Jerry's Suggestion

In his weekly missive yesterday, former synodical president, Jerry Kieschnick, chimed in on the upcoming election for LCMS president, which will take place online, beginning tomorrow, June 22, and concluding on June 25. In his missive, he writes:

Here’s my suggestion, humbly and respectfully offered. Ask your district president for his counsel. Unless the pastoral and lay delegates from your congregation did not attend last year’s triennial district convention, your congregation participated in your district president’s election. He is a trusted leader in your midst. And he knows all three nominees for LCMS president.

Evidently, Jerry missed the memo. As we have seen, some of the district presidents aren't waiting around for delegates to seek their counsel, but have already sent out campaign letters in the hope of swaying delegates to vote for the candidate of their choice. Or, maybe Jerry didn't miss the memo at all, and this is his way of offering his "humble and respectful" support to those district presidents, who have already chimed in, while encouraging delegates from other districts to contact their district presidents, who haven't sent out campaign letters, for whatever reason (maybe, hopefully, out of a sense of decency and ecclesiastical tact). Whatever the case, the message from Jerry is clear: District presidents know best, and they should play a significant role in the process of electing our synodical president. After all, these dudes have been elected to serve their districts, so they must be trusted leaders in our midst.

It's kind of ironic, isn't it? Three years ago, Jerry was soundly defeated in his bid to be reelected as synodical president, as Matthew Harrison was elected on the first ballot by a pretty significant margin, as far as LCMS presidential elections have gone in the past decades. Shouldn't that make him a trusted leader in our midst? Maybe we should just forgo asking our district presidents for their counsel and ask Harrison for his.

What a grand idea! Thanks, Jerry. President Harrison is a trusted leader in our midst. He knows all three nominees for LCMS president. I'm going to ask him, and I humbly and respectfully advise all delegates to do the same:

Dear President Harrison,

You were elected to serve as our synodical president in July, 2010, which makes you a trusted leader among us. I am writing to seek your counsel in regard to the upcoming election for synodical president. You know all three candidates. For whom do you think I should vote?

Sincerely,
In Christ,
Rev. Thomas C. Messer
Peace Lutheran Church, Alma, MI

Okay, so, no, I'm not really going to send that inquiry to President Harrison, and neither do I really advise delegates to do so. I'm just trying to highlight the irony and absurdity of Jerry's "humble and respectful" suggestion here, especially the bit about our district presidents being "trusted leaders" by virtue of being elected. If we have learned anything of late, the district presidents who have chosen to forsake all sense of decency and engage in electioneering have proven themselves to be anything but "trusted leaders."

That Jerry Kieschnick would send out this suggestive missive just a few days before the polls open is not surprising, given the fact that he has seen fit to offer his own not-so-humble and disrespectful commentary and criticism regarding our current synodical president, jumping on the bandwagon of the criticism heaped upon our synod and its president a few months back. He even sent out an "Early Edition" of his "Perspectives" back on February 11, which included a section sub-titled "People are asking . . .," wherein he noted that lots of people were asking him whether or not he'd be willing to serve again as our synodical president, how he was humbled by that, how he has always believed that the office should seek the man and not the man the office, which was followed up by a reminder that the deadline for nominations was quickly approaching and seemed to be the reason for the "Early Edition" of his "Perspectives," even though he was totally not seeking the office in any way - totally. So, not surprising at all. This is the same sort of "Ecclesiastical-ness" we all grew so fond of during Jerry's tenure as our synodical president, where churchly matters were often handled behind the locked doors of Executive Sessions, and where lawyers, bylaws, and CCM opinions were consulted before, or even in lieu of, Holy Scripture and our Lutheran Confessions, and where the ends always justified the means, so that the circling of the wagons was always employed to protect the institution of Synod, Inc. and we never heard any repentant apologies from our "trusted leaders" about anything (if I'm wrong about that, show me). Nothing says "Ecclesiastical" like Executive Sessions, lawyers, bylaws, CCM opinions, and the circling of the wagons. If that's your bag, by all means, contact your district presidents for counsel.   

As for me, as soon as the polls open and I can cast my vote, I will do so for President Harrison, as will the lay delegate of the congregation I am blessed to serve. And, amazingly, we will be able to do so without having contacted our district president for his counsel. Go figure! We will do so not because President Harrison has the right vision or is trodding the right path, or because he's just more awesomer than the other candidates. We will do so simply because he shares our confession of the faith, promotes that confession, and desires to live and lead by that confession, which includes his ready admission that he is a sinner in need of Jesus Christ. He's transparent, unafraid to speak his mind or answer questions directly put to him in a direct manner (rather than screening questions in advance to formulate the best political answer), an excellent theologian, has a true pastor's heart, and will readily admit when he's wrong, repent, and seek forgiveness - you know, like a Lutheran.

So, thanks for the "humble and respectful" suggestion, Jerry, but I'm good.      

COPs Gone Wild

The LCMS Council of Presidents (COPs) have often been referred to as the "8th Commandment Police," which is a nickname that only slightly edges out the other nickname by which they are also affectionately known: the "Blogging Police."

