New Video From Texas Will Change American Lutheranism
By Rev. Jack Cascione

 

If you have not seen the videotape produced by Our Savior Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas, I guarantee that you will see the most effect evangelism videotape for a Lutheran Church ever produced.

In one tape, the viewer witnesses a unified presentation of what Lutheranism is, and why Our Savior has it, and why the viewer should join it. In one presentation, they merged a magnificent building program with history, art, music, purpose and authenticity.

Before earning a Master of Divinity and enrolling at Fort Wayne in 1977, I earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree from South Illinois University at Edwardsville, Illinois. After eight years of college education, three degrees, 280 undergraduate and 110 graduate quarter hours, I served on the staff as an Assistant Professor of Art at Southern Indiana State University in Evansville, Indiana. I served on the University Faculty for three years before seeking a higher income as an account executive at an advertising firm in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. I entered the Fort Wayne Seminary at age 30 in 1977.

This brief biography is given to add further emphasis when I say that Our Savior Lutheran Church in Houston has put together the most complete and unified evangelism presentation I've ever witnessed from any Lutheran Church.

My first reaction to the tape was, it was so overwhelming I couldn't keep on looking. They brought a lot of things together. First, they built one of the most architecturally significant Lutheran church buildings in the Americas. Then, they decorated it with more of the finest imported works of art in any Lutheran Church outside of Europe. Then, they explain why all of this is relevant to the Reformation. Then, they finish it all off with an interview of children who love to worship there because there is so much to see and it is so beautiful. My mouth dropped. I haven't seen such a total marketing approach since we pitched the Detroit Area Chevrolet Dealers with storyboards and music in 1977.

One word covers the entire videotape, "relevance."

Let the LCMS pastor, who has the courage, show this video to his Bible classes or church officers. As it circulates some pastors will be fearful that their members will see this video in someone else's home.

The following is just the script of the opening statement on the video given by Rev. Laurence White, pastor of Our Savior:

In the year of our Lord, 1779, three years after America's Declaration of Independence, a group of Christians in the Saxon village of Sieffen completed a new church. The inscription on the cornerstone of the Sieffen Church dedicated the building 'To the Glory of God and the Salvation of Men.'

In the year of our Lord 2000, another group of Christians in the modern American City of Houston, also completed a new church. Once again, the theme of the dedication was 'To the Glory of God and the Salvation of Men.'

What unites these two congregations and their churches, separated by more than two centuries and halfway around the world from one another, is a steadfast commitment to the historic faith of the Lutheran Reformation and the resolve to embody that faith in the glass, metal, wood, and stone of our church buildings.

There is an indissoluble connection between what we build and what we believe. A sermon lasts only for a few moments; a building lasts for generations, a message in brick and wood and stone that reaches across the decades as a statement of faith that spans generations. That is why the connection between theology and architecture is so important. That is why church architecture is always a matter of the Gospel. There is no such thing as a theologically, neutral, church building.

The generic church architecture that predominates in much of modern Christianity is indicative of the empty generic theology that predominates in much of modern theology.

When the people of Our Savior Lutheran Church began this building process, we resolved to build a church that was expressive of our firm commitment to the doctrine and practice of historic Lutheranism and consistent with architectural expressions of that theology in Europe, and in the United States. That commitment led us on a journey through the heartland of the Reformation in Central Europe.

Following the introduction comes the presentation. Then Rev. White handle's objections, and then goes for the close. After seeing the video, I want to join Our Savior Lutheran Church. The only thing Our Savior hasn't claimed to master is the church supper.

This writer's review of the video produced by Our Savior Lutheran Church was written two days after reading that the publication called "The Michigan Lutheran" is changing its name to "Michigan In Touch." The presumption is that "Lutheran" doesn't sell. The question is, "In touch with what?" Obviously, they don't want to answer that question. In the centerfold of the November 2001 issue is a picture of new members joining, "NewLife Community Church," the word "Lutheran" is not stated.

The Church Growth Movement in the LCMS is proving to be a fiscal and statistical failure because its major premise is that people don't want to hear about "Lutheran." Of course, when you have no product, you are eventually out of business. But the tenacity of promoting contemporary worship in the LCMS is like the bleeding of George Washington. When Washington didn't get better after the first bleeding, his doctors bled him again. Naturally, he died.

Our Savior is promoting more than itself. It is promoting 500 years of the Reformation as a total package of theology, purpose, meaning, and life. They aren't looking for an audience or spectators. They want members. In other words, Our Savior Lutheran Church is taking on the unheard of approach of marketing the words, sounds, and sights of the Lutheran Reformation as the most significant and attractive religion in the world.

You can order this videotape for $25.00 from:

Our Savior Lutheran Church
5000 W Tidwell Rd.
Houston TX 77091-4633

713-290-9087
church@osl.cc

In the midst of American contemporary uncertainty and ambiguity about God and worship, Our Savior presents the certainty and clarity of what it believes and practices and why.

We recommend you give your pastor this tape as a Christmas present, one he will never forget.


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.

November 6, 2001