“Men are so spiritually sluggish, there are so many things to lead their minds off from religion, and to oppose the influence of the Gospel, that it is necessary to raise an excitement among them, till the tide rises so high as to sweep away the opposing obstacles. They must be so excited that they will break over these counteracting influences, before they will obey God…”

I first published these words in 1835. The majority of American clergy eventually fell into line, adopting my New Measures for the sake of manipulating change and transformation in the lives of individuals. There were a few stubborn pockets of clergy, but it appears they have now been mostly subdued by good American pragmatism and utilitarianism. Even those immigrant Lutherans have now joined me. They are now Ablaze ™ with excitement, overcoming their persistent spiritual torpor. It only took them some 150 years to recognize the ineffectiveness of the liturgy, creeds, sacraments and other superstitions of Rome. Blockheads! 

But now there is excitement! Guitars, drums, and rock and roll. Emotional appeals from the stage. Skits and dances with nubile young women. The dimming of lights and the lighting of screens. Messages filled with law and therapy and exhortations to improvement. The obstacles to true religion are thus being swept away. Counteracting influences are being destroyed. Soon, the sleeping giant of the LCMS will awake to true obedience! Their efforts have roused me from my slumber and I will use this new-fangled technology to highlight the best of their practitioners.