Let's keep focused on the main thing

By Donald Bokenkamp

The synod convention concluded a year ago. At conventions for ages past, the best, the brightest, the most learned, the most evangelical, the most devious, and the most cunning have gathered to give a tune-up to the Great Commission strategy or to implement their own agenda.

To me, there is one and only one agenda after all the lobbying, planning, debating, whereas-ing, resolving, and voting are over:  The Great Commission.  Of course we need officers to be selected, by-laws and constitutions to be studied, and all of the “things” the LCMS finds necessary to serve the 6000 member congregations.  But all that is for the purpose of fulfilling God’s command to go forth to all peoples.

The mission statement at my congregation says we exist “To Build a Bigger Heaven Tomorrow by Sharing Jesus on Earth Today.”  We often remind ourselves, “Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing.”

Job One

Pres. Kieschnick stated at his installation that “accomplishing the mission of the church to disciple and teach the nations of the world will be ‘job one’ in this administration.” 

For too long job one has been shoved aside and replaced with purification and persecution.  God’s Holy Word seems to have an entirely different meaning in some circles! The recent document “That They May Be One: A Scriptural and Confessional Statement Concerning Church Fellowship and Public Prayer” circulated by some so called “confessional” groups seems to be an example of this mishearing of God’s word.  It’s definition of syncretism and unionism trivializes Scripture’s teaching.  They explicitly call to mark and avoid Pres. Kieschnick, District Pres. Benke and those who defend them.

Do their actions help build a bigger heaven?  Do they have a different “Main Thing”?  WHAT IS THEIR MAIN THING??

The phrase “Tell the Good News about Jesus” appears on synodical publications.  This is truly our MAIN THING in the LCMS.  District President Benke had an opportunity to do the Main Thing before thousands of people, and he did!   PRAISE GOD!! But apparently because he didn’t use words and phrases that suited everyone, he has come up on charges.  Will he need in the future to be more conscious about where and how he shares his faith?  If there are people in the audience who are not Christians, must he be more careful how he prays?

Even though Pres. Kieschnick advises pastors according to the guidance he has received by the synod in convention, pastors apparently are going to need confirmation of a second opinion from others who consider themselves the only true and final source of authority in these matters. 

Our LCMS Board for Mission Services wants us to promote cross-cultural mission activity.  But looking at what happened to Rev. Benke, we would all be well advised to wait for folks from other cultures to come to us!  Is it dangerous to our mission effort to pray and preach among those who don’t know Jesus? Apparently we need to be careful when we plant and water seeds in certain non-approved environments. In our church body you could get into a heap of trouble!

This Is Not a Game

At his installation Pres. Kieschnick boldly declared, “People, this is NOT a game. Our incessant internal purification at the expense of the eternal destiny of the souls of men and women for whom Christ died must stop!”

Why are we as a church body so obsessed with this “internal purification”?  Can’t we simply keep The Main Thing the Main Thing?  What kind of message are we sending to our brothers and sisters in Christ? What kind of message are we sending to those who do not now know Christ? Are we supposed to trust blindly that the persecution and the “internal purification” that is running rampant through our church body is acceptable, is God pleasing, is Christian? 

The 2001 Synodical Convention witnessed efforts to gain and retain power by manipulating our constitution, by-laws, and Roberts’ Rules of Order. The election of influential boards was maneuvered in such a manner as to gain political control and to ensure that “purification” will be foremost on the church’s agenda., NOT to support the Main Thing.  God will surely not bless our church if we allow this “purification” and persecution to continue.

The church in Laodicea received the warning that unless they change, God would spit them out of his mouth.

We all know what and where the problem is. Let’s get hot on it! God is waiting on us to focus our energy and talents on the MAIN THING lest he spit us out!!

Donald Bokenkamp is a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Tomball TX.