For Whom Does Jesus First Write
By Charles S. Mueller, Sr.
Since it began a ministry of
encouragement for The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod and
all that our beloved synod stands for, the Jesus First
Leadership team has gathered a large and growing readership.
That’s great. We are grateful for all even though we know
not all are of one kind.
Some who read do so with a
jaundiced eye. They are not happy with Jesus First’s
emphases. That’s not all that surprising. They have agendas
and press for positions that disagree with some or all of
what the Jesus First masthead heralds. But we are always
hopeful that what we write will broaden their world view to
include areas of God’s intention about which they seem
unaware.
Like? Like the new life
possibilities and urgencies that press in on our churches
from all sides. Like seeing God’s tomorrow is more (and
maybe different) than His yesterday. We encourage everyone
to read what they write together with what we write. We do
not fear comparison. We are confident in the discernment
skills of John Q. Lutheran. They are more than competent to
make up their own mind correctly – assuming they are told
the whole story.
A few others are unhappy
with Jesus First for purely political reasons. Jesus First
by its very existence stands in their way. For better or
for worse, our synod voted to adopt an openly political
course of action for candidate selection at the 1973
convention in New Orleans. Short of slander or attacking
the basics of faith, everyone is free to promote what and
who they will. We encourage our readers to weigh everyone’s
words and deeds. Test them against Jesus’ clear directives
in John 20 and Acts 1 and throughout Scripture.
Our largest classification
of current readers is those who find Jesus First Leadership
an exciting expression of what they had long felt, some
having felt as they do from before our movement took its
first breath. They are convinced that if our churches are to
prosper (and for some to even survive) they must confront
the challenges of the 21st
century. The Jesus First Leadership movement encapsulates
for them what they are certain God’s people are called to do
today.
They are the re-image of all
those who have been in the mission forefront over the past
170 years – those whose mission “minutes” can be read in
books like, “Moving Frontiers” by Carl Meyer. People today
who admire the vision and energy of those on whose shoulders
we stand are today Missouri majority. As such they are
always on the lookout for leaders who more concerned with
looking through the windshield than the rear view mirror.
They have become Jesus First’s “choir” making marvelous
mission music in every corner of the church. You will find
them wherever there is life.
As delighted as we are with
Jesus First folk who are busy about our Father’s business we
are deeply committed to a new and important readership
group: mission and ministry seekers. They are the men and
women recognized by their congregations, their circuits,
their districts as emerging leaders and who are stepping up
to serve. Urged to the forefront by their peers they want
to know more about the blessings others in the LCMS are
experiencing so that they may learn and apply it locally.
They are also on the look out for kindred spirits with whom
they can connect. Jesus First wants to help all that
happen by sharing what their brothers and sisters want and
we have. The end product will be re-energized
congregations, districts and our synod.
To all who are becoming part
of Jesus First’s growing audience we pledge the best we have
to share offered in the clearest and most complete way
possible. We want to do all we can to help the LCMS, our
magnificent family of faith, move forward. One of the
things we can do in what looks to some like grim times is to
support LCMS members in matching the faith, the daring and
the dedication of our spiritual ancestors. Jesus First
wants to support them as together we serve the Lord whose
name and mission our fellowship banners.
