The Wisconsin Lutheran College (WELS when raising funds) student newspaper, "The Sword," ran a Front Page! editorial / story on the MLC video, quoted in part:
But once the video left the context of the MLC campus, it came under unforeseen criticism from some who failed to see the humor in the video.
The most pronounced critic of the video was independent Lutheran pastor and blogger Gregory Jackson. Posts from Jackson, as well as comments left by the blog's readers, labeled the actions of the MLC students featured in the video unbecoming to future WELS pastors and teachers.
These claims were based on the video from which the creators of "Party in the MLC" took their inspiration--a previous YouTube video known as "Party in the FIP." Set to the tune of "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus, "Party in the FIP" shows a group of men performing choreographed routines on a beach while lip-synching the lyrics of the song."
"Party in the MLC" is a parody of the video, using the same soundtrack and many of the same routines.
The controversy over MLC students parodying "Party in the FIP" is derived from the lifestyle associated with "the FIP."
But makers of the "Party in the MLC" agree with other viewers that none of the actions in the "Party in the FIP" video would be considered blatant homosexuality. They also admit no previous knowledge of the reputation of Fire Island Pines. Ben Reichel, MLC student and video contributor, revealed, "We didn't find out until two or three days after we posted it that that's what it stood for. After we learned that we were kind of taken aback."
After learning of the offense caused by the video, the students decided to remove the video "out of Christian love" for those who found the video inappropriate. The decision to remove the video was a personal decision made by the creators of the video.
Reichel stated, "We all got together as a group --the guys who were in the video--and we realized that this caused way too much commotion and way too much negativity, and we all decided together that we were going to take it down."
After meeting amongst (sic) themselves, the students sought the advice of college administration. Reichel continued, "We went and talked to the administration here at MLC--the president and vice-president--and we got their thoughts on it too. But we knew before we even talked to them that we were going to take it down."
Matt Rothe, classmate of Reichel and video contributor, along with the rest of the students involved with the video, are ready to put "Party in the MLC" and the attention it has received in the past; "The group of guys who made this video only wished for good to come out of this video, and I must express firmly we wish for no more negative attention from it."
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GJ - The WLC student newspaper has a lot of facts wrong. They did not make any effort to seek clarification. They are now drawing even more attention to the video and revealing that the students were not at all repentant, just resentful they got caught.
First of all, a WELS layman was furious over the video, which was posted on You Tube for all the world to see. Many people provide information to this blog so the rest of Lutherdom can see it. This layman was unable to watch more than a minute of it. I posted the video so people could see for themselves, as he wished.
The MLC students jumped in to defend the video right away, and now WLC has joined them. Their defense is to attack me, but the video stands on its own as a dubious production, whether I like it or not.
The defense of the video was so ridiculous that I did a little more research and found the original, "Party in the FIP." They knew what they were copying, and they acknowledged it rather quietly in the notes. Apparently the original went viral right away, thanks to various homosexual websites.
College students know how to use Google. Where else would they copy their homework from? Kelm, Parlow, and Limmer have shown that slavish copying is a good career move in WELS. To plead ignorance about Fire Island Pines is a bit absurd. All of the sudden these guys just fell off the haywagon when they landed in Metropolitan New Ulm.
And they thought the FIP video was straight? They should be on SNL, in a skit about their lack of gaydar.
This is the WLC student paper claim, after conferring with the students:
"Party in the MLC" is a parody of the video, using the same soundtrack and many of the same routines.
Answers.com defines parody as "A literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule." The students had no idea what the FIP video was all about and were "taken aback" when they learned. Once again, why did they parody what they knew nothing about?
Why did they make the MLC version gayer than lavender hose, complete with a Michael Jackson move (only worse) in a public park? Cover stories should be a little more consistent to be convincing.
Like most WELS damage control operations, this one is full of contradictions. I also see the handiwork of various administrative officials, spinning the removal of the video as an act of love rather than repentance. After all, the only one who sinned was this humorless blogger and his dour readers. They want to quiet this down with a front page editorial?
When I found the additional information about the original video, which took me a few seconds on Google, I posted some of it on Ichabod. I did not post a lot of the links from Google because of the content of those sites. I needed eyebleach. So please, do not task our patience with how the students were "taken aback."
There is now a You Tube video posted - mourning the loss of the MLC version, again with LOL comments from MLC students. Another video copies both versions, supposedly: Party in the USA/ SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT/ FIP and MLC.
