I have no idea who, if anyone, reads this, but I need to say this somewhere.
Please do not torch Ablaze! The issue is not about the Ablaze! initiative but about Issues, Etc. and how it fit or didn't fit into the synodical vision. This is NOT about the Ablaze! mission initiative. (Sorry for shouting, but I had to get your attention.)
Ablaze! is a mission initiative from LCMS Missions with a very laudable goal: to reach lots of unbaptized, unbelieving people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to start lots of congregations where there currently are none. Who can be against that? Never mind the counter and the billboards and the sermon series on sex. Weird things may be going on in some Ablaze! congregations but that is not what Ablaze! is about.
Listen carefully. I get Ablaze! money through my district's mission board. We are a hymnal liturgical (LSB), weekly communion, confessional, historical, catechetical, traditional Lutheran congregation. The Ablaze! money has helped us start a liturgical, confessional Chinese Lutheran mission in our communitym which is nearly 40% immigrant Chinese. Ablaze! money helps to support our gifted Chinese pastor who is translating solid Lutheran liturgical, theological, and catechetical materials into Chinese. Ablaze! money pays for part of this work.
Painting with a broad brush does not make for good art, nor does it make for good argument. Lutherans are known for making proper distinctions. Please help make them here as we engage Issues, Etc. The issue is Issues, Etc. and how it fit or didn't fit into the synodical vision. This is not about the Ablaze! mission initiative.
There, I feel better. And no, this is not an April fool's joke.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
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33 comments:
Thanks for the reminder! May God prevent us from eliminating one means of support for those proclaiming the gospel out of vengence for another means being eliminated.
Also, thanks for ministering to those who would otherwise really not have heard the gospel.
I wish I could be so enthusiastic. I serve a rural parish with some serious financial issues and the expectation of somehow reaching a not-so-sizeable ethnic community in the area. Do we get any funds of any sort to do this? No, we have asked, and we are on our own.
That isn't to deny that your district is managing the funds well and without regard to the latest trend in worship style. In our case, out here in the nowhere, however, it doesn't work out that way. In fact, it seems that there are people out there who wish that our particular type of traditional congregation would die on the vine and make way for the reporting of better statistics.
The rebuke is needed, however, especially in the midst of the current controversy. Thanks for reminding people to stay on subject and not just foam and froth and hate and holler. Yours is one of a few blogs that I actually am reading right now, because things have gotten to be so pointless and negative. Many thanks for rerouting the information that you do-- it is getting to someone.
-a pastor on the edge of civilization.
I laud you for your comments. I am thankful that your congregation is proclaiming the Word.
You know there is a "however" coming. As we are asked to accept the reasons for canceling Issues, Etc., we do see that there are parallel (not exact)reasons to consider the cancellation of Ablaze!
All we ask for is a little logic in the Synod at large and for the same measure to be applied evenly to programs, regardless of any ideology or labels or effacacy. For it truly is about Christ and Him crucified.
Amen.
I think the reason confessionals never seem to be able to make any argument is that they are usually all over the map. This is one of the reasons we are in this mess to begin with.
The key is to make razor sharp distinctions. You must distinguish between a mission initiative and a flawed vision for that initiative. If we don't confuse the two in our speaking, we will be fine.
I would hate to see the good work going on under the Ablaze! banner to succumb to become "collateral damage." Keep the focus sharp. That's all I'm asking.
I must be having a hard time understanding what you are calling for here, Pr. Cwirla.
A lot of good things happen under banners we should NOT be supporting.
How does your razor sharp distinction actually make the cut? Practically speaking, how does one support the "good work going on under the Ablaze! banner" without supporting all the trash going on under the same banner?
Maybe I'm missing something here.
Cool. That's the best concrete example I've heard of Ablaze in action. I'd like to hear more of the same.
I'm not saying that Ablaze! money isn't being misused or could be used in a better way. All I want to point out is that when a vehicle is going in a wrong direction, you don't blame the vehicle.
Ablaze! with a confessionally Lutheran vision would be quite a formidable thing.
This is a great thought Pastor!
Also we should remember that our tongues are frightful weapons. We should speak the truth "in love."
