ELCA Shrinking: Too Much Church Growth? Or Too Much WELS-ELS-LCMS?

Here is an interesting article on ELCA shrinking.

A major reason is that, in 20 years, the ELCA hasn't achieved a clear identity. Ask anyone what an ELCA Lutheran is - including ELCA Lutherans - and they will be hard pressed to tell you.

Ask someone what a Baptist or a Roman Catholic is and right away, you have a pretty fair idea what those terms mean. Not so with these Lutherans.

Inskeep says one reason is the ELCA never has come to terms with what it takes to live in the modern world. The endless debate about the role of gays and lesbians in the church is an example. Other denominations - Roman Catholics, Reformed, Baptists - have, for better or worse, addressed the issue and moved on.

Tradition also plays a big role. An unspoken commandment: "We've always done it this way. Why change?"

Some ELCA churches are growing and doing well. But Inskeep says overall, 72% of congregations lost worshipers between 2000 and 2006, and the number of churches where less than 50 people worship regularly jumped from 18% in 1988 to 26% in 2005.

Two decades ago, a few observers feared the ELCA would become the "General Motors of Lutheranism."

Turns out they were right, but not in the way they intended.

Lie Down With Dawgs Get Up With Puppies

The WELS-ELS-LCMS combine works with ELCA on a host of religious projects, including worship and evangelism. Look at the links for ELCA's full communion partners:

News from Full Communion Partners Episcopal News Service/Episcopal Life Online Moravian Church in North America Presbyterian News Service Reformed Church in America News United Church of Christ News

Why work with ELCA, WELS leaders? Do they feed your faith?

Why work with ELCA, LCMS leaders? Do they feed your faith?

Why work with ELCA, ELS leaders? Do they feed your faith?

The WELS AnswerMan says no.

In View of Faith

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fruits of UOJ":

Dr. Jackson:

Since you don't agree with the old Synodical Conference on objective justification, what is your position on election? Are you a follower of the "intuitu fidei" theology?

Thank you.

***

GJ - It does not follow that rejecting one false doctrine means embracing another one. I know many are on the lookout for intuitu fidei while comatose about Reformed doctrine and Church Growth marketing madness, not to mention UOJ. I can usually predict where someone is going in an essay when the experts cited are Walther, Pieper, Walther, more Pieper, and a recent seminary professor or two. Daniel Preus has an essay posted where he embraced the magical and non-existent Easter Absolution (from Walther's sermon). Am I the only one to think it strange to base a doctrine on a recent sermon? I know the Methodists do that with Wesley's sermons, but at least they admit how weak they are in doctrine.

"In view of faith" comes from truncating the original formula, that we are saved "by the merits of Christ apprehended by faith." Leaving the merits of Christ out left a phrase "saved in view of faith"

From Thy Strong Word, Justification by Faith:

If the new Lutherans are correct in claiming ancient truths, then their doctrine should be found consistently in dogmatic statements about justification. Error is not proved by its popularity or unpopularity, but we can expect that the central doctrine of Christianity has been taught properly by various church fathers through the ages. However, we can also assume that some statements are misunderstood or distorted in time, perhaps in spite of good intentions or as a result of doctrinal shorthand. The issue “in view of faith” (intuitu fidei) began with a correct statement truncated and repeated until it became institutionalized.[46]

a. Correct – We are saved in view of faith apprehending the merits of Christ.

b. Incorrect – We are saved in view of faith. The shortened version made people think that faith itself saves, as if faith were a virtue or a frame of mind generated by man.

If we are to avoid being tangled in endless disputes about words, we must avoid being wedded to each word of every single dead Lutheran, since our confession rests upon the Scriptures as the ruling norm of faith (norma normans) and the Book of Concord as the norm ruled by the Scriptures (norma normata).


The false view was promoted by the catechism of Erik Pontippidan (1698-1764), the same catechism used later to justify the Church of the Lutheran Confession’s “holy self-love” doctrine. Pontippidan was a Danish-Norwegian Pietist. The truncated “in view of faith” issue led to the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in 1918 when the majority of Norwegian Lutherans merged by compromising on this topic. In time, “in view of faith,” became the majority view in the larger Norwegian Lutheran Church. The larger Norwegian church eventually became part of the ELCA.

I have not involved myself in denominational history for some time, so feel free to correct me if I am rusty on the details.

I was asked about this in WELS colloquy, but I should have questioned the people questioning me. Professor Brug has supported the Church Growth Movement and women's ordination (women's ordination in the Quarterly, no less). DP Mueller supported Church Growth, stealth missions, but rejected the Sixth Commandment as obsolete in practice.

Fruits of UOJ

Universal Objective Justification (grace without the Means of Grace) bears fruit, in a manner of speaking.

The UOJ Gestapo police the synods and discussion boards so they can attack anyone who questions their toxic opinions. They do not defend their notions because they cannot.

UOJ fanatics are always angry. If they found peace in their apostasy, they would be mellow instead of agitated, furious, and spiteful.

UOJ is like mercury, a heavy metal that attaches itself to gold and silver. When the UOJ leaders speak about justification, they are promising gold and silver while offerig a heavy metal poison.

KJV John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

In contrast, to John 3:36, which UOJ fanatics cannot answer, the Wisconsin Synod ran a failed evangelism campaign where they said, "I am saved, just like you" to everyone - via banners, etc. Luther said that proclaiming the Gospel without the Law will make someone stare at you the way a cow looks at a newly painted fence. If there is no knowledge of sin, there is no need for forgiveness.

On LutherQuest (sic) one UOJ fanatic claimed that he told this to people who confessed their sins, "You were forgiven before you came in here." What a powerful motivation for all kinds of evil!

"In like manner Moses must precede and teach people to feel their sins in order that grace may be sweet and welcome to them. Therefore all is in vain, however friendly and lovely Christ may be pictured, if man is not first humbled by a knowledge of himself and he possesses no longing for Christ, as Mary's Song says, 'The hungry he hath filled with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away,' Luke 1:53."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 149. Matthew 15:21-28; Luke 1:53.


One District Pope told his adulterous VP pal, "You are forgiven and I will lie for you, as you requested."

UOJ lends itself to complete doctrinal apathy. Take away the Means of Grace and all denominations are much the same. Look around at the Lutheran synods. They let Pentecostalism and Evangelicalism run rampant. They work gladly and continuously with the Universalist-Unitarian-papal ELCA leaders. But these same synodical leaders have no forgiveness for those who doubt that everyone is forgiven already. WELS says everyone in Hell has the status of a saint, but WELS damns anyone who questions this bizarre opinion.

To Justify Believers
"The Third Article the adversaries approve, in which we confess that there are in Christ two natures, namely, a human nature, assumed by the Word into the unity of His person; and that the same Christ suffered and died to reconcile the Father to us; and that He was raised again to reign, and to justify and sanctify believers, etc., according to the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed."
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, III. #52. Of Christ, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 119. Romans 4:25; 2 Corinthians 5:19ff. Tappert, p. 107. Heiser, p. 32.

UOJ Filter - Very Useful
"They [the false teachers] fared like a man who looks through a colored glass. Put before such a man whatever color you please, he sees no other color than that of the glass. The fault is not that the right color is not put before him but that his glass is colored differently, as the word of Is. 6:9 puts it: You will see, he says, and yet you will not see it."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 644. Isaiah 6:9.

Can Bivens, Valleskey, Wayne Mueller Say This?
"The apostle says 'our,' 'our sins;' not his own sin, not the sins of unbelievers. Purification is not for, and cannot profit, him who does not believe. Nor did Christ effect the cleansing by our free-will, our reason or power, our works, our contrition or repentance, these all being worthless in the sight of God; he effects it by himself. And how? By taking our sins upon himself on the holy cross, as Isaiah 53:6 tells us."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VI, p. 180. Hebrews 1:1-12; Hebrews 1:3.

Two Roads Diverged in the Wood and I

There are two types of church people, whether they are clergy or laity. The normal division (clergy and laity) is all wrong.

The two estates really are:
1. Political.
2. Apolitical.

The political clergy and laity do a lot of posturing, but they will never endanger their perks by taking a stand on anything. They are constantly apologizing for the synod, defending error, attacking anyone who questions His Holiness the District Pope, His Eminence the Circuit Pope, or His Awesomeness the Synod Pope.

They have their recognition signs, so the other politicians know they are safe. They will say:
A. "That could be interpreted correctly" (when a blatant false doctrine is mentioned).
B. "That is one of the g - r - e - y areas of Scripture." It is important to draw out the word grey, to show how absolutely ambiguous the Word of God is. In fact, God is so unclear that it will take a synodical commission several years and $10,000 to figure out one verse.
C. "Do you have proof of that?" - then they quickly change the subject when the proof is offered. The ability to change the subject in two shakes of a lamb's tail is greatly admired by all who covet a higher office.
D. "Are you equating the Book of Concord with the Word of God?" This howler was forged in the dark recesses of Vice Pope Kuske's mind, useful for any mention of the Confessions, which the Wisconsin Synod rejects. Such statements are more powerfully communicated with a red face and quivering jowls.

