Quantcast
Channel: Ichabod, The Glory Has Departed
Viewing all 11910 articles
Browse latest View live

Laetare Sunday, The Fourth Sunday in Lent, 2016. John 6:1-15 The Feeding of the Mulititude

$
0
0


Laetare Sunday, The Fourth Sunday in Lent, 2016

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson




The Hymn #9           O Day of Rest and Gladness 
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 
The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #316   O Living Bread from Heaven 

Bread from Heaven

The Communion Hymn #508   Thou Whose Almighty Word
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 50            Lord Dismiss Us 

KJV Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Fourth Sunday In Lent
Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son didst feed five thousand men in the desert with five loaves and two fishes: We beseech Thee to abide graciously also with us in the fullness of Thy blessing. Preserve us from avarice and the cares of this life, that we may seek first Thy kingdom and Thy righteousness, and in all things perceive Thy fatherly goodness, through Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God world without end. Amen.



Dabblers and Believers - God Feeds Them

KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

This miracle is important in many ways, including that Jesus fed the entire crowd, including those disciples who would leave forever because of His teaching about the Bread of Life. The current crowd was following Him because of His healing miracles.

In Old Testament class we are dealing with the topic of disappointment, when the Israelites came back from the Babylonian Captivity and tried to rebuild their land. They had to fight off all the enemies while rebuilding and probably dreamt of a new paradise awaiting them. Although that was good for them and an example for us, it was not appreciated at the time. The enormous crowd following Jesus had their own expectations and these hopes were not met. 

This miracle shows how the Son of God could perform a miracle in front of their eyes and still offend them.

3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

The date is important because John shows Jesus having a three-year ministry. that is common knowledge in all the basic lives of Jesus, but a detail shown only in John. The other three show a one year trip to Jerusalem, but that was clearly an example of stories upon which the Apostles preached. The Gospel of John supplements, fills in what we ought to know. 

Jesus saw the great crowd coming and asked Philip, to test him, about what they would feed all these people. That was like asking how to make the sky orange and yellow and pink, then back to blue - impossible - except by the Word of God.

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 

The rationalist replies, "Even if we had a lot of money, which we don't, we could not obtain enough food for this enormous crowd."

They saw many other miracles, including the Wedding at Cana, which revealed how Jesus could created wonderful wine by His Word. But the disciples were being trained in steps, as we all are, and they were about to learn anew what the Son of God was capable of doing.

In this they developed a keen grasp of the Two Natures of Christ. They saw and heard a man most of the time, but the divinity was revealed at special times, so they came to understand the divine and human were both natures in Him.

When someone is new at a job, it is so important for a boss to be able to remember to the newbie and relate to that person both as a boss and as a former 
newbie. One boss at the store was asked by my friend, "Where is this product?" She said, "Find it yourself." I found people who would always help without making me feel foolish or lazy. A kindly nature makes others want to ask questions and get help.

Far more than this, Jesus presented this kindly nature, but He also showed them the authority and power of God. Thus the disciples learned the true nature of God from seeing and hearing Jesus and watching His Work with others.

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 

The other rationalist said, "We have food but not enough." In both cases the disciples looked at what they had and based their conclusions on the material world and its rules. But "we walk by faith and not by sight." Sight does not tell us what God can do with so little, or even nothing. That is revealed in the Word, and all this fits together when we consider Creation by the Word. God created and designed - from nothing. The Creating Word of Genesis 1 is described by John 1 as Jesus the Logos, the Word.

By starting with so little, Jesus foreshadowed Holy Communion, where the sceptics asked, "How can this be done, century after century, if you believe in the Real Presence?" Likewise, how can Jesus feed the multitude with so little. If one never happened, the other never happened.

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 

Here we have the important detail of the oasis. A lot of grass was growing there, so a fresh water source was nearby. That shows us that water was not an issue, but food was. Try fooling an empty stomach with water, lots and lots of water. It only mocks the hunger. So there was an enormous crowd with enough food for one boy.

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 

This is not supposed to be Holy Communion, but it is related to the Lord's Supper. Jesus gave thanks and for future celebrations, gave this authority to the disciples to consecrate the elements with the Word and distribute the visible Word as a Means of Grace, given for you for the forgiveness of sin. He did not institute the Lord's Supper here but showed how miraculous abundance is not an issue with God - only with man.

The Feeding of the Multitude was for everyone, including those who would walk away forever. Holy Communion is for believers. God has given man all he needs for a prosperous and peaceful, well fed life, but man squanders the food and mineral resources and ends up starving. 

With so little to start, everyone was completely filled.



12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 

Luther:
4. Again, that he tells them so faithfully to gather up the fragments, teaches us to be frugal and to preserve and use his gifts, in order that we may not tempt God. For just as it is God’s will that we should believe when we have nothing and be assured that he will provide; so he does not desire to be tempted, nor to allow the blessings he has bestowed to be despised, or lie unused and spoil, while we expect other blessings from heaven by means of miracles. Whatever he gives, we should receive and use, and what he does not give, we should believe and expect he will bestow.

No detail is insignificant in the Scriptures. If we tend to skip over it, we should go back and ask why it is there, as Luther did. The common human attitude is, "If I have this in abundance, I can waste it." Many people do that. If something comes easily to them, they take their talents for granted and fail to develop them, or use them up in riotous living. Eventually the bill comes due to pay.

America once had an abundance of liturgical Lutheran churches, almost immune to the fads and fallacies of the wacky denominations. At my home parish the high school kids walked to the next Augustana church when we did not want to endure another class of exhibited for their confirmation day - about 60 at a time. A short walk and  we were at a slightly larger Augustana church with sermons, creeds, liturgy, and hymns. Nobody cried and said, "I want rock." That was on AM radio. But it was all taken for granted and is now quite rare, with the fads and fallacies taking over, from coveting the Pentecostals and the cults.

The greatest treasure is having a family. People think work or hobbies are their treasure and act accordingly. One DP said, "I let my wife raise the kids. I was too busy doing church work." That is why many PKs are apostates because the parents were married to church work and neglected them for the glory of getting ahead in their careers.

13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

The leftovers were greater than the original amount, an abundance we see in Creation and we take for granted. When gardeners have a sharing area, everyone has too much seed at first, and later they have too much produce. I relied on that for an endless supply of zucchini squash.

The bystanders liked a king who would feed them equally well, but the time had not come yet for Jesus to reveal Himself as the Savior and Messiah. Soon the same people would fall away when He spoke of faith in Him as forgiveness.

When Jesus was tempted in the desert (Matthew 4) He had no food for 40 days. God did not let Him starve. He lived by faith, not by performing miracles for Himself.

Likewise, we may seem to be in a desert but the Word of God feeds us before we make it to the grocery store with some shopping money. Everyone should have an empty fridge from time to time, to remember how that was changed into abundance by events--even those seemingly bad ones.




The Synodical Conference Is Doomed. They Cannot Relate Outside Their Own Cult

$
0
0
Someone opened up a can of 8th Commandment on me,
again.
When I published about one of those typical Jeske rants about church as a business,everything has to change, a speech devoid of the Gospel, one Facebook friend accused me of violating the Eighth Commandment. He blocked me, just to make it clear.

Another reader noted that Jeske has been giving the same speech for decades, which matches with my experience - hearing the same facts from the LCA 40 years ago. The LCA called it boats and babies, almost exactly what Jeske said - no more boats, fewer babies. Yawn.

WELS, Missouri, the Little Sect on the Prairie, and the odious CLC (sic) have their designated Unquestioned Gurus. All opinions circle those figures, who do not appreciate being questioned in any way whatsoever. The LCMS is large enough to have their sub-groups, like

  • Crypto-Rome, 
  • UOJ Stormtrooper bros,
  • ELCA-wannabee, and 
  • Pentecostal.


The trouble is, they only relate to their own groups or sub-groups. They remind me of the two St. Louis questions -

  1. Where didja go tah school? and 
  2. What street do yah live on? 

Those questions categorize everyone in St. Louis. Even the private schools have their own special reputations, loyalists, and nicknames, like LaJew for Ladue. Learn to say "fork" as "fark" and you will fit right in.

The most insecure people worry most about their standing in the social order. When I was working at the Neighborhood Market, a very small minority would respond to my help by acting like "The help is talking to me? Let's keep it short so they know their place." I tried not to smile, because my inner voice asked, "And how many books have you written?"

This happened at a Yale Alumni meeting long ago. We introduced ourselves at the big table and told what we did for a living. One woman could not hide her sneering look at the prospect of having a mere minister at the table - most of the alumni were lawyers and corporate honchos. Later in the evening, when the president of Yale gave a statistic for divinity alumni as leaders in America, she seemed a bit shocked and chagrined, as if the country pumpkin had turned into a Lincoln Town Car.

