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August 2019
Dear Friends, |
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take
heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the
day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the
scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old
time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the
Holy Ghost. (2 Pet. 1:19-21 KJV)
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved
brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are
some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable
wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Pet.
3:15-16 KJV)
The Word of God is a most gracious gift provided by God through the Holy Spirit
to direct the understanding and guide the seekers of truth into paths of
righteousness. As St. Peter said above; it is a light to lighten even the
darkest path. However, when it is wrested from its context, torn from its sense
and applied in piecemeal fashion it leads to destruction, also as St. Peter
stated above. In every age we must be on our guard to make sure what we hear and
read is truly God’s Word and not the idea of human beings hidden in a strange
mixture of words from the sacred text applied according to human contrivance.
Luther was well aware of this temptation in his time as well as witnessed in
these excerpts from his commentary on Psalm 117:
“This is a short, easy psalm, doubtless made this way so that everyone might pay
more attention to it and remember better what is said. No one can complain about
the length or content, much less about the sharpness, difficulty, or profundity
of the words. Here we find only short, precise, clear, and ordinary words, which
everyone can understand if he will only pay attention and think about them. All
God’s words demand this. We must not skim over them and imagine we have
thoroughly understood them, like the frivolous, smug, and bored souls who, when
they hear some word of God once, consider it old hat and cast about for
something new. They think they have thoroughly mastered all they have heard.
This is a dangerous disease, a clever and malicious trick of the devil. Thus he
makes people bold, smug, forward, and ready for every kind of error and schism.
This is really the vice known as aκηδία, slothfulness in God’s service, against
which St. Paul exhorts us (Rom. 12:11) to be fervent in spirit.
I have often felt this particular devil and temptation myself, and even today I
cannot guard and cross myself against it too carefully. I confess this freely as
an example to anyone; for here am I, an old doctor of theology and a preacher,
and certainly as competent in Scripture as such smart alecks. At least I ought
to be. Yet even I must become a child;
I am convinced by experience that God’s Word can never be entirely mastered, but
that Ps. 147 speaks truly: “His understanding is beyond measure” (v. 5), or
Ecclesiasticus: “Who drinks of me shall thirst even more after me” (24:29). Now
if I have such difficulties, what will happen to those smug, self-satisfied
charlatans who neither struggle nor labor?
Therefore I certainly believe that there is not one who truly knows everything
the Holy Spirit says in this short psalm.”
Luther, M. (1999). Luther’s works, vol. 14: Selected Psalms III. (J. J. Pelikan,
H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.) (Vol. 14, pp. 7–8). Saint Louis: Concordia
Publishing House.
At this Seminary we believe in studying God’s Word as it is clearly presented in
the text of the Sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. If you
struggle, as all of us do, with that devil of smug, self-assuredness and
recognize the only means of combatting it is found in the study of God’s Word as
written, then please feel free to join us for class. The Word of God speaks for
itself and I assure you, we listen.
God’s Peace,
Jay Weidner
DONATIONS RECEIVED...
In memory of Dr. Albert Saari
from Janis Saari
In memory of John Jukuri
from John & Mary Lehto
In memory of Carol Gazvoda
from Mark & Gail Johnson
In memory of David Krutzig
from Betty Krutzig-Young
MATCHING FUNDS OPPORTUNITY
Recently we have had a kind donor come forward with a matching fund donation of
$20,000.00. We are seeking additional donations above and beyond normal giving
that would be matched dollar for dollar within this program. The program begins
August 1 and runs through October 31, 2019. If you are able to contribute in
this program, please earmark your contribution “matching funds” in the memo
section of your check.
Your continued support of the seminary is deeply appreciated and enables us to
continue to grow as a seminary and carry on the work of teaching and preparing
our students for ministry. God bless your again for your generosity!
UPCOMING FALL SEMESTER
Daily classes offered in the fall begin, Wednesday, September 4, 2019:
Principles of Biblical Interpretation (3 credits) – A history and study of the
hermeneutical techniques and their application to the scriptures, including the
methods of Textual Analysis.
Homiletics (2 credits) – A study of the objectives, construction and delivery of
sermons.
Liturgics & Hymnology (1 credit) – A study of the origin and meaning of orders
of worship and the parts of the Christian worship service with an emphasis upon
current application.
Deaconess History (2 credits) – A study of the role of deaconesses through the
history of the Christian Church.
The Monday night class in Hancock and Thursday night class in Negaunee will be 1
and 2 Thessalonians: Anticipating the Last Day with St. Paul. In Hancock at 7PM
from September 9-December 16 and at 7PM at the Eastwood ALC (Negaunee) from
August 29-October 3. This class is a study of St. Paul's correspondence with the
Thessalonians in light of the eschatological discourses of Jesus with a focus on
how Paul encourages the believers to hold fast in the faith as it was handed
down to them in anticipation of the glorious future promised them in Jesus
Christ. Early registration for on-line capability is encouraged as there are
only 10 spots available.
Feel free to contact us by phone (906) 482-3337, email cilseminary@ilseminary.com
or check our on-line class schedule for updated information at http://ilseminary.org/classchedule.htm.
ATTENTION: SUPPORTERS
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SEMINARY.
Have you ever have used Amazon.com to do your shopping? Now AmazonSmile offers
the same products, same prices and same service and will also donate 0.5% of the
price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Inter-Lutheran Theological
Seminary whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
Simply log use in by using this link….
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/41-0918317
which will bring you directly to smile.amazon.com in support of our
organization.
The Thrivent Choice® program offers a way members can recommend where Thrivent
Financial distributes some of its charitable outreach funds. As a benefit
member, your ownership of Thrivent Financial products and services help make
this support possible.
Remember….If you are an eligible member 16 and older you can recommend how to
distribute Thrivent Financial charitable grant funds thought Choice Dollars®.
Member eligibility and the Choice Dollars designated are based on:
• Holding a Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership position; or
• Having $750 or more in annual premiums of qualifying
insurance products; or
• Having $20,000 or more in contract value of qualifying products.
For more information about Choice Dollars, visit http://www.Thrivent.com/thriventchoice
or call 800-847-4836 or contact your local Thrivent Financial representative.
INFAITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION:
Several years ago, the Seminary board of directors established the
Inter-Lutheran Seminary Endowment Fund. Funds contributed to the endowment are
not used for current day to day operations. Only the annual earnings of the
endowment will be used for the seminary’s needs thereby ensuring the continued
existence of this funding source. This is the preferred method used by many
non-profit entities, especially ongoing religiously focused organizations such
as seminaries.
While this is an excellent strategy, it has proven a challenge for us to
actually meet the minimum funding requirements. Until now, the fund has existed
but remained unfunded. By the Lord’s grace we have been blessed with a large
contribution to fund the Inter-Lutheran Seminary Endowment Fund. We would love
to build on this generous contribution to grow our endowment into a major source
of ongoing seminary support.
Although the seminary still needs the financial ongoing regular contributions of
our supporters, please consider the endowment fund for your planned giving
needs. The seminary has chosen the InFaith Community Endowment Fund (the renamed
Lutheran Brotherhood Foundation) to administer our endowment fund. They will
provide experienced legal advice to help guide you with any contribution
questions done through estate planning in addition to lump sum contributions,
IRAs, property and securities. For more additional information, please contact
Kirk Otto, Jr. at (715) 294-4343 or Cheryl Hendrickson at (906)482-3337.
**PLEASE NOTE**
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Inter-Lutheran
Theological Seminary
James Weidner, President
P.O. Box 449
Hancock, MI 49930
administrator@ilseminary.org
Phone: 906-482-3337
FAX: 906-482-0694