Why Liberals Stay, by Jim Pierce
(Editor’s Note: Frequent BJS commenter and Steering Committee member Jim Pierce wrote this interesting piece on his blog. Be sure to check out the other posts on his blog as well by going to http://www.confessionalsbytes.com/.)
The following is a quote from the late Dr. Walter Martin’s “The Cult of Liberalism” which is available here (The quote is taken from “Side 1″ starting at 21 minutes into the audio).
(Later news: A commentator reported that the link was removed from the page above, but it is available on Fighting for the Faith on PCR at: the June 4th listing here
“There is a progression that takes place in liberal theology: It begins with a corrupt bibliology, a corrupt view of the nature and the inspiration of Scripture. They have a corrupt theology because once you are picking and choosing from the Bible what you want, your theology has to suffer from it, because your human reason is corrupt… every major theological seminary that has turned from orthodox Christianity began with disbelief of Biblical doctrine. There wasn’t a single exception.
This corrupt Bibliology then lead them to the next step. Their theology began to be touched by it, their view of the Cross, the Virgin Birth were both immediately questioned; then came the miracles of Christ… And finally they had emptied the Gospel of all its content; they were simply using the outward shell so that they go on collecting money from the people and the churches; because they knew that if the people in the pew knew that they were apostate, they’d throw them out. So the strategy was hang on to the trust funds; hang on to the money we’ve got; hang on the properties we control, and we will gradually educate the laymen into this new approach to theology.
And then finally we will take control of everything. The gradual process of feeding you theological poison until you become immunized enough so that you don’t know what’s happening to you. And when you wake up to what’s happening to you, it’s too late they’ve got everything. That is not a baseless charge, I stand prepared to prove that the Cult of Liberal Theology in the United States has deliberately and consistently followed this methodology to entrap, control and dominate the denominations and the churches of the United States and our educational institutions.” (on-line source)
I think Dr. Martin is correct. The theological liberals found in any orthodox denomination do not want to leave the denomination because they would have to start over. They would have to purchase properties, set up new retirement funds and trust funds, and build a new bureaucracy. But the most difficult task for these wolves is finding a fresh audience in the world. Who in the world would buy into what these false teachers have to say? My experience is that most non-Christians will have little to nothing to do with religious liberals, since they are of the same cloth. Why would a repentant sinner, who because of the work of the Holy Spirit through His Word now sees he is sick in need of the divine physician Jesus Christ and repents, turn to the theological liberals who tell him there is no absolute truth, the Bible is not the Word of God, and Jesus is at best a historical figure who died over 2000 years ago and is certainly not God and did not rise from the dead? Only someone who remains unrepentant would accept such nonsense, but the unrepentant sinner who has never known God isn’t fooled, since he doesn’t need such a vacuous “faith”. He knows he is only trading one wreck for another; therefore, there is no need to leave the wreck he is comfortable with.
The theological liberal not only wants the infrastructure of the orthodox denomination, but they want the ready made audience, too. Putting on sheep’s clothing has always been the path of least resistance for these wolves and that is exactly the path they will take. Indeed, the Holy Scriptures tell us,
Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. — 1 John 2:18-20
“They went out from us” tells us that the anti-christs John refers to were properly taught the truth of God’s Word, but then walked away from that truth and taught lies. Haven’t we recently seen this with the acceptance of unrepentant homosexuality in the former Lutheran and Christian synod, the “Evangelical Lutheran Church in America”?
The enemies of the cross of Christ are right now marching in my own synod, the “Lutheran Church Missouri Synod” (LCMS). Already I have heard saber rattling over issues such as women’s ordination and the inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures. Is it any wonder? The current leadership of the LCMS has been enamored by the words of heretics like Leonard Sweet, who embraces the heresy of panentheism, and with the words of other church growth and Emergent Church gurus. LCMS congregations and even an entire district (The Southeast District. See here.) openly promote damnable practices taken from eastern mysticism such as “Centering Prayer” and other unscriptural meditation practices. If these theological liberals are allowed to continue their practices without disciplinary action taken against them, then the LCMS will likely follow the ELCA into apostasy and we won’t be recognizable as being in the Church of our Lord Jesus; let alone as our “grandfather’s church”.