So the Synodical Conference has made its mark by enforcing the franchise, acting as if all any other flavors of Pietism are low-grade. This is especially amusing the in the ELS and CLC (sic). The ELS is so superior to WELS, but they take all their orders from WELS and are completely subordinate to their Big Brother, who is always watching. The CLC (sic) has a 30-second repeating commercial they use about how keen they are about fellowship, but they covet and copy WELS in going down the drain. Church Growth from Fuller Seminary? - the CLC (sic) adores it.

The Synodical Conference has no more trust in the Word than the ELCA does, so they all chase the exact same Fuller fads. Whatever WELS is doing (like they invented it), ELCA is also doing. And lo, so are Missouri, the ELS, and the CLC (sic) aping Fuller at the same time in the same way. It is almost like they all went to Fuller, Willow Creek, and Trinity Divinity together. Waldo Werning admitted going to Fuller, then denied it. David Valleskey, who greatly admired Werning, denied Fuller and admitted it. Valleskey's UOJ/CG-bro Bivens bragged about Fuller and denied it. DP Seifert heard the Bivens confession and forgot it, and then remembered it, and then forgot it again.

The Synodical Conference parts rejoice in their unanimous rejection of justification by faith - just like ELCA, but in the name of grace, of course. Since one cannot separate justification by faith from the efficacy of the Word, the established Lutheran groups are stuck in their downhill cycle of Methodist methods.

This nonsense is considered spiritual wisdom at Ft. Wayne,
and posting it earned me a vulgar rant
from one of the Steadfast mafia.

Methodists built enormous congregations - and emptied them - by organizing along the lines of people pleasing activities. They had groups galore, special Sundays (Scouts, children, Masons, veterans, bakery) and an irenic, Biblical stance. The Methodists taught the Bible but never fought over any issues. They will people they also teach the Real Presence, even though they do not. They never had a confessional basis, only the sermons of Wesley, so they could never anchor their beliefs. This Methodist problem probably sounds just like WELS - and it is.

The Methodists also became famous for gay clergy without admitting it - just like WELS. I can go back in my time machine memory and recall barn-like Methodist churches with their little pit band setups in the chancel, their tepid timid clergy wondering why everything was going sour. They had no grip on future generations because they taught the youth nothing. That was 40 years ago, it has only worsened in all the mainline denominations.

Nevertheless, not learning from their mainline counterparts, the Lutherans sects talk about evangelism while making a point to stigmatize anyone who does not fit into their ghetto world-view. They do that especially with their overpriced educational system. And they wonder why their hazed, stigmatized, homogenized, repeat-after-me clergy cannot relate to people outside their little ghetto.

Why such a dumb sign?

It is probably a New Ulm store.

Refreshing Roses and Other Cut Flowers

$
0
0

Norma Boeckler, our artist-in-residence, wrote me a thank-you for showing how to refresh roses, in another post, so I am repeating the advice.

The moment roses and other flowers are cut, the stems begin drawing up air instead of water. To make cut flowers last longer, cut several inches from the bottom of the stems, just before placing them in fresh water in a clean vase.

Cut flowers can be put into a dishpan of clean water to hydrate them, or floated in a tub. I would do this before cutting the stems and placing them in the vase. I became an immersionist when soaking rather dry bare-root roses before planting. I also heavily pruned them upon planting them. They began growing at once and bloomed quickly.



Soaking Because
This is why soaking works. The stems and leaves take up water. When I water rose bushes outside, it is often through a soaker hose at the base. However, I still spray them down completely, to hydrate the stems and leaves. Plants are like people, as one book argued. If you feel great after a shower, so do they. The leaves and stems take up water fast, so they have a crisp look and grow better. Rose bushes are like sponges in taking up water, and they like to have their pores clean rather than dusty.


Change the Water Daily and
The decomposing process begins the moment the stems touch the water in the vase. If you looked at the water in a microscope, a lot of swimming little creatures would entertain you. Given a few days, that mildewing water will smell like death. God is reducing the death plant into new chemicals for the soil.

For maximum benefit and long-lasting cut flowers, change the water daily and make sure the vase is cleaned out thoroughly. I am much more a fan of clean water and vases than magical chemicals added.



Refresh the Flowers Again Each Day
The way to make the flowers stay fresh is to soak them again each day and pour water into the blooms. Simply spraying the flowers will help too. A very low water pressure will avoid the sink hose giving the budding a florist a free shower.

Roses have so many petals now that the bloom will cup the water and hold it in place for more hydration.

Trained, experienced, certified in Linux,
and confident in all matters rosarian.

ChurchMouse Channels Pastor Joe Abrahamson Quoting Luther

$
0
0
Norma Boeckler - Feeding the Multitude


https://churchmousec.wordpress.com/2016/03/06/excerpts-of-martin-luthers-notes-on-jesus-feeding-the-five-thousand/

As my post yesterday concerned Jesus’s healing and feeding of the Four Thousand (and more) Gentiles, it seemed apposite to find a post at Steadfast Lutheransabout His feeding the Five Thousand (and more).
The Feeding of the Five Thousand is the traditional (pre-Lectionary) Laetare Sunday gospel reading. (Laetare Sunday is today, March 6, 2016.)
The closer to Luther, the better the theologian.

Bald Rabbit Comments on WELS

$
0
0
The LCMS websty featured this ad,
with the lopsided, ambivalent smile.
Don't blame Ski and Glende -
they were trained by Jeske.

It does not surprise me that a WELS facebook friend would unfriend you after the Jeske post.  Jeske is held in high regard by the WELS and is going nowhere.  I get why you posted it.  First, the presentation is awful, even from a business point of view.  The church point of view is non-existent.

Then, these same people who attended try to bring these new words and ideas back to their churches where the common folk get overwhelmed.  I know this, as being in WELS for over 31 years, these are the same type of presentations made at conferences, church help programs, and seminars.  I personally got tired of it and quit going, which helped lead my critics in our church to push me out.

In the WELS, I see too much cronyism, too much name recognition reward, too much taking the Word of God out of context to prove their new program (the church planning program by WELS put me over the top in taking things out of context), too much of ignoring those who do work hard in the trenches and do not take off evenings, weekends, and have conferences in hot spots.  We spend thousands and thousands on summer conferences like leadership and worship, while our own churches suffer to pay bills.  Ranks apply to the called workers, and when one goes down, little help can be found unless you have a name and good synodical friends.

One thinks that this can be changed by speaking truthfully, studying scripture and making corrections on the out of context use in books, conferences and sermons, and in church operations, but the truth builds enemies who can attack in the ways of the enemies of Christ.  "What is truth" was a question I often asked myself. In spite of my WELS background from birth, through WELS elementary school, through WELS Lutheran High Schools, through Dr. Martin Luther College, through years of teaching, principalship, conferences, summer schooling, school counseling, and the like, I had to resign after battling serious depression and anxiety for over 20 years, and then general frustration.

My law-oriented WELS background (now so obviously pietistic in nature) made be fearful of going against my WELS background out of fear of going to hell.  It is amazing to find many more in my profession who feel the same way, but out of fear of many things, refuse to quit or speak out publicly.

I really don't need to see the negatives about the WELS, as I new many of them, as was affected by some of them as were my children.

I am sure you are a man of faith who has experienced many crosses in your life.  I actually appreciate your humor and your effort to show people what is really going on.  Those who find out are either shocked or don't care and brush over it, as long as they continue to get paid or do not lose their comforts in their church homes.

I find your deep love for your God and the truth in your writings about nature.  If people would really read your articles, and not just turn you away because of what they hear or what somehow has told them, or because of threats, they would find you a truly loving man of God.

God's richest blessings to you!


Keep up the good work for as long as you can!

***




GJ - WELS tried the group attack on this blog for years. When the kids from three colleges (Martin Luther College, Bethany College, Wisconsin Lutheran College) began posting at once, the main effect was to alert three student bodies about Ichabod. The faculty began warning them not to read it and discussed how to do things without the news getting published. Next MLC faculty denied ever talking about keeping things from Ichabod. So funny, that came from the same faculty who were discussing that tactic in front of others.

Although people can email their comments, the hostile ones hardly appear appear, except with some lame attempts to disguise the identity of one Joel Lillo, scorned on four different blogs for his abusive and toxic remarks.




This is where the Booze brothers, Ski and Glende,
worshiped in Atlanta - the new WELS model,
Andy Stanley's, gay Babtist advocate.

Writing and Education Plans Have Been Expanded

$
0
0

Long ago I read that clergy were often under-worked. One can try to look busy without accomplishing much. I kept adding to my higher education quota until I finally found it rather tedious to sit through another class, even online. Nevertheless, I have to keep learning to stay in tune with higher education. I still teach MA classes in adult education, an experience that informs what I do now through the congregation, books, and the blog.

I advise PhD students now, so thanks, Lutherdom, for keeping me out of your navel-gazing, Walther -worshiping systems. My students love hearing about Luther and Gerhardt, and I quote them without being castigated or silenced.

