September 9, 00

I sent "Proclamation" to thousands of LCMS churches. I have been surprised at the response. Many people agreed, many disagreed, and many told me to "bug off." I now wipe the dust off my shoes and head to the WELS. But first, here is my final response to pastors who want to know how I have the nerve and audacity to call them to repentance.

There is no basis for discussion between us-you won't even read the Luther I send you. If you were as spiritual as you think you are, if you did read it, you would be smitten in your conscience, terrified in your heart, and your throat would cry out to the Lord. You know, like Josiah, the man you can only preach about, not emulate.

My experience with about 20 LCMS pastors here in Texas has been replicated by my relationship via the net with their fellow ministers across this once great Church. Some are absolutely arrogant fools who obviously have not been called into the ministry, but have taken Heaven by force. Some truly think, believe, and profess they are fully occupying the office despite the fact that Rome is burning around them-somehow their little pieces of the city are immune from the wrathful fire. Some confess we are in a dire straight but that they are standing firm on Scripture and the Creeds. These are the legalists who will not approach the Light of Luther's Christ to have their intentions manifested.

And some are sincere, but can't quite grasp the power and truth of my words. This is understandable. The sheet of contradictions had to come to Peter three times before he began to see the revelation of God. To these I can only plead with to take in a healthy diet of Luther. I did not come to my conclusion (Luther's Writings being a modern-day ark) in a moment, but over the process of reading and my experience with LCMS pastors and their people. God uses means.

Luther said, "You can't think of a name bad enough to call the Pope." In like manner, I can't think of a name lewd enough to attach to you LCMS pastors. Why? Because you are destroying God's heritage. Again, you say, "How?" Read Luther, Fool.

I'm thinking of one pastor who liked "Proclamation," admitted that we minimize sin, but then had the blind stupidity to ask what the solution was. He thinks he is a mighty theologian, but has forgotten the chief article, that is, HOW TO BE RID OF SIN. What is more foolish than admitting one minimizes sin and then makes a big deal about grace, which is designed only to get rid of sin? That would be as stupid as I would be if a boy got one of my daughters pregnant and I was angry with him because I wanted them to be virgins when they married. Yet, I was the one who assured them we would help raise a baby if they made a mistake, made sure they had condemns in their purse and that catching a good-looking guy was the most important thing in the world. WHAT! I would be the stupid person in this hypothetical situation and the one I should be most angry with. I have minimized with my actions what my words said were important.