JV Verne (Jv_verne) Intermediate Member Username: Jv_verne Post Number: 422 Registered: 4-2016 |
Sent to me by a colleague serving in the New England District February 10, 2023 Dear Brother in Christ, As I’m sure you know, Concordia Publishing House is now releasing a new edition of Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary Applications. You may also know that significant opposition has arisen to it, especially on social media but also in print media. I have been told that there is even a recent article in Christianity Today about our Synod, I presume prompted by this issue, although I have not seen the article. I have just returned from meetings with the Council of Presidents (COP) in St. Louis (2/6-9). The new Large Catechism and the response to it was discussed at length in these meetings. We were also given a copy of it. The purpose of this letter is to share with you some important things you should know, as well as my own thoughts about the new LC and all that has been going on. First, regarding the issuing of this new edition of the Large Catechism: this was undertaken at the direction of the 2016 Synod Convention. Resolution 5-12 stated in its final resolve “That the CTCR, in concurrence with the President of Synod and the seminary faculties, explore the creation of an annotated and expanded edition of the Large Catechism.” So, the CTCR was given the main responsibility for overseeing the creation of this Catechism. (I am including, at the end of this letter, a recent statement from John Pless and Larry Vogel of the CTCR to the COP regarding this and the concerns that have been raised.) The articles from the contributors they selected went through the Synod’s doctrinal review process, and after being approved were then included. I mention this so that you might know what Pres. Harrison could, and could not, do when the recent uproar began. You probably saw his message in late January, asking CPH to pause the distribution of the LC until he could review it. This was, frankly, the most he could do. As the creation of the LC with Annotations had been authorized by the Synod in convention, had been given to the CTCR to prepare, and had passed through the doctrinal review process, he had no authority to prevent its release. He must follow our Bylaws, just like the rest of us. Of course, Pres. Harrison ultimately issued a statement on Feb. 4 in which he approved of the new LC and recommended that we purchase it and read it. I have been doing so over the past few days since I have received it. I have been focusing on, especially, the authors and essays that have generated the most discussion. Here are my thoughts. Some contributors – especially Steven Paulson and James Nestingen, theologians who are members of the ELCA – should not have been invited to write. I say this even though I did not find anything objectionable in their essays. Even so, I do think that, as they are members of a Church which is becoming increasingly heretical in its corruption of and outright opposition to the Word of God, they should not have been included. Now, I am not opposed to discussing the Scriptures with those with whom we disagree. I have attended many a Symposia at the Ft. Wayne Seminary at which theologians from the ELCA, as well as other Churches with whom we are not in fellowship, presented papers. A Pastoral conference can be a place for robust debate with a non-LCMS presenter. But, the Large Catechism is a confessional, and so teaching, document of our Church. In my opinion, it was a serious error in judgment for the CTCR to include theologians of a heretical Church body in this document. I, and a number of other District Presidents, expressed this clearly when the LC was discussed in our meetings, and this will be communicated to the CTCR by the DP who is our representative on the CTCR. My hope is that, if a 2nd edition of the new LC is released at some point, the essays of Paulson and Nestingen will not be included. Another concern that has been expressed is the seeming use in the new LC of language that reflects the LGBTQ and Critical Race agendas. For instance, an essay on the Sixth Commandment by Stephen Lee entitled, The Sixth Commandment: Encouragement for Christians with Gender Dysphoria and Homosexual Attraction, says in the last paragraph, “The Christian with sexual dysphoria or the homosexual Christian is one of us, a redeemed Christian and also a sinner.” The concern that has been raised is that it is not Scriptural for a Christian to be identified as a homosexual. Paul writes in 1 Cor. 6:9-11, “Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality… will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Because they were baptized, what they once were is not what they are now. And, this is exactly what Lee says earlier in his essay. He writes: “Today’s culture seems focused, even obsessed, with the search for sexual identity, demanding that each person answer: “Am I gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, or something else?” But when it comes to identity, what matters most is our baptismal identity―what God says we are, not what we think we are. It is better to look to Him, not ourselves.” Lee speaks this way throughout his essay. If his essay had ended by referring not to the homosexual Christian but the Christian with homosexual desires it would have better reflected what he had said throughout. But, in my opinion it is a stretch – and an unwarranted accusation – to accuse him of adopting LGBTQ language or promoting an LGBTQ agenda. Lee does not do so in his essay. Nor does Warren L. Malueg-Lattimore promote Critical Race Theory in his essay on the Fifth Commandment, Hatred As Murder. He has been accused of doing so in a footnote which says, “The deaths of a number of unarmed Black citizens at the hands of white individuals or police officers sparked widespread protests and turmoil in recent years and especially in 2020. Many churches sought ways to promote racial justice and healing.” Now, I myself wonder why, for instance, “Black” is capitalized and “white” is not. This strikes me as a divisive putting of one race above another, as is done by Critical Race Theory. I also seriously question other assertions in the footnote. Interestingly, I have come to find out that the author did not write this footnote. It was written and inserted by editors. My hope is that, if there is a 2nd edition of the new LC, it be deleted. I am not opposed to serious questions being raised and discussions had regarding the new Large Catechism. Nor is Pres. Harrison. He wrote in his email of 2/2, “The Synod does allow — in fact it welcomes — the expression of concerns via the Commission on Doctrinal Review, which is then bound to follow the process outlined in Synod Bylaw 3.9.3.2.2 (p.143 in the 2019 Handbook). The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (ctcr@lcms.org) and my office (president@lcms.org) are happy to hear both your affirmations and concerns.” So, if you have questions or concerns, feel free to email me (rbeinke@ned-lcms.org) or call me, or to contact Pres. Harrison or the CTCR. What I do not want, and what I urge you to not participate in, are attacks upon the character and faith of Pres. Harrison or any others involved in the new LC. There have been many such attacks in recent days, especially via social media. Such attacks are often not only misinformed and so erroneous; they are also sinful. I am not telling you to not use social media. But, as you do so, remember: God calls us to put the best construction on everything and to defend our neighbor, even if and when he is involved in sin. This is what Christ has done for us all, thanks be to God! Luther says in the Large Catechism: [267] People are called slanderers who are not content with knowing a thing, but go on to assume jurisdiction. When they know about a slight offense committed by another person, they carry it into every corner. They are delighted and tickled that they can stir up another’s displeasure, just as swine delight to roll themselves in the dirt and root in it with the snout. [268] This is nothing other than meddling with God’s judgment and office and pronouncing sentence and punishment with the most severe verdict… [269] God, therefore, would have such behavior banned, that anyone should speak evil of another person even though that person is guilty… Again, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me. I also invite you to get a copy of the new Large Catechism and read through it yourself. Besides the wonderful teaching of Luther there are many excellent essays expounding upon his teaching. I thank God that I am in a Church which embraces this teaching of God’s Word and is willing to fight about it! – even if that fighting at times goes too far. May the Lord bless us as we strive to rightly and clearly proclaim His Word of salvation in Christ and to joyously live it in our lives! In Christ, Robert D. Beinke President, NED |