As I wrote to a reader, I never expected this blog to be read by many people. When 100 views a day expanded to 200 views, I was shocked and happy. Now a typical day is 2,000 views with multiples of that number on certain days.



Various circumstances have increased my desire to spend all my energy on Lutheran education, God willing.

  • New book titles will continue.
  • Lulu books are being moved to Create Space, so a huge book like Thy Strong Word can be used effectively on a digital device for $6 and available in print form for a low, low author's price.
  • There will be a much better author's price for those classic titles moved to Create Space.
  • I work with various people with the idea that digital publishing will be expanded by many other Lutherans who share concern for precise Biblical translations, the Lutheran liturgy, and Lutheran doctrine according to the Reformation, not according to the Halle University and the Pietists.
I am not sure how to measure the interest in Martin Chemnitz Press books, except I have never seen so much interest among younger men who evidence doctrinal acuity and a thirst for knowledge. I used to ask, "Where are the men? The most interested people are women."

Now the men are writing and want to share books with others. I have run a book-sharing service with people for decades now. I acquired books from sales and put them on shelves for pastors to take home. In WELS they knew about free books and asked for them, boxes and boxes of them. They stopped by and shopped for them. And, when they might have spoken up, they were strangely silent.

And yet the seed is sown, whether it falls on rocky paths, on very shallow soil, or among thorns. The good soil will make up for the supposed failures. 

If I can get a classic Lutheran book to someone, I do. Often a used book is not only a bargain ($5) but also inscribed by some famous Lutheran. Those are especially fun to pass along.

Don't worry WELS, your students
cannot translate this, even with help.
A WELS person created this graphic,
so enjoy beating the bushes to find out who.

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod Repudiates the Word of God, the Lutheran Reformation, and the Book of Concord. Christian News Agrees. The ELS Likes To Hide Its Universalism

$
0
0
Pope John the Malefactor is infallible,
and he extends the Left Foot of Fellowship willy-nilly.
http://els.org/about/what-is-a-lutheran-2/


All people are sinners and would perish eternally without God’s help. The good news is that God has provided all of this help as a free gift. God’s saving grace is His undeserved love for all people through the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. God loves all people, of every nation and race equally. It is God the Father’s desire for all people to hear His Word, to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, as their only Savior, and therefore to have eternal life. Jesus lived a holy life in our place and died on the cross for the forgiveness of all our sins. Through this completed work of Jesus [GJ - universal absolution without faith], God the Father sees the whole world as not guilty, or justified. This teaching of “justification” is the central truth of the Bible. [GJ - Not one citation, because there are none.]
Lutherans believe that faith in Jesus Christ is necessary for eternal salvation.whatisalutheranbaptism
This faith in Jesus, who is both God and man, our Savior, comes only as God, the Holy Spirit, works through God’s Word and Baptism in a person’s heart. We believe we sinners cannot come to faith through our own power, but that our faith is accomplished only by the power of the Holy Spirit as He connects us to Jesus as the Savior.[GJ - Fairly lame and clumsy, even for the sidekick of WELS.]
One more time, class -
Who first said this? - Luther.
Who seconded this? - Melanchthon.
Who reiterated this? - the Formula of Concord.
Who Redefined the Chief Article - Cheaply. Dishonestly. Cowardly?
The Primary Doctrine in Its Primary Setting: Objective Justification and Lutheran Worship [Prepared for the WELS National Conference on Worship, Music and the Arts Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin, July Wisconsin, July 23, 1996By Forrest L. Bivens]
The article of justification is the master and prince, the lord, the ruler, and the judge over all kinds of doctrines; it preserves and governs all church doctrine and raises up our consciences before God. Without this article the world is utter darkness and death.”1 Luther’s appraisal of the doctrine of justification is also ours. We hold it to be the primary doctrine of Scripture, that is, the central and most important teaching revealed by God for us sinners.2
The truth of justification, above all others, distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. If this teaching were obscured or lost, attempts to show significant differences between the Christian religion and others would ultimately prove to be futile. Also, as revealed and emphasized in the Bible, all other doctrines either prepare for or flow from this chief article of faith. Without this truth, all others would mean little. This doctrine is the source or basis of the benefits and blessings which mankind receives from God. 
[GJ - Oh, Oh, Oh, Frosty - define the Master and Prince, the Lord, the Ruler, the Judge of all kinds of doctrine for us.]
What precisely is this “master and prince, lord, ruler and judge” over other doctrines? Justification is a declaratory act of God, in which he pronounces sinners righteous. As revealed in the Bible, this declaration of God is made totally by grace and on account of Jesus Christ and his substitutionary life and death on behalf of mankind. To phrase it somewhat differently, God has justified acquitted or declared righteous the whole world of sinners. He has forgiven them. They have been reconciled to God; their status in his eyes has been changed from that of sinner to forgiven sinner for the sake of Jesus Christ. Since all this applies to all people, the term universal or general justification is used. In our circles an alternate term, objective justification, is also used. If justification is universal, it must also be objective - sinners are forgiven whether they believe it or not. This is precisely what Scripture teaches in Romans 3:23-24, when it says, “There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
This is the Roman Catholic approach to dogma,
which appears as needed.

They Are Delivering Making Disciples: The Error of Modern Pietism Now. Group Orders Welcome

$
0
0
The cover by Norma Boeckler
emphasizes the Means of Grace in the KJV
versus the anti-Means of Grace language of the NIV.

The Kindle price for Making Disciples is only $3,99. Kindle Unlimited is $0 for now.

Quite a few people have requested multiple copies of  Making Disciples as a printed booklet. If you send your name, address, and number needed, I will send them to you free - or at the author's price of $2 or so. Some people have given gifts to get them distributed for free, so do not hesitate to ask.

bethanylutheranworship@gmail.com

I order them as soon as the request comes through.

Contents


The Great Commission in Various Translations. 10

Teach All Nations. 10

KJV. 10

KJV 21st Century. 10

Geneva English Bible. 10

Luther’s German Bible 1545. 10

Vulgate Latin. 10

Douay-Rheims, Roman Catholic, 1899. 11

Make Disciples. 11

New KJV. 11

English Standard Version. 11

New NIV. 11

Good News Translation. 11

The Message, also known as the Surfer Dude Version. 12

Fuller Seminary – The New Mother Ship for Rationalistic Pietism... 15

Lower Criticism Paved the Way for Dynamic Equivalency, Paraphrases Marketed as Translations. 21

The Rules. 21

The Shorter Reading Is Preferred. 22

The More Difficult Reading Is Preferred. 22

When in Doubt, Favor Tradition. 23

Example, Textual Work – The Ending of Mark’s Gospel, Removed. 24

The Aland edition of the New Testament. 25

Eugene Nida Took Away the Precise Translation Method of the KJV. 28

Tyndale Studied under Luther and Melanchthon. 29

Tyndale, Luther, and Melanchthon. 29

All English Bibles Begin with Tyndale. 30

Horrible Corruptions by the New NIV Living Paraphrase. 33

Genesis 4:1. 33

Isaiah 7:13-14. 33

Matthew 26:28. 34

Matthew 28:18-20. 35

Mark 16:8-20. 35

The Great Commission – Subverted by the Modern Pietists. 40

The Great Commission To Form Cell Groups. 41

Object of the Verb To Teach. 41

Objection – Teach Used Twice. 42

A Disciple Is Not a Soul-Winner, Simply a Pupil 42

The Verb in Matthew Is Not a Good Argument for Making Disciples. 42

King James 21st Century - KJV21. 44

KJV21 Readings and Explanations. 44



No Need for Another Translation. 45

Why Does Babtist Legalistic Pietism Appeal to WELS, LCMS, and the Mini-Sects?

$
0
0

People need to experience Babtist legalistic Pietism - and the shunning - to appreciate the same in WELS, Missouri, and the mini-sects (ELS, CLCs, etc, ad inf, ad nauseum).

One attraction for the SynCons is that Babtists actually have faith, so the Babtists are much warmer, friendlier, and Gospel-oriented. Starting with the worst - the CLC (sic) and WELS are perpetual thumb-in-the-eye Stooges, always proving something with their obnoxious putdowns and snide comments.

Of course, the Babtists have lost faith in the Word, too, so they are ramping up the gimmicks, as men must do when they think it is all up to them.

Even at their best--and I like Evangelicals a lot--Babtists live with a paradox. Although they teach justification by faith in their own way, using with making a decision, they emphasize obey to be blessed. That is certainly a core dogma of the Duggar cult, and they did not invent it. If they obey God (no birth control), then they will be blessed over and over.

In my graduate classes I see that theme emphasized too, especially since many of the classes are Old Testament surveys. Nothing brings out the Moses in people more than Old Testament studies. Therefore, if Moses is the Savor, then Jesus is the punishing law-giver.