They have come to be known by these nicknames because some of the COPs have often issued missives, either in written or oral form, decrying what they deem to be crass violations of the 8th Commandment among the Lutherans they serve, especially within the crotchety realm of the Lutheran blogosphere. In fact, word has it that portions of COPs meetings have been devoted to addressing this issue, so concerned are some who belong to that high and venerable Council about this.

But, one wonders where the COPs are now? Some of their own venerable members have taken a liking to trampling all over the 8th Commandment lately, but not a peep of concern has been heard (at least, publicly) from any of the other members. Strange, that. Even stranger is the fact that those intent on setting the 8th Commandment aside in the attempt to score political points are among the loudest voices on the COPs decrying 8th Commandment violations, especially in the Lutheran blogosphere.

I guess the lesson we are to learn from this is that the COPs are above reproach. What is good for the goose is not good for the gander, since not all geese are equal in our synod. The 8th Commandment simply doesn't apply to certain Geese, who reside in certain, plush District offices. They are above the Law (hey, wasn't that a Steven Seagal movie?). For them, the end justifies the means. If the 8th Commandment must be obliterated in order to accomplish some self-perceived "higher good," so be it.

The first member of the COPs to forsake all sense of decency and use the power and resources of his office to do some dirty electioneering was Paul Linnemann, District President of the Northwest District of the LCMS. He sent out an email to voting delegates in his District to tell them about the two distinct paths he has witnessed forming in our synod. It is obvious to anyone reading his email that he is a big fan of the second path he describes, which, according to him, is being trod by his fellow District President, David Maier. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Linnemann sent this email out to voting delegates in his District to campaign for Maier. And, if one didn't know any better, one might be swayed by what Linnemann writes, for golly gee willickers, who would want a synodical president like Matt Harrison, who is "seeking to concentrate the activity and authority in the church in the office of pastor," and who doesn't want to engage the culture in which we live with the Gospel, but follows "a paradigm of limitation"? I mean, Harrison sounds like a big, fat jerk, especially when compared to how Linnemann describes Maier: "As the leader of the largest District in the LCMS, he has fostered a spirit of collegiality and trust among the people of his District." That sounds wonderful. I'll take two of those, please.

But, Linnemann's distasteful 8th-Commandment-Be-Damned politickin' was rather tame in comparison to the most recent diatribe from another one of the above-the-law COPs, Robert "call me Bob" Newton, District President of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District of the LCMS. There is no subtlety to Bob's campaign email he sent to delegates in his district. He just comes right out and slams Harrison, taking a quote from him in the May issue of The Lutheran Witness completely out of context in the attempt to convince voting delegates in his district that Harrison believes the preaching of the Gospel should only happen within the walls of our churches and be kept "far from the earshot of those who have not yet heard." Yeah, because a) that is an accurate description of the dude who happens to be the first LCMS President to testify before a congressional hearing in D.C., and b) that is totally what Harrison was saying in that article - totally.

Another member of the 8th-Commandment-Breaking 8th Commandment Police Squad, Chris Wicher, District President of the Eastern District of the LCMS, said the heck with sending out an email to voting delegates in his District limited to campaigning for Maier's election as synodical president. He went a step further and sent out a "Missional List" with suggested candidates for many of the elections to be conducted at our upcoming Synodical Convention. I mean, why limit your electioneering to the highest office in the synod when you can use the power and resources of your District office to go ahead and endorse a whole slate of candidates?

So much for fearing and loving God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way. There's an election at stake here! We cannot let something like the 8th Commandment get in the way of our very important campaign. The future of our synod depends on this, after all! Harrison must be ousted. If we reelect him, he might pass some edict from on high which prevents us from ever saying anything about Jesus anywhere at any time, except within the confines of our churches, of course.

What a joke these men and their letters are - a disgraceful, disgusting, sickening joke! And, what hypocrisy! The "8th Commandment Police" doing such violence to the 8th Commandment themselves is like the corrupt cop who takes money from the mob, but pretends to be a cop on the up-and-up, or who, like in the pic above, claims to protect and serve citizens, while using every opportunity he can to beat the crap out of them in the name of performing his duties.

Not all cops are corrupt, of course. Neither are all COPs. Which is why it surprises me that none of the other COPs have issued public statements of concern over the unprecedented and disgraceful electioneering of their brother COPs. Will none of the other COPs speak up in defense of Harrison's reputation being damaged by these renegades? Is this just the preview of things to come in future elections, where the COPs will become the political activists in our synod, using the power and resources of their District offices to disparage other COPs in order to campaign for their preferred candidate?

I wonder how these renegade COPs would feel about President Harrison sending out an email to all the delegates in their Districts prior to their own elections in a couple of years, campaigning against them by twisting their words, misrepresenting their positions, and endorsing one of the candidates running against them. Oh, wait, never mind. These guys believe that what is good for the goose is not good for the gander, as mentioned above. They would most certainly cry "Foul!" were someone to have the audacity to send their delegates an email campaigning against them, just as they decry all the 8th-Commandment-Breaking in the Lutheran blogosphere, but have no problem breaking it themselves.

