LCMS Convention Has Unlikely Ally In Ousted ADL Member
By Rev. Jack Cascione

 

For the first time in its history LCMS Convention goers found themselves being picketed by homosexual activities and accused of promoting hate crimes.

Resolutions such as 2-08A "Ministry to Homosexuals and their Families," and 6-12 "To Support Lifelong Sexual Purity," though couched in the most loving Synodicaleese are now considered offensive to the media dominated American culture.

Resolution 2-08A, described homosexuality as, "lust and activity to be sin contrary to the created order (Rom. 1:24-27)." Resolution 6-12, condemns couples living together without marriage and described cohabitation as "sin." It also stated that marriage is "between one man and one woman." Today, many would describe these "values" as discriminatory and by some as anti-Semitic, such as the ADL.

The LCMS is not the only church body being pressured to recognize homosexual and lesbian relationships as God pleasing. Some church bodies have agreed to stop teaching that all sex outside of marriage is sin, in including the ELCA, the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church USA and others.

At the same time, from outside the realm of Christianity Carl Pearlston, recently removed from the Executive Committee of the Anti Defamation League (ADL) wrote, "The ADL pushes '' 'tolerance'? Why I'm leaving after 25 years."

Pearlston writes, "Our positions were usually those of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party on issues like abortion, school choice, teacher pay, bilingual education, affirmative action, the homosexual agenda, gun control."

He reports that the ADL has gone too far and is "turning Judaism on its head." ". . . fighting 'hate' became a euphemism for an attack on sexual morality, the traditional family, and the Jewish view that children deserve a loving f ather and mother, not two fathers or two mothers. It is only through a perverse notion of 'tolerance' that support for traditional teaching about the family is intimidated, and condemned."

Pearlston reports, "When the organization published its harsh attack on the Religious Right in 1994, I was distressed as were many politically conservative Jews who do not share the ADL view that politically-active conservative Christians are our enemy."

The entire article is found at:
http://jewishworldreview.com/0601/pearlston.html

Pearlston explains that the ADL is "cheapening the Holocaust" by broadening its definition of hatred against Jews to anyone who expresses "hate" against behavior such as homosexuality and lesbianism. "Hate," means condemning homosexual and lesbian activity, which is exactly what the LCMS and other "conservative" church bodies are doing.

The end result is that the LCMS members should be prepared for increasing criticism from the political left and the Democratic Party with whom Pearlston says the ADL's agenda is now aligned.

The ELCA and other liberal church bodies have basically agreed with the sodomites. The question is, how many in the LCMS want to get closer, build bridges, and reach out to the sodomites?

One of the delegates at the microphone tried to describe anyone who was too careful about God's Word and sound doctrine as a Pharisee because the Pharisees were very careful.

Those who redefine the Gospel as permissive antinomian lawlessness are trying to make the LCMS give up its Biblical doctrine and practice. They define people who are careful about theology as being careful about the law because to them "faith in God's Word" is legalistic and therefore law. They can't distinguish between the law and the Gospel and even define unchanging adherence to the Apostle's Creed as legalism.

Actually, legalism is the requirement in the church to do anything not taught in God's Word. Antinomianism is the requirement to give up what is taught in God's Word.

The Bible teaches that homosexuality, lesbianism, and cohabitation are sin. As we get closer to the end of the world, how many in the LCMS will want to be like the world?

At this point in our history, by the grace of God, the LCMS is courageously speaking law and Gospel to the world. Jesus Christ is prejudiced against and intolerant of sin, He is the Savior from sin.

Christ says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17) The law does not accept sin; it condemns sin. People who will not repent of their sins will not be forgiven.

The Gospel is not a new law; it forgives sin. The Gospel calls us to repentance and the assurance that our sins are forgiven through faith in Christ. Again Christ says, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47)

Watching so many delegates who did not bend to the pressure or change the Gospel into the a law of "tolerance" leads me to pray, "God preserve the LCMS. Without Him we can't do anything."


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 31, 2001