When I teach, I often hear this phrase, "We have to be obedient or God will not bless us." Babtists turn Gospel admonitions into legalistic commands. Luther observed about Paul - he persuades with the Gospel. New Testament admonitions to pray are accompanied with Gospel Promises (see John 15:1ff), not pray or you will be punished.

Likewise, this legalistic approach bears fruit in "You have to witness or God will not let you grow in your faith."

And - "Disciples are soul-winners, so we have to make disciples, as Jesus commanded, or we will not grow as a congregation."

WELS and Missouri can really hum along with that tune, because they have been issuing orders and bashing people for 150+ years. Kicking a pastor out because he prefers the KJV or dislikes Thrivent/AAL/LB funding is normal for WELS. One is kicked out for teaching justification by faith; another is barely given a pat on the wrist.

Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid.
Telling Missouri, WELS, and the mini-sects to give up on Church Growth is like explaining to Babtists why drinking liquor is allowed in the Bible.

Lutherdom responds to CG criticism with:

  • You are lazy.
  • You are narrow-minded.
  • You are a legalist (Valleskey).
  • You are going to destroy our synod.




















Jim Buske posed with Andy Stanley at the Drive Conference.
Bishop Katie reported 8 other WELSians attending the coven.

Thirty pounds ago, Ski posed with Stanley.

Buske, Rev James G         St Peter - Appleton WI               02/16/2015
Associate Pastor

Ski's Journal Still Online: Drive ’08 - Pastor’s Conference - North Point

Drive ’08 - Pastor’s Conference - North Point



WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
WHO WENT THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW?
Pastor Ski - St. Marcus - Milwaukee
Pastor John Parlow - St. Mark - Depere
HOW LONG WERE WE THERE?
WHERE WAS THE CONFERENCE?
FAVORITE PART OF THE CONFERENCE:
FAVORITE BREAK OUT SESSION:
A Healthy Staff Culture
- Jeff Henderson
FAVORITE QUOTE FROM DRIVE ‘08
“Leaders don’t get people, they attract them”
- Andy Stanley

DRIVE ’08 JOURNAL

Whew!  Day 5, it has been a heck of a road trip.  Today was the last day.  As you can see it was jam packed.  Before I get into Day 5... Let me just say this, “We should have sat in traffic to go to the Brown Bridge Campus!”  Buske & I were bitter.  Remember that I had said John got frustrated sitting the parking lot for 30 minutes?  So we went to dinner & called it a night.  Well, on Day 5 they showed the video for what happened at Brown Bridge.  Sweet cookout, the food looked awesome, games and fellowship outside (without snow or cold, I might add) and then a surprise JEFF FOXWORTHY show.  Man, how are they gonna top that next year?

Anyway, Day 5.  It is kind of crazy, just when you think it can’t get any better, it does.  Well, sort of.  In the morning they had Q & As for different groups.  I went to one that was about linking adults into small group studies.  It was well done, but for me it is difficult because everyone is looking for concrete answers on how to solve their own personal small group issues.  Many of the questions didn’t apply for us at St. Marcus.  However, the leaders were great and had a ton of info.
My final breakout session was entitled Parental Guidance Required.  The leader was Clay Scroggins.  He kind of looked like Steve James (he’s a St. Marcus member, Steve that is) but he talked with a Texas drawl.  He was high energy.  Based on his presentation and his passion for kids, I imagine that he rocked it out with kids.  The gist of his session was that what happens in the home has a greater influence on the spiritual life of children than what happens at church.  Based on that it becomes imperative that parents & the church partner.  Here are the steps that North Point uses:
  1. 1.Inform Parents - inform them about what is being taught to their children.
  2. 2.Partner With Parents - invite parents to be in an environment with their children.
  3. 3.Equip Parents - provide parents with the tools to assist in the spiritual development of their children.
Pretty good points and a really good session.  
After that session we broke for lunch.  John took off for the airport, so Buske and I were on our own.  That might sound a little scary, but it is true.
The final Main Session with Andy Stanley was just phenomenal.  We began with awesome worship. Today though, they began with a Christian rapper, Toby Mac.  Our school kids would have loved it.  I’m not sure that they would have believed that it was church though.
When Andy began his session.  He started by saying that he was not going to follow his notes in the Drive ’08 Journal Book.  Instead he was going to do something that he called, “Recent Random Thoughts On Church Leadership.”  He shared 5 points and 5 takeaways.  I think that he was at his absolute best this afternoon.  Here are the 5 point & takeaways:
  1. 1.To reach people no one else is reaching we must do things no one else is doing.
Takeaway - Become preoccupied with those you haven’t reached as opposed to those you keep.  This is easier said than done.
Wow, it seems so simple.  And yet so hard.
  1. 2.The next generation product almost never comes from the previous generation.
Takeaway - Be a student not a critic.
What more can be said?  How do we approach things?  When things are different & involve change are we scared?  Do we criticize or do we look to learn and implement?
  1. 3.What do I believe is impossible to do in my field?  But if it could be done it would fundamentally change my business.
Takeaway - Pay attention to the people who are breaking the rules.
Crazy sounding isn’t it?  We can fight technology and change, but in the end it will pass us and we will become archaic and irrelevant.  Not our Message, but the manner in which we present it.  Who would have ever thought texting would be as big as it is?  How about multi-site church?  Video church?  These are all things that have changed how we worship.
  1. 4.If we got kicked out & the board brought in a new CEO what would they do?  Why shouldn’t we walk out the door & then come back in & do it ourselves?
Takeaway - Acknowledge what is NOT working & own up to why you are unwilling to change it.
Some thoughts on this - rarely does the church (in general) get concerned about change until they run out of money.  What if we asked some questions before it was too late?
  1. a.What’s in decline?
  2. b.Where are we manufacturing energy? In other words pretending something is important.  An example would be if I continued to say that Bible Study was important, but never attended.  I’m blowing hot air, “manufacturing energy.”  I don’t believe that anyone wants to stand behind that or get involved in something like that.
  3. c.Finally, when are we going to unearth all underlying assumptions?  Sometimes, what we assume, is not the reality.  Are we willing to dig to find out the truth or are we happy with assuming? 
  4. 5.When your memories exceed your dreams the end is near.
Takeaway - Don’t let success or momentum overshadow your vision.  Keep the out front.
How quickly can we be satisfied?  How often do we look at things and say, “Well, it’s not great but it is better than such and such church.” Scary, but we sometimes fool ourselves into thinking like this.  Some questions to ponder:
  1. a.What the burden on your heart? (sic, yo)
  2. b.What breaks your heart?
That was it.  After that Andy just ended and prayed for all the people there & for there (sic) ministries.  As you can see from the pictures above, Buske & I got to get a picture with Andy, pretty cool.  He is way down to earth.  His wife Sandra was there also and she is just great.  We actually got to talk to her a little more than Andy.  You also notice John with the North Point member who played Bender in one of their sermon series called “Twisted”.  The series was all about how Satan twists God’s Word.  Finally, there is a photo of Buske & Todd Fields.  I’m a little bitter about that one, but you’ll need to ask me why.
Thanks to everyone who read this while I was gone.  Be looking for some cool stuff that we will be implementing at St. Marcus, especially in Sunday Night.  Thanks also for all the patience.  Writing this thing mostly between 1 AM & 2 AM means that there are probably a ton spelling and grammar mistakes.  I can’t wait to see you guys on Sunday.  Check out the Picture Page for some added photos from Drive ’08.
I’m out!

Want to be a leader in WELS?
Get trained by Babtists
and abuse women staffers,
then sue their husbands for being outraged.

Very Rough Outline of Creation Gardening: Trusting God for Toxin-Free Roses, Flowers, and Food. A Theology Book about Gardening. The Doctrine of the Word Informs the Entire Bible

$
0
0



Creation Gardening: Trusting God for Toxin-Free Roses, Flowers, and Food

Outline

Introduction – not a choice between science and faith.
1.    Science deals with observation, not purpose.
2.    Reality is the net that holds the data.
Books – Rehwinkel, Darwin on Earthworms, Darwin’s Black Box, Evolution Is Not Science. Ben Stein’s movie.
A.    This is a theology book about gardening and Creation.
B.    Creation by the Word of God
C.   Genesis 1
D.   John 1
E.    Other passages, Isaiah 40, new creations in Paul,


Manufacturing Difficulties Increases Work with Man-Made Solutions
1.       Chemical fertilizers kill soil microbes.
2.       Toxins kill all life for a period of time, thwarting beneficials without stopping the pests.
3.       The soil needs an abundance of life to be fertile, soft, alive.
4.       Rototilling, fertilizing, and spraying are the worst approaches


Foundational works for the gardener.
I.        Teaming with Microbes.
J.        Attracting Beneficial Bugs
K.       Sharon Lovejoy books – overall view, observation, art
L.       Norma Boeckler – artist, gardener, faithful Lutheran


Teaming with Microbes – essential for all plants
A.    Fungus.
B.    Bacterial
C.   Protozoa
D.   Other microbes
E.    The importance of trapping the nutrients in the soil root zone.