The political laity are eager to serve as synod minders. They are picked because they are safe, reliable, and quick to report to the synod. The more unstable a lay-minder is, the more valuable he or she is to the synod. Influence only seems to work one way today. If someone has a powerful friend or relative in the synod structure, that only seems to work against the faithful. Powerful lay-dad will pound his pastor-son into conformity with the synod - instead of son-pastor influencing his father to straighten things out. That is why the synods love corporate types on committees, commissions, and appeal boards. Corporate types know how to pivot, duck, weave, conform, and knuckle under. If they do not, they can be out-maneuvered by others and ousted for having a bad attitude.

The more political the laity or clergy, the less studious the individual is. The more political they are, the more they will be advanced in the synod structure.

The political ones are always on email or the phone. They do as little parish work as possible and cannot wait to escape it forever. Far better to be the visiting bigshot, giving the same sermon (for extra cash) at Steam Corners, Ohio or Buffalo Chip, Kansas.

Meanwhile the apolitical study, preach, teach, and visit. They are the true workers of the Kingdom, the poorest paid, the least regarded. They alone are worthy of double honor (double pay in Greek).

KJV 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

***

Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.

The Road Not Taken


TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

My Walther Idol

Somebody made little statues of Walther for Christian News to sell. I got one for free. The statue sits overlooking my computer, a good replacement for St. Christopher, who was erased by the Church of Rome.

I do not have a quia subscription to the writings of Walther (or Luther, for that matter). Walther had some good points, but he was completely wrong about UOJ. Unfortunately, many pastors and some laity are still messed up over UOJ - forgiveness without faith, without the Word, without the Means of Grace.

Nevertheless, some of Walther's sayings are good and worth following:

1. The nearer to Luther, the better the theologian. Notice that the Church Growth leaders and the crpto-Catholics are united in avoiding Luther. The Reformer is the greatest theologian of all time because of his integrated knowledge of the Bible, church history, and literatue. His unified view of the Bible is enough by itself to make him one of the greats in theology, but God granted him an overflowing of talent in church history, literature, and music as well.
   
2. Not many, but much. That means - Do not read all the books, but a few books over and over. The older I get, the less I want to read all the new books in theology, the more I want to re-read the best books of the past. I never tire of Luther's sermons. When I finish reading one of his sermons to my wife and write my own, people email me: "That was a great sermon." Pastors and laity would do well to lay aside most books and read the KJV (or a version thereof), the Book of Concord, Luther's Sermons, What Luther Says, Chemniz Examination of the Council of Trent. Synod leaders should be studying instead of traveling around the world at the expense of members who cannot afford such luxuries.
   
3. Attend to your reading. All pastors and synod leaders must be "apt to teach." They must study. Augustine is the foundational theologian for the Church. His City of God and Confessions permeate all theology. City of God is more of an encyclopedia, not a book to read through. People who appreciate Luther will see how much of Augustine is in Luther's thought.

The Artist for Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant

Norma Boeckler, the artist for Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant, has her own art website:

Norma Boeckler

She designed the entire website for Jesus, Lord of Creation. Her art illustrates the book and the website:

Jesus, Lord of Creation

She lives in Midland, Michigan, so you may be able to see her work at various art fairs and galleries around the state.

Doctrinal Discipline: LCMS Style

I knew about the Kokomo Statements before I joined WELS, but they were never discussed afterwards. When I was in Panning's Romans class (Mequon) I do not recall him insisting that "God has declared the whole world forgiven." At the Hartman farm I learned Panning was on the appeal committee for Kokomo. The families spoke well of him.

So, after five years of WELS Church Growth and adulterous pastors, I resigned and joined a Missouri congregation recommended by Herman Otten. I got to know Larry Darby and his family at Trinity Bridgeton, Missouri. He was on a board at Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne, at one point. Larry ran into the Kokomo Statements and began studying them. At first Pastor Bischoff agreed that UOJ was poppycock. Read the UOJ quotations on this blog and judge for yourself.

Soon Bischoff changed sides. The UOJ Gestapo came out in force. They kicked out Larry, his wife and children. I wrote to an elder, asking him, "In your role as the Torquemada of Trinity, what made you think this little girl deserved excommunication?" The result of my innocent question was a refusal by Trinity to give money to Christian News because Otten printed my articles.

Darby and I agreed about the fallacy of UOJ, but he went his own way with doctrine. Thereafter I heard he was my disciple or I was his. Liars never tire of their lies. The UOJ people are especially fiendish.

I learned that Paul McCain got involved with Trinity. He sent a "confidential" letter to Bischoff, which was read to the members of Trinity. Then McCain did his best to distance himself from that letter. I heard I was mentioned in McCain's letter, so I asked him for a copy. No response at all.

I have two letters sent by McCain. One is dated January 3, 1995. The second letter from McCain states:

Therefore, in light of its inappropriate use by Pastor Bischoff, and in light of the apparent harm which Pastor Bischoff's reading of my letter caused, I want it clearly understood that I wholeheartedly retract my letter. Therefore, my letter must have no bearing on your congregation's decisions in regard to any member, present or former, nor should it every (sic) had any such influence.

Darby added this note to the copy of the letter:

Gregg - He slams you also in his so-called confidential letter - says you contributed to my "fall from truth." I can't send a copy on advice of lawyer. L.D.

Thus a minister is inflated by being a campaign manager for the synod president, after having an M.Div. and three years parish experience on his resume.

Meanwhile - Who Was Watching DP Benke?

During the time (roughly) that McCain was meddling in Trinity's affairs and pronouncing judgment in a most underhanded way, who was watching DP Benke?

The office of Synodical Pope should begin and end with supervision of doctrine, yet everyone admits Barry did nothing about DP Benke's earlier crimes. McCain-Barry dodged their duty and left it to Wally Schulz to discipline Benke, leading to Schulz' being fired from The Lutheran Hour (as I predicted).

Religious Tolerance has a brief summary of the Yankee Stadium incident.

Doubtless McCain is burning with wrath against DP Benke, for worship with all kinds of religion at Yankee Stadium. Not at all. In his capacity as Number Two at Concordia Publishing House, McCain is soliciting a book from Benke.

I wonder if McCain has ever written to DP Benke, the Apostate, "I feel sorry for you."

Dividends from Dishonesty

The various synods are reaping dividends from their decades of dishonesty. The organizations are not run with integrity, and they are not Lutheran.

One successful businessman left the Lutheran Church. He said, "Synod officials make sure the Scriptures are not being followed."

When I was in the Michigan District, WELS, two members of the praesidium were engaged in adultery. One was promoted to an administrative position, his adultery covered over with a smokescreen of lies. The other one left with "all the divorced women in the church bawling their eyes out."

When District Popes like Janke (WELS) oust faithful pastors from the ministry, they start a series of reactions that will be felt for generations to come. The pastor's family is completely disrupted and disgusted. Will the children take up church vocations, knowing the sacrifices of their parents have been regarded as worth nothing?

When Pope John the Malefactor (ELS) tosses pastors and congregations around like wooden soldiers in a toy-bin, what does that do for trust? Because synods have taught synod-worship and fidelity to their popes/antichrists, people think they have lost the Kingdom of God when they are shunned by the synod.

People have told me how they became non-persons after their excommunication for daring to say the synod was less than perfect. One seminary student got the finger from his seminary professor.

Luther advised that it was good when church people disappoint us, because it shows we should trust in God's Word alone. Unfortunately, the poverty of Lutheran training has left people weak in faith. When every church or synod anniversary is labeled "Grace Triumphant" rather than "Bumblers Survive," people think grace comes from the institution, not from the Means of Grace.

Notice how adroitly the LCMS-ELS-WELS combine took away the Means of Grace in the last 30 years and substituted secular marketing from Fuller Seminary. Now if someone doubts their beloved Church Growth Movement, the synods react with fury. That is why nothing is ever said and errors continue to grow.

Where is David Jay Webber (ELS), the Lion of Scottsdale? He wants all the heretics punished, as long as someone else does the work for him.

Where is Kincaid Smith (ELS), God's Pitbull? Smith learned early that questioning Carl Mischke for meeting with ELCA (Snowbird Conference) was enough to bring on the WELS Ice Age. Mischke refused to endorse What's Going On Among the Lutherans? because of Kincaid's folly. So, instead of a version of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, we got Rev. Smith Bows to Milwaukee.