Now is the time for conservative (orthodox) clergy and laity alike to stand up and stand firm in God’s Holy Word against the wolves amongst us who will continue to try to take over our churches.
Thanks Jim. You said it well.
You are most welcome.
I also want to point out that since I wrote the article that Waltermartin.com stopped making the audio of the “Cult of Liberalism” available at the link I provide above. I am sorry about that. I have a copy of side 1 the quote is taken from, but I don’t think I can make it publicly availalbe without permission.
Chris Rosebrough on his internet radio program, aired the entire lecture by Walter Martin, called the “Cult of Liberalism. You can find it here:http://www.fightingforthefaith.com/2009/06/page/2/. It’s the June 4th 2009 show. I keep it permantly on my ipod and listen to it often, just as a reminder on who were are dealing with.
MM
Jim,
I’m thrilled to see this article posted here! You have said it very well. When I first read this, at your blog & reading it now, the word “parasite” keeps leaping to mind.
Thank you for pointing that out Michael and thank you Norm for linking to Chris’ program.
Anybody ever read Machen’s ‘Chrsitianity and Liberalism?’
Originally published in ’23, it nonetheless proves the saying that there truly is ‘nothing new under the sun.’ The work remains just as relevant today (if not more so) as when it was first written, and stands as a bulwark against the aforementioned liberal foolishness.
Jim:
Well done and inspiring.
AJM
Why are the district presidents allowing the wolves to prosper? It doesn’t matter how vocal the wolves are, if their voices are not heard, they’ll leave.
The problem is not with the wolves coming into the church. It is with those in charge that compromise the Word and the confessions, in order to allow the wolves to feel comfortable. And, the more comfortable they are, the more they will bring their friends. Pretty soon, the wolves are howling all over the place.
The pastors first allow it. The elders don’t have the courage to say anything. And the higher ups are just trying to get the numbers. Meanwhile, the real Christians (which is what the church is for) are now uncomfortable, unfed and they leave and go to synods that are faithful to God’s Word and the Lutheran confessions.
Another question I would have; is what is happening in your seminary? Are the liberals taking over the LCMS seminary. Shoudn’t all of the future pastors be taught consistantly the same way? Shouldn’t they be taught only God’s Word and the Lutheran confessions? I don’t know. Are the liberals allowed to have a voice in the seminary also? Again, if the wolves are allowed to have a voice in the seminary, they will be poisoning your future pastors; corruping them, which bodes poorly for the future.
It looks to me like the good, solid confessional Lutheran conservatives in the LCMS are going at the volves with boxing gloves, while the wolves have AK-47′s.
My two cents worth; would be to look again at how you define church and ministry. It looks like that is going to be a key issue that needs to be corrected. If the corrections are made, the wolves will flee.
If you get your great, conservative, confessional Lutheran pastors (like I enjoy listening to on Issues, Etc.) and put into place the WELS doctrine of church and ministry–it would be awesome!
I’m just an outsider looking in the window.
We have a problem with our watch dogs. Many District presidents are either liberals themselves or incapable of pulling on the choke chain of those they are in charge of. Ditto to many laymen in govening bodies. Disciplne is a dirty word. I thought our Lord saw it as LOVE.
Mames:
Good points. But, if you have a church and ministry plan where the called workers, pastor’s and the synod are not united in doctrine and practice, it is almost impossible to control the false teachers.
And, even fellowship practices need to be inforced by the district presidents. If the pastors are praying and taking the Lord’s Supper with ELCA pastors, they will eventually let their guard down and start allowing the false teachers to impact their own doctrine and practice.
The pastor’s in the WELS/ELS are hardly spending any time fighting false teaching, because the district managers have the “power” to use church discipline.
I know, in talking to our pastors, they have said that one of the keys is that they are all taught the same way in the seminary, so they come out united in doctrine and practice. They don’t have a section in the seminary for the liberal’s to teach their false doctrine. They are just taught the Bible and our Lutheran confessions. It’s all they know and care about.
Like I have said, we are all sinners, and no system is perfect, but there are concepts of church and ministry that are able to do a much better job in controlling false doctrine.
That enable’s the pastors to concentrate on Word and Sacraments, and not spend all of their time fighting the bureaucrat’s.
