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SIX QUESTIONS FOR THE LCMS
Presented at a Hearing Convened by Rev. Wallace Schulz
May 22, 2002
Charles Froehlich, First Vice-President, Atlantic District
(Please click here for a Microsoft Word version of this document)
July 18, 2002
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
Greetings in the Name of our Lord of love!
With this letter comes for your reading and discernment six questions. These questions were originally posed in response to the complaints made
against Dr. David H. Benke and presented at a hearing held on May 22, 2002. By agreement of both the complainants present at that hearing and Dr. Benke, the questions were to have been submitted to the LCMS
Commission on Theology and Church Relations as part of the investigative process of adjudication by the adjudicator, Rev. Wallace Schulz.
At this time, since Rev. Schulz has made his decision, the questions are presented to you as pastors and members of the Atlantic District of the
LCMS at your request following our meeting yesterday. They are illuminating and useful for the church, I believe, and will assist the people of God in the Atlantic District as well as around our church body in
understanding the "stakes" when it comes to prayer participation in the civil context.May the Lord bless your discernment in reading and using this document!
In Christ, our Lord,
Rev. Charles Froehlich, First Vice-President
Atlantic District, LCMS
- Within a Lutheran theological framework, is there a difference in applying our prohibition against unionism and syncretism of every description
whether an event is held under the auspices of church or civil government?
- Since the religious pluralism of the United States acknowledges that our Lord Jesus Christ is "one among many," to what extent should
Lutherans be involved in the trappings of civil religion such as:
a. Singing "God Bless America" within a pluralistic gathering;
b.
Pledging allegiance to "one nation under God" together with Jews, Muslims and Hindus;
c. Taking the oath "so help me God" administered by a Muslim;
d.
Being syncretistically lumped together with Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Scientologists, witches, etc. under the common IRS designation "Ministers of Religion" in order to receive tax-free housing?
- If it is wrong for a Lutheran to participate in a civil event in which prayers are offered by non-Christian participants, is not the event
essentially wrong and therefore wrong for the government to hold it?
Do we not as a church, for the sake of bringing the light of truth to our people, have the responsibility to renounce our government for promoting such an event?
- Would, under Article VI, 2. of our Constitution, such renunciation be a condition for membership in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod?
- As a part of our "daily bread" we thank God for godly government. In response to a national tragedy, is it an example of
"godly government" if our leaders call for an event in which God is implored by the religious leaders representing the religious pluralism of our nation?
- How do we distinguish whether participation in such an event manifests the error of mixing darkness into the light of truth or manifests the
opportunity of bringing the light of truth into the darkness?
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