The Earthworm as God’s Tireless Gardener
F.    Virtues of the red wiggler
G.   A cow that feasts on bacteria
H.   Also a bus that moves bacteria


Pests Are Food for Beneficial Creatures – Do Not Starve the Beneficials
A.    Tale of the destroyed white roses.
B.    Ichneumons and Flower flies
C.   Rove beetles and cursorial spiders, plus spider webs
D.   A blessing of toads

Birds Serve as the Air Wing of Gardening
E.    Most loathed birds are very useful – starlings, grackles
F.    Mixed diets – seed and bugs, for most birds.
G.   Grackle diapers
H.   Bird paradise
I.      Jackson EZ Bird Swing
J.     Natural food is the best – a reason to eliminate toxins
K.    Water is needed most of all
L.    Mulch as bird feeders and spider homes


Roses Are Easy To Grow – Thorn Bushes with Beautiful Flowers
Starting from scratch – digging the hole in the lawn
The lawn as perfect compost
Pre-soaking the bare root roses – and all plants – in rain water
Newsprint or cardboard as the bottom layer of mulch
Shredded wood as the top layer
Earthworms as the sign and guarantee of fertile soil


Continuous Care of Roses Means Plenty of Cut Flowers for Everyone
John 15. A shared joy is a doubled joy – German saying


Plants for Food, Enjoyment, and Birds
Berry plants
Seed plants
So-called weeds
Asparagus
Vines
Sweet Corn – if the critters allow



LCMS Pastor George Borghardt III, President of Higher Things, Preaches Universal Salvation. No Scriptural References, No Book of Concord Support. Much Fake Drama

$
0
0





Reverend George Borghardt III

Reverend  George Borghardt IIIReverend George F. Borghardt III, Senior Pastor: graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Classics and then received a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO in 2000. He served for ten years as the Associate/Youth Pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Conroe, TX before accepting the call to serve as Zion’s Senior Pastor in November of 2010.
Pastor Borghardt voluteers his time in various youth organizations, serving as the President aof the national Lutheran youth organization Higher Things and as a board director at Faith Lutheran in Crystal Lake.  He plays second base on Zion's softball team.  He is also a huge sports fan loving his LSU Tigers, the New Orleans Saints, and the New York Mets.
Pastor Borghardt and Amy, his wife, have three children: George, Thomas, and Sophia.

President of Higher Things

This Calov quotation, which I obtained from Robert Preus'
Justification and Rome,
destroys UOJ in a few words.

---

What Do Lutherans Believe?

Luther's RoseAll that we believe, teach, and confess must faithfully be taken from the Holy Scriptures. We believe that the Holy Scriptures are God's divinely inspired word, without error, that is able to make us wise unto salvation...

Jesus took the burden of our sin upon Himself at the cross enduring our punishment. His love is so great for us that He gives us His perfect righteousness. By virtue of the cross, God declares that our sins are forgiven and we are righteous and welcome in His sight.

---

Higher Things and the Forrest Bivens Deception about the Chief Article


The first and chief article is this: Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:24-25). He alone is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all (Isaiah 53:5). All have sinned are justified freely, without their own works or merits, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood (Romans 3:23-25). (Smalcald Articles II.I.1-3).

That right there is the heart of the Lutheran Confession. All have sinned. All have been justified freely without work or merit. Justification--becoming right with God--is something that happens outside myself, apart from myself. It's objective. My redemption is in Christ Jesus, in the blood that He shed.

***

GJ - This video is the worst UOJ message I have seen, but I am glad Higher Things and Pastor George Borghardt III are out in the open about their Universalism, instead of hiding it behind ambiguous and misleading language.

The Brief Confession of 1932 uses completely erroneous Scripture citations to back up "God has forgiven the entire world," without connecting the citations to the claims. Here are claims without even a mention of Scripture.

My take is this -  the UOJ Stormtroopers are rattled by the laity who see through their false doctrine and challenge them on every point. The Higher Things websty clearly misrepresents Luther and the Book of Concord about the Chief Article.

---





Who Redefined the Chief Article - Cheaply. Dishonestly. Cowardly?
The Primary Doctrine in Its Primary Setting: Objective Justification and Lutheran Worship [Prepared for the WELS National Conference on Worship, Music and the Arts Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin, July Wisconsin, July 23, 1996By Forrest L. Bivens]
The article of justification is the master and prince, the lord, the ruler, and the judge over all kinds of doctrines; it preserves and governs all church doctrine and raises up our consciences before God. Without this article the world is utter darkness and death.”1 Luther’s appraisal of the doctrine of justification is also ours. We hold it to be the primary doctrine of Scripture, that is, the central and most important teaching revealed by God for us sinners.2
The truth of justification, above all others, distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. If this teaching were obscured or lost, attempts to show significant differences between the Christian religion and others would ultimately prove to be futile. Also, as revealed and emphasized in the Bible, all other doctrines either prepare for or flow from this chief article of faith. Without this truth, all others would mean little. This doctrine is the source or basis of the benefits and blessings which mankind receives from God. 
[GJ - Oh, Oh, Oh, Frosty - define the Master and Prince, the Lord, the Ruler, the Judge of all kinds of doctrine for us.]

What precisely is this “master and prince, lord, ruler and judge” over other doctrines? Justification is a declaratory act of God, in which he pronounces sinners righteous. As revealed in the Bible, this declaration of God is made totally by grace and on account of Jesus Christ and his substitutionary life and death on behalf of mankind. To phrase it somewhat differently, God has justified acquitted or declared righteous the whole world of sinners. He has forgiven them. They have been reconciled to God; their status in his eyes has been changed from that of sinner to forgiven sinner for the sake of Jesus Christ. Since all this applies to all people, the term universal or general justification is used. In our circles an alternate term, objective justification, is also used. If justification is universal, it must also be objective - sinners are forgiven whether they believe it or not. This is precisely what Scripture teaches in Romans 3:23-24, when it says, “There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

Higher Things joins the New NIV in adding the second all to Romans 3. All have sinned - no argument there. But the text does NOT say "all are justified." Even the old NIV, which was packed with problems, failed to add the second "all."

Shame on George and Higher Things for joining ELCA in its Universalism, grace without the Means of Grace, declarations without any Scriptural or Confessional support, Halle Pietism triumphant.


Take down the Luther statues and put up Lord Vader.

Lulu Sent Me an Offer - 33% Off My Books

$
0
0
Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant is $26 retail.
Five copies now would be $40 total,
but only if I order them for you.

Cover and art by Norma Boeckler.

Authors enter code MARAPP33 at checkout and save 33% when purchasing 5 or more of your own print books. This offer ends March 11th. Remember, coupon codes are CASE-SENSITIVE.

As this works. I can order my own books and send them to you - and get 33% off the author's price. That is how I have been ordering books for others lately, using one sale or another. 

What is the result?

Five copies of Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant would cost about $130 retail.

With this sale I can order five copies of Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant for $40. Or five different titles, or mix and match.


ELCA Charismatic Mega-Church Blows Up into a Pile of Feathers. Your Icha-peek Special for Tonight