Please do not say, "There is no discpline anymore.: There is plenty of discipline, all aimed at those who are faithful to the Confessions. As their predecessors used to say in concert, "Anathema sit! Anathema sit! Anathema sit!"

Pope John the Malefactor - On the Road Again

Pope John the Malefactor is taking a trip to Ukraine, only a few months after his syond-paid trip to Korea. The Little Sect on the Prairie must be a rich synod, to lose so much in offerings from kicking out congregations and pastors - and yet to afford so much international travel for His Holiness.

On the Road Again (with apologies to Willie Nelson)

Got a mission trip
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The synod life is spendin' money with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again
Got a mission trip
Goin' places that you've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again,
And I can't wait to spend your offerings again.

Got a mission trip
Like a band of bishops we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world is turnin' our way
And our way
Is on a mission trip.
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is spendin' money with my friends
And I can't wait to get on a mission trip.

Ludwig Fuerbringer, an earlier president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, said he refused to take trips because they took him away from his studies. If only synodical leaders would attend to their studies today!

Use the Labels

The labels at the bottom of each post are good for finding similar posts. Look at the label list on the left side. Clicking on a given topic will list every single post with that label.

If there are a number of verbatim quotations on a post, it is labeled quotes.

Is Fuller Seminary Next?

WELS AnswerMan may be showing symptoms of Lutheran doctrine:

Q: I have been invited to attend a Women of Faith conference. According to their website they are an Interdenominational women's ministry committed to helping women of all faiths, backgrounds, age groups, and nationalities grow emotionally and spiritually. How does WELS feel about attending such conferences?

-----------------------------------------------

A: "Interdenominational" in effect means that they agree to disagree on doctrines of the Bible which they do not regard as essential. In reality, "interdenominational" usually means a kind of non-Lutheran, non-sacramental Evangelicalism. We can't feed our faith with teaching that is deliberately diluted.

Ichabod wonders - cannot the same be said of Fuller Seminary, Willow Creek Community Church, Trinity Deerfield, and InterVarsity Press? Obviously the faith of such Church Growth heroes as - Wayne Mueller, Lawrence Olson, James Huebner, Ron Roth, Frosty Bivens, David Valleskey, Wally Oelhaven, Fred Adrian, and their mentor Floyd Luther Stolzenburg - has not been fed, but starved.

The Love Shack has been running on this mish-mash of Pentecostal-Evangelicalism for decades. Why deny it to the women?

I call WELS headquarters The Love Shack because the heretics therein think they can convert people with love. Luther said that the Word, not love, converts the unbeliever to Christ.

***

WELS Statistics Down Again,
September FIC

Page 24: NEWS: WELS membership declining. That's the headline. We learn WELS, between 1990 and 2006, has lost 25,449 souls. But only 5,743 were communicants. Maybe not so oddly, 19,706 were non-communicants. Some 162,942 children and adults were confirmed in those 16 years (mostly children by about 10:6), but more than 150,000 were released either by removal or by request. This is a colorful recap of the stats on the website complete with pretty bar charts.

Vote the Poll - Bottom of Page

Vote in the poll at the bottom of the page. Six days are left.

Following WELS standards, all results will be ignored, unless they fit my agenda.

How the Wisconsin Deals with Its Scandals

The GOP has its senator problem at the moment. Next year we will have all forgotten his name.

How does the Wisconsin Synod deal with its scandals? Here is a recent example.

The word got out that a pastor was committing adultery out West - nothing was being done. In most Bibles there is a commandment against adultery, but not in the WNIV (WELS New Ignorance Version). A reporter went up to SP Gurgel at the convention and asked him about this scandal.

WELS went into "pound the leaker" mode, interrogating various people. One pastor even asked me, "Did you tell the reporter?" He was friendly, but intrigued.

1. I do not deal with reporters. They are probably more drunken and adulterous than the WELS ministerium. That bad? Probably.
2. I had no direct knowledge of the situation. I heard of the name from a layman, the non-discipline, but that's all. The laity know. The pastors know. The DP does nothing. The old SP wants to find the leaker. That is WELS discipline.
3. DP Janke, for example, has driven six pastors out of the ministry. I know of two cases where it was pure spite. Janke was second in the race for SP (but nowhere close).

WELS leaders - you can fool the ignorant, but that number is diminishing fast. Everyone has email, even the blue-haired great-grannies. And the clergy have their own group email lists. The faster you thugs lie, the faster people find it out.

Even if you could fool everyone for a few more years, God will not bless your corruption. God has not blessed any of your schemes.

Ichabod prediction - WELS attempts to stop the gushers of red ink will get nowhere until there is a concerted drive to deal with false teachers and predatory clergy (often the same names).

PS - A. Nony Mouse is offended that I did not name the clergy adulterer. There are three sins in WELS:
1. Not naming names.
2. Naming names.
3. Suggsting that Holy Mother WELS is less than perfect.

Herr Mouse is full of suggestions. He wants me to name names, but he never gives his. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Are They the Same Person?

When Karl Rove resigned as Bush's political advisor, I was struck by his resemblance to Paul McCain.

God-Willing Schedule for Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant

Earlier this year my teaching schedule slowed down, so I rewrote Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant, using the original as the base. The final version is virtually ready to go. This second edition is 99% like the first one, with some changes for clarification and adult/youth class use. Norma Boeckler has contributed her artistic skills to this version. I had excellent editorial assistance from laity and pastors.

During the last year I began scouting for work to balance the ups and downs of teaching. I decided to return to insurance sales while limiting when and where I taught. That change took a little time and energy; then my main school threw a bunch of courses at me all at once. And, a new school asked me to teach New Testament history online (and learn a new technology for online). That was hard to resist.

In last few years I have taught several thousand students all over the world. They do not seem to have suffered. My school picked me to show other professors how to teach - and to introduce new students to the college. Both distinctions are limited to very few professors. Still, the schedule is theirs and not mine, so complications arise with my wife's care.

Mrs. Ichabod has been quite ill during this time, first with Valley Fever, which can be deadly. Then with cardiac failure and other problems. She has been at one or another hospital four times in the last week. So the following schedule is a God-willing one, as all schedules are.

I hope to get CLP ready for Lulu.com publishing this weekend. That will give me an ISBN number, which I need for regular printing. Since Christian News wants to sell it, I will also have my Michigan printer produce copies. If all goes well, copies should be available toward the end of September.

I plan to publish and re-publish other books through Lulu.com. I can also publish supplemental material for CLP at Lulu.com and at the Martin Chemnitz Press blog.

New Poll Started - See Bottom of Page

To make Ichabod more scientific, a poll has been added at the bottom of the page.

Anony-mouse has left a new comment on your post "New Poll Started - See Bottom of Page":

I enjoy the fact that you've worded the poll so that any answer ultimately fits your predetermined viewpoint. Very scientific. The professional pollsters couldn't have done it any better.

GJ - I followed the scientific model of WELS for amalgamation (die dreckische Anschluss):
1. WELS had district conventions vote on amalgamation, closing down Northwestern College. The districts voted against it.
2. WELS sent out a mail survey. The responders voted against it.
3. WELS had a national convention narrowly defeat amalgamation, so WELS reported it as a victory and went ahead.
4. WELS insisted that the districts had to amen their plans, going ahead with construction before the WELS constitution was followed in having district conventions approve the decision.

Bailing Water Is Back

Bailing Water is back. Just click on the embedded link.

Bailing Water is written by a WELS layman. The Fiends will do everything possible to shut him down. They are already murmuring about the 8th Commandment! Telling the truth about published false doctrine and public false practice (a little girl preaching to a congregation) - those are not violations of the 8th Commandment. Falsely accusing people of slander is a violation!

History of Bailing Water: Aaron Peders a WELS delegate started the post after the WELS cut his imprint blog on wels.net. After about a week he just disappeared. Then a guy named Jared took up the site. He wanted to mostly receive posts about MLS. But he then dropped it this weekend. Another person is now the blogger.

***

One person was very mocking toward me when I showed how a WELS pastor copied Presbyterian and Baptism sermons (bad ones at that) and claimed them as his own on his church website. This anonymous person wanted to know if I had talked to the plagiarist. My question would be - has the District Pope? That is illegal - to claim someone else's work as his own. Yet the WELS CG pastors do it with impunity.

Thou shalt not steal - that's a commandment too.

***

Anony-mouse had this seething comment, which - according to his logic - I wrote:

Greg, I wouldn't be surprised if you posted your own comments on your blog. You make all these accusations and start all these rumors, but you offer no proof, no names, no documentation (such as the "WELS Curia" still trying to close MLS, or the pastor who used Baptist sermons, etc.) Nothing has really changed since your days on the pages of Christian News, has it Greg? I really feel sorry for the poor souls who take everything you say as gospel truth. I would only hope they could really get to know you and what kind of "professor" and "pastor" you really are, before it's too late for them.

