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Lutheran Central |
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Concordia-Seward Student Speaks On Benke Matter |
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I have read the "Written Statement in the matter of dispute: Adjudication of allegations against the Rev. Dr. David Benke, President of the Atlantic District of the LCMS." (I have also read every single response that has been posted on your site so far.)
I cannot believe that the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has focused on such outrageous charges so intently. I have not been theologically trained, but I have been an LCMS Lutheran my entire life. I read the Bible, and I know what it says to me. I know what I have been taught in church, and I pray to God. I am what the "more established" members of the Synod would probably call a "youngin'." But that doesn't mean that I know God any less than any of them. It does however, mean that my opinion is open to attack because I 'have no idea of the connotations and implications of every word of the LCMS bylaws. So how could I possibly have a valid opinion?' Oh, but I do…because I am a precious child of God, and that’s all it takes. God calls us to love our neighbors as He has loved us. I don't recall the Bible saying anywhere 'love your neighbors as God has loved you if and only if they are LCMS Lutherans.' What Rev. Benke did that day... was love God's children. There were breaking hearts in that stadium, there were angry and desperate hearts there. There were people who had been shedding tears for so many days that they had no more to shed at that stadium. And they were not all LCMS Lutherans. They were not even all Lutherans. Heck, they weren't even all Christians. (And that is why there were representations of different faiths there.) But Rev. Benke prayed anyway, and the aching souls heard him, and his words of comfort. And they heard the name of Jesus. And they were comforted. None of the participants in that service were either affirming or denying each others religions. And the church has seriously underestimated the public’s intelligence if they believe that Rev. Benke's participation in that service was "confusing to Christians and atheists alike." If they are so worried about the public's perception of the church's actions, how do you think this looks? Right now we are so cold, and so unreachable to the world, because of this situation. How are we supposed to be spreading the Gospel if the people want nothing to do with us. (And if I were not an LCMS Lutheran already, I would want absolutely NOTHING to do with this church body.) You know, this same thing happened in the 50's and 60's, when white people didn't want to sit at the same counter with black people because of who they were. Just substitute religious beliefs for skin color. We might as well be walking around in white hooded robes. I truly believe that if Jesus were alive and walking around today, he would have been in the stadium. Besides that fact that God tells us that, "Where ever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there I am." (Again, this does not say, "where ever two or more LCMS Lutherans are gathered in my name, there I am." But to the rest of the world, Christian and non Christian alike, it probably looks like that's what we think it says.) I believe that Jesus would have been there because that is what Jesus does. He comforts, He heals, He would have been there because He LOVES his children. And I seriously doubt the LCMS would try to remove Him from office...then again, I'm not so sure. I hope that Rev. Benke appeals. This decision is unfair and wrong on so many levels. - All have been mentioned in earlier responses. If he doesn't appeal, then I guess his membership in the LCMS will be terminated. And my hope for the LCMS's future will be shattered, because I am the future, along with countless other young adults looking to the church for guidance, and I am distraught. If this is where the church wants to guide me, you can forget it. I will NEVER turn on someone praying in Jesus's name, especially to broken-hearted people. Stop making this political. It isn't. It never was. It was about offering comfort (IN JESUS NAME) to people who needed it desperately.
It should be pointed out that MAN came up with the bylaws and constitution of the LCMS, so however closely we think we followed scripture, or however accurately we think we interpreted it, MAN still did it. Not GOD. Stop fighting about bylaws and sections and articles, and see that Rev. Benke helped many many people that day. LCMS and not. And he did it in Jesus's name. Rev. Benke, THANK YOU for offering comfort to the people in that stadium in New York. Thank you for representing the LCMS as you did. You were the one glimpse that the country had of the LCMS that didn't present us in a cold, harsh, condescending light. And Rev. Benke, do not apologize to me. You comforted people, you prayed...in the name of Jesus. You were there offering the Love of Christ when most of us could do nothing but watch in shock and horror as the days went by. There were people needing to hear you that day. Nothing, NOTHING happens by accident. God is in charge of everything. He PUT you there, and I know that you were there because He knew that some of His hurting children needed to hear your words. And maybe even some who were hurting who were not His children. Thank you. And thank God that you were there. Because of Him, Steph Porch Concordia University Seward, NE
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