'Jesus First' Attempts to Turn LCMS Into ELCA
By Rev. Jack Cascione

 

In the remaining days before the 2001 Convention, "Jesus First" has focused on electing Kieschnick or Muchow as President or First Vice President of the LCMS. They also attack their primary opponent, "Christian News."

No publication including "Affirm," which has diminished to a virtual whimper in recent years, has confronted "Jesus First" more accurately and more effectively than "Christian News." Well-done Herman Otten!

In the eleven so-called "important clusters of overtures" identified in the June issue of "Jesus First," they support every liberal position regarding these "clusters." Their goal is obviously to turn the LCMS into the ELCA. They would be an even greater threat had not more than a 100,000 of their comrades not already left the LCMS for the AELC, which joined the ELCA.

While touting congregational autonomy, "Jesus First" has steered clear of supporting Resolution 7-17 "To Affirm Synod's Official Position on Church and Ministry." This is a landmark resolution designed to reaffirm Walther's "Church and Ministry" as the official position of the LCMS. If adopted and enforced, it will inevitably put an end to PLI and the hyper-euro-Lutherans. Resolution 7-17 has far more implications and teeth in it than "Jesus First" cares to speak about.

On the back cover of their June issue "Jesus First" quotes Walther's 1848 speech about the importance of doctrine but doesn't endorse the doctrine of "Church and Ministry" that Walther wrote. Walther's "Church and Ministry" was accepted as the official position of the Synod in 1854. They want Walther, but they don't want what he taught. The question in front of the delegates is, "Do they still endorse "Church and Ministry" as the Synod's official doctrine a year after the ELCA has adopted Apostolic Succession?"

In the June issue, Doctor David Luecke writes a glowing review of Dr. Waldo Werning's book, "Healing and Health For the LCMS" which was sent to every Convention delegate. By it's size, it must have cost at least $15,000.00 to publish and to send every delegate a free copy. The primary purpose of the book is to attack "Jesus First's" enemies including Scaer, Marquart, Otten, Preus, Weinrich, Wenthe, Just, Pless, this writer, and many more.

At last count, Werning, who is obsessed with writing my name "Jack Cascione," attacks me in every conceivable way at least 131 times. His book is a virtual biography about me. They wouldn't go to this kind of effort or spend this much money unless "Jesus First" was certain that the www.reclaimingwalther.org and www.lutherquest.org and Reclaim News are major threats and barriers to Kieschnick, Muchow, and PLI.

On pages 33 and 34 of his book, Werning insults the Trinity by speaking in terms of Unitarian Modal Monarchianism, with God as three colors, three levels of reality, and three forms of communication. He also talks about "experiencing God" verbiage we expect from the Assembly of God. He keeps speaking about "God as" instead of "God is." This false doctrine is sent with impunity to every delegate and endorsed by "Jesus First." According to the Athanasian Creed those who intentionally confuse the doctrine of the Trinity are eternally damned. We pray that Werning, age 81, doesn't know what he is saying.

With the barrage of competing publications and doctrinal positions of "Jesus First," "PLI," the Michigan 102, "RIM," "Christian News," "Affirm," "Vision" not to mention a plethora of websites, the delegates must realize how divided the LCMS has really become. They may also want to ask, "What is the real Missouri Synod?"

In the past, this would not have been a question. The confusion and conflict in the Synod is simply the result of years of neglecting to ask or require those who don't support the Synod's doctrine and practice to leave the Synod. In other words, the Praesidium has not defended the Synod and aberrations abound. In 1973, the Convention asked President Jacob Preus to remove eight liberal District Presidents. Preus only removed four. In 2001, the delegates are hardly of a mind or of a will to remove anyone.

Should "Jesus First" succeed in electing its candidates and promoting its agenda in 2001, the LCMS movement toward the ELCA is inevitable.

Should "Jesus First" succeed, this writer's small book titled "How to Start Or Keep Your Own Missouri Synod Lutheran Church," provides the only published resource informing lay people how to preserve Walther's Synod in their local congregation even while the LCMS's identity is increasingly blurred.

For those who desire the Bible passages, Confessional citations, and quotations from Luther and Walther that were used to justify the existence of the LCMS in 1847, this book is your only alternative to the propaganda mills promoting PLI or hyper-euro-preWalther-Lutheran-hierarchy. This book is available from cnmail@fidnet.com for $5.00 plus two dollars for mailing and handling.

During Iowa East District President A. L. Barry's visits to Michigan in the spring of 1992, a number of LCMS pastors were afraid to be in the same photograph with him for fear of reprisal from Michigan District President John Heins. As I was driving Barry to the airport and he was speaking about the death threats he was receiving, I asked him about is chances of being elected President of the LCMS: "What if you lose ?" He replied, "Then we will all know what to do."


Rev. Jack Cascione is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS - MI) in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He has written numerous articles for Christian News and is the author of Reclaiming the Gospel in the LCMS: How to Keep Your Congregation Lutheran. He has also written a study on the Book of Revelation called In Search of the Biblical Order.
He can be reached by email at pastorcascione@juno.com.

July 07, 2001