Questions to Ponder...

The following questions have been submitted by an "anonymous donor" for the discernment of all who happen upon our website. They have to do with the application of this phrase in the LCMS Constitution, from Article VI.2, "Conditions of Membership," as follows: "Renunciation of unionism and syncretism of every description…"

These questions arise after pondering a discussion thread out there in the Lutheran Ethernet in which the answer to the question "Would you sing 'God Bless America' next to Michael Medved?" was "I would NOT. Would you?"

Is it syncretistic and therefore a violation of the LCMS Constitution for an LCMS Lutheran to use the words "mantra" or "karma" in any context except that of hurling invective at the practitioners of those false religious duties? Is it doctrinally impermissible for an LCMS Lutheran to watch either original broadcasts or re-runs of the situation comedy "Greg and Dharma" on the basis that the lead actress's stage name is of the Hindu persuasion and eye contact with that personage would be a form of perspectival syncretism (again absent the hurling of invective)?

Is it possible for items made or assembled in South Asia to be purchased by LCMS Lutherans, since the items may have been prayed over during manufacture by Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist workers and are therefore a form of syncretism "of every description" and to be renounced? Must particular attention therefore be paid to items of clothing or shoes manufactured in such circumstances, since these items touch the skin of LCMS Lutheran purchasers and render them unclean absent immediate verbal renunciation?

If "syncretism of every description" includes the civil or extra-ecclesial realm, are not natural phenomena, locations or occurrences inherently/potentially/perspectivally syncretistic and to be renounced – viz., the Indus River, certain mountains in Pakistan, the Hindu Kush, Mt. Sinai, Israel, Japan, large portions of Africa, and the like? For example, could the LCMS visitor to, say, the Indus River, by touching the water not be mistaken by passersby for a Hindu worshiper and thus commit an act of perspectival syncretism?

If an LCMS Lutheran drinks water from a public fountain at which a Roman Catholic has sipped at an immediately prior time, is this an inherent/potential/perspectival form of unionism, and to be renounced/avoided? Has the LCMS Lutheran sipper in that instance worshiped the pope in the act of such drinking?  Further, can an LCMS Lutheran in good conscience visit the theme park "Dollywood," since Dolly Parton is of the Baptist persuasion, or has unionism not been appropriately abhorred by such visitation?

If an LCMS Lutheran is listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (taped, on TV or live) sing their famous rendition of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and the Lutheran in question either sings the chorus or is heard to hum the tune, has not an instance of actual syncretism occurred and should not church discipline ensue?

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