No documentation about plagiarizing the Baptists? I copied the "WELS" sermon and the Baptist sermon, the "WELS" sermon and the Presbyterian sermon. All posted.

If you want to know what Michigan District pastors are thinking, ask them. My source is from the Michigan District, WELS.

I am the same person. I document the facts while cowardly synod minders attack anonymously. You only hurt yourself, Anony-mouse. You are angry, full of false ideas, and probably potty-trained at gunpoint.

I appreciate the opposition, Anony-mouse. I sign my material, unlike you. I document with verbatim quotations and my eye-witness experiences, such as talking to the Kokomo excommunicants. I have published many books and hundreds of articles in 30 plus periodicals. I have earned six degrees from accredited institutions most people have heard about, so I must know something.

Here are some recent comments, sent by email and signed:
WELS pastor - "I love Ichabod. I read it every day."
WELS layman - "Time will tell. we think you deserve alot of credit for bringing issues to the attention of many. And that's putting it mildly."

WELS Curia Still Trying to Close Michigan Lutheran

This just in - from one source in the Michigan District, Diablo.

WELS pastors in the Michigan District are furious because The Love Shack is once again trying to close Michigan Lutheran Seminary, in spite of the convention vote and the election of Luther Prep president Schroeder.

Grow up, boys. Convention votes mean nothing unless they support the apostate wing of the synod. Then they are Law, the very oracles of God. The unelected Curia will continue to protect their salaries. That is how so much money disappeared. Designated funds were decimated to pay their generous salaries and benefits.

I thought the news was rather slow in coming. The new Synodical President will need the support of pastors and laity if he is going to accomplish anything.

The one and only issue is doctrine, not money, not schools. A genuine effort to study and renew sound Lutheran doctrine would boost every area of the synod.

ELCA Silent 12 Days after Convention

The ELCA News Archives have been as quiet as the library at Mequon, ever since the convention. That's surprising: ELCA normally puts out daily
the latest news on a host of topics.

ELCA pastors at ALPB Online were hoping no one noticed the vote to keep bishops from disciplining homosexual and lesbian couples in the parsonage. All the wire services noticed. LCMS SP Kieschnick noticed and frowned. No gratitude! ELCA communed Kieschnick and yet he posted an objection to the ELCA convention decision.

Correction. ELCA did post some news after the convention, but precious little. That could mark vacation time or everyone hiding under the desk to survive the incoming artillery barrage.

NAE
Meanwhile, Ted Haggard, the former National Association of Evangelicals president, has moved to Phoenix and enrolled at the University of Phoenix. His wife has moved with him to Phoenix and has also enrolled at UOP, both in the master's program. He will be in counseling. The announcements did not mention the whereabouts of his boyfriend. In spite of his enormous salary before he resigned, Ted has sent out an appeal for funds from his followers.

Anonymous Wants To Know More About UOJ

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "UOJ - No Wonder WELS Loves Willow Creek":

1. For the benefit of your newer readers, could you briefly restate your position on justification? How do you define justification? In your view, when and how does it occur?

2. Both the Beckman and Zarling papers state that the Kokomo statements are inadequate representations of the doctrine of objective justification as interpreted by WELS. The statements were taken out of context from the Meyer book, and became a sort of de facto "litmus test" during the controversy. Are they really still used by WELS today?

Thanks for the clarification.

***

The Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions are very clear about justification by faith. The Holy Spirit works through the Gospel to plant faith in the hearts of those who hear the message (including infants being baptized). Faith receives the Promises of God and the blessings offered: forgiveness of sin, the fruits of the Spirit, eternal life.

Faith is not the cause of salvation. Faith is the result of Gospel proclamation. The statement below is a perfect expression of what I believe and a complete repudiation of UOJ and its bastard child, the Church Growth Movement.

"On the one hand, it is true that both the preacher's planting and watering and the hearer's running and willing would be in vain, and no conversion would follow, if there were not added the power and operation of the Holy Spirit, who through the Word preached and heard illuminates and converts hearts so that men believe this Word and give their assent to it. On the other hand, neither the preacher nor the hearer should question this grace and operation of the Holy Spirit, but should be certain that, when the Word of God is preached, pure and unalloyed according to God's command and will, and when the people diligently and earnestly listen to and meditate on it, God is certainly present with his grace and gives what man is unable by his own powers to take or to give. We should not and cannot pass judgment on the Holy Spirit's presence, operations and gifts merely on the basis of our feeling..."
Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article II, Free
Will, 55-56, The Book of Concord, ed. Theodore G. Tappert, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1959, p. 531f.

***

Obfuscation by WELS

WELS is both for and against its own position, depending on the audience. Another exponent of ambiguition on justification is Rolf Preus, who switches back and forth with regularity.

Any quotation or paraphrase that reveals the real WELS is "taken out of context." Long verbatim quotations are "taken out of context." UOJ is the constant drumbeat of WELS today, but Meyers-Kokomo is "taken out of context." Every so often FIC will repeat the false doctrine of God declaring the whole world righteous, free of sin.

I know of a WELS pastor who periodically grills a member on whether that person adheres to the Kokomo Statements.

UOJ is taught in the ELS (Pope John the Malefactor), LCMS (early Robert Preus, but repudiated in his last book), and above all - in ELCA. UOJ is Universalism in another dress.

UOJ - No Wonder WELS Loves Willow Creek

Sometimes I reject comments so I can feature them rather than have them appear as pop-ups. Here are two useful ones because they link to WELS documents on Universal Objective Justification.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Justification by Faith":

N.B.

http://www.wlsessays.net/authors/XYZ/ZarlingJustification/

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Ask Luther about UOJ":

Read this for a clearer understanding of the actual WELS position on universal or objective justification:

http://wlsessays.net/authors/B/BeckmanUniversal/

***

Both essays are shallow, but the Beckman one is worse. They were both inspired by the Kokomo incident, where Pastor Papenfuss (his real name) dumped UOJ on the congregation.

I was at the Hartman farm and spoke to both families excommunicated from WELS for believing in justification by faith. I asked for xeroxes of the letters that were sent to them. I told you before - I have been everywhere.

There has been considerable lying about the Kokomo statements. WELS teaches them more ardently than any other synod, but WELS also tries to distance itself from those statements. Sometimes their finger-puppets in the CLC will echo their deceptions about Kokomo. If you click on the UOJ label or look up the justification chapter of Thy Strong Word, you will find more material than you can ever digest on UOJ.

The essays cited above are typical WELS productions. They pretend to deal with the Scriptures (Wauwatosa style) but really start and end with recent Wisconsin Synod teachers and books, especially Meyer's pathetic Ministers of Christ (no longer published by WELS) and Sig Becker's material.

Although WELS both denies and admits it, the first three Kokomo statements are from Meyer's Ministers of Christ. The fourth Kokomo Statement can be found in earlier conflicts about UOJ, which erupted from the Pietists in the 19th century.

UOJ is nowhere to be found in the Book of Concord or the Scriptures. WELS-LCMS-ELS-CLC can quote UOJ sources - all derived from the Pieper crowd. Their legitimate quotations from Luther, the Book of Concord, Romans, Corinthians, are about the atonement of Christ. He died for the sins of the world.

J. P. Meyer taught forever at Mequon. They were still talking about the "Meyer dog notes" in the 1980's. Seminarians keep their notes and wrote the conference papers from them. No wonder:
1. They cannot debate doctrinal issues.
2. The same false doctrines get recycled endlessly.

The Church of Rome has nothing on WELS in the category of infallibility. No Wisconsin Synod leader has ever been wrong. Any false doctrine (like Manufacturing Disciples) can be established by having a couple of synod hacks write a paper. The Book of Concord? WELS is not bound by it. The Word of God? WELS will advise God on what He should have said.

ELCA's The Lutheran

GJ - Could this also be true of Forward in Chicken Soup for the Soul and The Lutheran Witless?

Fair and Balanced at The Lutheran « on: August 03, 2007, 02:37:47 PM »

----------------------------------
I listened very intently during the Central States Synod assembly early June as the new editor of The Lutheran, Daniel Lehmann, made an impassioned pitch for his magazine. The Lutheran is down to something just slightly over 300,000 readers. This is from a high in 1988 of about 1.5 million. (Seems like everything in the ELCA is down.) Lehmann, who comes from a secular newspaper background, was pretty candid as to why readership is approaching zilch. Declining congregational finances means the "every-member subscription plan" is a ready target for budget cutting bean-counters. That's true, and it may even be the major factor in the wholesale decline in readership.

