change of subject.

Yay Fuller! Yay Willow Creek! Yay Thrivent! Yay ELCA!

Question for the exegetic genius groups in the WELS and LCMS sects - did they vote in the Apostolic Age? Maybe I am distorted by reading ancient history and studying Koine Greek - ongoing, not past tense. 1 Timothy 2:12 perfectly describes the LCMS during its Pentecostal illness. LCMS and WELS are masters or rather mistresses of avoiding the real issues.

Zoom Calendar of Events

 

This is a good example of what was taught before Objective Justification (Walther-Pieper) stole the Gospel and rejected Justification by Faith. I owned two of Fuerbringer's books - he constantly studied Luther's writing, including the Postils.

We had a discussion about Zoom last night and worked on details. I am going to use the chapel computer. 

Today I need to go over the list of active participants, so the email links will provide access to the worship service and Bible study at 10 AM Central, and will begin at 9:30 AM to assure everyone (including me) that it is working. It will remain working until 11:30 AM, which is a bit longer than the time we finish after the Bible study.

The email is the link to the live service, so keep track of that.

The traditional email with an attached Word version of the service will be sent as well, and you will see the service on the Ichabod blog.

The Sunday worship and Bible study will be saved, so that will work for those out West.

PS -

Vimeo will be a backup program since I can get that going in a few minutes, but I do not expect that to happen.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Epiphany 5 Epistle - "Kindness is a virtue not confined to certain works; it modifies the whole life. The kindly person is obliging to everyone, not displeased with any, and is attractive to all men. In contrast are those peculiar characters who have pleasure in nothing but their own conceits..."

 

Complete Epistle Sermon for Epiphany 5 - Colossians 3:12-17. Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

10. These words represent the other elements of Christian character.

Kindness you will find defined in the second epistle lesson for the early Christmas service. It characterizes the conduct of the individual who is gentle and sympathetic to all; who repels none with forbidding countenance, harsh words or rude deportment. We Germans would call such a one affable and friendly disposed. Kindness is a virtue not confined to certain works; it modifies the whole life. The kindly person is obliging to everyone, not displeased with any, and is attractive to all men. In contrast are those peculiar characters who have pleasure in nothing but their own conceits; who insist on others accommodating themselves to them and their ways, while they yield to none. Such individuals are termed “uncivil.”

11. But the liberality of kindness is not to be extended to false doctrine. Only relative to conduct and works is it to be exercised. As oft before stated, love with all its works and fruits has no place in the matter of unsound doctrine. I must love my neighbor and show him kindness whatever the imperfections of his life. But if he refuses to believe or to teach sound doctrine, I cannot, I dare not, love him or show him kindness. According to Paul (Galatians 1:8-9), I must hold him excommunicated and accursed, even though he be an angel from heaven. Thus remarkably do faith and love differ and are distinct. Love will be, must be, kind even to the bitterest enemy so long as he assails not faith and doctrine. But it will not, it cannot, tolerate the individual who does, be it father, mother or dearest friend. Deuteronomy 13:6-8. Love, then, must be exercised, not in relation to the doctrine and faith of our neighbor, but relative to his life and works. Faith, on the contrary, has to do, not with his works and life, but with his doctrine and belief.

12. I think we must know by this time the meaning of “lowliness” of mind — esteeming one’s self least and others greater. As, Christ illustrates it, occupying the lowest seat at the wedding, and this cheerfully. We are to serve even when our service is not desired, and to minister unto our enemies. So Christ humbled himself before Judas the betrayer, and before all of us. He came, not to be served, but to serve. That humbleness of mind is a rare virtue is not to be wondered at, for every Christian grace is a rarity. Particularly are graces lacking with those who, professing to know most of Christ, find something to censure in all Christians. Christianity Paul calls a mystery of God; and it is likely to continue so.

13. “Meekness” is opposed to anger. The meek man is not easily excited to exhibit anger, to curse, smite, hate, or wish evil to any, even an enemy. To refrain thus is an art. Hypocrites — in fact, all the world — can be meek toward friends and those who treat them well. But true meekness and humility will remain only among the elect and beloved saints of God, as Paul here implies. Even among these are many deficient in all, or at least a large part, of the Christian graces. Hypocrites may thus find something to censure, something whereat to be offended, in the beloved, elect saints of God. And the true saints have occasion to exercise mercy, humility, meekness and forbearance. They whom Paul here terms elect and beloved saints of God, though slightly deficient in humility, meekness and forbearance, are not therefore unholy, not rejected and despised.

14. Paul makes a distinction between longsuffering and forbearance, as in Romans 2:4: “Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering?” In “longsuffering” we have the thought here and there expressed by God in the Psalms and elsewhere by the Hebrew “arich apaim” — “slow to wrath.” God patiently bears with evil.

Indeed, he repeatedly delays vengeance, apparently more ready to forgive than to punish, even under extreme provocation and having just reason to chastise. Longsuffering extends farther than patience. Patience bears evil and injustice; but longsuffering delays punishment. It does not design to punish; it would not take hasty revenge. Unlike the revengeful, it wishes no one evil. Many we see, indeed, who suffer much and are patient but at the same time trust in a final avenging. The longsuffering Christian, however, is opposed to revenge, desiring the sinner to amend his ways. “Forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye.”

15. In this verse all law is abolished among Christians. One is not permitted to demand, through process of law, the recovery of his property. He must forgive and yield. Christ’s example enjoins this principle; he has forgiven us. And what is the extent of his forgiveness? He pardons past sins, but that is not all; as John says ( 1 John 2:1-2), “If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteousness and he is the propitiation for our sins.”

16. Note, it is the true Christian saints whom Paul describes, but he looks upon them as infirm to the extent of offending and complaining against one another. This is a state of affairs by no means becoming Christians and saints. So I say Christ’s kingdom is a mystery obscure beyond the power of our preaching and teaching sufficiently to explain. Unbelievers cannot be induced to work, but believers cannot be withheld from working. Some would not believe and some would not love.