Mr. Jim Pierce:
I just came across your website, it is a really good one. I’ll get it in on my “favorites”. Thanks for being confessional, and caring about our Lutheran tradition!
Thank you AJ and Lloyd for the kind words and you are most welcome.
Jim Pierce:
A little backgound on myself. Many years ago I came out of a Dutch Reformed church. I used to teach the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession and Canon’s of Dort to Jr. High kids.
Through the White Horse Inn, I discovered Lutheran theology from the great Dr. Rod Rosenbladt. In fact, I got to take a class from him!
I read all of Calvin’s Institutes, Louis Berkhof’s “Systematic Theology”, and many, many other Reformed works. I had numerous doubts about Reformed Theology, and really got into Lutheranism. In fact, five months after I became a Lutheran in the LCMS, I had already read all of the Book of Concord and Luther’s catechism. (I hate wasting time!)
I am now a full fledged Luther freak. I read Luther every morning for at least 45 minutes. My goal is to read all of his works–although I probably will never get to; at the age of 52.
What I have done, is to memorize all of our Lutheran passages on Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. I love to argue Lutheran theology with Christian’s of other denominations, (Baptist’s etc.) and to show them from the Scriptures where Lutheranism is correct. (Which is easy to do, because Lutheran theology is Scriptural, and it doesn’t get into man’s logic.)
When not at work, I study Lutheran theology all of the time. My goal, is to be like Dr. Rod Rosenbladt, where I can just quote the Scriptures, and then expound on them with the writing’s of Luther. (As Luther might say, “flowers in the garden!)
Lutheran theology is a joy un-surpassed by anything in life. The Biblical accuracy of it, and the deep theology that it has is never, ever boring.
The way that Luther taught us to not look to ourselves, but outside of ourselves; to Christ, His Word, and the promises in our living sacraments is awesome. I love teaching other Christians about thinking “sacramentally”, about the promises of God, and the comfort that is found in thinking this way.
One of Luther’s favorite verses is Romans 3:4, “By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar.” (ESV) Luther always applied this verse to the promises in the Sacraments. Luther would apply this verse to Gal. 3:27, Acts 2:38 & 39, John 3:5, Mark 16:16 (eight of the eleven oldest manuscrips contain this verse), Ephs. 5:26, Acts 22:16, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 3:20 & 21 etc., and to the promises in the Sacrament of the Altar.
Luther taught us to not look at how we are perservering, like the Reformed do, but to the promises found in the sacraments. We have to believe the promises, “because God is true though every one were a liar.”
I enjoy reading Luther’s commentaries. I am currently reading Luther’s “What Luther says”, and his great, great commentary on the first five chapters in Genesis (he has eight on Genesis alone). Luther takes the Genesis account as it should be taken, and that of historial narrative, and not allegorically.
Personally, reading Luther every day, make’s many of the other writer’s pretty boring. You get so spoiled in reading Luther. Luther is so relevant for today. And his thinking is still at least 1,000 years ahead of us!
I also enjoy reading the new Lutheran Study Bible every moring as well.
The Lutheran way of hermeneutics is also the only way–historical grammatcal. And like one of my former WELS pastors (a young fellow), always proclamed, “If you go to the Bible with an analogy of faith, that the Bible is true in everything that it says, you have to come away a Lutheran!” So very, very true!
Blessings,
In my town here in Iowa, we had a confessional Lutheran pastor run out of our LCMS congregation in the 1980s when he, as pastor, tried to use loving discipline to admonish church members for belonging to the local lodge and Masonic order. The errors were already to far entrenched in this LCMS congregation and when solid confessional church members tried to defend the pastor, they were told they could leave the congregation as well. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!
The sad thing is that pastor left the ministry completely. On the plus side, 5 families left the liberal leaning LCMS church in that town for a solidly confessional WELS congregation in the same town. A blessing that God has another church body available for these families.
Jim (13), my best response to your comments is “amen, amen, yea, yea, let it be so!” I, too, enjoy reading, discussing, and debating Lutheran theology. I am currently in a period of rereading the Book of Concord in its entirety in parallel with THE FIRE AND THE STAFF, and am thoroughly loving it. Lutheran theology sheds the true Light on every aspect of doctrine and practice, a fact I pray will never be lost on me. In doing mission work with the blindness community here in Kansas City, I find a huge and diverse range of viewpoints. So, having the Lutheran hermeneutic at my disposal helps tremendously. And, going to a church whose pastors encourage all members to delve into the Lutheran Confessions et al is truly a gift from our Lord and Savior!