Equally, though, somewhat to my surprise, he made reference to the "liberal bias" of the magazine as another turn-off factor. This was done somewhat off-handedly, a kind of "by-the-by" note. But his comments following that indicated he intended the comment as more than "by-the-by," because he went on to invoke the Fox News mantra. He promised news reporting under his editorship at The Lutheran would be - are you ready - "fair and balanced."

He explained a distinction between "news" and "commentary." News is news and carries no bias. It's straight reporting. Commentary, though, is frequently - even necessarily - opinionated. One may hope for an informed opinion, but at the end of the day, it is opinion. He didn't say it, but I will, news may also properly report opinion, but to properly retain the designation of "news," opposite opinion must also be referenced. "Fair and balanced" = fair reporting on diversity and equal space for both.

With this in mind, haul yourself back to the recent August issue (those of you still among the faithful 300.000), turn quickly to page 51, and read the "news" item "Discipline upheld, pastor defrocked."

There are four paragraphs reporting the action of the disciplinary appeals committee regarding the Bradley Schmeling case in Atlanta. The news here is simple, factual, informative. So far, so good. The fifth paragraph, though, is devoted to a lengthy quotation from Emily Eastwood, identified as the executive director of Lutherans Concerned, "a group that works for the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Lutherans in the church." She describes the outcome of the appeal as "what happens when human law becomes an end to itself." The ELCA "judicial process," she says, is "an ecclesiastical dry hole." She promises that "LGBT Lutherans and their allies . . . will not relent until justice and mercy prevail."

There is no sixth paragraph to argue for the appeals decision, no quotations asserting that no one is "excluded" from the church. Absent that, a sharp-eyed news editor should have excluded Ms. Eastwood's remarks from the article, and news of the appeals decision reported, uh, straight.

Personally, I think it is a shame that readership of The Lutheran has fallen so alarmingly. I seldom like everything I read in it. (Oh, hell, some issues I don't like anything in it at all, ever.) But it remains still the best source for knowing what's up with the ELCA, and why. I have written for The Lutheran in the past; I expect I shall write for it in the future. I genuinely believe Mr. Lehmann will make every effort to produce a magazine that fairly represents both sides of an issue.

Yet, equally, I also believe he needs a staff - a good news editor - who can distinguish news from sheer propaganda masquerading as news. Of course, he's still new to the job. As time passes, he may figure that out for himself.

ALPB Discussion Forum

« Last Edit: August 03, 2007, 02:39:25 PM by Russ Saltzman » Logged

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Russell E Saltzman
former editor, Forum Letter

Where UOJ Leads

Gospel reductionism is UOJ. This is where it leads:

I was surprised when our beloved moderator informed me, some months back, that numerous congregations in his neck of the woods were routinely and intentionally inviting the unbaptized to receive communion. I guess I should not be surprised to hear that some reserve the use of the creeds for an occasional high holy day, but I am. I hope that this was not a group preparing to go to the churchwide assembly. Are there still any here who deny that there is more than one faith being taught in the ELCA?

Mel Harris (truly a dinosaur)

ALPB Online Discussion

Ask Luther about UOJ

"It is a faithful saying that Christ has accomplished everything, has removed sin and overcome every enemy, so that through Him we are lords over all things. But the treasure lies yet in one pile; it is not yet distributed nor invested. Consequently, if we are to possess it, the Holy Spirit must come and teach our hearts to believe and say: I, too, am one of those who are to have this treasure. When we feel that God has thus helped us and given the treasure to us, everything goes well, and it cannot be otherwise than that man's heart rejoices in God and lifts itself up, saying: Dear Father, if it is Thy will to show toward me such great love and faithfulness, which I cannot fully fathom, then will I also love Thee with all my heart and be joyful, and cheerfully do what pleases Thee. Thus, the heart does not now look at God with evil eyes, does not imagine He will cast us into hell, as it did before the Holy Spirit came...."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 279. Pentecost Sunday. John 14:23-31.

"But outside of this Christian Church, where the Gospel is not, there is no forgiveness, as also there can be no holiness [sanctification]. Therefore all who seek and wish to merit holiness [sanctification], not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but by their works, have expelled and severed themselves [from this Church]."
The Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III, #56, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 693. Tappert, p. 418. Heiser, p. 195.

Justification by Faith

Justification by Faith? or
Justification Without Faith (UOJ)?

"For neither you nor I could ever know anything of Christ, or believe on Him, and obtain Him for our Lord, unless it were offered to us and granted to our hearts by the Holy Ghost through the preaching of the Gospel. The work is done and accomplished; for Christ has acquired and gained the treasure for us by His suffering, death, resurrection, etc. But if the work remained concealed so that no one knew of it, then it would be in vain and lost. That this treasure, therefore, might not lie buried, but be appropriated and enjoyed, God has caused the Word to go forth and be proclaimed, in which He gives the Holy Ghost to bring this treasure home and appropriate it to us. Therefore sanctifying is nothing else than bringing us to Christ to receive this good, to which we could not attain ourselves."
The Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III, #38, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 689. Tappert, p. 415. Heiser, p. 194.


"Moreover, neither contrition nor love or any other virtue, but faith alone is the sole means and instrument by which and through which we can receive and accept the grace of God, the merit of Christ, and the forgiveness of sins, which are offered us in the promise of the Gospel."
Formula of Concord, Thorough Declaration, III. #31. Of the Righteous of Faith before God. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 925. Tappert, p. 544. Heiser, p. 252.

"Moreover, neither contrition nor love or any other virtue, but faith alone is the sole means and instrument by which and through which we can receive and accept the grace of God, the merit of Christ, and the forgiveness of sins, which are offered us in the promise of the Gospel."
Formula of Concord, Thorough Declaration, III. #31. Of the Righteous of Faith before God. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 925. Tappert, p. 544. Heiser, p. 252.

"Yet these exercises of faith always presuppose, as their foundation, that God is reconciled by faith, and to this they are always led back, so that faith may be certain and the promise sure in regard to these other objects. This explanation is confirmed by the brilliant statement of Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:20: 'All the promises of God in Christ are yea and amen, to the glory of God through us,' that is, the promises concerning other objects of faith have only then been ratified for us when by faith in Christ we are reconciled with God. The promises have been made valid on the condition that they must give glory to God through us."
Martin Chemnitz, Loci Theologici, 2 vols., trans. J. A. O. Preus, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1989, II, p. 495. 2 Corinthians 1:20.

"For we are not justified because of our faith (propter fidem), in the sense of faith being a virtue or good work on our part. Thus we pray, as did the man in Mark 9:24: 'I believe, Lord; help my unbelief'; and with the apostles: 'Lord, increase our faith,' Luke 17:5."
Martin Chemnitz, Loci Theologici, 2 vols., trans. J. A. O. Preus, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1989, II, p. 506 Mark 9:24; Luke 17:5.

"The entire Scripture testifies that the merits of Christ are received in no other way than through faith, not to mention that it is impossible to please God without faith, Hebrews 11:6, let alone to be received into eternal life. In general, St. Paul concludes concerning this [matter] in Romans 3:28: Thus we hold then that a man becomes righteous without the works of the Law—only through faith."
Johann Gerhard, A Comprehensive Explanation of Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper, 1610, ed. D. Berger, J. Heiser, Malone, Texas: Repristination Press, 2000, p. 165.

UOJ Classics

"The doctrine of universal justification is often ridiculed with the argument that if God really forgives sins prior to faith then the Lutheran doctrine of justification by faith becomes meaningless. Such conclusions demonstrate a rationalistic spirit that consciously or unconsciously refuses to be guided by Scriptures alone."
Sigbert Becker, "Objective Justification," Chicago Pastoral Conference, WELS, Elgin, Illinois, November 9, 1982, unpaginated.


"The two terms are relatively modern. They are not used in the Lutheran Confessions. They are also not really synonymous. 'Universal justification' is a term denoting the doctrine that God has forgiven the sins of all men. Strictly speaking, the term objective justification expresses the thought that the sins of a man are forgiven by God whether he believes it or not. Objective justification is not necessarily universal, but if justification is universal it must of necessity be objective."[23]
Siegbert Becker, "Objective Justification," Chicago Pastoral Conference, WELS, Elgin, Illinois, November 9, 1982, unpaginated. [GJ - Can you figure this out?]

This UOJ Fanatic Joined the Church of Rome
"So, then, we are reconciled; however, not only we, but also Hindus, and Hottentots and Kafirs, yes, the world. 'Reconciled', says our translation; the Greek original says: 'placed in the right relation to God'. Because before the Fall we, together with the whole creation, were in the right relation to God, therefore Scripture teaches that Christ, through His death, restored all things to the former right relation to God."
F. R. Eduard Preuss, 1834-1904, Die Rechtfertigung der Suender vor Gott. Cited in Rick Nicholas Curia, The Significant History of the Doctrine of Objective or Universal Justification, Alpine, California: California Pastoral Conference, WELS. January 24-25, 1983. p. 24.