$
0
0
Pastor Mindy Bak


Former mega-church North Heights Lutheran shutting down

 | UPDATED: 
North Heights Lutheran, the one-time megachurch of Arden Hills, has run out of prayers.
The church is shutting down, the apparent victim of a civil war that has split it apart.
After 70 years of weekly worship, the church’s last service will be Sunday.
“This took me by surprise,” 20-year member Zelda Erickson said Monday after learning of the closing at an announcement during Sunday’s church service. “I feel terrible about this.”
North Heights once had Sunday attendance of 3,400 at two church locations. But attendance has fallen recently to several hundred — not enough to keep the church afloat.
“That church is absolutely broke,” said Jack Anderson, a former member who now worships with a breakaway group in a nearby hotel.
Phone and email messages to church leaders, including pastor Mindy Bak, were not answered Monday.
The church was founded in 1946 at a 450-seat church in Roseville. By 1985, it had blossomed into one of Minnesota’s first mega-churches. Its 43-acre campus in Arden Hills held a 1,350-capacity sanctuary and several chapels, as well as a basketball and racquetball courts.
But amid declining membership and income, officials laid off half of the church’s 88-person staff in June and closed the original church in Roseville in July.
The reaction was furious. About two-thirds of the congregation left and began to worship separately at the AmericInn Hotels & Suites in Mounds View. That group, called the Bondservants, holds two services every Sunday for about 1,000 worshippers.
Former church member Anderson blamed the troubles on Bak.
“She lost the primary support of the church — the tithers,” said Anderson. “The young people around here are not in a position to command a lot of resources. But the (breakaway church) has lots of well-established people.”
Jim Kellett was a member of North Heights for about 25 years — until he began attending the alternative services last year. He, too, was critical of Bak and said she was “destroying the church.”
When interviewed in September, Bak said the drastic cuts were necessary to save the church. She charged that the Bondservants were sexist and could not stand to see the church led by a woman.
“In her mind, that is true,” said Anderson. “But not in our minds. I have never heard anyone in that group say anything about that.”
Among many unanswered questions about the church’s closing is the fate of the church’s school.
North Heights Christian Academy teaches students from kindergarten through eighth grade in buildings next to the original Roseville church.
In a letter sent to parents, principal Jeffrey Taylor said he was taken by surprise.
It is not known, he said, what impact the church closing would have on the school, but school officials were working hard to keep it open. He noted that church officials “were meeting with bankers to discuss current assets and funding on Wednesday.”
Taylor and other school officials did not return phone messages left Monday.
The prospect of the academy being jeopardized bothers longtime member Erickson.
“That is where my heart really hurts,” she said, because her granddaughter attended the school.
It might be possible, said former church member Kellett, for the breakaway group to rescue the dying church.
It is not known if the group might want to buy the church facility or be reabsorbed into the church.
“North Heights is a tightly knit church community,” Kellett said. “They are going to correct this.”
But most members were pessimistic.
Erickson looked over the church’s weekly schedule. “There are going to be women’s Bible studies this week, and two Wednesday services, and then one on Sunday,” she said.
“And then no more services. This country’s backbone is our faith, and we have strayed from that.”
---
From Wiki -
Morris George Cornell Vaagenes (1929- ) has been a leader in the national and international Lutheran and Ecumenical Charismatic movement since 1970, the largest spiritual awakening movement in history, with 650,000,000 Christians involved in its transformational power. He was chairman of the International Lutheran Conference on the Holy Spirit with annual gatherings. He is an ordained pastor on the roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Dr. Vaagenes is a former missionary to Madagascar and Pastor-Emeritus of North Heights Lutheran Church, a mega-church in Roseville and Arden Hills, northern suburbs of St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a published author of two books, and president of Renewal International, a ministry supporting mission projects in Madagascar as well as fostering spiritual renewal Spiritual awakening in the church. As of April 2010, Dr. Vaagenes is serving as Senior Pastor of Lutheran Church of the Master in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.
North Heights Lutheran Church, under the leadership of Pastor Vaagenes, expanded to two large campuses to accommodate its growing membership and ministries that include major music and drama productions, North Heights Christian Academy, Lay Ministry Training Center International, and International Institute on Church Renewal. In the book, The Multi-Site Church Revolution by Geoff Suratt, Greg Ligon and Warren Bird (Zondervan, 2006, p. 194), the expansion at North Heights is named as a trailblazer in mega-church ministry.
Morris Vaagenes is the son of Rev. Morris G.C. Vaagenes and Hanna Bøvre Vaagenes. Both parents were born and lived the first part of their lives in Norway. It was at a missionary conference that a relationship began that led to their marriage in 1926. The couple had four children: Carl (b. 1927), Morris (b. 1929), Adelaide (1933–1936) and Lois (1935–1936). Adelaide and Lois are buried at Betroka Betroka, Madagascar.

Another Book Moving to Create Space - Amazon - Kindle

$
0
0

The interior has been set up for The Story of Jesus in Pictures, which is now at Lulu.com. Norma Boeckler wanted to produce a book for children, which was made up of illustrations about Jesus.

The cover is being finished, so we are not far from completion.



Next is Thy Strong Word, The Efficacy of the Word in the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

This is being proof-read, but also ordered time after time from Lulu, even as we speak.

The original was published in 2000, as I recall. I would have to find an original to check the date, but I may have given  that one away.  Yes, on purpose.

The original used a lot of text in Hebrew and Greek, which I thought was useful for clergy. However, the laity were the ones reading it and they found all the material they could not read a problem.

So - despite all the shunning and refusal to give any coverage to this 700 page book - people are requesting it more than any other, 16 years later.



Book Publishing History
My dissertation was published by the Augustana Historical Society. I finished the PhD in 1982.

I also had an essay or two published in a book, from a conference on aging that Mrs. Ichabod and I attended in Atlanta, about 1978.

I wrote a series of essays for Christian News, explaining how apostasy developed in America. He suggested it for Northwestern Publishing House, and they accepted it. NPH may have been the last bastion of Lutheran doctrine  in WELS at that time. Publishing was delayed, and whenLiberalism: Its Cause and Cure came out, the Church Growth faction exploded in anger.

The irony is that I delayed writing the last chapter, which became The Cure chapter, about the Means of Grace versus the Church Growth Movement. Once I gave The Cure paper at a WELS pastoral conference, with the drama queens fainting and throwing tantrums, I knew that was the definitive last chapter.

DP Bob Mueller traveled down to Columbus with the stated purpose of getting rid of me. The only doctrine he ever opposed was Lutheran doctrine, although one council member forced him to agree that I did my job well and taught correctly. Tis a burden to live a life of lies. No wonder so many WELS DPs, CPs, and clergy are hopeless drunks.

Norma Boeckler designed the cover for
Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant - Lulu.


NPH acceptedCatholic, Lutheran, Protestant for publication, but wrote me a snotty letter about not printing it until I "changed my attitude." I did not change my attitude: I remained Lutheran.

But Liberalism sold like hotcakes, enraging the WELS honchos who still maintained Church Growth did not exist in WELS. Wayne Mueller, the father of the transvestite pastor in Arizona, was the WELS leader who published the claim that WELS had no CG, but if it did, it was in harmony with the Scriptures. My new versions would be, "There are no transvestite pastors in WELS, but if there are, they are perfectly normal."

So I left WELS, resigning in disgust, a great move. My wife was uninsurable, but we found medical insurance for her, one time after another.

That was when I began to self-publish through Herman Otten's publisher, then Lulu. Pastor Otten's son Tim was a great help with

Norma Boeckler loves
to design Christian art,
and her Facebook fanbase is unlimited.


Switching to Lulu meant I also received a lot of artistic help from Norma Boeckler. That continues to be a great boon in every way possible. I do not have to worry about template-looking covers. Norma designs them.

Norma Boeckler began using Create Space, publishing several of her books on that Amazon-Kindle platform.

I enjoy using a desktop with a large screen, but most people are mobile and like having a library on their devices. For that reason, when I began to use Kindle versions for gardening articles, I decided to start publishing with Create Space and move everything over, in time, to that platform.

Communication without the Rottweilers Blocking
This could be a Litany for a service for leaving the established Lutheran sects, named These Are the Last Days of an Insane, Old Word:

  • The ELCA is Scriptural and Confessional, marking __ years of grace.

Lord, have mercy.

  • The LCMS is Scriptural and Confessional, marking __ years of grace.

Lord, have mercy.

  • The WELS is Scriptural and Confessional, marking __ years of grace.

Lord, have mercy.

  • The Little Sect is Scriptural and Confessional, marking __ years of grace.

Lord, have mercy.

  • The CLC (sic) is Scriptural and Confessional, marking __ years of grace.

Come Lord Jesus.
I am coming soon.

The Rottweilers, known more for their vicious nature than their intelligence, make sure only their boys and girls are in charge. They promote the work of their own circle with steroidal joy and energy, but watch carefully lest anyone else have a say, obtain a position, or even publish a book or article.

Major scandals in Lutherdom are either spiked completely by Christian News or deep-sixed on page 17. As far as I know, WELS is the first denomination to have the FBI raid its headquarters and collect the computers. Did anyone read that story anywhere but here?

Likewise, a publication, in the old days, was nothing if no distribution was available. By controlling distribution, and even by blocking it, the established synods control the message.

The Rottweilers also control friendships, using one man or one member to keep a pastor from doing anything -

  • Friendly suggestions.
  • Threats, sometimes disguised as friendly suggestions.
  • Tearing up the congregation with invented conflict.

"Don't be afraid, big doggie,
it's only a blog."

The Social Media and Self-Publishing
Blogging, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube, Ustream, and self-publishing are a giant chip shot above the heads of those who guard the net. (Tennis allusion)

The old synodicals move at the pace of Jobba the Hut, clamping down on this, putting the happy face on the latest felony. Meanwhile, news moves faster than beer at a WELS convention, faster than self-congratulations at a Missouri gathering, faster than self-serving condemnations at a CLC (sic) fest.

Lutheran clergy, teachers, and laity - no one is your master now. You are not confined to a location for worship. You can enjoy a vast library of genuine Lutheran books from the Net, from Luther's sermons to the entire Book of Concord. Cost is no issue.

Martin Luther started with the truth of the Scriptures and let them control the agenda. He did not begin with this thought, which paralyses so many "Will my synod approve?"