I have linked the FIP video here, in case someone wants to see what was copied by future WELS pastors and teachers. They can draw their own conclusions about the "WELS School of Ministry."
As I wrote before, Fuller Bivens and SP Schroeder both unloaded on the recent decisions of ELCA and The Episcopal Church USA, the two apostate groups enjoying a non-geographical merger.
Doubtless the parents would like to know more about the position of MLC and WLC. The schools seem to contradict what the leader of the synod has said. The editorial used the term "lifestyle." That speaks volumes about the attitude of Wisconsin Lutheran College, called "Our Valpo," the home of Church and Change.
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rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Wisconsin Lutheran College Paper Defends "Party in...":
This reminds me of the time when you, Pastor Jackson, submitted a picture and an article to Christian News. I think this was before Al Gore invented the Internet. The photo showed Ralph Bohlmann, Carl Mischke, and Herb Chilstrom all sitting together at the Snowbird conference. The principal of our LES said to me, "it's not what you think it is". Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?
27 comments:
WLC sure took long enough to come up with the lame excuse of parody. Does anyone have an idea of what the MLC masterminds were ridiculing? Surely it went over the heads of nearly all viewers.
This reminds me of the time when you, Pastor Jackson, submitted a picture and an article to Christian News. I think this was before Al Gore invented the Internet. The photo showed Ralph Bohlmann, Carl Mischke, and Herb Chilstrom all sitting together at the Snowbird conference. The principal of our LES said to me, "it's not what you think it is". Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?
True WELS. Do it. Then rationalize it. Backward thinking is the norm.
Oh thou anon 7:03, though art crafty in thy daftness!
>>The principal of our LES said to me, "it's not what you think it is". Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?<<
Again true WELS. Never think, just follow the lead and thinking of your pastor.
Didn't Christ say to test all things?
Frankly, I do not give MLC credit for understanding parody and satire.
MLC students are reacting exactly like the Church and Change group which were trained at the same institutions by Church Growth fanatics. It's not that they don't understand the satire presented on this blog - they don't want nor will they tolerate dissension.
Again, WELS did not turn the corner onto Confessional Street at the 2009 Convention. The next generation of Church and Change men and women leaders were already in the pipeline and will be in your churches for years to come. Look at whos running the high schools, colleges and seminary - C&C pro Baptist just express yourself any way you want as long as you're trying to reach the lost for Christ apostates. They worship the Synod and take no personal responsibility for what they believe, teach or promote. "If you don't like what I'm teaching then go talk to the Synod." "What I teach is the truth because I tell you it's the truth."
The beatings will continue until morale improves. Thank you sir, may I have another?
Brett is right,
So many people think the WELS is A OK because there's a 'conservative' Synod President.
He's had two years to lead the church to a more confessional place--all he's done is win a few flower wars. He doesn't even state the obvious: The WELS has some problems. Parish services got canned...big deal. If Schroeder were really interested in true doctrine (rather than politically maintained 'unity') he would've published a detailed doctrinal reason why Kelm and friends deserve to lose their jobs. But what Schroeder actually did was to make Kelm somebody else's problem. Typical WELS solution-- "cover it up and run like heck" As of right now SP Schroeder is looking at like GW Bush. Conservative in name only.
Please somebody try to defend Schroeder... Please, I ache for it. And then I'll bet you $300 that Schroeder will NEVER publically admit that ANY segment of the WELS has (or has had) doctrinal error. If he can't do that, what good is he as synod president? I'd rather have an honest liberal running the synod...At least then the WELS would be headed down the toilet and we'd all know it. Schroeder's part of the problem.
http://www.despair.com/mis24x30prin.html
Thought this might cheer up the MLC students. What do you think Fox Mulder - will it be a good Cheery Ho! Make lemonaide out of lemons?
I like it!
Time for WELS to make lemonade out of lemons!
http://www.despair.com/leaders.html
This one's for SP Schroeder
>>Matt Rothe, classmate of Reichel and video contributor, along with the rest of the students involved with the video, are ready to put "Party in the MLC" and the attention it has received in the past; "The group of guys who made this video only wished for good to come out of this video, and I must express firmly we wish for no more negative attention from it."<<
And the road to hell is paved with good intentions. What do you have to say about that?
MLC Student, "and I must express firmly we wish for no more negative attention from it."
Isn't this also a direct quote of President Bill Clinton following the leak of the Lewinsky scandal?!
WLC Student newspaper states, "But once the video left the context of the MLC campus..."
