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To Pastors who think they are truly standing and should take heed lest they fall:

In the history of the Gospel of mankind, no one has ever explained the Gospel of God with as many clear, concise, convincing, and comforting words as one sent from God, Martin Luther. His explanations have been the bedrock of the Church now for 500 years; and for 500 years the Church has gradually moved away from Luther's wonderfully gracious message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach good tidings," said Christ. But who is going to "declare the day of vengeance of our God?" for that day has come upon us like a thief in the night. And why? Because God has been bearing with us for 500 years while we have slipped further and further away from the clearly reformed and dusted off message He delivered through Luther.

No one says with Isaiah, "I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips." You say, "But how are our lips unclean when they are so full of words like grace, love, and solas?" Because you have perverted them by spending them on our own lusts. Faith has become nothing more to you than a cloak that covers your greed, rebellion, lust, and your excessive desire for power and perverted idea of freedom.

"Cry out! Cry out!" says the prophet. But no one cries out, because everyone has become innocent of the great transgression. There are no sinners anywhere; there are only righteous people and righteous pastors proclaiming the innocence of their people. All cry peace, peace, when there is no peace. Everyone has lost his or her saltiness and therefore will be thrown out and trodden under foot. May God have mercy as He casts us out!

No one will be like Joseph and set out to purposefully bring his brothers around to repentance. Everyone thinks repentance is an easy thing and accomplished in the easiest of ways. The best among us acknowledge our dire situation and yet they themselves assume they are exempt from this great satanic delusion that has come over the Church. They think a few words of Law and a lot of words of Gospel will do the trick, and then they proceed with all their other duties. But they do not have a mind set on determining to bring their people to true repentance. They do not understand that this is only an "easy" job when God has given His Word in abundant measure, and it is most arduous when He, more and more, withdraws His Word. No one understands that God has greatly withdrawn His Word from us today. Luther saw this day coming before he passed from his. No one sees that we dwell in a house of cards. No one wants to see that this is true because no wants to experience the consequences for blowing on this house of cards.

I have talked with many shepherds, some stupid, some sincere. But what they all have in common is an ignorance of the situation. Many have recognized God's gift in me and praised me for my wisdom and courage; but not one will submit himself to my message. The ones that seem concerned, and maybe are, proclaim their righteousness. No one condemns himself or his people. No one says, "Against Thee, and Thee only have I sinner." No one understands, "I will bring you to judgment, lest you think you are innocent" (Jer. 2:35).

For five years I have experienced you Lutherans, and for five years (it seems like 50) I have pleaded with you gently and not so gently that you have turned aside from the Lord. Many agree with me until it is time for THEM to step up to the plate. It has been amazing how many have been impressed with my wisdom and gifts, submit to them, but will not submit to me in what I believe and feel the most: You have wickedly departed from the Lord your God. At this point everyone proclaims their righteousness. This is why we will not have any type of revival because the Spirit of Isaiah is not upon us. No one says, "I HAVE UNCLEAN LIPS, AND I WILL CLEAN THIS HOUSE OF UNCLEAN LIPS."

A few commend themselves for contending against the liberals among us and the ones who want to hire   go-go dancers as an aid to worship, but this is only a first step. The second step would be to submit to what I am saying, at least for long enough to see whether my message is truly from God. Instead you admire me until you disagree with me on what I believe most, just like the Baptists quote Luther on everything except what he believed most ardently. We are commanded to submit to one another. How can you not "try this on" for awhile to see whether it is of God.

The last experience I had that proves my point is when I sent what I compiled on worship to a pastor who seemingly agrees with and admires what I am doing. His response showed no engrafting of the message, but rather an inventory of what I will have to do to make it palatable for the masses. While I appreciate his suggestions, my heart is devastated at a mind that just assumes the message doesn't apply to him. He does not see that HE has things to learn. He does not take fright that the message was to HIM. He sees no reason to take it and spread it before the Lord, and say, "God in heaven, your servant waits for your judgment. Show me how my lips are unclean."

I went to one church where the pastor used something I said nearly every week in his sermons. I enthused him to preach the Law a little more, but when it came time for him to rebuke his leaders face to face, he turned like a little snotty-nosed sissy and ran from them before they even said a word. What an example of one of Luther's favorite sayings, "They run from a shaking leaf." This man only talks about the power of theWord, but he runs from puny men. That's being a real saltshaker. The best I can figure is everyone is just salty enough to give themselves a false sense of peace and faithfulness.

It is obvious to me that God allowed me to earn the trust of about 20 LCMS ministers, not so I could have a counseling ministry, but rather that I would have the opportunity to intimately come to a knowledge of their spirit-that is the deceitfulness thereof. I am not saying they do not have many redeeming qualities. But they lack that one redeeming quality of fearing Him who can cast both body and soul into Hell.

I am imploring you to consider my objectivity. You have been raise within a system that to a greater degree than you think is curtailing your objectivity. I could easily prove this by spending time with your people and examining them in the faith. There is no doubt they will not be the strong people of faith and knowledge you purport them to be. It would be immediately obvious that there would not be unity of spirit and mind between us (based on Luther's exposition of Scripture, faith, and practice) and it would become painfully obvious that there is a great gulf fixed between you and your people. The only question is: Are you afraid of such an examination? You should be.

By way of anecdotes I was going to relate how many and in what way pastors have taken confidence and refuge in my ministry, even though it has been short and narrow. But I find this repugnant. The reader should recognize the Spirits writing.

In closing, there are times I am disappointed, though these times become farther and farther apart. Sure, I would enjoy having another of like mind so the burden could be shared. I do have a wife and family, all of whom have come to see the correctness of my position(s). But the lust of the human spirit always wants more, and for this I am punished. But I shall be greatly rewarded by my Lord for the deep, eternal desire He has put within my heart for true unity of faith, doctrine, and spirit.

Remember me O my God for good.

His Servant,

Timothy Vance
3511 Indian Forest Dr.
Spring, Texas 77373