Dare To Defend Halle Pietism - The Source of the Term Objective Justification . Built-in Graphics and Links

$
0
0




Higher Things
23 hrs
How can God send anyone to hell? http://dtbl.org/24O2Tp0



http://higherthings.org How could God send anyone to Hell? Pr. Borghardt answers that He doesn't. Christ died for everyone. Those in Hell have rejected that....
YOUTUBE.COM
Like
Comment
Comments
George Borghardt Greg, this sounds like ELDONA's differences with the LCMS. Since your church body rejects objective justification ("Christ died for all"), then you were already going to reject this video. But, I do thank you for watching smile emoticon

I hope some day our churches are able to be in communion again. Peace!

LikeReply14 hrsEdited
Gregory L. Jackson Your opposition is to the Scriptures and the Book of Concord, not another group. But why stay on the subject?
LikeReply11 hrs
Gregory L. Jackson

Write a reply...

Ron Pederson If the forgiveness of sins is not already there, accomplished, what is faith to believe? Or does my faith bring forgiveness into existence? But faith isn’t what brings the forgiveness of sins into existence. On the contrary, it is the forgiveness of sins that brings our faith into existence. Our Catechism has a name for it: The means of grace.
LikeReply214 hrs
George Borghardt What Christ won on the cross is delivered to me in my baptism. Faith which is born of the gift trusts the word of God in the water. AC III-V
LikeReply114 hrs
Gregory L. Jackson Sorry George and Ron, this was settled by St. Paul, Romans 4:24. Stay with that. Focus. Read the chapter in English and Greek. Abraham is the example of righteousness through faith.

Gregory L. Jackson's photo.
LikeReply111 hrs
Ron Pederson What is received by faith must be the same as what is offered by God. And if it isn’t, then my faith is the cause for a change in what God offers.
LikeReply11 hrs
Gregory L. Jackson That is your rationalistic statement, Ron, not what the Word of God teaches. There is a difference. One should not start with Walther and Stephan as the last word on justification and then filter everything through them.
LikeReply11 hrs
Ron Pederson Just for clarification: atonement, redemption, reconciliation, grace, the sins of the world are paid for or won, etc are all in the same genus as objective justification. They are all different expressions of the same thing?
LikeReply2 mins
Gregory L. Jackson You are stuck on the universal Easter absolution of the world, via Halle Pietism. The irony is that your favorite term, Ron Pederson, is from the Calvinist translator's explanatory note in Knapp's Halle lectures: Objective Justification.http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/.../knapps...
LikeReplyRemove PreviewJust now


George Borghardt Ron, you are right on this one...

Greg is from Eldona and his little best-viewed-on-Netscape website demonstrates why we aren't in communion together. There's no reason to engage him in his pet topic.

Thank you for the Gospel you confessed here: Christ died for all -- even those who don't believe in Him. That salvation is delivered to us in His gifts. Faith receives, we are saved. Rejection damns.

He needs to do some research on his website design while he's Google-ing the real meaning of universalism. Frames are so 1990's. lol smile emoticon

Have a great day! Happy Laetare Week!

LikeReply7 minsEdited
Ron Pederson Thanks. And I enjoy your short, well done pod-casts.
LikeReply2 mins
Gregory L. Jackson George, you should post a Pietistic love-fest alert. I am not from ELDONA, but why let the facts cloud your sui generis fallacy? Justification by Faith is the Chief Article, something you both deny. If you want to call this my pet topic - thank you. It is the subject of Luther's best book, the Galatians Commentary, which you two have definitely not read, or if you did, missed the point entirely.

Gregory L. Jackson's photo.



Paul Rydecki Our churches will only be in communion again, 
Paul Rydecki Pastor Borghardt, if you stop spreading lies about my diocese and our doctrine, and if you bring your doctrine back in line with the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions, which teach justification by faith alone, not salvation apart from faith. We teach that Christ died for all. We do not teach that God has declared all men righteous or saved anyone apart from faith, and we certainly do not teach, as you do, that God condemns no one to hell.


George Borghardt I'm sorry. I was putting the best construction on your stuff. There's folks in Eldona just like you who deny objective justification. You are probably friends with them.

In all seriousness, you seem like a person who loves theology. You got a lot of zeal. Learn to listen before you spend time misrepresenting what others teach. I can't be teaching universalism while saying rejecting Jesus lands us in hell. That's just an ignorant observation.

I forgive you for slandering me.

Take care!

LikeReply8 mins
Gregory L. Jackson George, according to you and your Halle Pietists, I am already forgiven and saved. It is not slander to rebuke false doctrine. You need to study Luther's Large Catechism, his Galatian's Commentary, and Romans 4. You studied Greek? Read it in Greek - logizo - counted righteous, not before or without faith. You will not own the Universalism you spout, so I will name you a crypto-Universalist. That is more precise.

Gregory L. Jackson's photo.






George Borghardt Never said before or without faith, my friend. Faith saves cuz Jesus saves. Next response gets you blocked smile emoticon
LikeReplyJust now
Gregory L. Jackson I. AM. TERRIFIED.
LikeReplyJust now
Gregory L. Jackson Don't worry, George. I have preserved the thread on my old-fashioned, Book of Concord friendly blog.




Paul Rydecki For those who are willing to investigate the facts of Pr. Borghardt's slander of the ELDoNA, our public confession is readily available. http://eldona.org/our-confessing/
LikeReply7 mins
George Borghardt Hey... Lookie smile emoticon. Aren't you Paul Rydecki? Didn't you get kicked out of WELS for denying objective justification? smile emoticon

The gangs all here!

LikeReply15 minsEdited
Paul Rydecki I'm just glad you're helping the world to see what OJ really teaches (e.g., salvation apart from faith in Christ, that God doesn't send people to hell, etc.), and how eager you are to mock the Gospel of Christ and those who confess it. It's easier for the flock of Christ to identify the wolf when the sheep's clothing comes off.


George Borghardt Thanks! Have a great day. My confession is just fine! smile emoticon. Enjoy your days guys! Have fun storming the castle!
LikeReply16 mins
Gregory L. Jackson Not a castle, George, a slime pit of UOJ. The Slough of Despond.

Gregory L. Jackson's photo.

The UOJ Stormtroopers Continue To Battle Against the Reformation

$
0
0


George Borghardt Paul,

Christ died for all -- even those who don't believe in Him. We're going to disagree on this and I'm not gonna back down on the Gospel.

This is how important the FOR ALL is, Paul! If Christ died for all, He even died for me. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. That means He's the Lamb of God that takes away my sins!

This Gospel delivers the Holy Spirit who works faith where and when He pleases in those who hear the Gospel. That's "for me." I'm at the receiving end of His gift giving. As a pastor, I'm the delivery guy for His gifts (instrumentum secundum).

Or as the Catechism puts it, "faith trusts the Word of God in the water". Faith, which is born of the gifts, saves.

I'm not gonna back down from the Gospel. To do so would rob trouble consciences of their comfort.

I also am not naive enough to think that you, having been begged by your former synod to repent of your teaching, is going to suddenly believe what I've just written. So, let's be clear: you speak as one who wants to teach, but you have been kicked outta WELS for teaching what you taught and have found your way to a micro-synod to be a pastor. I wrote this post for those who are on this wall.

I'd appreciate that you respect that we disagree on this as pastors and take your hobby horse topic from my wall. If you are going to condemn Higher Things for the Gospel, we'll be okay with that. Your condemnation is actually evidence that we are teaching the truth.

Pax Domini,

LikeReply154 minsEdited
Paul Rydecki George. Please. Stop. Lying. Christ died for all, even those who don't believe in Him. Yes, He did. Of course He did. I agree that He did. Stop saying I and my diocese disagree with this, when clearly we do not. You have obviously never read a single thing we've written or said on the subject. Just stop lying. It's the language of the devil.
LikeReply53 minsEdited
George Borghardt Paul Rydecki Riiiiight, you reject "Objective Justification..." Which is what I said... I've been gracious to you. Next post really does get you blocked and blocked from the Higher Things wall.

I got no beef with ELDONA. I got a beef with you coming to trouble folks' consciences. Have a good day

LikeReply50 minsEdited
Paul Rydecki You're the one who attacked our diocese on your page by saying patently untrue things about our doctrine. I did not comment until you did so.

"Objective Justification," according to your own synod's founding fathers, does not mean that "Christ died for all." It means that, as a result of Christ dying for all, God declared all people righteous in His sight, whether or not they believe in Jesus. That is your synod's doctrine. Stop trying to spin it into "Christ died for all." Our diocese publicly and gladly teaches that Christ died for all. We deny that God thus imputed the righteousness of Christ to all people and justified them. We deny that, because the Scripture denies that.