What exactly is going on at MLC where in that "context" a homosexual parody video is acceptable? What exactly is the context of WELS' pastor/teacher school? We don't see WELS congregations producing, much less uploading to the WWW, homosexual parody videos. We don't see WELS congregations making videos depicting Martin Luther throwing the Holy Scriptures to the ground in anger (or shooting another person).
What exactly is the "context" of MLC?
What exactly is the "context" of WLC that they would defend such activity?
Then again, the central doctrine of their faith(sic) drives a stake through the heart of the Gospel and God's righteousness.
Yes, makes more sense now.
You all dishearten the youth of the WELS. It's one thing to disagree with something that is not even blatantly sinful, but it's another to completely attack the students and anyone remotely involved. I'm not surprised society finds many Lutherans absolutely ridiculous and radical; we love to blow things out of proportion, making others, even those within our church body, look like shameful heathens. It makes you look soooo good attacking young WELS pastors who have a personality and a sense of humor, and must obviously care tremendously about their faith, our doctrine, and spreading the gospel based on their career choice.
This video was intended to be funny. I stumbled upon "Party in the MLC" searching youtube for a video of party in the USA. I was not searching for funny gay parody. Those students did not intend to support homosexuality or give MLC a bad name. The negative response to this video is disappointing and the reaction of people such as you, Pastor Jackson, give Lutherans a bad name. You, not those MLC students are a poor representative of how any Christian should behave. Personally, I would love to have one of those guys as my future pastor as opposed to you Pastor Jackson. Maybe you should spend your time spreading the gospel, as opposed to reaffirming non-Christian’s unbelief by constant, obsessive blogging about petty issues.
A brave anonymous soul wrote:
>>I'm not surprised society finds many Lutherans absolutely ridiculous and radical; we love to blow things out of proportion, making others, even those within our church body, look like shameful heathens.<<
Another brave anon wrote:
>>This video was intended to be funny... Those students did not intend to support homosexuality or give MLC a bad name.<<
I write:
We are promised by Jesus (Luke 21:17) that we will be hated by the world. So anon's remorse that the world finds Lutherans "ridiculous" is not exactly a Christian thing to display. In fact, one wise person told me that when we see a group of Christians is being persecuted by the world it's evidence that God's Word is alive and active. Wow, I'd love to hear Kelm and Ski's response to that!
As far as the second Brave anonymous soul:
What can be done to convince this sort of person that intentions don't actually matter? Are you so insulated and naive that you think "only those who try to be bad are truly bad" Oh...Please...
Consider these questions: Do you really think that the average gay person in intending to be perverted? Do you really think that the Pope is trying to lead people to hell?
Do you really think that Planned parenthood is trying to murder babies?
No, no and no.
Good intentions rule their worlds. The gay person is trying to find love and satisfaction. The pope is trying to save souls. The abortionists are trying to give women freedom.
But you see how much evil is committed by intentions.
So please let the tired and false "oh they were intending to be funny" or "They weren't trying to promote gayness" arguments die.
Anon 11:58 wrote <<<"I was not searching for funny gay parody.">>>
Thou dost protest too much...
Anon 11:58 also wrote
<<<"Maybe you should spend your time spreading the gospel, as opposed to reaffirming non-Christian’s unbelief by constant, obsessive blogging about petty issues.">>>
Evidence of Enthusiasm, as pure as the wind driven snow.
So are you saying that the Holy Spirit doesn't win people with Word and Sacrament, but rather it's the unity of the visible church that brings people to faith?
Ichabod can continue to deny change, but it will come. It is much more than just MLC and WLC, it is Lutherans who realize that we have become so old school in our ways that we are losing our youth. While the video may have been one extreme Ichabod is indeed the other, for you cannot have one without the other. C&C is appealing to the next generation, those who are living for Jesus through confessions, services, and reaching out to others. Not waiting for them to see our sign and come in.
Also, Ichabod is accusing them of knowing what FIP meant, not truly being repentant, and that they were simply upset that they got caught, which is absurd. Other than God, who can know men's hearts? While we may, in Christian love judge their actions, Christ alone is in charge of judging the motivation of the students and no one else.
It is probably related to Beavis and Butthead's in the first place, who will continue to defend the contemporary changes in the WELS. It is the rock and roll churches who are so blatently corrupting Lutheranism. Correct?
