What would I do?
The streams of consciousness are beginning to flow regarding the LCMS pastor who gave the benediction at a interfaith "community" service in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., shootings. Apparently, even the media has been weighing in on how our church has responded.
For starters, we have our president, the Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, explaining in a post at "Witness, Mercy and Life Together" how he handled the situation ...
The Rev. Harrison's response wasn't well received in all corners of the church (but what response would?) The most notable criticism came from our former LCMS president, the Rev. Dr. Jerry Kieschnick, who argued that the synod should change the constitution.
OK, so to the unchurched that seems to be a reasonable response, too, which probably explains the media firestorm.
But today, Gottesdienst Online, joined the debate I am still digesting. Gottesdienst, a confessional blog published by about a dozen LCMS ordained ministers -- under the title "What would Elijah pray? What would Elijah do?" -- responded to Dr. Kieschnick's argument with 1 Kings 18:21, Matthew 21:34-45 and Acts 13:46
I can only imagine the stresses our pastors face daily, and that's before they are called on to deal with tragedies that grip a nation. I must say, the challenges ahead of me as I strive to become a LCMS pastor, as these arguments illustrate, will certainly be profound. I didn't understand why the synod completely forbids participation in public services when I started this post. But unionism and syncretism, as based on 1 Cor 11:29, Rom 16:17-18, and 1 Tim 4:16, among other verses, are important issues to confessional Lutherans, and I am sure I will understand even better later. Here is another explanation from Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, Texas. Officially, here are the LCMS resources.
What Gottesdienst is really saying is there are better ways for our clergy to handle tragedies like ones in Newtown. Our pastors are called to be bold in their witness of Christ because, as Gottesdienst notes, God's response in the Bible has always been bold, to say the least. When given a platform Elijah, Jesus and Paul declared the truth of Scripture in no uncertain terms. I want my pastors to be bold every day, to declare in no uncertain terms the truth of Scripture, too. Community events clearly require them to do something else.
The truth is, there is only one way to heaven: Through God's grace, by faith in God's only son, Jesus. We are called to believe in the one true God, the Son of God, Jesus, who walked with us and did for us we what we couldn't do for ourselves, to give up our lives for God and defeat death. We are called to confess our sins to God, to repent and to be forgiven, so that God can heal our broken hearts. Then we can can show proper care and compassion for our neighbors. We are called to nourish and serve our community. Through God's love, we can care for our neighbors, shining God's light.
For starters, we have our president, the Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, explaining in a post at "Witness, Mercy and Life Together" how he handled the situation ...
I asked Pastor Morris to apologize for taking part in this service. I did this for several reasons:
I believe his participation violated the limits set by Scripture regarding joint worship, particularly with those who reject Jesus (Romans 16:17), and was thus a violation of Article VI of the LCMS Constitution.
Pastor Morris’s participation gave offense in the Synod, something we are to avoid, even if we are doing something we believe might be appropriate (1 Corinthians 8).
I most sincerely desire to avoid deep and public contention in the Synod. Our mission is too vital, our fellowship too fragile for a drawn out controversy.
The Rev. Harrison's response wasn't well received in all corners of the church (but what response would?) The most notable criticism came from our former LCMS president, the Rev. Dr. Jerry Kieschnick, who argued that the synod should change the constitution.
To the question whether it is OK for a Lutheran pastor to pray publicly in circumstances such as just described, my perspective is: Absolutely! Anytime! Anywhere! In the presence of anyone! Like Peter and John in Acts 4, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard, even if it means persecution or imprisonment!
OK, so to the unchurched that seems to be a reasonable response, too, which probably explains the media firestorm.
But today, Gottesdienst Online, joined the debate I am still digesting. Gottesdienst, a confessional blog published by about a dozen LCMS ordained ministers -- under the title "What would Elijah pray? What would Elijah do?" -- responded to Dr. Kieschnick's argument with 1 Kings 18:21, Matthew 21:34-45 and Acts 13:46
But all that would be mean wouldn't it? That is, forthrightly preaching that the Jewish kid killed by the madman or the Muslim teenager who drown in the flood or the Mormon mother of three the tornado killed are all in hell and that the only comfort you have for their relatives is that they repent and escape the same fate. . .well, that would be rude. That's not the point of the "event." The point of the "event" is for everyone in the community to feel better. That's why preachers invited to such events never do what Elijah, Paul, or Jesus did.
I can only imagine the stresses our pastors face daily, and that's before they are called on to deal with tragedies that grip a nation. I must say, the challenges ahead of me as I strive to become a LCMS pastor, as these arguments illustrate, will certainly be profound. I didn't understand why the synod completely forbids participation in public services when I started this post. But unionism and syncretism, as based on 1 Cor 11:29, Rom 16:17-18, and 1 Tim 4:16, among other verses, are important issues to confessional Lutherans, and I am sure I will understand even better later. Here is another explanation from Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, Texas. Officially, here are the LCMS resources.
What Gottesdienst is really saying is there are better ways for our clergy to handle tragedies like ones in Newtown. Our pastors are called to be bold in their witness of Christ because, as Gottesdienst notes, God's response in the Bible has always been bold, to say the least. When given a platform Elijah, Jesus and Paul declared the truth of Scripture in no uncertain terms. I want my pastors to be bold every day, to declare in no uncertain terms the truth of Scripture, too. Community events clearly require them to do something else.
The truth is, there is only one way to heaven: Through God's grace, by faith in God's only son, Jesus. We are called to believe in the one true God, the Son of God, Jesus, who walked with us and did for us we what we couldn't do for ourselves, to give up our lives for God and defeat death. We are called to confess our sins to God, to repent and to be forgiven, so that God can heal our broken hearts. Then we can can show proper care and compassion for our neighbors. We are called to nourish and serve our community. Through God's love, we can care for our neighbors, shining God's light.