Take a look at a this woodcut by Vom Gotslestern. Andreas Musculus for a great visual picture.
http://sermons.wattswhat.net/2008/03/good-friday-devotion-vom-gotslestern.html
Pr. Cwirla,
Was your comment in response to my questions? Because, honestly, I don't see how it answers them.
Again, how does your "razor sharp distinction actually make the cut? Practically speaking, how does one support the "good work going on under the Ablaze! banner" without supporting all the trash going on under the same banner?
We are a hymnal liturgical (LSB), weekly communion, confessional, historical, catechetical, traditional Lutheran congregation.
That's a mouthful.
Fr. Fenton,
I have to agree. The fact that one would make such a statement is, in itself, evidence of the fact that the Missouri "synod" is no longer "walking together" on the very aspects that constitute the very identity of Lutheranism. The "synod" is walking together without a common confession. That's a description of heterodoxy.
That said, I wouldn't take it to the same conclusion you did and deny the Lutheran confession of faith.
...still awaiting an honest consideration of my questions here on this post.
Thanks, Pastor Cwirla. I think your perspective is the right one.
I still don't get why we (LCMS) can't have "Issues, Etc." and Ablaze.
It may not be your grandpa's church any longer but they still want grandpa's money.
And the question is, how is that money being used?
Is it being used to fund a church growth agenda? Is it being used to split the opposition?
Is what happened to Issue, Etc an indication of a more serious problem in the denomination just as a fever is an indication of a more serious problem?
Great to hear the news about the Chinese work. I've been wanting to contact Rev. Li about the work there for some time and probably will soon.
Michael Paul, former LCMS missionary to Macau and Taiwan (now a CSL PhD student, residing in Taiwan)
Erich's question seems like an honest one. I look forward to the answer.
"That's a mouthful."
I could have simply said "orthodox" but the readership may not have gotten the point.
Leave it to "Fr." Fenton to put in a plug for his sheep stealers.
For the nuance-challenged:
Confessional Chinese Mission - good
Goofy Satan Billboards - bad
Law/Gospel sermons - good
Seven weeks of sex sermons - bad
Confessional Congregation - good
Contempogelical Saddleback Mtn. Congregation - bad
Mission to reach the lost - good
Vision to make the LCMS "seeker-sensitive" - bad
You can do the rest.
"The "synod" is walking together without a common confession. That's a description of heterodoxy."
There's a profound grasp of the obvious.
Luke 16:9 "And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings."
Pr. Cwirla,
It is admirable that you are making good use of Ablaze! money ("mammon"). I am not condemning your turning it to good purpose. But certainly you realize that there is an important difference between using unrighteous mammon for good purpose and contributing to the unrighteous mammon which also goes to bad purpose. The former is good, the latter is bad.
When one uses unrighteous mammon, he should not be upset if it is taken away through defeat of the unrighteous who were providing it. He should rejoice!
I find your suggestion that we must avoid "collateral damage" at odds with this principle. I would like to avoid collateral damage if it is possible to do so without contributing to darkness, which is why I asked my questions. Your platitudes have not yet provided me an answer.
Again:
How does your "razor sharp distinction actually make the cut? Practically speaking, how does one support the "good work going on under the Ablaze! banner" without supporting all the trash going on under the same banner?
Still waiting for an answer.
P.S. This is not a trick question. I have a suggested answer to my question. I will share it with you, but forgive me if I borrow your new term: "Orthodox" ;-)
We need to create a list of Orthodox mission word to support directly rather than supporting them indirectly through Ablaze! This really shouldn't be that hard to achieve.
That's the only way I see that we can support "the good work going on under the Ablaze! banner" without supporting all the trash going on under the same banner.
There. Collateral damage eliminated. Let's torch Ablaze! Are you with me?
That's "Orthodox mission WORK" ...not "word." Sorry.
I certainly have an opinion about Ablaze!, but I think it's vitally important that we not "torch" it as part of the debate over Issues Etc.
Here's the thing: it is quite possible to make the case for Issues Etc. as a wonderful, effective, efficient Lutheran evangelism program, even when conceding the synod's numbers as the basis for the argument. So I think it's important to do that. If we want to make the case for Issues Etc., let's do it on the basis of what synodical leaders themselves have said.
