"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world."
~John 15:19
@AndrewPollackFL Honestly, in their heart of hearts, the part of them that may still have a conscience and guilt, the celebrities themselves must be hoping none of us accepts their baloney.
Yes. Jesus was the target, not the collateral damage. "RefuJeesus" theory ignores Gospel rejection. Read off the page, Jesus, Mary, & Joseph's flight into Egypt is not about the dangers or discomforts of going to Egypt. It is not a tragedy. It is a success. It fulfills Scripture.
This will put it into sickening perspective:
The bipartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigates fraud and improper payments in federal programs. It estimates that the U.S. government loses between $233 billion and $521 billion annually just to fraud.
Facts:
Personal taxpayers making under $94,440 cumulatively pay ~$236 billion in personal income taxes. This represents the bottom 75% of taxpayers.
Personal taxpayers making under $169,800 cumulatively pay ~$531 billion in personal income taxes. This represents the bottom 90% of total taxpayers.
So, the income taxes 75% to 90% of Americans are paying… are routed directly to fraud.
@TheDonStein@GrigulisSylvia@JamesDaleWilso6@revcjackson@timrwild Yes, clumsy is the word. The Gospel determines the Call, not tape. The Word is unbroken. The ELS is good and helpful, and 20 years ago we listened and our CICR talks with them. Certain spirits push boundaries. Maybe you're familiar with that in your synod?
@GrigulisSylvia@JamesDaleWilso6@TheDonStein@revcjackson@timrwild We have a doctrine called the order of creation. Adam was formed first, then Eve. It's a bit more than custom. It's a scriptural hermeneutic. Saying the WELS is close to women pastors is silly.
Granted, I've never served in the state of Wisc, where some of these dogfights are.
@GrigulisSylvia@JamesDaleWilso6@TheDonStein@revcjackson@timrwild A LCMS pastor is claiming that WELS will soon have women pastors, but they won't be allowed to vote. Funny, because I am not even a voter. I am ex officio on committees and council.
I don't think these guys actually care about WELS Christians. They just like having ammo for X.
I've been traveling and visited a few churches across denominations. A common thread was basically un-singable music.
Many have traded a rich history of congregational Psalms and hymns for some dreadfully bad K-love cheese led by a woman who seems hungry for attention.