J. P. Meyer UOJ Howlers
I. "Objectively speaking, without any reference to an individual sinner's attitude toward Christ's sacrifice, purely on the basis of God's verdict, every sinner, whether he knows about it or not, whether he believes it or not, has received the status of a saint. What will be his reaction when he is informed about this turn of events? Will he accept, or will he decline?"[41]
J. P. Meyer, Ministers of Christ, A Commentary on the Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1963, p. 103f. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

II. "Before Christ's intervention took place God regarded him as a guilt-laden, condemned culprit. After Christ's intervention and through Christ's intervention He regards him as a guilt-free saint."
J. P. Meyer, Ministers of Christ, A Commentary on the Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1963, p. 107. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

III. "This applies to the whole world, to every individual sinner, whether he was living in the days of Christ, or had died centuries before His coming, or had not yet been born, perhaps has not been born to this day. It applies to the world as such, regardless of whether a particular sinner ever comes to faith or not."
J. P. Meyer, Ministers of Christ, A Commentary on the Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1963, p. 109. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

UOJ - Above the Fold in Christian News

I got the new Christian News, August 20, 2007.

They are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Brief Statement.

"Scripture teaches that God has already declared the whole world to be righteous in Christ., Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthiasn 5:18-21; Romans 4:25..."

Thanks to academic incest, everyone kept being trained in this nonsense until it permeated the conservative Lutheran synods.

Ichabod readers will note that the cited passages from Scripture do not teach the proposition at all. That is the kind of legalism I wrote about earlier. The proposition becomes the ruling norm (norma normans) and Scripture is interpreted and twisted to fit the proposition.

The cited passages teach the doctrine of atonement. Christ died for the sins of the world. This is what the Book of Concord calls the treasure of the Gospel. But the treasure is in one heap until it is distributed by the Holy Spirit through the Means of Grace. Luther and the Book of Concord are consistent in teaching exactly what the Scriptures reveal. Therefore, people do not have grace, forgiveness, and righteousness until the Word, the instrument of forgiveness, plants faith in their hearts.

UOJ supporters are no different from those who teach Gospel reductionism in ELCA - everyone is forgiven. Period.

UOJ Enthusiasts also love the Church Growth Movement.

UOJ fanatics do not defend their doctrine - they personally attack critics of their false doctrine. They go into a feeding frenzy. Nevertheless, they do not defend their false doctrine. When they begin their attempts, their deceptions and manipulations are easily revealed to everyone.

***
Right after I posted this, the message below appeared as a potential comment. It is a typical personal attack from a Minister of the Gospel, vituperative, avoiding all doctrinal issues. Thank you, Anony-mouse, for proving my point so quickly.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "UOJ - Above the Fold in Christian News":

Well, Greg, you've finally shown your true colors. In the WELS and CLC you have been self-destructive as far as your ministry is concerned, and, unless it had been for the grace of God, you would have destroyed the congregations you served. Now you call the doctrine of universal justification "nonsense" and "legalism." I wish your readers would see you as you really are--and its not as a champion of confessional Lutheranism!

Those who want to study the only large collection of material on this subject can read the chapter I wrote about justification. Lutheran laity prodded me to deal with the issue. I know one parish pastor who vocally opposed forgiveness without faith.

UOJ and Church Growth go together like apple pie and ice cream.

Robert Preus rejected UOJ in his final book.

Justification by Faith, Thy Strong Word

"Nowhere in the Bible is any man constituted or declared righteous ‘without faith, before faith.’” R. C. H. Lenski, Romans, Augsburg Publishing House: Minneapolis, 1963, p. 382. Romans 5:19-20.

Sermon - Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

Ministers of a New Testament
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

KJV 2 Corinthians 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity


The Hymn #199
The Invocation p. 15
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 2 Cor. 3:4-11
The Gospel Mark 7:31-37
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #207
The Sermon
Ministers of a New Testament

The Offertory p. 22
The Hymn #195
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 #188

KJV 2 Corinthians 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The present situation in the Lutheran Church prompted me to choose the Epistle for today. More about that later.

A key term in this passage is testament. I used covenant when I first wrote out the title, knowing it was the wrong term. Then I checked the KJV and the NIV. The precise KJV uses testament and the Reformed-Pentecostal NIV uses covenant. The distinction in the New Testament was significant then and remains just as significant.

A testament or will is a one-sided agreement. I can leave to any person or any organization I choose, without their knowledge or agreement.

A covenant is quite different because it involves both sides of an agreement. Familiar covenants are zoning restrictions. The city agrees that a certain type of home may be built on property, but the owner of the property also agrees that a public business will not be established there. Nations have treaties or covenants, with the idea that both sides will keep the agreement.

This distinction between testament and covenant is significant because of the difference between the Biblical doctrine of justification by faith (testament) and the Reformed distortions (covenant).

God willed that His Son would die for the sins of the world. Man did not request this ultimate blessing, did not plan for it, did not agree to it in advance. God also willed that the Means of Grace would be the instruments for giving the Gospel message to people across the ages. The First Gospel was delivered to Adam and Eve. The Old Testament is full of Gospel passages: the Psalms, the Prophets (especially Isaiah 40ff). Before the Incarnation the Gospel created and sustained faith. When the Word became Incarnate in the Virgin Mary, people were able to see the human face of God, to hear His voice.

Jesus represented the Gospel already in the manger, when shepherds came to worship Him as the Savior. Jesus spoke the Gospel in Temple when He was still a boy, planting the faith in the very city that would reject Him as the Messiah.

After Jesus was baptized by John, He suffered in the desert wilderness, tempted by Satan, and then gathered the disciples. He performed many miracles to show people the authority of His Word, but people also knew from His teaching that He had divine authority “not like the scribes and Pharisees.” The religious leaders, those not converted by His Word, were His enemy. Jesus taught that their righteousness must come from without, from God, not from within, from their works.

The Bible is very clear about the power of the Word in converting people. Every believer is the creation of the Word, whether by Holy Baptism or by the spoken Word. In some cases the written Word alone converts people to Christ.

What passages prove this?

KJV Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

If we reverse the order of this great passage from Romans, the preachers sent from God proclaim the Gospel, and people believe from hearing this great message. Every single person who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

KJV Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

How does God work, except through the Word. Man does not work out the means to will (to decide) and to accomplish His will. God moves man through the Word alone.

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.

This is where the Reformed-Pentecostal Church Growth guys should put their hands to their faces and say, “Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!” Their entire agenda is destroyed by 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (and hundreds of similar passages) The remedy to their false doctrine lies in that little word effectually, which is King James for effective. Effectiveness is their claim to fame. Statistics make them effective. Entertainment makes the Sunday seeker service effective. A zippy, how-to, fix-it message (not a sermon) makes the minister effective. Friendly ushers make the congregation effective. According to Paul Kuske’s Church Growth guru, Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, the “best Law and Gospel sermon will do no good unless the ushers are friendly.” A crypto-Baptist said, “Amen” to that absurdity.

The message of the Reformed is simple – God’s Word is not effective unless man makes it effective.

The Bible says just the opposite. As long as it is God’s Word, man and Satan cannot hinder it. But, neither can man brag about God’s work, although Paul comes perilously close to that at times.

KJV 1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

What I love most about Paul’s letters is the humanity coming through at all times. The Gospel-writers are very much in the background, so much that John, the disciple Jesus loved, is often disputed as the author. The other authors have been debated, too, except for Luke. The debates are easy to generate because of this lack of information. That is, liberals use whatever wedge they can find.

Liberals hate Paul because we know so much about him from his letters. Paul believed in his own works and lived accordingly. That meant God could use him most effectively in teaching against our human nature, in teaching against salvation by works. To this day Rome and the Eastern Orthodox avoid this topic in Paul.

Sincere believers, once they are detached from faith in the Word alone, gradually become attached to salvation by works. It may take more time that the first generation, but one event leads to another. I was reading about Fenton, the man who left the LCMS ministerium for Eastern Orthodoxy and his former church (Zion, Detroit). Zion, Detroit was once the biggest Lutheran congregation in the LCMS. When they confronted the Lodge in the early days, a group of people left and formed a church that is now United Church of Christ. The big WELS church in New Ulm and the independent Lutheran church in Columbus, St. Paul’s, both had their early Reformed-Lutheran union days and their final split (only to welcome false doctrine back). The defectors became the United Church of Christ and are now Unitarian (recognizing all faiths as equal). What happens to institutions happens to individuals.

KJV Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

Notice that she did not open her heart. She did not make a decision. The Lord opened her heart. People who do not trust God’s Word to accomplish His will turn to human methods and devices. When ministers start defending methods, they are always headed toward rationalism and trusting in themselves.