Of course, these renegade COPs have nothing to worry about here, as President Harrison wouldn't stoop to their level and use the power and resources of his office to actively campaign against them in their own Districts. I think they know that, which is why they don't fear putting aside all decency and engaging in such disgraceful electioneering. But, can't any of the other COPs chime in and call these renegades out on their despicable behavior?

And, what is the theme song for these renegade COPs? I think it's something like:

"Bad Prez, Bad Prez,

Whatcha gonna do?

Whatcha gonna do

When we come for you?"

These are a few of your Ecclesiastical Supervisors, O Lutherans. Kind of changes the meaning of "ecclesiastical," doesn't it?   

UPDATE: Since posting this yesterday, it was pointed out that the Florida-Georgia District had sent out a campaign letter, which you can read here. So, for those keeping score at home, please add that district to the list of those engaging in shameful and disgraceful electioneering.            

Our Synod's Biggest Challenge?

On the Friends of David Maier Facebook page, the following was shared today:

We like this response that David Maier gave to the Florida Georgia District when asked various questions.

(See if there is something you can do today to encourage others to support David Maier for Synod president.)

How would you describe the biggest challenge facing the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod today?

I’d like to answer that question by telling this brief story I remember reading or hearing. The story was about 2 brothers who each had a son. For their sons Spring Break they decided to go fishing at their favorite summer fishing hole in north Texas. To make it more fun the four of them decided to also camp in the camper on the rear of the truck of one of the brothers. Everything was fine and dandy until rising early the next morning with the expectation of a full day of fishing ahead them, they opened the camper door and experienced an early north Texas spring storm with snow and 30 MPH winds. They closed the camper door and decided to play cards the rest of the day. The also did a little bit of drinking to pass the time. It wasn't an all-bad day, talking about fishing and how they would rather be on the water. The next morning the weather was just as bad with a little snow and a whole lot of rain. They spent their time like the previous day playing cards, doing a little reading, getting on each other’s nerves all the more. By supper that night, with the wind a little warmer but still howling, they not only stayed inside and didn't fish, but jabbed at each other with cutting comments and sarcasm and began “fighting.” So they packed up and went home.

The "moral" of the story was, "When you don't fish, you fight."

We’ve to stop fighting each other. God has called us to "fish," to take the truths of Scripture, especially that God loves the world - God loves sinners (even a one like me), to take that Gospel message - which is still the power of God unto salvation – and declare it to the world. To be sure doctrine is important. Our Synod’s first President, C.F.W. Walther, recognized good doctrine as tantamount to a farmer having and sowing good seed: it is the only way to ensure a good harvest. BUT, having good seed, we must sow it (Matthew 28:18-20) – (we must fish), demonstrating our concern for those who face a Christless eternity! I believe that God wants us to spend more time finding better methods for equipping, encouraging, and supporting our laity in the mission work within our neighborhoods and communities – especially as we face the rise of secularism and Islam – and less time examining the doctrinal purity and practice of others. How we relate to one another says much about our theology, our God, and our relevance to the world. (Cf.1 John 4:7-16) [Emphasis mine]

Wait, what? Did nominee Maier just describe the biggest challenge facing the LCMS with a story about a Spring Break fishing trip with two fathers and their two sons? Seriously? Call me dense, but wasn't it the weather that prevented the fathers and sons from being able to fish? Shouldn't the "moral" of the story be, "When the weather's bad, you can't fish"? I mean, the "moral" that nominee Maier shares doesn't make a bit of sense. Is he trying to suggest that two fathers and their two sons will necessarily start fighting if the weather prevents them from fishing? My best friend and his son spent a week with my son and me a few years back at my parents' cottage fishing and hanging out. There were a couple of days when the weather prevented us from fishing. We didn't fight. So much for the "moral" of the story.

But, worse than the silly story with its silly "moral" is the fact that nominee Maier believes that the biggest challenge facing the LCMS is that we're not spending enough time "finding better methods for equipping, encouraging, and supporting our laity in the mission work within our neighborhoods and communities" and too much time "examining the doctrinal purity and practice of others." Amazingly, he uses C.F.W. Walther, our Synod's first President, to give the impression that he understands that doctrine is important, but then he does the VERY THING Walther himself already warned our Synod about in his day, as he goes on to state that our problem is too much focus on doctrine and not enough focus on reaching the lost. One wonders if nominee Maier has actually read what Walther had to say on this issue, because he couldn't possibly butcher our first President's position on this any more than he has here.

Here are a few quotes from C.F.W. Walther related to this issue:

Many say, 'Instead of disputing over doctrine so much, we should much rather be concerned with souls and with leading them to Christ.' But all who speak in this way do not really know what they are saying or what they are doing. As foolish as it would be to scold a farmer for being concerned about sowing good seed and to demand of him simply to be concerned about a good harvest, so foolish it is to scold those who are concerned first and foremost with the doctrine, and to demand of them that they should rather seek to rescue souls. For just as the farmer who wants a good crop must first of all be concerned about good seed, so the church must above all be concerned about right doctrine if it would save souls. - C.F. W. Walther, "Our Common Task: the Saving of Souls" 1872

Whether our Synod gains friends or makes enemies, wins honor or invites disgrace, grows or declines in numbers, brings peace or incites enmity, all this must be unimportant to us-just so our Synod may keep the jewel of purity of doctrine and knowledge. However, should our Synod ever grow indifferent toward purity of doctrine, through ingratitude forget this prize, or betray or barter it away to the false church, then let our church body perish and the name Missourian decay in disgrace. - C.F.W. Walther, "First Sermon Delivered at the Opening of Synod" (1 Cor. 1:4-5).

