USING FILTERS TO SEPARATE THE PROTESTANT AND LUTHERAN UNDERSTANDINGS OF GOD’S WORD
Let’s say that you have a special “theological computer.” If, on your “theological computer” you decided to place the “inerrancy” spam filter which would permit through only all denominations which teach “inerrancy,” you would block out what is generally known as “liberal” theology. This is why the Fundamentalist movement in the early 20th century invented and used the term inerrancy to hammer at and stave off liberal theology. However, with only the “inerrancy” filter you, as a Lutheran, would still be vulnerable, helpless, and open to all the anti-sacramental Fundamentalist and Protestant teachings! Click here to see how, if in the LCMS you have only an inerrancy filter, what surprising company you will find yourself.
Now, for a second filter: Scripture-based, Christ-centered Lutherans are not satisfied with simply a “pan-Protestant inerrancy filter.” Lutherans use a filter which permits to come through to them all of Jesus teachings, including His 1 teachings of the efficacy of His Word. “My father is working until now, and I Myself am working” (John 5:17). “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:63). When Lutherans add an “efficacy” spam filter, pronto! All Baptist, Reformed, Pentecostal, anti-Sacramental teachings will be totally blocked. The “efficacy filter” works in such a way as to permit through and, into your ears and soul, Jesus’ living, active, efficacious, and life-giving Words. These are Jesus’ Words which empower His miracles of Baptism, Communion, and Absolution. These efficacious Words of Jesus are faith-initiating, faith-building, cleansing, re-creating, comforting, forgiving, etc. Thus, on the basis of God’s Word and His Proverbs 22:6 promise, we can conclude: Had Karl been fully catechized and instructed by his heavenly Father “in the way he should go,” even if Karl drifted from the Lutheran Church, he would have returned to Christ-centered and Scripture-based Lutheranism. “Train up a child [thoroughly catechize a child] in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Indeed, Lutherans thoroughly instructed in Jesus’ efficacious Word will prompt them to join Jesus’ disciples and say: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
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