Pictures from the 2015 BJS Conference

The Brothers Of John the Steadfast held their annual conference in Naperville, Illinois on February 20 & 21, 2015 A.D.  It was an excellent conference with a lot of insightful presentations, good food, entertainment, and enjoyable fellowship.

The Brothers of John the Steadfast is a group of mostly LCMS (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) laymen and pastors dedicated to promoting Confessional Lutheranism.

The conference was held at Bethany Lutheran Church and School.

The theme of the 2015 conference was, “When Heterodoxy Hits Home.”

All the pictures in this post are from that conference.

The first session was with Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller.  His topic was: “The Obligation and Temptation of Dealing with False Teaching.”

One of the challenges of taking photos at this conference was the new candle holders that Bethany had installed down the center isle.  I tried to incorporate them into the photos as best as I could.

Audio presentations from the 2015 Conference can be found on the Brothers of John the Steadfast website.  Video of the conference can be found at this link: on the BJS website.

Bethany Lutheran’s unique stained glass windows can be seen in the background.

This stained glass window depicts God’s gift of Woman to Man.   (God was depicted in the window above this one, and was the source of the yellow rays of light that blessed our original parents).

Pastor Rossow introduced the next speaker.  Pastor Rossow was an excellent and gracious host.

The second speaker on Friday was Pastor Clint Poppe of the ACELC.

The topic of Pastor Poppe’s presentation was, “The Barking Dog Approach.”

Dinner followed, and then there was the evening prayer.

In commemoration of the martyrdom of Saint Polycarp, the liturgical color for the evening prayer was red.

On Friday evening, the Brothers of John the Steadfast gathered in private homes for the “No Pietists Allowed” parties.  Then the next morning on Saturday was the “Manly Man’s Breakfast” at Bethany.

On Saturday morning, Pastor Joshua Scheer introduced the Reverend Larry Beane.

Pastor Beane’s presentation was entitled, “Doctrine And/Or Practice?”  During his presentation, he maintained that the entire Book of Concord was descriptive.

Pastor Hans Fiene was the second speaker on Saturday.  Pastor Fiene is the creator of The Lutheran Satire.  He spoke about when satire is appropriate to use in defense of the faith.

The last speaker was Pastor Todd Wilken from Issues, Etc.  Pastor Wilken spoke about our need for perspective, patience, and perseverance.

Please go to the Brothers of John the Steadfast website, and check out all the audio presentations from the 2015 conference.  Or check out the videos of the conference by clicking here.

The Lord blesses his people when we gather to hear, discuss, and ponder his word and Sacrament.

Thank you to all who were involved in making this an enjoyable conference.

Thank you.

Additional Pictures

Click here for additional pictures from the 2015 BJS Conference.

Click here for additional pictures from all the previous BJS Conferences (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, & 2013).

God’s blessing to you.

Matt Harrison, Pastor of Pastors

On January 26, 2015, Matthew Harrison, the President of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod said:

When a public teacher on the roster of Synod can without consequence publicly advocate the ordination of women (even participate vested in the installation of an ELCA clergy person), homosexuality, the Errancy of the Bible, the historical critical method, open communion, communion with the reformed, evolution, and more, then the public confession of the synod is meaningless.

I am saying that if my Synod does not change its inability to call such a person to repentance, and remove such a teacher where there is not repentance, then we are liars, and our confession is meaningless.  I do not want to belong to such a synod, much less lead it.

I have no intention of walking away from my vocation.  I shall rather use it and, by the grace of God, use all the energy I have to call this Synod to fidelity to correct this situation.

— Matt Harrison.
Facebook post, January 26, 2015 A.D.

Pastor Harrison was referring to Matthew Becker an ordained LCMS clergyman and teacher at Valparaiso University, an alma mater of mine.

As you can see in the photo above, Pastor Harrison is an actual pastor.  He is a pastor of pastors.  And the vocation of a pastor involves calling out sin and false doctrine.

Apparently, he does not have the direct bureaucratic power to fix this sore situation, but he does have the power of the word of God.  And that is a power not to be underestimated.  However, even though God’s word is all powerful, that does not mean that it is God’s will to fix the LCMS.  There is only one holy Christian Church, and it is not coterminous with the LCMS or any other Lutheran synod.

God is in control, and our prayers are with President Harrison.  May God give him strength, wisdom, and especially, faithful helpers.

Kyrie eleison.

