Overwhelming Support For Kuhn To Reclaim News

By: Rev. Jack Cascione
There has been more support for Dr. Robert Kuhn's statement in "Consensus" in less than 24 hours than any other release Reclaim News has published. The following are only some of the many positive comments.  We have also added a few published on www.Lutherquest.org

Most of the following comments were edited with an ellipsis.  There isn't room to publish everything written in this e-mail.  It is a rare and wonderful thing to watch a Synodical Official come out in public with the courage to speak the truth regardless of the consequences.  Thank you Doctor Kuhn.  You have nothing to lose but your office whatever you gain will be by the grace of God alone.

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"I cannot resist responding to this one.  It is such an Orwellian warp of
facts that it is, at essence, a joke.  The only grave facet to it is that
there are folks who will fail to think through what you have written, and
gleefully jump to agree.

"No one could be more unmistakably evident a "power broker" than Gerald
Kieschnick.  I save time and space by not repeating the long history -- well
known -- of his self-aggrandizing accumulation and grasp of power and
prerogative for his "position."  To call anybody else a power broker, vis a
vis, Gerald Kieschnick is ludicrous.

"You sound much more Roman Catholic than Lutheran.  No one should question
the CCM?  And especially not publicly?  That, as you surely recall, was the
position of Eck and Aleander (and of the papacy itself).  Luther, as we
know, did not accede.  Neither do I.  I will be frank: I reserve always the
right to question -- even to voice opposition to -- anything and everything,
if and when it collides with the Word of God.  That it what it means to have
ones conscience captive by the Word, and to bow the knee of the mind and
will to the authority of the Word. . . .

This was an anemic outburst.  I write only to say that it is immediately
transparent.'
Russ LaPeer, (Lay man)



"Thanks so much for forwarding Dr. Kuhn's statement and the Jesus First
response.

Although I have tried to stay in the middle on these issues, I'm really
bothered by this attempt to establish a Missouri Synod pope, and really
appreciate the Reclaim News.

I was unable to reach the Consensus website. Did you include the full
address in your news, or does their website have a few problems?"
--Jerry Tangren (lay man)



In writing and publishing the article entitled, "Not So with You," Jesus
First has indeed broken the very motto they are trying to invoke, "Not so
with us."  Their criticism of and call for an apology from Reverend Kuhn are
nothing more than political posturing.  Rev. Kuhn's public analysis of the
CCM ruling, which too is available to the public, states what is obvious to
anyone who objectively reads the ruling:  "The synodical president can now
effectively grant immunity from charges to a district president, who can
grant similar immunity to a pastor or congregation."  It is interesting that
Jesus First never refutes this claim, because they cannot!

Instead, Jesus First goes on to question how Rev. Kuhn's actions are in
accord with the Consensus "slogan" of "Building the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace."  This "slogan" as it is called by Jesus First, is
actually taken from the fourth chapter of Ephesians.  Put into context, Paul
is speaking to the church at Ephesus and says, "I therefore, a prisoner for
the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you
have been called,  [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another in love,  [3] eager to maintain the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace."

A thoughtful reading of Rev. Kuhn's article reveals that he indeed was
acting with all "humility and gentleness" and was lovingly expressing very
real concerns about the impact of this ruling on our synod, on the state of
our ecclesial supervision, and most importantly on the emotional and
spiritual well being of our district and synodical leaders.  Rev. Kuhn's
article does not attack anyone, he does not defame any people, nor does he
file any charges.  Rev. Kuhn is simply and clearly stating the enormous
weight that this CCM ruling has brought upon our synod and tries to show
what impact it may have on our future well-being. . . .

Perhaps Matthew 7:1-5 needs to be heard: "Judge not, that you be not judged.
[2] For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the
measure you use it will be measured to you.  [3] Why do you see the speck
that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own
eye?  [4] Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of
your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?  [5] You hypocrite, first
take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the
speck out of your brother's eye."
Mike Sheer



To the question, "Should Kuhn apologize":  Answer "Absolutely Not"
Olive Braun



"Tell JF to go to Walmart and buy a kite.  With all the wind that they blow,
they'll know what to do with it." "Jopar"



"We ought to publicly thank Dr. Kuhn for stating publicly what so many of us
know to be the truth!  I personally thank Dr. Kuhn for resisting this
landslide of power brokers in our synod."
Rev. Burton Harger



"It's interesting to view the correlation that "Jesus First" uses from
Matthew 20 by trying to place Dr Kuhn and the small political group into
James' and John's shoes. Shouldn't they realize that the CCM and majority of
District Presidents are already seated there.