These devices are always Law oriented and must fail in time. The Law is like going to a hospital and having all kinds of diagnostic tests. Then the doctor comes in and says, “According to the tests, you have all these things wrong with you.” And you say, “How are you going to cure me or help me?” The doctor replies, “We are going to do even more tests.” That would be appalling, but the Law/Law people do it all the time. They say, “This is where you are sinful.” And then, “To overcome this sin, you must do this and this.” A Pentecostal minister’s wife walked into our house and began saying, “You must confess your sin…” Thus many live and die in the Law.

In contrast, the ministry of the Gospel is far more glorious. Paul uses the comparison with Moses after receiving the Ten Commandments. Moses’ face shone so brightly that people could not even look at him. But that was the ministry of the Law, of condemnation, which can bear no fruit.

9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

I chose Easter hymns (the same ones as last week) today because the Gospel, forgiveness, and Easter are different aspects of the same power of God. Because the Son of God innocently died on the cross for our sins, He rose on the third day, changing the first day of the week to the Lord’s Day from that time on. The early Christians were known for gathering at dawn on Sunday to remember and celebrate the resurrection of Christ. In Moline we had Easter sunrise services attended by huge crowds. Wharton Field House, across the street, would fill with people, who were anxious to get there early to have a seat.

Wherever the Gospel is taught, death is defeated by the eternal life given through the forgiveness won by Christ. We should remember that the early Christians had little and could not measure their success by new buildings, parking lots, and balanced budgets. They were concerned about government attacks on their homes, being arrested, tortured, and killed. They were more like the Christians in Red China today.

The Word of the Gospel must never be slighted or forgotten in our zeal for the Law. I have mentioned before that an adult study group member got very angry when I quoted Walther saying the Law bears no fruit, (Law and Gospel lectures).

The Law necessarily makes people anxious and afraid because of their sin. If they never hear the Law, they have no feeling of need for the Gospel. When we have a sore throat and cough, we will pay any price for relief, for the right medicine. But when the infection goes away, we forget to take the pills.

The Gospel brings Jesus to people, to show them for the first time, or once again, that He died for them, that the entire price has been paid for their sins. The true Gospel must be free of all traces of the Law, as Paul taught so many times. Gospel tainted by Law is still Law. The pure Gospel is all forgiveness and without price.

KJV Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Objections to the Gospel show where the sects and Rome invade and take over.

What if I am not sorry enough?
Answer – Forgiveness is not based upon the degree of sorrow but Christ’s atonement.

What if I have not suffered enough?
Answer – Christ suffered in our stead. We cannot pay with suffering when the price has been paid.

What if I feel I am not worthy?
Answer – No one is worthy. Christ makes us worthy, giving us His righteousness with His complete and free forgiveness.

Forgiveness means eternal life. All people die because of sin, but Christ gives us eternal life through this Gospel message of forgiveness.

When Leonard Klein Went to Rome

This came from LCMS Pastor Al Loeschman, who dared to quote Paul McCain:

Last Sunday, Pastor Leonard Klein announced to his congregation that he was resigning in order to become a Roman Catholic priest. Pastor Klein has been an outspoken critic of the revisionist agenda in the ELCA, and a prominent leader within the ELCA. He has met with the ELCA Church Council and others within the ELCA leadership to express his dismay with the ELCA's revisionist direction. He has published articles in Lutheran Forum and The Lutheran stating his position. He has been a faithful witness to the gospel. And for his faithful leadership we must honor him.

Klein is not alone in giving up on the ELCA. My dear friend Jay Rochelle, a former professor at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, joined the Orthodox Church two years ago. Richard John Neuhaus, a writer, editor and outspoken leader within the Lutheran church, became Roman Catholic some years ago. Jaroslav Pelikan, a noted author, professor and editor of Luther's Works, also converted to the Orthodox Church. We can likely come up with numer ous other cases as well.

In addition, it is also likely that many of struggle with whether we can long remain within the apostate and bleak ELCA, or whether we must also give up and move on to greener pastures.

Unfortunately, the exodus is not over. It has just begun. While many of us continue to stay and fight within the ELCA, many of the wisest and most courageous among us have seen the writing on the wall. They see the coming tempest and are departing for fairer waters within the Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. We may miss them. We may wish we had their fellowship and support as we continue to resist the assaults of Satan within the ELCA. But we must also honestly conclude that we cannot either blame or judge them for making such a decision within the horrid conditions in which we all serve these days. Someday each of us may also find ourselves stepping out of the ELCA circle as well. In the meantime, it is good to know that the fellowship of the gospel is not limited to our faithful witness within the ELCA, which increasingly appears to seem like enemy territory. There is good news in realizing that the church continues in other places as well. We pray for courage to remain and resist the forces of evil which assail us daily.

We also may pray for courage, that when the time comes for us to depart for another shore, that we may also venture forth with the call of God. But for the moment we still remain. We work diligently to organize our resistance. We pray to God. We comfort one other. We still the anger, the pain and the fear in our hearts, as we await God's abundant and tender mercy. Since Sunday, the word has spread quickly regarding Pastor Klein's decision. I have received many inquiries regarding whether the rumors are true. Since this letter was presented publicly, I therefore pass it on for your own information.

May we pray for Pastor Klein and his family as they face the challenges of the coming months. We pray for their journey, yet know that they are not really departing from the one true church in which we all serve together under the Fatherhood of God.

And may we also pray to strengthen each other as we continue to resist the insidious forces of the foe who continues to assail God's holy church with chaos and false teachings.

The Rev. Dr. Christopher Hershman



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From Pastor Leonard Klein:

Dear Friends in Christ:

After twenty-two years of service in this wonderful congregation and after a lengthy period of prayer, discernment, and study I have reached the decision to end this phase of my ministry. With humility and thanks to God and to you I am submitting my resignation from my call as senior pastor effective July 15, 2003.

I know that this will come as a shock to many of you, but I must add a second piece of information that will, I fear, aggravate that feeling and require considerable explanation. It is this: I will on the same day resign the office of pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. A few days later Christa, Renate, and I will be received into the Catholic Church by Bishop Michael Saltarelli of Wilmington, and I will begin a process of study and formation for the Catholic priesthood. This may cause yet further astonishment among those of you who are not aware that the Catholic Church makes provision for the occasional ordination of married converts who were ministers in other church bodies (usually Lutheran or Episcopalian). If you have noted my growing dismay over the ELCA, my leaving will not be a complete surprise. It might help if you think of my situation as comparable to that of a military officer who thinks the nation’s policies insupportable. In such a situation an officer must resign his commission.

As a congregation Christ Church has the independence to continue on its faithful path, and I wish you every blessing as you continue to do so. But as a pastor I am tied to the officer corps of an army for which I can no longer fight.

I am not fleeing conflict. I have played a leadership role in the fight for orthodoxy in the ELCA for the fifteen years of its existence and in extensive criticism of the plans for the merger for several years before 1988. If anything, the desire to stay and continue the battle is a temptation that has great appeal to my personality. I have never been good at walking away from a fight. So if I were convinced that I could stay Lutheran, even as a lonely minority, I would do so.

I have, however, become convinced that I am no longer a Lutheran. Over the past several years I have had to come to grips with the fact that I am a Roman Catholic, and that is the positive reason for this radical move. Let me try to explain as briefly as I can.

It is not that I think Luther was misguided or wicked. No sensible Catholic thinks that. But I have come to believe that in the Reformers’ proper intention to fix genuine problems in the late medieval church, they made a number of serious mistakes that cannot now be corrected. We lost the ancient apostolic form of governance by bishops, a vibrant sense of a communion in prayer with the saints living and dead, and a full understanding of how God changes people through the Gospel and leads them to holiness. We lost continuity and we lost a clear understanding of the role of holy Tradition. Because Luther expected the world to come to an end soon, he thought that the inertia of the past would sustain the basic doctrines of the Church and that biblical authority by itself would suffice to reform the Church until Christ’s return. It has not turned out that way.

Now, after nearly 500 years it has become clear that you cannot simply appeal to the Bible or count on inertia to sustain the life of the Church. What Luther intended as a necessary reform on biblical grounds has turned into a free for all of private interpretation, and our own denomination is a sad case in point.

There is to me an evident alternative to this moral, doctrinal and ecclesiastical chaos, the Catholic Church. Slowly I came to realize that I have actually believed for a long time that the Second Vatican Council was correct when it said that the Church “subsists in the Catholic Church.” That means that it exists there in its fullest and proper form. I find that claim to be consistent with my study of theology, scripture and church history. That language was drafted with sincere ecumenical intent and meant that valid church life could surely be found outside the Catholic Church. So I have felt no impropriety in continuing to serve as a Lutheran pastor. This congregation is a true and Christian Church. However, I realized that my view of Lutheranism as a reform movement for the Catholic Church meant that if I was really going to practice the best insights of the Reformation, I belonged inside the Catholic Church -- not outside it trying to make the Lutheran Church Lutheran.

