Reader Response To Suncoast Casino Theological Convocation Article

Rev. Jack Cascione

Dear Pastor Cascione;

Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ during this season of the Epiphany of our Lord.

In your article on the Suncoast Convocation you report:

"Two pastors told me it was pharisaic for me to claim that Luther's Small Catechism is the correct interpretation of Scripture."  My response to that is:  How pharisaic of him to say to tell me so.  After all, where in Scripture are found their words "it was pharisaic to claim that Luther's Small Catechism is the correct interpretation of Scripture."  Where does Scripture say expressis verbis, "Thou shalt not say Luther's Small Catechism is a correct interpretation of Scripture."?  I find those words nowhere. Hence they are binding me to their words and their interpretation of Scripture.  They therefore a pharisaic in their statement rebuking you for being pharisaic.  Their argument collapses under its own weight.

This juvenile sophistry is akin to the college professor trying to initiate freshmen to the enlightened world of relativistic truth within the confines of the ivory towers with the statement:  "There is no absolute truth."  A student can explode that argument with the greatest of ease by simply replying, "Professor, is that true?"

Or when people misquote Matthew 7:1 to refute the idea that someone can be called to account by another for their behavior saying "Judge not lest thou be judged."  To which the rebuked can simply reply, "How judgmental of you to tell me that."

The juvenile sophistry which is so readily bandied about these days shows us what a silly, childish and therefore miserable age we live in.

Thanks for your articles.
Sincerely,
Willis C. Jenson, pastor,

Misstatement in "Reclaim News"
by "Stan Slonkosky"
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 12:36:05 -0800

On Ash Wednesday, Pr. Jack Cascione sent out an email in his "Reclaim News" series. Referring to an exchange he had with Matzat the previous week, he stated:

"After Matzat spoke in the Casino on Tuesday I had the chance to ask my question.  Matzat knew what I was going to do as I approached the floor mike.  He started hollering ad homonym invectives that I was the spin-doctor and that people should watch out for the spin-doctor.  He had to tell everyone who I was, and on, and on.

"I held up Pieper's Dogmatics, Volume I, like a weapon. There was even a
prayer at the end of the Convocation asking for protection from Pieper and
for greater love among us."

I didn't remember any prayer asking for protection from Pieper and I asked someone else who was there and he didn't remember any such prayer either. I contacted Pr. Ron Hodel, who gave the closing devotion. He had mentioned Pieper, not in a prayer, but near the end of a homily on Confession and Absolution. What he actually said was.

"The Father declares us justified. Not because we're so skilled at pointing out chapter and verse, not because we know page and counter page in Pieper, not because we've figured something out about the confessions, not because we're so practiced at crafting words and arguments, but for Christ's sake and only for Christ's sake.  Here, together at the foot of the cross where our Lord, scourged for our sins and nailed instead of us, hung bleeding and dying to cover us with his righteousness. it's here where we need to come together and confess that it is what I've done in all of this, and it's what I didn't do, that nailed our dear Lord to the tree. And it's here, from the tree of the cross that your dying Lord cries to his Father, Father, forgive them. let them go and let's never bring it up again."

I bring this up because some people here read "Reclaim News" and may be misled by it. I am not saying that Pr. Cascione deliberately misstated the facts.

Stan Slonkosky
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Reply to Stan Slonkosky:

Dear Stan:

Thank you for your correction.  As you know, my assigned seat was at a round table of eight right under the podium and my back was to Pastor Hodel who was off to the right of the podium.   I actually thought Hodel was praying.

Jack Cascione

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ML
Bravo, Rev. Cascione!  God be with you.

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Clearly you are involved in foolish disputes, you certainly have admonished them twice, proving to the world that they are false teachers rather than lost bothers.  So what are you messing with them for?

Remember MAT 7:21 Not everyone that says to Me, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Here the will of My Father is keeping His word.  Are you keeping his will by ignoring Titus and Romans?

Or MAT 18:6 Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  What will you say to Jesus if by continuing in dialogue with these false teachers a sheep is lead to them by your fellowship.

From the outside it seems to me you are really practicing ELS/WELS wherein the order is; mark, admonish until THEY feel nothing can be gained, and finally avoid. This is not the right dividing of scripture.

Scripture indicates you are treading on thin ice.

I know your are a strong man but I fear for your safety.

God Bless,
Tom Deiters