Stone Choir

We are Lutherans — this is not something we hide. Neither do we hide the problems in our church body (in fact, we highlight them on this very podcast). However, that we recognize there are problems does not mean that we intend to leave. We remember our Confirmation Oath and we take it seriously: Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it? We each answered “Yes.” to this question, at different times and in different congregations, but in the same Synod and in the same faith. We intend to remain steadfast to the end, come what may. Our Lutheran forebears have suffered much through the centuries for the truth of God’s Word — persecution by pope and emperor, the Thirty Years’ War (including the siege and sack of Magdeburg), suspicion and hostility from the State, the abiding interest of Satan and his minions, et cetera —, and we will follow in their footsteps if God wills it. It is our firm conviction that Lutheranism is the correct teaching of God’s truth. In this episode, we (briefly) cover our reasons for becoming and remaining Lutheran, and we make clear that we are not going anywhere. We will fight for our Synod, because she is worth defending. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes Christian Basics: The Solae [YouTube] “An Outsider Visits a Lutheran Church” [YouTube] “An Outsider Talks With a Lutheran Theologian (What do Lutherans Believe?)” [YouTube] “Is Lutheranism the True Catholic Church? (and other stuff with a Lutheran Theologian)” [YouTube] See Also “The Large CRTechism” “Theology is Too Important to Be Left to the Experts” Review of the Contents of the ‘Annotated’ Large Catechism [YouTube]

As Christians, we are required to affirm the whole counsel of God — and that particularly includes those parts that the modern world would prefer to ignore, or even to condemn. We are told that love is a matter of permissiveness and that Christians must not — cannot — hate. But is that what Scripture says about the matter? The numbers certainly tell a different story. For Scripture certainly speaks of love: αγαπη (‘love’) — 115, NT; 15, LXX αγαπαω (‘to love’) — 143, NT; 213, LXX αγαπησις (‘loving’) — 0, NT; 8, LXX αγαπητος (‘beloved’) — 61, NT; 17, LXX but it just as certainly speaks of hate: μισεω (‘to hate’) — 40, NT; 143, LXX μισος (‘hate’) — 0, NT; 11, LXX μισητος (‘hateful, hated’) — 0, NT; 4 LXX εχθρα (‘enmity’) — 6, NT; 15, LXX εχθρος (‘hostile’) — 32, NT; 320, LXX We dare not attempt to be more righteous than God, and we dare not call anything God does or commands wicked. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” If God says to hate, then it is our duty to understand what we must hate, and (if possible) why. He, who does not hate, does not love. Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes “love” “hate” “enmity” See Also “Marquart on The Question of Procedure in Theological Controversies” {Be like this man.} “The Myth of “Righteous Anger” What the Bible says about Human Anger” {Not like this one.} “God’s Mandate for Righteous Anger” [PDF]

Despair is never the correct response. We live in the ashes of Christendom, and the fires are still burning. Our forefathers were faithless and we now suffer the — accelerating — consequences. However, God has clearly promised that He will relent of whatever disaster He has purposed if a nation will return to Him: If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. There is only one solution to the problems we face, because all Truth is One. The answer is not rolling back the clock a decade, two decades, fifty years, a century, because the rot set in long before that. The answer lies in returning to the Lord God, reading and believing His Word, and pulling out of the dive in which we find ourselves before we hit the ground at terminal velocity. We must choose between the faithlessness of our forefathers and the faithfulness of our ancestors, and everything hangs in the balance. Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes “Crisis over the Atlantic: The near crash of Air Transat flight 236” See Also 13th Amendment Magnus Hirschfeld

Some subjects are more important than others. No amount of discussing the best color to paint a room is likely to endanger the souls of anyone participating in the discussion or just listening to it, but the same cannot be said of discussion of doctrine and theology. When we handle the things of God, we are duty bound to be careful, to be clear, and to be true. Needless wrangling over terms and technicalities seldom benefits and often harms. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. However, as Christians, we do have a duty to speak of God and His truth. In almost all cases, simple is best. Speak the truth, in season and out. And, of course, know when to hold your tongue. Let a fool hold his tongue and he will pass for a sage. Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes “Christ is physically, substantially, sacramentally present in, with, and under the bread and the wine in the Supper — as He promises.” Epitome of the Formula of Concord: The Lord’s Supper (Read ¶¶ 6–7.) See Also “Would you deny Real Presence to escape the jaws of beasts?” “On the Duty of Christian Teachers”