Oh my dear friends of the Lutheran faith, confession, and conflict, do not be misled when today those are everywhere accused of lovelessness who still do not give up the battle for pure doctrine in our Church. . . . Oh my dear friends, let us indeed sorrow and lament over this: that false teachers constantly assail the pure doctrine in our Church and thus are at fault for the conflict and strife in the Church. However, let us never lament but rather extol and praise God that he always awakens men who fight against those false teachers, for, I repeat, this pertains to "the common salvation." . . . This conflict is one commanded us by God and is therefore certainly one blessed in time and in eternity. . . . Oh, therefore, let us never listen to those who praise and extol the conflict of the Reformation for the pure Gospel but want to know nothing of a similar conflict in our days. - C. F. W. Walther, "Why Dare and Can We Never Give Up the Church's Struggle for the Pure Doctrine?" 1876

Nominee Maier sounds a LOT like our former Synodical President, Jerry Kieschnick, who never tired of making it known that he believed our synod's biggest problem was that many among us "wasted time on incessant internal purification at the expense of the lost in the world." What he never seemed able to grasp, and what nominee Maier seems equally unable to grasp, is that the biggest problem our Synod faces is that we are NOT united in what we believe, teach, confess, and practice. That doctrinal disunity cannot be swept under the synodical carpet, so that it just magically goes away. You cannot pretend doctrinal disunity away. It needs to be addressed, but both former SP Kieschnick and nominee Maier would have us stop wasting time on trying to address it, something that C.F.W. Walther warned against time and time again.

Here's a story:

A woman was being abused by her husband. If she didn't have his socks folded exactly right, he hit her. If she didn't stack the dishes according to his preference, he hit her. If she didn't bow to his every whim, he hit her. Sometimes, he just hit her because he felt like it. He abused her horribly for years. All the while, he presented himself publicly to be a loving, committed husband to the wife he abused, and a loving, dedicated father to their two children. It was a sham, but he pulled it off for years. No one suspected him of being the abusive tyrant he was, and he made it clear to his wife that, if she ever said a word to anyone, the beating he would give her would make all the previous beatings over the years seem like loving hugs.

Finally, the woman couldn't take it anymore and went to speak with a counselor about this. The counselor told her, "You need to stop complaining about this and focus on all the good things you have with your husband. I know married couples who have bigger problems than you. At least your husband has a good career and provides you with financial security. You have two beautiful children from this marriage, and it sounds like both you and your husband do a pretty good job of keeping from them the ongoing abuse you suffer from your husband. It could be worse. He could be abusing them, too. But, he's not. My advice to you is to stick it out. If you have to take a beating once in a while, that's okay - it pales in comparison to all the good in your marriage. Don't waste your time trying to fix the abuse; instead, focus on being a good mother to your children. Don't make your children suffer by wasting time on incessant internal purification within your marriage. Find better methods to cope with your suffering. Stop being so selfish; this is not about you, but your family."

The "moral" of the story: "Put up with the abuse for the sake of your family."

Oh, and about that "equipping the laity in their mission work" thing, in the spirit of Bill Lumbergh, "Um, yeaaahhhhh, I'm going to have to go ahead and ask you to stop butchering that passage from Matthew 28 like that. If you could just go ahead and realize that what you call 'the Great Commision' is about making disciples through baptism, ongoing catechesis, and ongoing reception of the Lord's Supper, where Jesus fulfills His promise to be with us always, and NOT about 'equipping' the laity to be 'missionaries' in their neighborhoods and communities, that would be great. Mmmm Kay? Yeaaaaaahhhh."

Lastly, about that "finding better methods" thing, C.F.W. Walther and company fought against the "new measures" being everywhere promoted by revivalistic, Americanized Protestants in their day. It seems odd that we would have those claiming to be their spiritual descendants exhorting us to embrace them today. We have the Holy Word and Sacraments; there are no better methods than these - in fact, there are no OTHER methods than these.      

So, Where Do You Keep the Lambs?

Every once in a while, I receive emails or hard copies of letters from individuals or groups, who believe it is their mission to contact pastors and warn them to "preach the one gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." I have no doubt that these people mean well, but it always saddens me to read their stern warnings, wherein they show that they haven't a clue what the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ really is. For them, as evidenced by the most recent warning I received via email this morning, which is posted below, the Gospel is something we must do, which means their Gospel is no Gospel at all, but pure Law. The way they butcher the Scriptures to go out of their way to make sure every last drop of Jesus' Blood becomes meaningless is very depressing.

