Extreme Theology

Francis of Assisi NEVER Said, "Preach the Gospel at All Times; When Necessary, Use Words."

Mark Galli of Christianity Today is reporting that the oft quoted Francis of Assisi quote, "Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words" was NEVER uttered by the monk.

I've heard the quote once too often. It's time to set the record straight—about the quote, and about the gospel.

Francis of Assisi is said to have said, "Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words."

This saying is carted out whenever someone wants to suggest that Christians talk about the gospel too much, and live the gospel too little. Fair enough—that can be a problem. Much of the rhetorical power of the quotation comes from the assumption that Francis not only said it but lived it.

The problem is that he did not say it. Nor did he live it. And those two contra-facts tell us something about the spirit of our age.

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Is Miss California Good Enough To Be A Christian?

The Mocking Bird Blog has a great thought provoking article on the Carrie Prejean controversy. Here is the opening to the article:

The following quote appeared Wednesday on a tabloid website:

"Exclusive: Self-proclaimed bible thumper Miss California, Carrie Prejean, should start pointing the finger at herself for her own indiscretions. [We have] received exclusive images of the homophobic debutante that would clearly strip her of her Miss California crown. So much for being a good role model for the state of California Carrie. Looks like your photo shoot makes you a sinner too."

I am not bringing this up because I'm interested in commenting on Miss California per se (I think the media has that covered!). I bring it up because this snippet brilliantly highlights a common misconception in our society today: that Christianity is somehow about being good enough to be a Christian, when it’s actually about understanding that we're bad enough to really need Christ. (Online Source)

Law AND Gospel in the Carrie Prejean Controversy

The internet is currently abuzz with the latest round of critique and analysis regarding ODM blogs. This time the issue is how certain blogs are allegedly covering the Carrie Prejean story.

The controversy regarding the Prejean issue revolves around the question, What is the correct Christian response in this situation? Prejean was obviously brave for speaking up for the truth but she is obviously a sinner. Those nude photos circulating around the internet prove it.

Should we celebrate Prejean's bravery while overlooking her moral short-comings? OR should we ignore her bravery and throw her under the bus BECAUSE of her moral short-comings?

Since so many people and ODM's are discussing this issue I felt compelled to weigh in on the matter.

My Foundational Thoughts

I am a FIRM believer and proponent of strongly, soundly, and loudly exposing and debating false doctrines and practices within the church. I believe that this "politically incorrect task" serves the body of Christ well by warning it about dangerous teachers, leaders and ideas. I even believe in and practice the time honored tradition of showing the absurdity¹ of false doctrines and teachers IN ORDER to proclaim the truth and more importantly preach and proclaim the Gospel.

BUT, BUT, BUT I am NOT in favor of engaging in CHARACTER ASSASSINATION. I do not believe that Character Assassination is an appropriate tool of the Gospel.

Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Yes there is a time to throw the "heretic card" and a time to "break fellowship" with an unrepentant sinner or false teacher. But the point of throwing the "heretic card" and/or "breaking fellowship" must be motivated by a deep and prayerful desire to see the erring brother or sister come to repentance and ultimately avail themselves of the forgiveness of sins offered in Christ. Unfortunately, If a person remains unrepentant in their sin and/or false teaching, then you must continue to warn the church. Although this may seem like dog-piling or beating a dead horse, the motivation for continued exposing and warning is to prevent people from falling prey to their sin and heresies.

With that in mind, it is important to understand that exposing sin and error should NEVER be an end itself, that behavior ultimately is nothing more than the sin of gossip.

What I Believe "The Christian View" of Carrie Prejean Should Be

1. I think Prejean was brave to stand up for what she believed and exercise her constitutional right to freedom of speech in the most awkward of circumstances. Not many people display this type of bravery now-a-days.

2. The wrath and character assassination that she has been subjected to by the mainstream media and homosexual activists is chilling and frightening.

3. Despite Prejean's bravery, I do NOT consider her to be a Christian roll model. There are some obvious "disconnects" and moral "short comings" in her that I pray that as she matures in Christ that she will repent of. (JUST LIKE there are some obvious disconnects and moral short comings in MY OWN LIFE that I pray that Christ will open my eyes to so that I repent and receive His forgiveness.)

4. Despite Prejean's moral short-comings, Christians should not be engaging in the exact same type of Character Assassination tactics that the secular media and homosexual activists are engaging in.

5. The Gospel is never served by self-righteousness and moralistic finger pointing.

6. The Gospel is served only when God's law is used to expose sin and show a person their need for a savior. Once that pre-work is done, we must proclaim the good news of the free and generous forgiveness of sins offered in Jesus Christ through His vicarious death on the cross and victorious resurrection from the grave.

7. The clarion call of the Gospel is "repentance AND the forgiveness of sins in Jesus name".

8. Christians are ambassadors of the Kingdom of God which is nothing less than a Kingdom of the Forgiveness of Sins. (It is NOT a Kingdom of Self-Righteous Moralizers)

2 Cor 5:18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

So what should we make of Carrie Prejean? Should we celebrate her bravery while overlooking her moral short-comings? OR should we ignore her bravery and throw her under the bus because of her moral short-comings?