So it was a positive realization that I held the Catholic doctrine of the Church and not just the negatives of the ELCA that led me to this point. Many fine pastors agree about the negatives, but because they do not share my understanding of the Catholic Church, they can and will continue as Lutherans. I am confident that you will find an excellent next pastor from among them, but my continuance as an ELCA pastor has become morally and intellectually impossible.

The easiest course would have been to continue another seven or eight years until retirement and then to walk quietly into the Catholic Church, but there are many good reasons why I should not do that.

First, this congregation is an important institution with a rich tradition and history. It would have become increasingly difficult for me to lead it effectively, and I do not wish to harm Christ Church.

Second, I have been here a long time, and I believe that it could be good for someone to look at things with a fresh set of eyes.

Third, there is a great danger that the ELCA will endure a schism over the question of blessing homosexual unions and ordaining people who are in them. I have lived through one church division in the Missouri Synod. It turned out badly. I will not take part in another.

Fourth, I feel good about the life and vitality of this congregation. I believe that my reservations about the denomination have not seriously harmed my ministry here and may have strengthened it. At this point I can leave you in good shape to discuss the next phase of your life. There is faithful and competent staff in place to continue parish life, and you are blessed with many fine pastors in the membership. I hope they will be willing to provide some service in the interim.

Fifth, I could not be your pastor forever, and as I approach the age of 58 that is increasingly apparent. If I were to stay until retirement, I would soon be entering upon the last quarter of my ministry among you. I had reached the point where a decision to leave or remain until retirement was becoming necessary.

Sixth, I need to face the question of what I will do with the rest of my life. If God grants me the years he is granting to my father and granted to my grandfathers, I have a third of my life to go. I have never intended to go out to pasture at age 66 but to continue to serve, to preach and to celebrate the sacraments in some context. I could not see doing that in the ELCA.

Seventh, I do not wish to be a guru. In mainline Protestantism that is the danger every pastor faces. I earnestly believe that I have faithfully presented a sound Lutheran position, but in the end the system leaves you having to take my word for it. We are perpetually asking you to trust us because you trust us. I hope that I have been trustworthy, but I prefer not to stand on my own authority. Also, it is because I do not wish either to be a guru or to harm the congregation that I have kept my deliberations private. I want to leave the legitimate heritage of this congregation intact. This is your spiritual home. Pastors on the other hand must come and go.

Eighth, this was a relatively good time for the family. My wife Christa has worked with and studied Catholic institutions for a long time and has been reaching the decision to become Catholic in parallel fashion. Our daughter, Renate feels the affinity between Lutheranism and Catholicism. Both are deeply grateful for this parish, and even as they look ahead, it pains them to leave. Our family history is entwined with Christ Church.

It is not that I am personally unhappy here. There are challenges, some of them difficult, but that is true everywhere.

I have continued to be happy to show up for work each morning and many nights. I have no regrets about the hours or energy I have expended. It would be hard to imagine a finer, more motivated, and more responsive congregation. You have been generous with your support, your encouragement, your personal warmth, and your prayers. Many of you are an example to me. I have been grateful for the role I could play in your lives and through Christ Church in the affairs of this community. No pastor could ask for a better opportunity than the one I have enjoyed for these many years.

I have been blessed, and I am not bitter, even about the ELCA leadership. Already at my ordination I knew that the road for Lutheranism would be bumpy. Like many other orthodox clergy in mainline denominations I have long wondered whether or when I might have to leave. You should know that the conversation “Could you go to Rome?” or “Would you go to Orthodoxy?” is painfully common among mainline clergy of traditional beliefs. In the last few years at least a half dozen pastors have had lengthy conversations with me on this matter. Three of them are now Catholics. That so many have seen me as an obvious person to talk to required me to be honest about where I really stood and finally to act.

As I close, I ask of you only that you make your best effort to understand the decision I have made. I ask no special considerations or favors as I leave. You have been most kind and generous in every way up to this point. I do ask your prayers and your continued friendship. We will for some time continue to live in York. I look forward to greeting you and talking with you, even after formal pastoral relations come to an end. Also, I want you not to be afraid to ask me questions and press me about my decision, if you feel the need to do so.

I want also to make one pledge to the council and staff: not only will I make every effort to help with a smooth transition but I will also be more than willing to answer questions about details of parish operations at any time in the future.

I continue to affirm many of the insights of the Lutheran Reformation, wishing only that the necessary reforms might have moved ahead without a schism. I wish I had never had to make the decision to stay or to leave. I wish that I had done a thousand things better. I wish that many of you had done a lot of things better! Which is to say I wish for the Kingdom of God. But until it comes, our lives will be shaken by the consequences of sin and by circumstances we never bargained for. By the grace of God even in a broken world and broken Church we can live with hope and joy. I am stepping forward in hope and joy, and I pray that those virtues, inculcated by the Holy Spirit, will continue to carry each of you and this fine congregation forward into the future that God has in mind for you.

Yours in Christ,
The Rev. Leonard R. Klein
14 May 2003




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Ed. It is surprising to see our own Rev. McCain decrying the loss of a former Seminexer to Rome. There are some observers on the right and most certainly the Jesus Firsters who have noticed that there are an awful lot of so-called "confessionals" who seem more Roman than Lutheran. It is a favorite refrain of the Jesus First crowd, and it must be admitted that there is a grain of truth in what they say.

Although the Jesus Firsters are influenced greatly by Reformed church growth principles, try to make out that every graduate of one of our seminaries leans toward Rome or Constantinople. It simply is not true. There are a very, very small minority of pastors (some newly ordained and some, like Klein, older men) who fit the description that Jesus First libelously proclaims. Most new grads from both seminaries are conservative and confessional Lutherans to the core. That is why the District Presidents are afraid of them.

And to tell the truth, this editor is a little afraid of them, too. Not them personally, for they are generally gentle souls, but their theology leans toward Rome. Check out the discussions on some of the LCMS email discussion lists about the Office of the Public Ministry, the Real Presence and the Church. Some do defend doctrine that, at the very least, looks Roman Catholic. Some hide behind pseudonymns, but some are open. Some seem to elevate the early Church Fathers and even the confessions above the simple words of Christ. The confessions become the Lutheran equivalent of "sacred tradition" when they are used to interpret the Word of God, instead of begin faithful and subserviant witnesses to the Word.

So, Brother McCain, let us encourage each other to "examine" ourselves "to see if we are in the Faith." And let us let go of those who have properly gone out from among us because of conscience while powerfully prodding those who hypocritically say they are LCMS at heart but are not, to "do the right thing" as Klein has done - join the ELCA or Methodists or Rome.



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Dear Pastor Loeschman,

I'm really surprised by the remarks about me I just read on your web site where you say I am "decrying" the Seminex guy leaving for Rome. Decrying? Did you even read what I said?

Next time you want to take a pot shot at me, you might consider doing me the courtesy of sending your comments to me to at least offer me the chance to respond.

Somebody just pointed out your remarks to me.

I criticize both Rome and Seminex in my article and you make me out to be a Roman sympathizer?

You owe me an apology brother. I expect to see your comments about me withdrawn from your www site as soon as possible!

From a clarifying followup post:
The way you speak critically of my "decrying" the loss of Klein to Rome and then how you go on to speak about how JesusFirst has a point about Romanizing tendencies among some of our pastors clearly lumps me in with all that and I did not appreciate it.

Thanks,
PTM

Rev. Paul T. McCain
Interim President/Chief Executive Officer
Concordia Publishing House
St. Louis, Missouri




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"This is another sad legacy of the Seminex conflict." ....."A sad turn of events" ..... "Leonard was clearly a leading voice in the ELCA, courageously batting the ever increasing pro-homosexual agenda."

I certainly apologize for the misreading of Rev. McCain's tone. However, I was apparently misled by the above sentiments witten about one with whom McCain is on a first name basis.

I have lots of classmates and semmates who went to Seminex because that is where their hearts were. Good, but they were and still are in error that is a danger to their souls. But they were honorable. Many who stayed in Missouri should have left, but didn't. Their souls are in even greater danger, since they have a god, the synod, who cannot save them though they trust that it will if they just can bring it out of the 16th century and into the enlightened age.

I didn't call Brother McCain or anyone else by name in my criticism nor was I taking a "pot shot" about something we have not discussed; but I simply say: "If the shoe fits, wear it." And I repeat: "Let us encourage each other to "examine" ourselves "to see if we are in the Faith."

Pr. L.