How can the boys in the video "Party in the MLC" be classified as sinning? What commandment did they break again because I just can't figure it out? Yes, it is a sin for the abortion clinics to kill children unintentionally because murder breaks the sixth commandment. Party in the MLC would have to be classified as adiaphora. If it offends anyone, a Christian is free to choose what to do and would hopefully choose not to do the action. They boys in the video apologized and took the video off youtube. There's not much more they can do.
In addition, homosexuality is wrong. However, there was nothing in the video that was blatantly supporting homosexuality. No money was being brought in to support either the FIP or MLC. Should I not laugh at someone’s joke if they are gay? I have a gay manager at my work. He is one of the nicest people I know. How can I win him over to Christianity if I ignore him and don't talk to him? I'm just confused here. I go to school at WLC and I was taught throughout my life to love other regardless of who they were BECUASE ALL PEOPLE SIN. All sins are equally bad, and those who are living in sin need the most help. If the guys in the FIP video knew about all of this commotion I would think they would feel that Lutheran's are cold, stuck up, and unapproachable hypocrites. However, it’s not as if "Party in the MLC" was supporting gays anyways. Just loosen up a little bit, and people will be more willing to listen and change.
from dk: We are promised by Jesus (Luke 21:17) that we will be hated by the world. So anon's remorse that the world finds Lutherans "ridiculous" is not exactly a Christian thing to display.
"dk," it concerns me that you find it unChristianlike that someone would care about the image Lutherans create to others. While we may not always receive applause for our lifestyles, as we are "in the world but not of the world," there is also definitely such a thing as going too far. How are we supposed to "go and make disciples" when others think we are stuck-up and judgmental? I think you need to check the context of Luke 21:17 and interpret the passage intelligently. If you would like to use the Bible to make your actions look better by claiming God supports and feels sorry for radically traditional and doctrine-obsessed Christians, such as the ones who stand outside of sporting events condemning people to hell, then that's your perogative I suppose. Try telling that to someone when you're trying to witness and see how well that goes over. Last time I checked, Christianity is not one of the religions in which "martyrdom" helps earn you heaven.
And, you're bringing in Ski, really? I'm quite certain the Lord is accomplishing a lot more through him for the good of the kingdom than he is through people who are too busy defending their destructive opinions of what is, to every person with the slightest sense of humor and common sense, innocent fun.
Obviously what this group of students did was, more or less, not the best decision.
But how do the actions and words of these MLC students, or even the words of the author of the article in the WLC student newspaper honestly represent the views/opinions of their colleges or that of the WELS as a whole?
The students at MLC obviously didn't consult with the administration before they posted the video. And was the author of article at WLC really defending such actions, or simply explaining the events of this issue as an example of how what you post online has its consequences?
There are likely plenty of students who lower their heads in shame in regard to what their classmates at MLC have done. Likewise, there are likely plenty of WELS Lutherans who don't completely agree with everything done in the synod or what their president says.
Faith is an individual thing, between a person and God. That relationship will ultimately affect what they do and say to others, the decisions they make, etc.. And they may belong to a certain religion, group, or even sect, but the whole does not always believe the exact same thing as the individual because everyone's relationship with God differs. No religion is perfect because everyone has fallen short of God's glory.
I just hope they make a new video that is even more awesome!
It's so interesting that the blogger can counter anyone who diagrees with him by quoting Luke 21:17. He plays into classic victimology quite well.
I am a graduate of WLC, and this whole discussion reminds me of why I left conservative Christianity in general. I hope you all enjoy your extra-special spots in heaven, as you make me look forward to going somewhere else (as you believe I would be going).
"Pastor,"
What did all 7 of these boys say when you tried to personally contact them when you were concerned about their sin? Did you email them at their school accounts? Get their cell phone numbers? I think MLC makes dorm numbers available, that's probably the road you chose...?
Certainly you tried to privately discuss how this video offended you before you gossiped and slandered their name publicly, right?
This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for many things. I'm thankful that I have 2 pastors who would never say aloud, let alone mock publicly, people's sins.
I'm thankful that I know many young men who are studying to be pastors and who would never think to do a such a thing either. And I'm thankful that these men have forgiven you and moved on.
Lastly, I can't help but see the resemblence between your angry, hateful blog and that of famous, gay, hateful blogger, Perez Hilton.
Come to think of it, I'm offended sir. Very offended, you're just as hateful and spiteful as he is. Well, by all means, be a good Christian (because clearly you're the only one around) and take this site down.
we all loved party in the mlc, but it left youtube for a good reason.
I appreciate the work of all people who share information with others.
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