"Today's Synod does truly displays what Political Power is and how it works.
. . ."

"When we place our words above and beyond God's Word, Satin has brought us
to our knees and we are now lifting him up and giving him worship before
God. No political process or organizational Bylaws gives us the right to
stand in Christ's place and say we have the right to be or do what is
contrary to God's Word. . . ."

"Should Dr. Kuhn apologize? No. He has only openly stated what is so obvious
to the world. No where in the Bible is the visible Church ever shown to be
in the majority. God's servants have looked for a majority but the world has
always been the majority. Outward appearances can only appear to be a
majority if we diminish God's Word, but to hold true to God's Word and
proclaim it faithfully will place us in the minority. But alas take refuge
in His promise that a vast multitude do belong to Him in the unseen church.
Bob Graham (layman)



"A good smoke screen!  But clear evidence of short-term memory loss.  The
writer should go back to the archives of Jesus First and DayStar  to refresh
his memory of how these two sites waged political warfare  against Dr.
Barry!

"That article itself is a piece of political chicanery and campaigning with
an eye on the next Synodical convention."
Rev. Richard A. Krugler



"What do you MEAN by asserting that to question authority is sin? I suggest
you re-read Babylonian Captivity of the Church."

"And, doesn't 'Not so with you,' mean the church is not to be political at
all? Recognizing that Synod is not church, THAT entity cannot be anything
BUT political.

"Khun owes no one an apology, and if the CCM is Christian at all, it will
thank God AND Dr. Khun for the reprimand."
Richard H. Leigh (Lay man)



If [agenda]First doesn't like it,  the Rev. Kuhn must have told truth. The
accusation of "politics" is laughable from that quarter! What is
[agenda]First but a political party determined to separate Synod  from its
Lutheran roots?
Helen E. Jensen



"When people mix Law and Gospel they come up with theology like that of
Jesus First, and others.  They then become self-righteous, and ultimately
have neither the Gospel or the Law.  And of course, only THEY have the true
insight and knowledge of how to share the Gospel.  Only THEY care and love
enough to bring Jesus to hurting souls!  NOT!  In reality they become more
treacherous than the Pharisees. . . ."

"Furthermore, THEIR VERY NAME - Jesus First - corrupts Walther's Thesis VII:
"In the third place, the Word of God is not rightly divided when the Gospel
is preached first and then the Law; sanctification firt and then
justification; faith first and then repentance; good works first and then
grace."

In other words they put the Gospel first, then the Law (if they use the Law
at all!).
Dr. Mark Laverty



"For years the LCMS has watched a small group of people create political
power and influence for themselves....These people meet and discuss plans
for endorsing and electing candidates who agree with the positions of their
group."
Aren't they describing JF? I wouldn't consider the "conservative" and
"confessional" crowd to be a small majority.
John Hass



AC.Article XXVIII
Of Ecclesiastical Power
"But concerning this question it is taught on our part (as has been shown
above) that bishops have no power to decree anything against the Gospel."
The power of the Word is to be our tool, NOT the mundane sword of politics.
Let us all strive to understand and submit to the theological reasons and
methods in preference to the political. "The weapons of our warfare are not
carnal but spiritual..."
Duane Smalley



"The propriety or impropriety of Dr. Kuhn's article does not demonstrate
anything short of the dire circumstance in which our synod now finds itself.
Desperate circumstances sometimes dictate desperate measures. Dr. Kuhn's
article needs to be judged only on its content. The fact that it has been
published simply demonstrates the serious nature of the genuine split in our
synod."
Rev. Richard Bolland


"Rev. Kuhn was not wrong. The CCM has issued opinions that are unLutheran,
contrary to the plain statements in the Constitution, and completely vacuous
in reasoning, including the CCM's January, 1991, opinion that delegates to
subsequent synodical conventions should be ashamed they did not overturn."
Rick Strickert (layman)



"Dr. Kieschnick may not have written articles for Jesus First, but he has
made plenty of time to give interviews to reporters for secular newspapers
attacking Dr. Benke's critics, he has given speeches at a campus of our CUS
attacking those who criticize Dr. Benke, he attended a public rally in which
Dr. Schulz was compared to the Nazis without so much as a word of rebuke to
the speaker or defense of the accused. Dr. Kieschnick does not write the
articles himself, but he certainly makes sure that others can and do."
Rev. Steve Bohler



"President Emeritus Kuhn's action was 'legitimate' and in my mind it was
also obligatory from a man of God."
Dr. Michael Anderson

May 7, 2003