I don't see this as an either or situation.

Carrie Prejean is an undeniably brave young lady who is our sister in Christ AND she is a sinner just like the rest of us. We CAN celebrate her bravery, embrace her as a sister AND call her to repentance, while offering her nothing less than the forgiveness of her sins won by Jesus Christ on the cross.

I think that a recent interview with Os Guinness on the Issues, Etc. Radio Program on the subject of Civility is worth listening too and I hope that it will be useful in the current discussion regarding the right Christian use of the gift of discernment.

Enjoy.

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1. Satire and Laughter can a powerful weapon in the apologetics arsenal. If you're going to show the absurdity of a false teaching or false teacher then make sure to have fun while exposing that absurdity. The devil doesn't like it when you laugh at and mock his carefully crafted lies. Neither the devil nor pietists have a sense of humor.

The Current State of the Church

Boecomic.com

The Rape of Solomon's Song

John MacArthur has weighed in on the issue of pastors using graphic sexual language when preaching on the Song of Solomon. Said the Rev. Doctor MacArthur:

Apparently the shortest route to relevance in church ministry right now is for the pastor to talk about sex in garishly explicit terms during the Sunday morning service. If he can shock parishioners with crude words and sophomoric humor, so much the better. The defenders of this trend solemnly inform us that without such a strategy it is well-nigh impossible to connect with today's 'culture.' (In contemporary evangelicalism that term has become a convenient label for just about everything that is uncultured and uncouth.)

Sermons about sex have suddenly become a bigger fad in the evangelical world than the prayer of Jabez ever was. Everywhere, it seems, churches are featuring special series on the subject. Some of them advertise with suggestive billboards purposely designed to offend their communities' conservative sensibilities.

Quite a few pastors have earned widespread media coverage by issuing 'sex challenges' to church members. These are schemes that make daily sex obligatory for married couples over a specified time—usually between seven and forty days. (How people are made accountable for this is a question I'm afraid to raise.)

I would be the last to suggest that preachers should totally avoid the topic of sex. Scripture has quite a lot to say about the subject, starting with God's first words to Adam and Eve ('Be fruitful and multiply'—Genesis 1:22). God's law has numerous commands that govern sexual behavior, and the New Testament repeatedly reaffirms the Old Testament standard of sexual purity. Finally, in the closing chapters of Scripture we are told that sexually immoral people will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). So there's simply no way to preach the whole counsel of God without mentioning sex."

Online Source: Shepherd's Fellowship

Turning a Blind Eye to Evil Is Evil, Too

Phil Johnson of Pyromanics has a brilliant and grace filled response to Tim Challies' watchblog post from earlier this week. It's even better than Steve Camp's response and Camp's response was genius. Click Here to Read Phil Johnson's Response.

Steve Camp's Response RE: Challies Watch Blogging Critique Says it All

Steve Camp has the best response yet to Tim Challies Watch Blog critique. Said Camp:

Take note of the irony here: what we just read was a blogger concerned about watchbloggers watchblogging, issuing a very pointed criticism against watchbloggers in general, but in point of fact was watchblogging about other watchbloggers on his own blog. (Say quickly three times).

Click Here to Read Steve Camp's Entire Response

Kieschnick's Contradictory Statements

Jerry Kieschnick, President of the LCMS is once again speaking out of both sides of his mouth. The latest example of this comes to us via Kieschnick's senior assistant, Rev. Jon Braunersreuther who wrote an email that found its way onto the internet. The email alleges several very ridiculous things.

1. That Jerry Kieschnick was not aware of any threat of any lawsuit against Rev. Todd Wilken or Jeff Schwarz.

2. That even though Jerry Kieschnick has a role on the LCMS Board of Directors, he still had no clue that the other members of the BOD initiated legal action and threatened Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz. Click here to see the full text of the letter that was sent to Todd Wilken on December 18th, 2008. This letter clearly threatens legal action against Wilken and Schowarz.

Here is what Rev. Braunersreuther's email said in defense of President Kieschnick:

President Kieschnick has neither initiated a lawsuit against anyone connected with the radio show “Issues, Etc.,” nor has he threatened or encouraged a lawsuit or any other type of legal action. Any allegations to the contrary are simply untrue. The President of the Synod has neither the authority nor the desire to initiate legal action on behalf of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. That authority is vested solely with the Board of Directors of the Synod.

In his role as a member of the Synod’s Board of Directors, President Kieschnick is not aware of any lawsuit or threat of any lawsuit against Rev. Todd Wilken or Jeff Schwarz. By means of a copy of this email, Mr. Ron Schultz, Chief Administrative Officer of the Synod, is being requested to further respond on behalf of the Board of Directors.

President Kieschnick desires a speedy and God-pleasing resolution to matters connected with the proposed transfer of the trademark in accordance with the Board’s previous action and prays that those involved are working together to conclude the matter.

It is an undeniable fact that the LCMS threatened legal action against Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz.