Every time I receive one of these, I am reminded of the time I spent interviewing a Seventh Day Adventist preacher for a project I was required to do in one of my classes during my undergraduate work. That project consisted of us having to pick a different denomination, attend a couple of services in a congregation of that denomination, interview the pastor or another leader there, and write a lengthy essay describing the official teachings of the denomination, how those teachings were put into practice, what the pastor or leader emphasized about those teaching during the interview, and where the similarities and differences were between those teachings and practices and our own Lutheran teachings and practices.

I chose to do my project on Seventh Day Adventists, since, at the time, I didn't know all that much about that denomination. I learned a lot about them in studying their history and official teachings, but even more when attending a couple of services in one of their local congregations, and still more when interviewing the preacher there. I will say this: They are consistent. What I learned in the books was what I saw being practiced. All Law, all the time. The only Gospel heard was when the readers read from the Gospels, but that was quickly taken away by the preacher, who turned that Gospel into Law.

The preacher was a nice enough guy. He was very cooperative and readily agreed to sit down with me and let me interview him. But, it was sad. Big time sad. The differences between us were astounding. To put it bluntly, His Jesus was really no Savior at all. His Jesus was a stern Law-Giver and Judge. I didn't like his Jesus very much at all. His Jesus scared me to death. If his Jesus was the real Jesus, I was in trouble.

The interview quickly turned into a back-and-forth, as the preacher not only answered the questions I put to him, but began asking his own of me. He also minced no words in letting me know how wrong he believed us Lutherans to be on just about everything. He didn't yell and scream about it. As I said, he was a nice enough guy. But, he was sure to let me know that we Lutherans were wrong in our belief that Jesus had done everything necessary for our salvation, and how the real "gospel" was about us keeping the Law.

As you might guess, he was especially adamant about "keeping the Sabbath Day," and how the greatest evil to ever perpetuate the Christian Church was gathering for worship on Sundays. I was prepared for this and had the appropriate Scriptures handy to refute his claims, but he was having none of it. "The Sabbath Day is an everlasting ordinance of the Lord and we are required to keep it," he declared. That whole thing about Jesus being our Sabbath rest didn't matter one bit to him.

As he continued to thunder away at me - in a nice way - about the Sabbath Day, I finally had a stroke of genius. I don't want to get all hokey about it or anything, but this was definitely one of those "the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say" moments. Out of the blue, I asked, "So, where do you keep the lambs?" This prompted a very puzzled look to come across the preacher's face for a few seconds until he responded, "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, surely you must keep the Passover in the same literal fashion you keep the Sabbath, right? I mean, our Lord makes it very clear in His Word that the Passover is an everlasting ordinance that we are required to keep. So, where do you keep the lambs? Do you slaughter them outside or inside the church?"

Crickets. Seriously. Long, awkward silence.

Of course, I'm not the first one to point out this inconsistency, so it probably wasn't the stroke of genius I'm claiming it to be. Even within their own ranks, Seventh Day Adventists struggle here. How is it that this eternal ordinance must be kept literally, but that one must not be? The "scholarly" attempts to answer this question are as entertaining as they are absurd. So was this preacher's attempt, once he gathered himself and put an end to the long, awkward silence.

He said, "The Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments; the Passover is not. The Ten Commandments remain divine ordinances we're still obligated to keep, but the Feasts of the Old Testament, like the Passover, have been abolished by the coming of the Messiah. As Jesus tells us, He did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it, and to make it clear that we must fulfill it, too."

Wait, what?

I tried to engage him some more on this issue, but he brushed it aside and moved on to enlighten me on their unique, strange, and wholly unbliblical views of the End Times. Amazing stuff, this. They claim to be able to pinpoint exact dates when this or that eschatological happening has occurred, things like when the so-called "Investigative Judgment" began, when Christ cleansed the heavenly sanctuary, etc. But, through all the creative and imaginative twisting of Scripture, which leads to these strange views, it is the same thing driving their eschatology that drives their soteriology: the Law.

The Law is the "Gospel" for them, and for all those well-meaning, but woefully wrong, individuals and groups who send me messages from time to time, exhorting me to "preach the one gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I have never yet received one of these messages that had even a hint of Gospel in them). Jesus has done His part, but now it's up to us to do ours. He fulfilled the Law to show us how we might fulfill it, too. The "gospel" Jesus preaches is conditional and dependent upon our obedience. As you can see below, they produce nice charts and quote many Scripture passages and include many words in their exhortations, but they haven't the first clue what the true Gospel is, which is the sure and certain truth that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary to live the perfect life we can't live and pay the full price for all of our sins with His sacrificial death on the Cross. He accomplished everything necessary for our salvation. It is finished. There are no conditions on the Gospel. There is not an ounce of obedience left to be fulfilled. There is not an ounce of blood left to be shed. Jesus has done it all. That's the one Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one Gospel I am called and ordained to preach, the one Gospel that is truly Good News for sinners in need of a Savior.

The "gospel" spoken of below is Law, not Gospel, and I am left to keep on asking those who exhort this Law in the name of their false "gospel": So, where do you keep the lambs?