Who owns the words of Scripture? Does rearranging them change the answer? We Christians living in the West have inherited a copyright — really, an entire ‘intellectual property’ — regime that rests upon a number of premises, presumptions, presuppositions. It is contended that authors, et al., benefit from the regime. Do they? It is contended that creativity and productivity are incentivized by the regime. Are they? Even if the contentions that undergird the present copyright regime are, arguendo, true, does that mean that it is morally permissible to subject theological works (at least the sound ones) to the strictures of such system? What is the purpose of copyright? What is the purpose of theology? Are these compatible? Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes See Also

In a sense, there are no minor doctrines in Scripture. It is only in relation to major, central doctrines (e.g., Atonement, Justification), that any Scriptural doctrine can be termed ‘minor’. However, the Word of God is abundantly clear: 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV): »16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.« There is no room in the Christian life for ignoring — and particularly not for rejecting — anything in Scripture. What God has spoken is true, for God is Truth. Those who would abandon any doctrine risk losing the whole — and their souls with it. Neglect does not an adiaphoron make. Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes Christian Head Coverings Original Sin and the Nature of Man See Also NOW Statement of Purpose Overton Window

What is the difference between an immigrant and an invader? Well, it depends. The difference may be one of legality (i.e., the positive law) or it may be one of frame. If one man tells you that he is “for immigration” and another tells you that he is “against immigration”, then the latter has likely ceded ground without even realizing it. Words, of course, matter, but so does the way in which we (and others) employ them. Correct framing may win a conflict before it has even begun, but incorrect framing can just as easily make victory impossible. For the Christian, it is vitally important to be able to identify and to assess framing. Wicked men can — and do — employ framing to ensnare the Christian, to elicit from the Christian support for wicked positions he would not wittingly support. In fact, you may hold positions contrary to Scripture because of how they were framed — and because you failed to examine what you believe. Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes Framing Effect Overton Window See Also The Psychology Behind Making Sales and Setting Price Points Loving v. Virginia Obergefell v. Hodges Ezra (Read the entire book.) Psalm 127 Creeping normality

Scripture is the Word of the Lord, and the Word of the Lord is understandable by men of average intelligence. Those who deny the perspicuity of the Scriptures are wolves who accuse God of lying and who seek to lead the sheep astray. It is clear that Christians are to read Scripture and that they will be able to understand it — this is a truth found throughout Scripture, not just in a handful of places. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Satan adapts his attacks over time, and today he has focused his attack on the clarity of Scripture (for he can no longer simply keep Scripture out of the hands of the laity). The contend that Scripture is unclear, dark, unknowable is to contend that it is not Scripture and to endanger the faith. Christians must affirm — and staunchly defend — the Scriptures as the inerrant Word of God. Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes Quark-Gluon Plasma Flows Like Water Sonoluminescence: YouTube Wikipedia John Wycliffe John Hus William Tyndale See Also Terms Norma Normans Norma Normata “Geochronologically Speaking”

We are told to be as harmless as doves, but also to be as wise as serpents. There are times to speak and times to hold ones tongue; there are times to speak under one’s Christian name and times to speak under a pseudonym. Of course, there are those who would contend that the use of pseudonyms is cowardly or even sinful, but seldom are these individuals consistent — attacking one group for pseudonymity, while ignoring or even praising another that practices the same. Is there a place for pseudonymity in the Christian church? Or are those who employ it ‘anonymous [sic] trolls’ as some would contend? As always, we must look to Scripture, but we must also look to the motives of those who seek to unmask the pseudonymous. The answer is obvious, but many Christians — certainly to include pastors — get this one wrong. Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes Marquart on The Question of Procedure in Theological Controversies — Gottesdienst On Anonymity — Rev. Larry Beane See Also

God acts in time via means. When it comes to faith, He acts through the Means of Grace. When it comes to Election, He acts through headship — fathers, grandfathers, chiefs, kings, tribes, nations. God does not act arbitrarily, and this is no less true of His actions in time than it is of His actions in eternity. Fairness plays no role in the matter, for fairness is not a thing. Man is finite; God is infinite. There are doctrines that can be thoroughly understood, explored, and grasped, and there are doctrines that contain mystery — Election is a mystery. When it comes to the mysteries of the faith, we affirm the Word of God and then, with Paul, declare: Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes The Spread of Christianity Part 1 Part 2 Rick McCafferty (is a demon) The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Art. XI — Election See Also