The New Religion

The corruption continues, and man deceives himself. A judge in England has given near-religion status to those of the "Green Movement." The movement is without scientific merit, but those who follow it do so with fervor. And apparently that is enough in England. I am sure those who claim "Jedi" and all sorts of other pantheistic ideas will also be given "true" religion status by the English courts soon. Given the current state of US politics, this may very well be a ruling even within the US within a decade or two. Good Christians- prepare yourselves and your family. The very real battle for your souls is moving from subversive to overt. The End is most certainly near...

Supporting Murder

Apparently some denominations are requesting gov't funds for abortions, or put it more properly, prenatal murder. The article, which isn't long, is here. The article quotes the letter corporately sent as saying that abortion is "morally justifiable." The list of people who should know better includes rabbis, American Baptist, Presbyterian Church (USA) and ELCA. This is a sad note of how far several denominations have drifted from the Word. If only they would heed Christ and not ignore their Savior. Isaiah 5:20 warns: "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" John 16:2 says "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." I think we are close to a time where Christians might not be very safe, even in the USA.

We should still instruct these who advocate such detestable things in hopes God will turn their hearts. I pray they repent...

"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. " 2 Tim 4:1-4

God is in Control

Being a father to four kids keeps me on my toes. Last week, my youngest was injured at home while I was taking a required class for work. While the injury wasn't serious, he did require some corrective (but minor) surgery. All is well now, thanks be to God! God has taken care of us always, it just seems more apparent during the trying times.

We have been teaching our kids different hymns, which we sing (a cappella; poorly in my case...) every evening for about a month. We just started singing "Now Thank We All Our God" (LSB 895). It is one of my favorites for both the tune and text. And songs like this are also good to be able to recall during the trying times, and the celebratory times when the trial is over. I hope to imprint these on our children so they have a ready mental hymnbook no matter the time.

Weedon's Blog

If you haven't seen this yet, it is worth the read. I saw it a while ago, and just didn't have the time to post it then.

"Why Missouri Stood Alone"

Here is a link to an essay prepared for the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod's 75th Anniversary in 1922. In it, I sadly find the very reasons I left the LC-MS, but also the promise that this road has been traveled before, and God's Word has prevailed. You can find the whole text in a Google book copy of the book "Ebenezer." It isn't too long, and well worth the read. The doctrinal strife of the past has set up our current issues, and provides clear context for the modern age.

The following is a very short excerpt to leave you wanting more. The General Synod was the main "Lutheran Synod" at the time, and harshly critical of everything from the Missouri Synod.

"Here is the General Synod declaring, "Our principles not merely allow but actually demand fraternal relations with all Evangelical Christians." The Missourians protest, in the words of Luther, "A man who knows that his doctrine faith and confession is true correct and certain cannot stand together with those who teach false doctrine who side with such.""

Martyrs

In western culture, you only really hear of "martyrs" in the context of sacrificing something less than your life for a cause. The main exception to this is related to the Islamic terrorists that seek to convert by the sword, or, in their modern approach, bomb. However, almost unnoticed in the media was a little story from North Korea. It claims a woman was executed, at least partly, for distributing the Bible. This isn't an outlandish story, it just is almost impossible to verify. From experience, though, I would wager that this happens more than anyone knows, particularly in North Korea. In the west, Christians aren't executed; just maligned, laughed at, and ridiculed. (See any "scientific debate" where someone mentions Creation.) In addition, the culture seeks to normalize Christianity to itself, through introduction of techniques, traditions, and social reforms that sound good and are culturally derived. In the end, they only serve to weaken, divide, and drive Christians to behave more like their unchristian neighbors- self-absorbed, self-righteous, sinful, and otherwise indifferent. In the end, the world wants Christians to be like itself, removing the example, and chalking a win in Satan's vying for souls. Let the story of a modern martyr from North Korea, and of the Saints from millennia before, remind you that evil still prowls. Be vigilant, study, teach your children rightly the Christian faith, and run the race until the end.

Death in the News

The recent spate of death of famous people serves to remind me, as I am sure most Christians, of our mortality and the payment of sin. The very real consequences of this world and its rebellion play out every day. This is why churches must preach God's Word unvarnished, unwaveringly, and to dispense with trivialities of "church growth movement" related nonsense. The Word is already provided in the most effective manner, by God. It worked for Christ (the Word incarnate), it worked for the Apostles, it will work now, and it will always work. This world needs it now, more than ever, if only due to the number of souls alive today. Why people must mess with what works in such a dire, serious situation is beyond my comprehension...

A post on the blog "Letters from Jeremiah" posted C.F.W. Walther's 1883 address at the opening of a new building at the Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. It is well worth the read.