Here's the email I received:

Dear Pastor, and fellow labourer of Jesus Christ, As one who has tasted the power of the age to come , I must write to pastors to warn them that they must preach the one gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Throughout the world today, only those churches that obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and have rejected the doctrines of men, receive the Spirit of truth, as evidenced by the tongue emitting sound. ( λαλούντων γλώσσαις). (And this is not at all like the movement of the mouth in a prayer language we see on television) The Apostle Paul warned us, that when Jesus returns to gather together His elect, that those who do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ will meet the same fate as those who do not know God. And I’m worried that many don’t even know what the gospel of Jesus Christ is, even though the return of Jesus may be very near.   Jesus gave us His gospel with ten  “if not,” conditions. (ἐὰν μή). Five of these conditions deal with our heart and our thinking, and the other five tell us what we must do to receive God’s salvation.
1.	“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” John 6:44,65	We must respond to God, who gave His only Son.	6.	“The Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner,,,the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.” John 5:19-20 NASB	As sons of God, we must imitate Christ. We begin with His baptism.
2.	“Unless you see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” John 4:48 (NKJV adds people)	We must recognize Jesus’ resurrection.	7.	“Unless one is (born again) born of water and the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3,5	We must receive Jesus’ baptism of water and Spirit.
3.	“Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3	We must renew our minds and humble our hearts.	8.	“Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” John 13:8 NIV	We must allow Christ, the body of Christ, to wash our feet.
4.	“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone…He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:24-25	We must realize this world is passing away.	9.	“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:53-54	We must remember Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins.
5.	“Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20	We must do the will of God. We cannot enter the kingdom of heaven by the teachings and traditions of men.	10.	“As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me…If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:4,6	We must abide in the Spirit and body of Christ (His Church).
And finally, Jesus gave us one more condition of salvation with the expression “if for no.” (ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ)
	“Unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.” John 8:24 (NASB adds He)	We must know that Jesus is God Himself, “I AM,” who appeared to Moses.
Here are some questions that you may have: Is the washing of feet really a salvation condition? Yes because the Spirit of truth can only be received by those who keep the commandments of Jesus. And the Holy Spirit is required for salvation. After instructing His disciples in the washing of feet and remembrance of His death, Jesus said to them: “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—  the Spirit of truth…” Did the early church practice the washing of feet as a salvation teaching? Yes, the writer of Hebrews lists the elementary salvation teachings of Christ as: Faith in God Repentance Instructions about baptisms, and The laying on of hands (for the gift of the Holy Spirit, see Acts 8:17, 19:6) Baptisms is plural because the Greek word βαπτισμῶν can also refer to religious washings, as in the washing of hands in Luke 11:38. What is the meaning of condition number 6 – “in like manner” This has to with the unity of God and man, “that they may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and they in Me…that the world might believe that You sent Me.” As Paul wrote: there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. We observe Jesus’ commandments “in like manner” to Jesus. Just as the disciples broke “one loaf” (1 Cor 10:16-17) of “unleavened bread,” (1 Cor 5:8); they also baptized in “living water,” (John 3:23) bowing their heads, “in the likeness of His death” (John 19:30, Romans 6:5). And of course, the imitation of Christ, being transformed into His image is the goal of our salvation - so we begin our faith as we would end it. Where are the churches that obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ? As far as I know, at the moment, only the True Jesus Church denomination obeys this gospel, and receives the Spirit of truth as evidenced by the tongue emitting sound. (As different from the movement of the mouth in a prayer language that we see in many churches.) There were other denominations and churches in the past who also received this Spirit, but they changed their doctrines, adding religious days and so on,  and lost the Spirit. The True Jesus Church has the Sabbath Day in its 10 basic beliefs, why is that? This has to do with the salvation condition: “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will be no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus did not do away with God’s commandments, but told us that we must keep them, and go beyond them. God not only wants us to keep the Sabbath day holy, He wants us to dedicate every day to Him. That we should worship Him “neither in Jerusalem or on this mountain, but in Spirit and truth,” not according to “the basic principles of this world.”  God blessed the Sabbath day in the beginning of creation as a day for rest for man. Rest to be shared by Jews and Gentiles as the commandment says - that man might rest in unity with God and one another. The church broke the unity of this day when it changed the day of rest for the Gentiles to Sunday, because of their tradition. And so Jesus said to the Pharisees “in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will be no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” God wants us “to remember the Sabbath day,” and rest, if this is not burdensome – “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) Almost all of the True Jesus Church members are Asian, does the Bible prophecy this? Ezekiel tells us the Spirit and glory of the Lord will come from the east in the last days. “And behold the glory of the Lord came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters…” Ezekiel 43:2 The sound of “many waters” is that sound we hear after the fall of that Great Harlot. “And I heard, as it were, the voice of many waters… Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, And His wife has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:6 Paul’s prophecy of lawlessness and the Gospel of Jesus Christ To fully understand Paul’s meaning, we need to read from the original text or a more literal version, and understand the background of Paul’s comments. Paul tells us that when Jesus returns, those who do not obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be eternally separated from God, along with those who do not know God. “there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Jesus Christ, but even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:7,8 “it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,  in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,  when He comes, in that Day” 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 Paul told us the “mystery of lawlessness” is already at work. And “the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” Jesus told us that “false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” And, “at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Matthew 13: 40 -43 Those who obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ will be saved There is only one gospel by which we receive God’s guarantee of salvation. May all glory be to our God who has revealed to us the great mystery of His gospel, “the power of salvation to everyone who believes.” That all who fear and trust Him might share with Christ all of the riches of His eternal goodness.

