Legalistic LCMS Churches Force Members To Follow Church Growth Laws

Rev. Jack Cascione

Church-Growth Law, promoted by LCMS District Offices, is being forced on
LCMS Congregations.  The law is: "If we make the right changes, your church
will grow."  Survival depends on the law. The Gospel is now too weak to save
an LCMS Congregation.

Reclaim News receives numerous reports of congregations throughout the
Synod, forcing their membership to follow the new laws of change;
contemporary worship, Church Growth, leadership training and PLI, (Pastoral
Leadership Institute).

The follow are quotations from "The Vision" and congregational documents
implementing "The Vision" in a Texas District LCMS Congregation.  Those who
don't agree with "The Vision" are to be disciplined and removed from the
congregation.

Statement:
"The Vision"
"Worship: Provide a choice; Opportunity for outreach
1.) Meaningful praise and worship
2.) Recognize and keep a traditional Lutheran Worship Service
3.) Develop a less traditional Lutheran Worship Service
 Messages relevant to current events and life applications
 Greater emphasis on families with young children
 Upbeat, uplifting music, Use of song leaders
 Lay readers
 Guest speakers
 Chancel dramas and skits
 Casual dress
 Involvement of the youth"

Reclaim News Response:
When churches use the law to save a congregation, they almost always rely on
the law as if it came from the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit loves
and approves of the new law.  Hence, the word "Vision" is used to describe
the law.


Statement:
"In _______ of 2001 the Vision Team completed its wondrous task of listening
to God with the ear of the heart.  I have head many stories from Team
members about the leading and directing of the Holy Spirit during their
work.  For several Team members, this was a defining moment in their journey
with God."

Reclaim News Response:
First the District Office leads the congregational leadership to believe
they have a "Spirit-led" vision for growth from the Holy Spirit.  Then
congregational leaders convince the members that they have been moved by God
to grow and grow and grow.  Now enters the Devil with a "new Gospel" with
the power to really get things done, and they love it.  However, three years
later, the growth isn't happening, but they still believe they bought the
Brooklyn Bridge for $5.00.  We now read the following statements of
reflection from the congregation after no apparent results.


Statement:
"I think God wants to bless this congregation."

Reclaim News Response:
Every congregation is blessed by the correct use of the Means of Grace.  The
false Baptist theology of glory, instead of relying on the Means of Grace,
assumes that material blessings are God's reward for faithfulness and good
works.  Ten of the Apostles suffered martyrdom for their faithfulness and
good works.  Considering their deaths and apparent failure, we must assume
that God did not want to bless them.


Statement:
"We, Like the Israelites, appear to have lost our way.  We have also taken
on some other undesirable traits of the Israelites of the Old Testament.
This is evidenced by some of the dissention, division, complaining, lack of
support for, and lack of movement toward the 'Vision" we, as a congregation,
agreed to ( _____ 2001) at the end of Pastor ______'s interim term.  Some of
us even cry the same cry, 'Let's go back where we came from.' As we resist
even the smallest of changes."

Reclaim News Response:
Walther's Church and Ministry, page 312: "As soon, therefore, as adiaphora
or things indifferent, that is things that are neither commanded nor
forbidden in God's Word, come in question in the church, a minister may
never demand absolute obedience to what merely appears to him to be best."
(The official teaching of the LCMS)


Statement:
"We have taken some steps to change our worship services.  While certainly
not to minimize the effort put forth by some to make this happen, to say we
have made great strides toward our 'Vision' is simply not true.  And since
the Holy Spirit was so much a part of our 'Vision Team', suffice it to say
we, you and I, have essentially let God down . . . again.  We make plans,
good plans, then we fail to follow through and implement.  Makes one wonder
how long He will be patient with us."

Reclaim News Response:
Now comes the guilt trip from what sounds like their Church-Growth Cult
Leader.  The Holy Spirit gave them this miraculous, life-changing "Vision"
and they have let God down by not following "The Vision."  If this church
doesn't grow, it may be time for the "Kool-Aid Truck" from the Texas
District Office.


Statement:
"Part of the reason we have lost our way is the introduction of a new
pastor.  [This is] Not his fault.  We developed the Vision.  We bought into
the Vision.  We developed a pastoral profile.  Then, We went on an
exhaustive search to extend a call to a pastor that We thought fit into the
Vision.  And God led this pastor to accept Our call.  He came, began to move
toward the Vision and again, up went the cry. 'Let's go back where we came
from.'"

Reclaim News Response:
They must stop complaining that they want to go back to the Egypt of relying
on the Gospel.  They are now like the Children of Israel, traveling with
their new Moses to receive more laws, as they head for the Church Growth
Promised Land.

Walther's "Church and Ministry," page 314: "It [the Gospel] does not give
bishops any rule of their own or any lordship outside the Gospel.  Hence,
the bishops should not introduce traditions against the Gospel, nor should
they interpret their traditions against the Gospel.  If they do this, then
the Gospel forbids us to body them, as Paul writs to the Galatians: 'If
anyone preaches any other gospel to you . . . let him be accursed' (Gal.
1:9)
(The official teaching of the LCMS)


Statement:
"Through exhaustive research and a Sprit-led deliberate processes:
We, the congregation, established a VISION. . . ."

"I further move that once any issue is decided upon by the Voters, any
further un-repented subversive activity, overt acts contrary to the
decisions(s) of the Voters or attempts to create dissention on the part of
any Pastor (or other called church worker) leaders, Church Council member,
board member or Sunday School teacher shall constitute grounds for the
application of Church Discipline as outlined in Scripture (Matthew 18:15-18)
and our Constitution and By-laws."

Reclaim News Response:
How could the Voters' be wrong?  Now that the clergy convinced them to vote
for reliance on the Law instead of the Means of Grace, God must bless their
newfound legalism.

One good law deserves another.  When people don't follow the new law that
has nothing to do with the Gospel, then they throw out the divisive members.
Where the law rules the Gospel will not be tolerated.  We want results!  We
want results!  We want results!

Church Growth is causing Church Shrink across the LCMS.

March 17, 2004

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