This doesn't mean we don't compare Issues to individual programs funded by Ablaze! We should compare all sorts of LCMS programs to Issues, and determine whether Issues was held to the same standard as other mission efforts.
"Torch" is an unfortunate term inherited from the title of this post. I would not phrase it that way. And I do not IN THE LEAST mean to imply that we should "retaliate" in kind for the cancellation of Issues, Etc. That would be repaying evil with evil.
No. What I am suggesting is something that should have been happening long before Issues, Etc. was ever canceled. And I am not suggesting that Ablaze is the only program of synod that should be looked at in the way I am suggesting.
Not to demean the importance of the Issues, Etc. incident, but it is only a symptom of the greater problem we have in our deeply divided synod.
Issues, Etc. will rise from the ashes. Of that I have no doubt! But the problems in our synod are not going to go away because we hold the synodocrats accountable for the sinful mishandling of Pr. Wilken and Jeff Schwarz and the idiotic canceling of Issues, Etc.
If anyone doesn't see this incident as another symptom of a much greater problem, I would call them blind! This is easy enough for anyone to see thanks to the way they handled Issues, Etc., and the way they're handling the aftermath.
The mask is removed.
We have a duty to only contribute support to what is good in our synod. We must not support what is ungodly if there is any way to avoid it. I am suggesting that there is an easy way to avoid it and begin to pare back this evil giant.
Sorry, man, I think it needs to be re-vamped, in many ways. I may be wrong, but this whole Ablaze! thing is an eyesore.
I completely agree. The name, the program, the theology, the leadership behind it. It all needs to go and not soon enough.
My point, and my only point, is that attacking Ablaze! gave the synodocrats a talking point against Mollie's article. We need to stick to the issue at hand: Issues, Etc. and why it was canned and how to bring it back.
We can torch Ablaze! and its architects another day.
Good thoughts, all.
The issue that is going to capture the interest of most people who are not interested already seems to be the financial discrepancies coming out of the KFUO station management, especially in the light that Save the LCMS has been putting them in.
I feel bad even saying this, but more people care about missing funds than common worship practice and theology, having already fallen asleep to songs of universalism and pietism.
There are several battles here. I have been to Pastor Cwirla's church, and I wonder how Ablaze! tolerates its money sent to such a wonderful, confessional congregation. Thank God.
We need to look into the fiscal management issue as well as lobby and convince LCMS leadership that admitting a mistake is much better than continuing it.
Pastor Cwirla,
Thank you very much for that much needed clarification.
Practically speaking, however, the revelation of the mismanagement of KFUO funds is causing many congregations to look at all money that is going to synod. Once awakened to the fact that their money is going to places and things they don't wish to support, they're not going to wait for "another day" to correct that error.
PAX!
Erich Heidenreich, DDS
Everyone, thank you all for this discussion. It helps me to articulate my concerns. Consider this: Would I support Planned Parenthood because many of the things they do are good? Or would I refuse to support them because a few of the things they do (abortion) are seriously in error? I would submit that a few of the things that "Ablaze" promotes (evangelical seeker friendly technics) will eventually undermine essential Christian doctrine. Emphasis on essential. Evidence of this has been in the majority of Christian denominations and church's since Charles Finney. Dr K himself on Monday the 18th on the morning show on KFUO said the focus of Ablaze was numbers and life in all its fullness right here on earth. That has always been the kiss of death concerning essential doctrine. Ablaze must go, at least in its present form.
Mike Hillyer mrmike1998@hotmail.com
To the person (anonymous) who wondered about supporting Planned Parenthood which the writer claims does so much good along with the bad. I just want to emphasize that Planned Parenthood gets a GREAT DEAL of grant money from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer foundation which I know for a fact. The excuse is that women come to Planned Parenthood for a mammogram. Well, poor women can get mammograms elsewhere. Is the dirty little secret is that Planned Parenthood would rather see a woman aborted before a chance to live to possibly face breast cancer? Is breast cancer worse than no life ever lived? When I told my parish nurse about this grant, the ladies ceased to participate in any Susan G. Koman walk for the cure sponsored by our church. They could go on their own, of course, but not endorsed by our congregation. It is so necessary in this world to do your homework and ask questions about what you are supporting instead of going along the Oprah path of "if it sounds good, it must be good."