I Have a Problem - Or So I'm Told

I have a problem. Or so I'm told. Actually, some would probably say that I have many problems, but that's neither here nor there. For the sake of this post, it's just a single problem I have - or so I'm told.

What's my problem? I see Jesus, His Church, and His Holy Word and Sacraments everywhere in the Old Testament. I see the same story of salvation told over and over again, the story of Jesus living the perfect life in our place, paying for all of our sins with His sacrificial death on the Cross, rising from the tomb on the third day, ascending to reign over all things until He returns in great glory on the Last Day, and how that salvation He accomplishes is applied to sinners through His life-giving and life-sustaining Word and Sacraments. I see that story already in the Garden of Eden, and retold in the stories of Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings . . . you get the idea. I see Jesus everywhere. I see His Holy Church everywhere. I see His Holy Word and Sacraments everywhere. And, don't even get me started on the Psalms. I know they are supposed to be neatly organized into different categories, one of which is titled, "Messianic Psalms," but, Lord help me, I see every last one of them as Messianic.

Why do some say that I have a problem here? Because, evidently, I'm only supposed to see Jesus, His Church, and His Holy Word and Sacraments in the Old Testament when the New Testament tells me to see them. For example, it's okay for me to see a type of Holy Baptism in the parting of the Red Sea, since the New Testament tells me to see that (1 Cor. 10:2). But, if there are stories of salvation which include water in the Old Testament that are not specifically mentioned in the New Testament as types of Holy Baptism, I'm not supposed to see those stories as types of Holy Baptism. The same rule applies for the Lord's Supper, the Church, and even for Jesus Himself. In fact, those who say that I have a problem are quick to ridicule me (and others - I'm not the only one who has this problem) by saying, "You absurdly see Baptism in every drop of water and the Lord's Supper in every crumb of bread or drop of wine." I know! I do. I admit it. But, they tell me that the first step to overcoming a problem is to admit that you have one, so maybe there's still hope for me?

Actually, no, there is no hope for me here. Try as I might, I can't shake it. The more I read the Old Testament, the more my problem increases. I actually see more types of Jesus, His Church, and His Holy Word and Sacraments the more I read and study the Old Testament. Where I didn't see them before, I see them now. They're everywhere!

Oh well. Some problems are just not meant to be overcome. And, that's okay with me, since the problem I have here is actually a fun problem to have. It makes reading the Old Testament - even the more mundane, drab parts - a blast. In fact, it's so much fun that, while I enjoy all the Bible Studies I have going where I serve, I'd be lying if I didn't say that our Thursday morning Bible Study, where we have been going through the Old Testament chronologically for years now (we began at Genesis and are currently in the midst of 2 Kings), is the most fun, precisely because we keep seeing Jesus, His Church, and His Holy Word and Sacraments popping up everywhere, even in places where you'd least expect them. It could be that we're seeing Jesus, His Church, and His Holy Word and Sacraments simply because we want to see them. Maybe we're forcing things a bit. But, then, I'm not so sure that's as big a problem (if it is a problem at all) as some seem to think, as our Lord did make it clear that these are the Scriptures that testify of Him.

Cantate (Easter 5) Sermon

CANTATE

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

28 April Anno + Domini 2013

John 16:5-15 (Isaiah 12:1-6; James 1:16-21)

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

            He Is Risen!  (He Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!)

“You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation” (Is. 12:1-2).

Thus does Isaiah prophesy some seven centuries before the day of which he speaks, for the day of which he speaks is the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is prophesying about you, O Christian. You will say in that day – in this day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ – I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. You will say in that day – in this day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ – Behold, God is my salvation. And you do say this in this day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, precisely because it has been to your advantage that Jesus has gone away and sent the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to you. For no one says, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit. No one knows how the Father’s anger toward us for our many sins has been turned away by the perfect life and sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross, but by the Holy Spirit. No one knows how impossible it is for us sinners to save ourselves, but by the Holy Spirit. And no one knows that our Lord Jesus Christ has become our salvation, doing what is impossible for us, fulfilling every perfect command of God’s perfect Law in our place, and paying for our every failure to keep those perfect commands with His precious blood on Mount Calvary, but by the Holy Spirit.

Where the Holy Spirit is lacking, there is no truth. We see this in every other world religion, save Christianity, for every other world religion is a religion of the Law, where the way of salvation, whatever is meant by salvation according to each particular religion, is left to us. Being good, whatever is meant by good, is the way to the afterlife in every religion lacking the Holy Spirit. In these religions, God has not become your salvation, but it is incumbent upon you to save yourselves, to merit favor with God, whoever God might be, that you might gain access through your own works to whatever glory there is in whatever life that follows this one.

Where the Holy Spirit is lacking, there is no truth. That is to say, where the Holy Spirit is lacking, there is no Jesus, for He is the truth. Where there is no Jesus, there is not only no truth, but neither is there any way to salvation nor the possibility of eternal life, for Jesus is not only the truth, but also the way and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Him.

