Trouble in Paradise - The Evangelical Lutheran Synod

I spent a bit of time looking over the website for Abiding Shepherd in Cottage Grove, the first congregation of the ELS to implement (and bold enough to call them) contemporary services.

In assessing the site the only thing Lutheran about it is they at least maintain the name Lutheran in their church name. That's more than many WELS congregations, periodicals, etc. do. At one LWMS rally I actually heard one report from the national rally that it is more advantageous to not use the name Lutheran and if we insist on retaining the name Lutheran, we are being selfish.

The name of Jesus is mentioned once on the site (at least I could find no other mention). This is on the "mission statement" page, and the mention of Jesus Christ is found in the now defunct mission statement. This is only one of two places the name Christ is mentioned (on this page as "Jesus Christ") The other mention is on Family Education Night under the Bible Study link. Here it mentions "Christ's sacrifice" as part of the study on the Chronicles of Narnia movie. This will probably be an interesting study, even if led by a layman instead of the called shepherd, er, spiritual administrator. Ugh. Business models for the church. Yuck. Ick.

If the contemporary service is anything like this contemporary church website, I don't think there is much of substance here. Hopefully the website is incomplete and the good stuff is coming right around the corner.

 

 

A real quick note. The fact that many do not see the connection to the 1 Corinthians verses I quoted in the previous post and the Divine Service is exactly why we have a problem in Lutheranism today. Those verses have everything to do with the Divine Service. Typically (admittedly, I can't speak to Krause's service, I've never been to it) the "service" of contemptible services focuses on man's service to God rather than God's Service to man through the Means of Grace. It is based on a theology of glory rather than the theology of the Cross. I would expect this of the reformed, but the Lutheran Confessions make it clear that even a sanitized version of a heretical service does not make it right to use it. More when I have more time.

Sorry Norman, I didn't mean for any name to show up on any comments. Rest assured this is neither Rob or Bob Lawson. This is not Bob anybody.

Regarding comments from abnormal:

Jay Webber claims to understand the PMS as it is written. His paper presented at conference did not come across as a wauwatosan understanding. All of the so called middle of the roaders absolutely disagree with the wauwatosan understanding of the PMS and that folks like the two Presidents (ELS & Sem) are dead wrong. I tend to believe that the majority of the synod rejects the wauwatosan understanding considering Webber was elected to the Doctrine Committee.

Contemptible Services should be a basis for synodical discipline. You want me to show from Scripture that these abominations are wrong? Easy enough:

1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

 But according to one of the ELS presenters at "church and change" a movie is worth a million words. These people give lip service to the means of grace, but that's all it ends up being, lip service.  I think some folks misread verse 5 and think it says "that your faith should be in the wisdom of men in powerpoint."

 

Putting the best construction on the vicar situation, I can only assume the powers that be hoped they could send someone to that congregation to try to get the pastor back on the right track.

 

 

 

This is a terrible miscarriage of justice here. I will not get into all the details here, but one thing is certain, this congregation sinfully deposed its pastor. It was a classic stunt of killing his salary and starving him out. This is not the first time they've pulled this nonsense either, they tried to freeze a previous pastor by cutting off his fuel oil. Such actions are reprehensible and heinously wicked. This was nothing less than a rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit in that congregation's midst and a rejection of Christ Himself. As Jesus says, "He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."

And if this congregation is unrepentant, why all the synod faces installing someone into a congregation that has rejected Christ? And what about the new guy? Did anyone warn him to beware the wolves in sheeps clothing in his own flock? I will try to get my ear back to the ground on this one and find out if the congregation was taken to task and brought to repentance or if the synod plead ignorance.

In JAMs September newsletter this information is actually important. I figure it is a good place for families and congregations to direct their "synod earmarked" funds than into the hands of red tape, bureaucracy and money wasting.

Peru Earthquake Assistance
“With the recent devastation in Peru the Board for Christian Service is sending financial aid to support the needs of those dealing with this terrible earthquake. We feel it would be proper to inform our members that they too can help and participate in the relief effort for our fellow Christians in Peru. The earthquake was of extreme magnitude. From the reports we have been able to receive from the area, our brothers and sisters in Christ are safe. However, homes were lost. The adobe houses in that part of the country do not do well under these circumstances. Our synod's Board for Christian Service is sending some financial help. We are extending to you the opportunity to help your brothers in Christ in this time of need. You may send your gift to the Board for Christian Service at 6 Browns Court, Mankato, MN 56001. Identify it as ‘Peruvian Earthquake.’” - Rev. Richard Fyffe, Board for Christian Service, chm.
 

I've heard echoes of disappointment that I deleted all my previous blog posts. I've had requests for copies of materials in hopes that I had kept copies on my computer.

First, I did not keep copies. I'm terribly sorry because as soon as I made the complete delete I regretted it.

Second, DOES ANYONE HAVE COPIES OF IT ANYWHERE?????? PRETTY PLEASE!! If you do, please contact me. I know there is a way on one of my "spaces" pages to do that. Please tell me who you are if you do so. I plan on remaining anonymous for now (read: forever on this earth).

I'm contemplating changing the elsbadboy name to something else. It's served its purpose and I've certainly been considered by those with some pull to be a bad boy in the ELS. Apparently not everyone finds it amusing.

I'll take suggestions in the comments. I like ElsUnwantedAdvisor. Any other suggestions? You can even suggest I keep it the same if you want. I do want to use this blog as a watch dog of the  ELS and WELS. Ooh, incorporate two things in one: WeEatLutefiskSlime. That kind of captures the WELS and the Norwegian connection.