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Lutheran Central |
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NY Christian Convert From Atheism Says Benke Sacrificed Word of God |
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I am a Christian convert from atheism. My mother is an unbelieving Gentile (originally Lutheran) and my father is an atheist “Jew”. For twenty-two years I rejected the existence of God and believed that Christianity was for weak-minded people who had no leg to stand on. I mocked believers and ridiculed those who were so stupid as to believe in any fairy-tale like that. Christianity was especially repugnant to me, for Christians were so dedicated to converting everyone in the world, and thus threatening my atheist god. Why would anyone worship a madman who lived two thousand years ago and claimed to be the “Son of God”?! And that’s what Christianity was for me…lunatic-worship! So I am well practiced in denying God. I was saved at the age of twenty-two when a faithful Christian friend kept on witnessing to me. God delivered me from the devil, death, and hell to life everlasting and His Righteousness is now mine as well. I was drawn to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod because of its strict adherence to the Word of God and because of its confessions, as stipulated in the Book of Concord.
This whole issue with the “prayer” service at Yankee Stadium greatly troubles me, for Dr. Benke’s actions did not comply with Scripture. A few verses come to mind: · “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3, the First Commandment) · “All the gods of the nations are idols” (Psalm 96:5) · “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth, for I am God and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22) · “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-17a) I must confess that, were I still an atheist (where I despised Christianity especially), I would thank Dr. Benke for casting doubt on God’s sovereign authority when he participated in that Prayer Service at Yankee Stadium. After prayers were offered to Mary, to the gods of Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism, he said, “Oh, we’re stronger now than we were an hour ago. And you know, my sisters and brothers, we’re not nearly as strong as we’re going to be.” Yes, Dr. Benke – bring it on, by all means. We who despise Christianity and its claims that it is the Truth are stronger now than we ever have been! As an atheist, what a wondrous day that would have been for me. His “field of dreams” would have fit in very well with my dream to denounce Christianity and all the fools who would follow a petty carpenter two thousand years ago. We must reach out to the unbelieving world, but not give them the false impression that many roads lead to Heaven. We must never sacrifice God’s Word on the alter of syncretism or unionism. We must never use our Christian liberty as a cloak for vice. The generic prayer made by Dr. Benke implied that we are all sisters and brothers under the same God. By having the assembled crowd hold hands during his prayer, the impression was given that all were praying to the same God. Where was the Lord’s Prayer? Where was the proclamation of the true Gospel? I do not believe that our Triune God was pleased with the events at Yankee Stadium. It served as a poor witness to the world and did not proclaim that Christ is “the way and the truth and the life”. It gave the clear impression that there are other ways to gain favor with the Father. In the end, Dr. Benke succeeded in exchanging the Truth for a lie and good for evil. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;” (Isaiah 5:20) I therefore agree with the decision to suspend Dr. David Benke from his office as LCMS Atlantic District President and member of the Concordia College - Bronxville Board of Regents because of his involvement in the post September 11th prayer service in Yankee Stadium. And THANK YOU, Dr. Shulz, for upholding the Truth, even with the threat of persecution. The International Lutheran Laymen's League (ILLL) will have much to account for at the Judgment Throne for their action against you. In Christ+, Michael Honig Holy Trinity Lutheran Church – LCMS Yonkers, NEW YORK
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