Please Help Persecuted Christians in Iraq & Syria

Christians have been living in Iraq & Syria for about 2000 years.

Here are the links mentioned in the video:

•  LCMS President Harrison’s statement on persecution
• Give now to help persecuted Christians (LCMS)

Kyrie eleison.

A Thrivent Christmas Comparison

The Lutheran Satire produced the above video.

The Lutheran Satire is a good YouTube channel.

Unfortunately, the above video is not satire.  Herod tried to kill the child while Joseph protected him.  “Because they got caught supporting Herod … Thrivent no longer supports Joseph.  Please pray for everyone at Thrivent.”  (“A Thrivent Christmas Comparison,” The Lutheran Satire).

an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”  And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt …

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

— Matthew 2:13-18, ESV.

Kyrie eleison.

A popular satirical video for the season of Christmas from The Lutheran Satire is: “Horus Ruins Christmas.”

Holy Week Message from Pastor Harrison

In Christ God’s power was made perfect in weakness.

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.”

— Ephesians 3:14-21, NKJV.

Pictures from the 2013 BJS Conference

The Brothers of John the Steadfast held their fifth annual conference on Friday and Saturday, February 15 & 16, 2013 A.D. at Bethany Lutheran Church in Naperville, IL.  Bethany recently installed some new stained glass windows.  The window above depicts some of the church buildings in which Bethany has called home.

On Friday, Pastor Fisk spoke about being raised Lutheran, but not staying Lutheran, and the challenges we face in passing on the faith to future generations.

One of the goals of the Brothers of John the Steadfast is to use new media to pass on the faith.  Pastor Fisk exemplifies that approach in his video podcast, Worldview Everlasting.  Pastor Fisk’s presentation can be viewed on YouTube by clicking here.

On Saturday morning, Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller, a co-host of Table Talk Radio, spoke about loving God’s word.  (Click here to view the video of his presentation).

God’s word causes us to understood, is without error, and inspires love.  One of the best aspects of a Brothers of John the Steadfast conference is the fellowship of brothers in Christ.  Scott Diekmann wrote about the fellowship of this year’s conference in a post entitled: “Joy.”

Because God has filled our hearts with love, we also love one another.  Every year the BJS conference features fine fellowship, delicious food, and generous hospitality.  This year was no different.  We were also treated to two fine sermons by Pastor Hans Fiene (“Steadfast in Doctrine, Steadfast in Love“) and Pastor Tony Sikora (“The Shallow Promises of the Defeated Devil“).

On Saturday afternoon, Pastor James May spoke about Lutherans in Africa.  Pastor May said the best way to make disciples was by preaching and teaching the word of God.  He said that Islamic missionaries were teaching their faith, while many Christian missionaries gave out T-shirts.  We should never neglect people’s physical needs, but we should not pretend that helping other people physically is the same thing as teaching the gospel.  The Church Growth Movement does not work in America or Africa.

One story that stood out was of a mother who wanted her babies to be baptized, but could not afford the baptismal fees charged by the Roman Catholic priests.  The fee for a baptism was $15, but $15 was two weeks wages in that part of Africa, and she had twins.  She was trying to find a priest who would bless her babies for free, when she discovered Pastor May.  Pastor May explained that he was not a priest, but that baptism was not so much about becoming a member of the Roman Catholic Church, as it was about becoming united to Christ.  The gospel is freedom, so Pastor May baptized her babies for free.  Her children later died, and she was comforted by their baptism.  She believed that baptism united her children with Christ and saved them because God so said.  (Romans 6:3-5).

Pastor May’s presentation can be viewed on YouTube by clicking here.

The picture above is of Bethany’s nave after the conference concluded.  For additional pictures from this and past year’s conferences, click here.

Obama Attacking Life and Freedom of Conscience

Life itself is a pure gift.

The video above is of President Harrison of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LC-MS).  Today, he joined Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist and Jewish leaders to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding these issues.  (Reporter, the official newspaper of the LC-MS).

First, the Obama Administration sought to force all employers to pay for contraception & abortion drugs.  Then they “compromised,” and basically said they would give citizens of faith a year to change their beliefs.  Then they promised a future “accommodation” which was nothing more than an accounting gimmick.  An accounting gimmick is just another way to deceive.  Unfortunately, these issues are fraught with deception.