@David Rosenkoetter #14
“The Fire and the Staff” is an excellent book. I enjoyed it immensly and it is definitely one to keep in the library. I, too, am rereading the BoC with a confessions reading group at my church. Others in the reading group, who are reading it for their very first time, have the same sort of comment you do regarding the Lutheran hermeneutic. Going through our confession of faith has helped them to recognize doctrinal errors.
Thank you for the kind words.
Lloyd,
I was returned to faith through the witnessing of a Calvanist (double-ouch). I returned to the LCMS because, at the time, we were committed to the Confession of 1580. I share your enthusiam for these confessions as they are a true systematic presentation of God ‘s Word including the honoring of paradoxes we can not allow resaon to “fix”.
mames:
Very true: Confessional Lutheran pastor’s just stick with what the Word of God says. Where the Scriptures are silent, so are they, and we.
One major problem with the Calvinist’s is that they get into man’s logic in order to explain things. Many times they go way beyond what the Scriptures teach. Luther says that God hides himself behind mask’s. Luther warns about taking the mask off of God and trying to figure Him out apart from the Word and the Sacraments.
God reveals Himself in His creation to all men. (Romans 1, Psalm 19.) In our consciousness, (mirror) to all men. And in His Word, (for the Christian).
Yes God calls the elect through the preaching of His Word, where He gives them the faith to believe, (Phil:1:29). Or he will save others (children) in Baptism, where he combines His Word with the water (both create faith). But Christ died for all: Exek: 33:11, Heb. 2:9, 1 Tim. 2: 1-6, 1 John 2:2, 2 Pet. 3:9, Matt. 23:37 and 1 Tim 4:10, among many others. Matt. 25:41 teaches us that hell was created for the Devil and his angels (opps, Calvin had real problems with that one!)
Also, the Reformed view of the Lords Supper is un-Biblical. In it, they take on Platonic Philosophy, where they by-pass the Physical, to get to the Spiritual eating of the Sacrament. In other words, the Physical is not important, but only the thought world is. It should be noted, that this view goes right into their heretical view of Christ’s human nature, which is extremely limited in their view.
Luther says, that the Reformed view of Christ’s human nature and His divine nature, where they divide the works of Chirst separately, in that view–you would have to have two Christ’s!
What is interesting, recently my brother almost became Reformed. Then he read the book by R.C. Sproul attemping to make a case for Reformed theology, and it convinced him that Reformed theology was false!
I’m in a hurry, so bare with me. The Reformed can’t even come up with one confession of faith, they have numerous confessions, which teach numerous doctrines. We only have one confession of faith–the BOC. The only thing that the Reformed can agree on, is the five points–and even that is un-Scriptural!
I had exactly the same experience.
This article made it a bit clearer to me why staying and fighting makes sense. The thought of parasites sucking the life out of unknowing congregants must make faithful pastors livid.
If and when the time comes to leave, it must NOT be done quietly.
Miles,
Parasites need a host. They find a host, & multiply to thrive. Once they have “spread”, it ultimately results in damage or death to the host.
If you know you have a parasite, you need to “care” of it, or it will take “care” of you.
This isn’t symbiotic relationship. Both cannot coexist. One has to prevail to mulitply & pro-create. If TCN/Ablaze! has 320 congregations & is working w/30 of 35 districts…your dealing with a very aggressive parasite! Why TCN? It is connected w/Ablaze!. To my mind, both are parasites, why? They are Emergent Church, same parasite, just disguised & Lutheranized.
Just “disguised”, Dutch.
They don’t sound very “Lutheranized” to me.
@Dutch #19
Sounds like they need to be sliced and diced with the Sword of the Spirit!
Jim Pierce,
I realize this is off topic, but today I went to Wittenberg Trail (wittenbergtrail.ning.com) and repeatedly got a message that the site does not exist. What’s up? Is WT really gone? Please reply.
-Rik Eischen
rikeischen@earthlink.net