The email written by Kieschnick's senior assistant, states that the LCMS Board of Directors has the sole vested authority to initiate a legal action

But, this email also admits that Jerry Kieschnick has a "role as a member of the Board of Directors".

So how is it possible for Jerry Kieschnick to have had no knowledge of the Board of Directors decision to interface with the synod's law firm and threaten legal action against Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz?

Was there a renegade conspiracy on the part of the OTHER members of the BOD to initiate legal actions and keep FELLOW MEMBER of the BOD Jerry Kieschnick in the dark as to their actions?

In order to believe that Kieschnick had NO KNOWLEDGE of these actions requires us to believe that either Kieschnick is lying through his teeth or believe that he is the most miserably untalented leader / president to ever hold office in the LCMS.

An Open Letter to the LCMS Board of Directors

Dear Board of Directors for the LCMS,

I am supremely disappointed to read and hear that the LCMS, under direct orders from President Kieshnick, is wasting precious monetary resources in order to pursue a legal resolution to a trademark dispute over a trademark that it abandoned in 1999 for a radio program that it canceled in March of 2008.

If my memory serves me correctly, President Kieschnick just a few short years ago rightly invoked 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 against those who brought suit against the LCMS. He has now become a hypocrite by threatening legal action against two men whose passion is proclaiming Christ Crucified for our sins and inviting the best LCMS theologians in the world to come on to their radio program and promote and defend Lutheran doctrine.

This threatened lawsuit is not only a breach of what scripture commands, it is a supreme waste of LCMS funds and complete insanity!

This threatened legal action that hinges on Todd and Jeff surrendering their 1st Amendment rights to freedom of speech doesn't make a bit of sense and makes LCMS, Inc. look like a political big brother that exists to harass and silence it's political enemies. Let me remind you that the congregations and ministries in our synod do not exist to serve the LCMS Corporate Headquarters. Instead, LCMS Corporate Headquarters exists to serve the congregations and ministries in our synod. This threatened legal battle over the Issues, Etc. trademark does not serve the congregations or ministries in the LCMS rather it robs them of monetary resources through wasteful and politically motivated misspending. Furthermore, these actions do not serve to unite the LCMS but instead are only further dividing the LCMS.

Lets face facts, Issues, Etc. is no longer a concern of LCMS, Inc. because the LCMS cancelled the radio program and fired Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz. To put it more bluntly, what Pastor Todd Wilken says and does on his radio program is none of your business and not within your jurisdiction. If President Kieschnick wanted a say in what Wilken and Schwarz said on their program then he should not have cancelled Issues, Etc..

I am calling on you to speak up and act swiftly to put an end to this threatened legal action and reign in President Kieschnick. The battle in the LCMS over Issues, Etc. has been stretched out far too long. It is time for LCMS, Inc. to let it go and stop harassing Pastor Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz so that these men can focus on the task at hand of producing top quality Christ-Centered and Cross Focused talk radio.

Regretfully Yours,

Chris Rosebrough
Member in good standing of Faith Lutheran Church, Capistrano Beach, California

Sent to:

Rev. Victor Belton: [email protected]
Mr. Walter Brantz: [email protected]
Mr. Kermit A. Brashear: [email protected]
Dr. William Diekelman: [email protected]
Dr. Betty Duda: [email protected]
Dr. Gloria Edwards: [email protected]
Rev. Raymond Hartwig: [email protected]
Mr. Tom Kuchta: [email protected]
Dr. Robert Kuhn: [email protected]
Chaplain Donald Muchow: [email protected]
Mr. David Piehler: [email protected]
Mr. Curtis Pohl: [email protected]
Mr. Roy Schmidt: [email protected]
Rev. Jeff Schrank: [email protected]
Dr. Kurt Senske: [email protected]
Mr. Walter Tesch: [email protected]
Mr. Ron Schultz, Chief Administrative Officer: [email protected]

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I've also sent a modified version of this letter to President Kieschnick. The front door for his email address can be found at http://www.lcms.org/cntc/contactus.asp?unitabrv=7

Kieschnick's Real Motives

Why would LCMS President, Jerry Kieshnick spend tens of thousands of LCMS tithe dollars trying to dispute a trademark that the LCMS abandoned in October of 1999 for a radio program that the LCMS cancelled in March of 2008?

Legal documents that have been uncovered by the Brothers of John the Steadfast tell the whole story.

One document in particular, which you can download by clicking here, reveals that the LCMS will remove their threatened legal action against Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz IF they agree to a gag clause that would eliminate their right to freedom of speech as it pertains to critical comments or negative opinions as it pertains to the LCMS. Kieschnick's motive is to legally force Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz into SILENCE.

Here is what the pertinent clause in this document states:

So here are my follow up questions... What is President Jerry Kieschnick up to? Why is it soooooo important to Jerry Kieschnick that Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz be silenced by a legal gag order?

It makes you wonder if Kieshnick is afraid that Todd Wilken's thoughtful critiques would cause his latest political maneuverings and shenanigans to become Ablaze™ and go up in smoke.