Even the very words we speak are under assault.  One of my law school professors explained the difference between contraception and birth-control in this way:  Contraception means against conception.  In other words, contraception stops conception.  Birth-control means to stop a birth.  That is exactly what many birth-control pills do: they deliver drugs that hinder conception, and they cause the death of children already conceived.

The very term “emergency contraception” is a deception, because these drugs were designed to kill a child after he has been conceived.  These drugs are not used to stop conception, but rather to stop a live birth.

Furthermore, pregnancy is a condition, it is not a disease.  All children are a blessing from God.  Why must that even be said?  Why?  Because such undeniable truths are under constant assault.  Human dignity is under assault.  Human life is under assault.  Truth is under assault.

The Enemy of truth is trying to embed deception and delusion into our very language and thought patterns.  However, Christians need to think and speak clearly.

May the Creator of heaven and earth bless the testimony of our religious leaders in Washington D.C. as they speak for freedom and the truth of the dignity of all human life.

WELS

Yesterday, the head of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), President Mark Schroeder said:

Recently the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that it will require all health care plans, including those provided by religious organizations, to include coverage for contraceptives, abortive drugs, and medical procedures that are contrary to the doctrinal positions of many Christian churches and denominations.  This action is a clear and unprecedented threat to the religious liberty guaranteed to all citizens by the First Amendment.  No religious organization should be required by the government to support or facilitate activities which are in clear violation of its principles and beliefs.

****

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod clearly understands and teaches that Jesus has directed his followers to ‘give to Caesar what is Caesar’s’ (Mark 12:17) …  [However, we] “also confess and affirm that if the government directs us to do something in clear violation of the will of God, ‘we must obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29).

— (WELS News).

These are unprecedented attacks against our most basic American rights and fundamental freedoms.  These attacks are coming from the highest levels of government.

Kyrie eleison.

For Further Reading:

“Should Christian Couples Use Contraception?“

BJS Conference 2012

The Brothers of John the Steadfast held their fourth annual conference on Friday and Saturday, February 10 & 11, 2012 A.D. at Bethany Lutheran Church in Naperville, IL.  Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller, a co-host of Table Talk Radio, spoke on Saturday, February 11.

Pastor Wolfmueller mentioned three attacks of the devil against the Church:  First, he convinces us that theology is boring.  This causes us to chase around after frivolous entertainments instead of living in the truly exciting word of God.  Second, the devil convinces us that because good theology is difficult, we should avoid it for easier pursuits.  Third, the devil puffs us up with our own self-importance so that we are afraid to be wrong or make mistakes.

Pastor Wolfmueller emphasized that Christ’s name matters, not ours.  We do not need to feel ashamed if we are wrong or make a theological mistake, because repentance and turning to Christ is all part of growing in grace.  If we are afraid of making theological mistakes, then we will not talk about theology at all.  However, God wants us to discuss his word, and let it dwell in us richly, not just as private individuals, but also as a Congregation of all believers.

A portion of Pastor Wolfmueller’s presentation is featured below:

There was a small problem with the electronic speakers at Bethany Lutheran being slightly out of synch, which explains the echo in the video above.

Friday’s inclement weather caused me to miss most of Pastor Fisk’s presentation.  Pastor Fisk is best known for his video podcast Worldview Everlasting.  Please check it out.

One of the highlights of every BJS conference has been the outstanding liturgical music led by Cantor Phillip Magness of Liturgy Solutions.  This year was no exception, and one of the Divine Services was done mostly a cappella.

Pictured below are what appear to be horns in the back of Bethany Lutheran.  I took the picture while standing under them looking up toward the ceiling.

The other highlights of every conference so far have been the delicious food and generous hospitality of Bethany Lutheran Church in Naperville, IL.  This year was no different.

Pictured above are conference attendees arriving in the nave for Pastor Scheer’s presentation after lunch on Saturday.

Pastor Joshua Scheer stated that theology is supposed to be the habitus for all Christians, including laymen, and that layman should love their pastors enough to hold them accountable.

Speaking about the internet, Pastor Scheer said that today’s Christians face a temptation to become a sort of gnostic internet community based on mere knowledge and information sharing.  However, while internet communities and relationships can provide good support and resources, they cannot fully reflect the theology of our Lord’s incarnation as a real physically present person.  Therefore, all Christians (including pastors) should have a real physically present pastor, who stands in the place of our incarnate Lord, and delivers real physical gifts in word and sacrament.

Also according to Pastor Scheer, our primary goal should not be to save our synod, but rather to save our Confession (of Christ).

