An Evangelical Exchange Between Pastor Benke and an LCMS Pastor

The Rev. Dr. David H. Benke

My dear brother,

I have found the answer why so many people in your "popularity contest" agreed with your action at Yankee Stadium. Understand me correctly, I have no quarrel with you being there, but that for what you failed to confess. Let me now quote some recent statistics to show you why I believe so many people fail to see the seriousness of the failure to confess Christ clearly.

I am quoting a portion a letter that I have written to the Reporter. "One of the burning issues among us at this time is the lack of clear witness to exclusivity of the Gospel of Christ in a pluralistic society. To understand the deep necessity to make the Messiahship of Christ Jesus an unavoidable issue, let me quote some statistics of a recent major poll among thousands of "born again" youth in our country. In the poll, among other unfortunate false beliefs, are the following: 65% of the "born again" youth did not believe that Christianity is the only true religion. 58% believe that any religion, whether it is Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, etc. is true, if you believe it to be true. I believe that if we took a similar poll among adult American Christians, even Christian leaders, we would find some shocking answers."

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

With loving greetings in Christ Jesus

Carl E. Pullmann
carmy@kdsi.net

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Dear Pastor Pullmann,

Thanks so much for your letter, and for the thoughts contained therein. We are in agreement on the basic Lutheran principle which is being confirmed in the "Model Theological Conferences" held under the auspices of President Kieschnick and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations:

To be present in the public arena and to present a witness to Christ IS the Christian and Lutheran responsibility.

Amen!

It's SO IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF OUR DENOMINATIONAL HOME, THE LCMS, to be able to state that clearly and unequivocally. That is what I hear you doing.

As far as the specific contents of the witness, I would state to you in the words of one of our Lutheran theologians, "The Gospel is a substantive and sacramental communication of revealed divine truth or doctrine. This truth is in principle the same whether confessed in the embryonic form of the simplest NT Creed, "Jesus is Lord," or in the ancient and Reformation symbols which spell out the Trinitarian and soteriological import of the Lordship of Jesus." Presenting oneself as a witness does not mean, in my opinion, presenting the whole of theology. A prayer "in the precious Name of Jesus" actually accomplishes the Will of God in being a witness to Truth in the world.

And isn't that the beauty of the Truth named Christ? Healing, salvation and benefits flow from that Name, as expressed and as lived!

Thanks so much for your concern for the Gospel,

In Christ, our Lord,

Dave Benke

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