“Sing to the Lord a new song,” O Christian, “for He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations” (Ps. 98:1a, 2b). He has revealed His righteousness to you by the Holy Spirit. For He has fulfilled His promise to send the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit has done, and continues to do, in you exactly what Jesus promised He would do. He convicts you of sin, putting the perfect commands of God’s Law before you and showing you how miserably you measure up. You have not loved God as you should. Not even close. And you have not loved your neighbors as you should. Not even close. Confessing this at the beginning of every Divine Service is not just some rote ritual in which you participate, but a confession of the truth. You have sinned. In many and various ways. St. James tells you in the epistle this morning to “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:19-21).

He’s talking to Christians - to you. He’s telling you what you should be striving for as those who have received the Holy Spirit. And because you have received the Holy Spirit, you not only know that what St. James tells you is good, but you do strive to live as he tells you to live, and you know when you haven’t, for when you haven’t – when you haven’t been quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, but rather short-tempered and quick to hurl angry insults and hold grudges and gossip about “those people” – the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, and then comes the guilt and shame, for you know you ought not behave like that. And when you don’t put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness, but either engage in it or turn a blind eye to it, the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, and then comes the guilt and shame, for you know you ought not do this. And when you do not receive the implanted word, which is Jesus, in meekness and humility, as one who is desperate for salvation, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, but rather come to church to just go through the motions or, worse, skip church altogether to do something else you’d rather be doing, the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, and then comes the guilt and shame, for you know you ought not treat the Gospel so cheaply. Repent!

But, the Holy Spirit is not only sent to you to convict you of sin, but also of righteousness and judgment. When He has convicted you of sin and lead you to repentance, He is quick to direct your attention to Jesus, to remind you of all that He has done, and continues to do, for you; to show you your salvation by taking what belongs to Jesus – holiness and righteousness – and declaring it to you. Your sins are taken away by the Lamb of God, in whose holiness and righteousness you are clothed, not by anything you have done, but by all that Jesus has done, and continues to do, for you. The Holy Spirit convicts you of righteousness, and then the guilt and shame of your sins is taken away, covered by the holiness and righteousness of Jesus. And, as the Holy Spirit convicts you of righteousness, He also convicts you of judgment, for Satan has been defeated and his accusations against you for all your sins have been silenced by the blood of Jesus, who crushed the serpent’s head on the Cross. Satan is defeated, sin is paid for in full, and death is dead, for Jesus lives and reigns and intercedes at the right hand of the Father for you. You have been judged and found not guilty for Jesus’ sake.    

And so, as strange as it seems, it really is to your advantage that Jesus go away, so that He might send the Holy Spirit to you. He goes away to the Cross to win your salvation, and it is from the Cross that He hands over the Spirit of Truth, that is, His own Spirit, for just as Jesus and the Father are One, so Jesus and the Holy Spirit are One. On the Cross, Jesus hands over the Spirit of Truth along with the life-giving and life-sustaining water and blood that pour forth from His pierced side, for it is through that water and blood that the Holy Spirit will take what belongs to Jesus and declare it to you, clothing you in Jesus’ perfect holiness and righteousness through the water of Holy Baptism and continually cleansing your baptismal robes in the Blood of the Lamb distributed to you in the Holy Supper.

Isaiah prophesied about this, too, dear friends. “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Is. 12:3), and so you have, for, by the Holy Spirit’s gracious working, you have drawn water from the wells of Jesus’ side. And, you “shout and sing for you, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel” (Is. 12:6), for, by the Holy Spirit’s gracious working, you believe that the Holy One of Israel, Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior, is Bodily Present upon the holy altar, giving you to eat and to drink of His very Body and Blood for the forgiveness of your sins and the strengthening and preservation of your faith.

What all of this means, of course, is that, while Jesus has departed to ascend to the Father’s right hand to be our Mediator, having finished every last work necessary for your salvation, He is not gone. The Holy Spirit directs you to where He is for you, to where Jesus continues to Tabernacle among us in His very Flesh and Blood, here in His Holy Church, at the font, pulpit, and altar. He is your strength and your song, for He has become your salvation. He is your refuge from the sorrows that inevitably fill your lives in this vale of tears, the sorrows that are brought upon you by other sinners and the sorrows you bring upon yourselves by your own sins. He prepares His Holy Church for you as a blessed oasis in the desert of this sinful world, a sanctuary, a safe-haven, that you might come and be fed upon Him, the Word of God that never passes away.    

Oh yes, O Christian, it is to your advantage that Jesus has gone away, so that He might send the Spirit of Truth to lead you into all Truth, that is, to lead you into Jesus and the wells of salvation that never cease flowing from Him. Come, then, at the gracious invitation of your Savior, which the Holy Spirit opens your ears to hear, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and receive rest for your souls. Receive with meekness and joy the implanted Word, that, filled with Jesus, you might sing the new song of His revealed righteousness not only with your lips, but with your lives, “giving thanks to the Lord, calling upon His Name, making known His deeds among the peoples, proclaiming that His Name is exalted” (Is. 12:4).

Lord, grant this unto us all, in the Name of Jesus, for He Is Risen! (He Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!)

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.