---

One layman sent this email

Pastor,

Your latest post on Ichabod is fascinating on several levels, but perhaps Super Cool Pastor Georgy should "Dare to be Lutheran" by reading Luther himself:

We treat of the forgiveness of sins in two ways.  First, how it is achieved and won.  Second, how it is distributed and given to us.  Christ has achieved in on the cross, it is true.  But He has not distributed or given in on the cross.  He has not won it in the Supper or Sacrament.  There He has distributed and given it through the Word, as also in the Gospel, where it is preached.  He has won it once for all on the cross.  But the distribution takes place continuously, before and after, from the beginning to the end of the world...If now I seek the forgiveness of sins, I do not run to the cross, for I will not find it given there.  Nor must I hold to the suffering of Christ, as Dr. Carlstadt trifles, in knowledge or remembrance, for I will not find it there either.  But I will find in the Sacrament or Gospel the Word which distributes, presents, offers, and gives to me that forgiveness which was won on the cross.

Against the Heavenly Prophets in the Matter of Images and Sacraments (1525)

Looking forward to joining you for Lenten Vespers at 7 o'clock.

Midweek Lenten Service - Jesus the High Priest

$
0
0

Mid-Week Lenten Vespers, March 9, 2016, 7 PM Central Standard

Bethany Lutheran Church

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson



The Hymn #220                 Jesus My Great High Priest
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41
The Psalmody                                                 Psalm 110


Psalm 110King James Version (KJV)

110 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
The Lection                            The Passion History
                                                Hebrews


The Sermon Hymn #249            Isaiah Mighty Seer            

The Sermon –      Jesus the Great High Priest
 
The Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn #660                I'm But a Stranger Here 



Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.        

Hebrews 2:17King James Version (KJV)

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.     

For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Hebrews 4:14-16King James Version (KJV)

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

  Jesus Our Great High Priest

First we have the mysterious figure of Melchisedec, king of Salem. The name itself means King of Righteousness. Salem is the shorter name for Jerusalem - Jeru, place, Salem, peace.

So this Melchisedec brought bread and wine to Abraham and blessed him. That is an interesting turn of phrase, prefiguring Holy Communion. And this king of righteousness from Genesis, like Abraham, is a major figure in the Book of Hebrews.

The Book of Hebrews is a majestic work, with Greek more difficult than any other book in the New Testament. As I have mentioned before, Luther gave all the reasons why Apollo could be the author of Hebrews, and then referred to Paul as the author, meaning, I assume, it does not matter much.

Hebrews argues from the Old Testament examples that Jesus is the Son of God and also the great High Priest, fulfilling all Old Testament prophecies about sacrifice and making that sacrifice of Himself.

Salvation’s Giver, Christ, the only Son,
By His dear cross and blood the victory won.
Offered was He for greatest and for least,
Himself the Victim, and Himself the Priest.

Victims were offered by the law of old,
Which in a type this heavenly mystery told.
He, Ransomer from death, and Light from shade,
Now gives His holy grace His saints to aid.
        
The Atonement is the Gospel message - Christ dying for the sins of the world. Those who deny justification by faith invariably end up teaching salvation by works.

Because of this, though they deny it, they impose burdens on people and make forgiveness seem conditional on performing various obligations.

The Hebrews 4 passage is key for understanding how important the Human Nature in Christ is. He understands all our temptations and infirmities.

Rob Bell - MegaHeretic Pastor and Author of Love Wins Exposes His Universalism. Watch the Objective Justification Pastors, Soon To Follow Rob

$
0
0
Rob Bell made a splash in mega-churchery,
then sank with Love Wins.



Here's George from Higher Things.



2 Timothy 4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

The Objective Justification specialists would have us believe they are Lutheran, even Orthodox-- by Stephan's standards--and Confessional to boot. Do not ask them specifics about the Book of Concord: it's their rabbit's foot, not the norma normata.

Like Rob Bell, they slip and slide around when asked about the contradictions of their teachings, especially when they label justification by faith as Calvinism. Calvinism!?

When Bell revealed his Universalist beliefs to his mega-church, they extended him the Left Foot of Fellowship. His next appearance was at The Ethical Society, which I nicknamed The WouldBeGoods (great children's book by E. Nesbit).

The Ethical Society is such a hoot. The "minister" has an MDiv and continued education from one school or another. They have programs, but they disbelieve God. They are palsy-walsy with the Unitarian-Universalists, but I do not know how one group differs from another, except in history.

When George of Higher Things posted his revelations on YouTube, one person responded, "Must be ELCA." His regurgitation of the OJ false message sounded exactly like ELCA because they teach the same thing.

What is the common origin of LCMS-ELS-WELS-CLC(sic)-ELCA? The rationalistic Pietists of Halle University. Let us visit one of them, now, a favorite of ELCA-trained Jay Webber (STM, ILT).


Oh, there he is, Rambach the Halle Pietist, endorsed by Jay Webber, quoted by Jay Webber on the Intrepid Lutherans, in opposition to Martin Chemnitz, senior editor of the Book of Concord.

If God absolved all mankind from sin, then love wins, and so does Rob Bell. But there will be another Judge to face in the future, One not as malleable as their dogma, not as contradictory as their explanations.


Wiki: 

On March 17, 2013, in an interview at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Bell said, "I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and a woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man...And I think the ship has sailed. This is the world we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are."[39]

Taking Away the Excuse - No Perfect Translation - for the New NIV. Video - Introduction to the KJV

$
0
0








I have not seen the whole documentary about the KJV, but I wanted to post it so I could watch it later.

False assumptions lead to massive problems. For proof, watch fail videos, such as "I can swing from this vine or rope into the river, even though I have no upper body strength while carrying a lot of Fritos and Little Debbies as dead weight." Fail.

All objections to the NIV forced upon WELS and LCMS members were met with, "There is no perfect translation."

And yet, when the synods discuss translations, they never include anything with "King James" in that wannabee group. I never call the NIV or New NIV a translation, because both are paraphrases and exercises in bad creative writing.

The laity will have to carry their own weight on this, because most clergy are ill-informed, too eager to fit in, and too worried about feeding their bellies to engage in an honest discussion about translations. Contrary to the assumption built into synodical talk, few clergy have a working knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, or even Greek, which is easy to learn and apply daily.

People do not need advanced language training to deal with these issues. The pivotal man in ruining the art of Bible translation was Eugene Nida, who had a PhD and all manner of posts and positions so he could ruin with translations his way. Lesson learned - it takes a PhD and leverage to ruin the Bible.

By the way, when I was but a lad, still wearing short-pants and riding a trike, this comment came up all the time,"There is anew way to translate - dynamic equivalence, not like the word for word of the KJV." 

New - that magical word. Any package at the grocery store with new on it will sell better than its peers. There are even rules about how often some package can put a new banner on it.

The NIV has new built into its title, but even then the entire thing had to be fixed up by people even more dishonest than the first bunch.

The Beck Bible had to be fixed, so Beck Began God's Word for the Nations. The GWTN had to be fixed, changed all over the place, until it emerged with another name.

Just between you and me, far too many people have smelled the scent of money in Bible printing. Like the manufacture of cars, the key is the break-even point. Once a new Bible reaches the break-even point, all additional sales are nothing more than printing money. Or - total revenue minus the cost of paper and ink. Why so many new Bibles? Why so many new hymnals? Same answer.




However, mentioning the KJV or any form of it
will toss the speaker into the justification by faith dungeon.




Exposed - Clergy Ignorance of the Book of Concord

$
0
0
Seminex was led by WELS veterans:
the chairman of the board coming
from WELS' Northwesern College and its UOJ prophet -
Richard Jungkuntz.
My friend told me about NWC alumni meetings with all the Seminex bumper stickers on the cars.

WELS is famous for ignoring the Book of Concord, but the LCMS is not any better. One can easily quote Forrest Bivens plariarizing Mark Zarling on UOJ being the Chief Article of the Christian Religion, the Master and Prince, the judge of all doctrine, the article on which the Church rises or falls.

Those are the common phrases used - but always for justification by faith, never for UOJ, which came much later after the Reformation.

ELCA focuses on the Augsburg Confession, and pointedly ignores the Book of Concord, Chemnitz, Gerhard, and the rest. Offically at least - most ELCA pastors would find it a strain to discuss anything in the Book of Concord. They have revised the Creeds in ELCA - and WELS followed suit, cuz "they had to use the new stuff."

But the Synodical Conference has no excuse, since the clergy pretend to have mastered all knowledge, all languages, and the entire history of Christian doctrine.

Yet the LCMS is just as blatant in ignoring the language below, which includes Luther, Melanchthon, and the Formula of Concord, a trifecta in defeating UOJ.

The Brief Statement of 1932 (LCMS) was raised to deutero-canonical status, even though its justification section pointedly refuted the Bible, Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz, the Book of Concord, and the post-Concord era.

Various efforts by the LCMS, WELS, and the micro-mini synods have moved people away from the Reformation and into the paradise of the entire world forgiven and saved.

Ignorance of the Book of Concord helped this happen. Laziness about Biblical knowledge accelerated the decline.


Viewing all 11910 articles
Browse latest View live


<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>