To KFUO Management April 10 2008
Dear Sirs/Ma’am,
I am writing this to officially inform you of my request to stop my monthly automated withdrawal from my checking account in support of KFUO. I spoke with you a couple of days ago, but felt I should write you in order to make my reasons more clearly understood.
First let me thank you all for the timely and respectful way in which you responded to my inquiries and complaints regarding the inexcusably sudden and unexplained termination of Jeff Schwartz and Pastor Wilken and the Issues Etc. radio program. I do realize that the management at KFUO has been unjustly caught in the middle of this firestorm. As the leadership of the LCMS had taken this action without proper planning or warning, they have subjected you all at KFUO to a great deal of difficulty, I’m sure. Their unapologetic and inexcusable methods were very unprofessional and even displayed a total lack of love and concern for most all of their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I have called them and written them repeatedly, but they refuse to answer any of my questions. I assume that they are treating you all the same way. It must be difficult to work under the authority of the LCMS leadership when you know that your fate at KFUO could in an instant be similarly executed. It seems that they have generated a state of fear within the LCMS. I apologize on behalf of the leadership of the LCMS for that.
When I called you all to cancel my support you pointed out to me that KFUO does have other good programming such as Law and Gospel and that it may suffer as a result. I have thought carefully and prayerfully about this. Here is my reasoning;
Firstly, if I am to take the leadership of the LCMS at their word concerning monetary loss as the only reason for the inexcusable suddenness of their actions “programmatic and stewardship reasons“, then they force me to communicate to them in the only language it appears they respect or understand. Therefore, I must cancel my support.
Secondly, the suddenness of their inexcusable, unprofessional actions, with no proper warning or planning or consideration for those seriously affected tells me that the leadership of the LCMS must be held as suspect. Not only on this issue, but on all issues that it implements. With that in mind, based upon the research I have done, there can be little doubt that proper teaching of ESSENTIAL christian doctrine will seriously undermine the Ablaze marketing technique which seems to be the LCMS leadership’s primary priority. I’m certain that Issues Etc had to go in order to maintain the Ablaze marketing technique. With that in mind, how long do you think it might be before Law and Gospel is either censored or terminated in the same shameful manner anyway? Therefore, I must cancel my support.
Thirdly, I do understand that there may very well be some collateral damage as a result of withholding funding from all non-essential programs under the control of the LCMS leadership. Please know that I take this decision seriously and that it is a difficult one to make. But virtually all necessary confrontations contain some amount of collateral damage, that is one reason why confrontations are so difficult. Please know that this is an absolutely necessary confrontation, therefore, I must cancel my support.
Lastly, I visited the website of Jefferson Hills church which is one of the latest recipients of Ablaze grant money. It took me less than 10 minutes to discover that this church is in serious biblical and doctrinal error, not to mention its heavily flawed marketing technique. (I would invite you all to take a few minutes to check their site at jhchurch.org.) But the leadership of the LCMS can find a way to fund this organization while allowing no funding for Issues Etc! Some might say that I may be throwing the baby out with the bathwater by canceling my support of all non-essential programs controlled by the LCMS leadership. But I would ask you to put the blame for this where it should lie. For it is the leadership of the LCMS which has not just thrown out the baby (issues etc), but has actually chosen to retain the bathwater (Ablaze marketing techniques)! Therefore, I must cancel my support.
In closing, as this is an open letter, I am urging all LCMS Lutherans everywhere to withhold all funding from all non-essential programs controlled by the leadership of the LCMS. The tradition of Martin Luthers Reformation must not be reduced to a mere 500th anniversary celebration. It must be maintained as a LIVING tradition in order to resist the unfruitful works of darkness!
Ephesians 5:11 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Sincerely, Mike Hillyer
Mrmike1998@hotmail.com
P.S. I understand that some of us must, frighteningly, remain anonymous in our criticism of the LCMS leadership and the Ablaze marketing technique along with the canceling of Issues Etc. I want to make it clear that my Pastors at my church are not aware that I am writing this and that no one in any way has suggested or encouraged me to write this letter or to make these suggestions. PLEASE, DON’T TAZ ME BRO!
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