Pictured above:  Brothers meet under the cross, before returning to their earthly homes.

For additional information about the conference, check out Stand Firm.  For additional pictures from past conferences, click here.

LCMS’ Harrison: Repent

This is a breath of fresh air.

Pastor Harrison is President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS).  The rest of President Harrison’s address can be found embedded on the Brothers of John the Steadfast at: President Harrison’s Open Forum for the ANCA-LCMS Dialogue.

Pictures from the 2011 BJS Conference

The Brothers of John the Steadfast (BJS) are a group of Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) pastors and laymen who fight against heresy, including the “Church Growth Movement” and its methodologies, by working to promote the Lutheran Confessions, the historic liturgy, new Lutheran media, and by equipping husbands to be spiritual heads and strong voices “of leadership in their local congregations.”  (BJS website description).

The Brothers of John the Steadfast held their third annual international conference on Friday and Saturday, February 11 & 12, 2011 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Naperville, Illinios.  The featured speaker at Friday’s banquet was the newly elected President of the LCMS, Pastor Mathew Harrison.

The theme of the conference was the current threefold emphasis of the LCMS: “Witness, Mercy, and Life Together.”

Pastor Harrison is well liked, and received a standing ovation before he even spoke.

Mr. Fisher, Pastor Jonathan Fisk, and Pastor Charles Henrickson wait in line before the banquet.

The banquet was catered, and for dessert we were served flaming cherries jubilee.

During the banquet, I sat next to an LCMS pastor.  When he learned that I was WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod), he told me he recently communed at a WELS congregation, but that most WELS pastors will not commune you if you are not in fellowship with the WELS.  (I assumed he communed under a misunderstanding).  The WELS practices closed communion.  He, being an LCMS pastor on the other hand, practiced open communion because the Lord’s Supper is forgiveness, and he does not withhold the Lord’s Supper/forgiveness from anyone.  On Judgment Day, he did not want to have to inform Jesus that he withheld the Lord’s Supper from anyone for not being a Missouri Synod member, because Jesus would ask him, “What is the Missouri Synod?”

I said this was my third BJS conference, and I have never communed at a conference.  I asked somewhat rhetorically, “Isn’t closed communion also the rule in the LCMS?”  He said, “I don’t know.  Well, it’s probably the rule here” (at Bethany Lutheran in Naperville).

This amicable conversation was interesting to me because if the WELS does not start enforcing the practical aspects of our doctrine, then it will not be long before we also have malpracticing pastors who openly flout our doctrine, and then claim ignorance while they put eternal souls in danger.  (1 Corinthians 11:29).  Unfortunately for the WELS, that day may have already arrived.

It is good to remember that Jesus did not say, “Trust the WELS” or “Trust the LCMS” or “Trust whatever pastor you just happen to have,” but rather he said, “Watch and pray.”  (Matthew 26:41).

On Saturday morning, Cantor Phillip Magness spoke about Christian witness.

Later, Timothy Hetzner, the President of Lutheran Church Charities, spoke about Christian mercy.  According to Mr. Hetzner, at the time of Christ, the common cup was associated only with marriage.  The only time the Jews drank from the common cup was for marriage.  The symbolism is that the Church is the Bride of Christ.

Pastor Jonathan Fisk delivered the sermon at the Divine Service on Saturday, February 12, 2011 A.D.  In the pictures above and below, Pastor Fisk is on the left.  Pastor Fisk is best known for hosting the video blog Worldview Everlasting.

Pastor Fisk and company stand under the cross of Christ.

The third emphasis of the conference was “Life Together.”  Christian life together involves communion.  Unfortunately, within Confessional Lutheranism there are divisions, and not all self-identified “Confessional Lutherans” can commune together.

However, in the January 2011 edition of Forward in Christ, Paul T. Prange hinted that in the near future there may be free conferences between certain members of the WELS and the LCMS.  (“One in faith?”  Page 32).  A free conference is a place to discuss doctrine “outside the framework of fellowship” for the purpose of determining whether there is fellowship: in other words, whether there is complete agreement about everything Christ commanded us.  (Matthew 28:20).

In the Garden of Gethsemene, Jesus prayed that all believers would be brought to perfect unity.  (John 17:21).  Just as Jesus prayed to His Father: “Thy will be done,” so also we must pray: Lord Jesus, may Thy will be done.

Click here for additional pictures from the 2011 conference.