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Texas DP Cautions Churches Refusing Communion to Benke and
Kieschnick
Date: July 3, 2002 Dear Brothers in Christ: Salem Lutheran Church, Malone, has sent out a number of items to congregations in the Texas District. Included in the mailing is a video of Pastor James Heiser preaching at the service where and when the four congregations, Salem, Malone; Messiah, Keller; Faith, Plano; and Bethlehem, North Zulch; signed the Keller Resolution. Also included is a printed copy of Pastor James Heiser's sermon, a statement about the Keller Resolution, and a copy of a document entitled, "That They May Be One" with the Keller Resolution. I asked Pastor Heiser why these items were sent to congregations in the Texas District. He said that the members of Salem wanted the congregations of the Texas District to be better informed about the Keller Resolution and the importance of signing it. After viewing the video and reading the material, I have concluded that, in addition to the above stated reasons, it seems to me to be an effort to get more congregations in the Texas District to sign the Keller Resolution. I recognize that Salem Lutheran Church and Pastor Heiser have a right to send these items to you, but I want you to know that this mailing was not authorized by the Texas District or The Lutheran Church -Missouri Synod. I refer you to my letter to you, dated: May 1, 2002, Subject: "That They May Be One" Statement and Other Related Documents. (I want to apologize for stating in this letter that the Keller Resolution as drafted by pastors. I understand that the laymen present were the primary drafters.) The "That They May Be One" document and the Keller Resolution are not Synodically approved doctrinal statements even though congregations are being asked to sign them as such. Doctrinal Statements of the LCMS can be created for members of the LCMS to subscribe to by following the procedures outlined in Bylaw 1.09 of the 2001 LCMS Handbook. The drafters of this document have not done this. This is in our Handbook to guard against congregations and/or pastors formulating a myriad of doctrinal statements like these that may overly burden the consciences of the members of the church. Though you are free to do what you feel you need to do, I would ask that you not sign these documents. We have a process in our church for dealing with matters like the Benke-Kieschnick issue. That process is being followed. Dr. Schulz has rendered his decision regarding Dr. Benke's action. Now, Dr. Benke has the right to appeal that decision. The LCMS Handbook outlines what happens after that. Let's give this process an opportunity to work before we interject another course of action. Peace and Joy---Jim James R. Linderman The Keller Resolution: Texas Congregations Refuse Communion To Benke and Kieschnick The Keller Resolution, published May 18, 2002 Resolution adopted at the Meeting held at Messiah Lutheran Church, Keller, Texas, January 13, 2002 Whereas following the vicious terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C. several widely publicized unionistic and syncretistic worship services were held, ostensibly for the purpose of comforting those who are grieving; and Whereas St. Paul exhorts the Church that it is the Gospel "in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you" (1 Cor. 15:1-2); and Whereas St. Peter declares concerning the sacred Name of Jesus, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12); and Whereas St. Peter also said to Jesus, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68); and Whereas St. Paul exhorted St. Timothy concerning the necessity of pure doctrine for salvation,"Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you" (1 Tim. 4:16); and Whereas the Triune God forbids His people to worship any other god (Exodus 20:3-5; Matthew 4:10); and Whereas the Triune God has severely punished His people from of old for the sins of syncretism or unionism (Exodus 32, Judges 10, 1 Kings 11, 2 John 9-11); and Whereas God's Word forbids fellowship with those who teach contrary to the biblical doctrine (Romans 16:17); and, Whereas Christians are forbidden from eating with idolaters (1 Cor. 5:11) let alone joining together in worship with them; and Whereas Christians are forbidden from even receiving a false teacher into their homes, or greeting them (2 John 9-11); and Whereas the Word of God commands that Christians withdraw from false teachers "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings; perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself" (1 Tim. 6: 3-5); and Whereas the Word of God clearly teaches that the Triune God promises to punish churches which tolerate false doctrine, saying to the Church in Pergamos,"Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth" (Rev. 2:16); and Whereas we confess in the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, Paul commands that godless teachers should be avoided and execrated as cursed (Gal. 1:8; Tit. 3:10). And (2 Cor. 6:14) says: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what communion hath light with darkness?"(B'41); and Whereas the"Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod"teaches,"Since God ordained that His Word only, without the admixture of human doctrine, be taught and believed in the Christian Church, 1 Pet. 4:11; John 8:31, 32; 1 Tim. 6:3, 4, all Christians are required by God to discriminate between orthodox and heterodox church-bodies, Matt. 7:15, to have church-fellowship only with orthodox church-bodies, and in case they have strayed into heterodox church-bodies, to leave them, Rom. 16:17. We repudiate unionism, that is, church-fellowship with the adherents of false doctrine, as disobedience to God's command, as causing divisions in the Church, Rom. 16:17; 2 John 9, 10, and as involving the constant danger of losing the Word of God entirely, 2 Tim. 2:17-21."(B'28); and Whereas Synodical President Gerald Kieschnick has committed the public sin of unionism by worshiping with the synodical bishop (and others) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at a "Reconciled in Christ" (i.e., homosexuality tolerating) congregation thereof on September 18, 2001, the ELCA having been recognized by The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) 2001 Convention as not being a Lutheran body in an orthodox sense of that term; and, Whereas District President David Benke has publicly sinned by worshiping with non-Christians at the "Prayer for America" service held at Yankee Stadium on September 23, 2001, in direct violation of his previous promise not to engage in unionistic services, which promise he made following a previous violation of Scripture's sacred trust to "keep away from them;" and Whereas Rev. Gerald Kieschnick has publicly supported and defended Rev. David Benke in his public sin of worshiping with non-Christians and making the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ seem to be just one of many good religions, contrary to the clear and exclusive claims of Christ, there be it Resolved, that our congregation subscribes to points 1 through 14 of the document, "That They May Be One" as a true exposition of Holy Scripture, and therefore in harmony with the Book of Concord (1580); and be it further Resolved, that we recognize points 1 through 14 of "That They May Be One" as a confession of what we believe, teach, and confess concerning Church Fellowship and Public Prayer; and be it further Resolved, that, in keeping with its status as a public confession, we will practice church fellowship with those congregations and pastors subscribing to this confession; and be it further Resolved, that, in keeping with our public confession, we mark and avoid (Romans 16:17) Rev. Gerald Kieschnick and Rev. David Benke as those have publicly participated in, and defended such participation in, unionistic and/or syncretistic worship services; and be it further Resolved, that in keeping with our public confession, we will not practice Church Fellowship with those who defend the public sins of Rev. Gerald Kieschnick and Rev. David Benke outlined above, nor will we practice Church Fellowship with those who reject the biblical doctrine set forth in points 1 through 14 of "That They May Be One"; and finally, be it further Resolved, that, if Rev. Gerald Kieschnick and Rev. David Benke have not public repented and amended their sinful lives by the Festival of the Reformation, 2002, (giving public, unambiguous testimony to their repentance of their willful, public sin) this congregation will gather with other congregations which have adopted this resolution to take further action in keeping with our common confession of the Scriptural teaching of Church Fellowship. Adopted by ______Congregation of ________ , this _____ day of ________ , 2002. _________________________ _________________________
July 7, 2002 |