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Recently, at a quarterly congregational meeting, one of our members rose to promote the matching fund program of the Thrivent co. (formerly AAL & Lutheran Brotherhood). There seemed to be a reluctance on the part of our two pastors to participate in this program.
At one point Pastor stated that after the merger of the two firms, the Synod determined that that were policies or business ethics that were not in agreement with scripture and therefore advised congregations to refrain from accepting matching funds. He continued that Thrivent had corrected whatever was contested and that Synod now allows the acceptance of these funds.
My question is, what were the policies or business ethics that the Wisconsin Synod objected to and how was it resolved?The Conference of Presidents is responsible for setting policy about receiving gifts from sources outside the church. The COP had some reservations about the way Thrivent was composing their regional groups and about reports of Thrivent ads in some parts of the country. They subsequently met with Thrivent execs and these matters seem to have been ironed out. The COP continues to study the Thrivent merger and its granting policies, but to date the COP's previous policy for AAL/LB to allow WELS agencies to receive grants remains in place for Thrivent.
Thrivent is in the process of puting into writing a philosophy of their relationship with the Lutheran church bodies. WELS COP representatives are a part of these discussions. Final resolution of these matters probably won't come for another year.
While the COP policy allows us to receive grants or matching funds, each Christian and every WELS agency is free to act on their own conscience in individual circumstances. The Bible asks us to answer these questions when we consider receiving money from any source outside the church: 1. Is false fellowship implied or practiced? 2. Are there strings attached to the gift that would limit our gospel ministry? 3. Will receiving the gift diminish the personal stewardship of our members?
Who or what are "the Navigators"?
I'm thinking its a Bible study movement and/or a witnessing emphasis. I think I've seen some Bible studies with their name on it.
Could you supply some information about the group, organization, or church called "The Navigators"?According to the Navigators website the Navigators is "an interdenominational, non-profit organization dedicated to helping people navigate spiritually, to know Christ and to make him known as they look to him and to his Word to chart their course." They seek to "come alongside them (people) one to one to study the Bible, develop a deepening prayer life, and memorize and apply Scripture."
The organization traces its roots to Dawson Trotman and his wife who began reaching out to sailors based at San Pedro, California, in 1933. In 1940 Trotman began emphasizing one on one discipleship. According to the Dictionary of Christianity in America the organization had expanded into sixty-three countries by 1986 with 2,700 staff members. Half of these were nationals in countries around the world coordinating their efforts through the International Navigator Council. NavPress is the publishing arm of the organization. The Navigators today have expanded their outreach to include business people and college students around the world.
The doctrinal statement on the Navigators website would indicate that they are a conservative, American Evangelical organization. They hold to the fundamental doctrines of Scripture but seem to emphasize the "born again" experience. Significantly, there is no mention of Baptism and the Lord's Supper in the doctrinal statement indicating an American Evangelical lack of understanding of and appreciation for the means of grace.
What do you think of the work of this organization and of the program, the "Bible Answer Man" featuring Hank Hannegraff?
Judging by the content of its web site, Hank Hannegraff's Christian Research Institute seems to be a conservative Protestant (not Lutheran) ministry devoted especially to defending and explaining the basic truths of Christianity.
The group's doctrinal statement regarding how Christ's salvation becomes ours is typical of decision theology. The doctrinal statement makes no mention at all of the sacraments.
A more reliable (scripturally sound, confessional Lutheran) source for answers to the kind of questions Hank Hannegraff answers is, "The People's Bible Teachings" series, available from Northwestern Publishing House.
Thank you for your prompt response reguarding 4-H and WELS. I still have questions regarding the pledge 4-H uses and pledging in general. I know the Bible tells us we are to let our yes be yes and our no's be no ( that is not to swear on the Lord's name) but is a pledge like 4-H's or a pledge not to drink and drive for MADD or SADD, or a pledge to turn off the lights to save energy the same thing. They don't involve the Lord's name. The 4-H pledge actually says "I pledge my heart" My husband states our hearts are to belong to God alone. And I agree, but the 4-H pledge doesn't pledge the heart to any one or thing, but to becoming more loyal. This is a worthy goal both in a person's secular as well as Christian living (if the two can truly be seperated.)again thanks.
One of the frustrating things we must deal with is the fact that some words and concepts are defined differently by different people. In general, of course, a "pledge" is a kind of solemn or serious promise, a vow, or even an oath. It can relate to comparatively important issues like patriotism (the Pledge of Allegiance) or marriage (the wedding vows or pledge of faithfulness), or less important things (as a figure of speech for mere emphasis or to offer assurance when speaking with people outside of the Christian bond who will not automatically take your word as the final word.)
As you note, a pledge need have nothing explicitly to do with God's name. (Everything a believer does reflects his or her relation to the Lord, but many of those things are not understood as being done in his name. Our whole lives are rightly called lifestyles of "worship" or "praise," but not everything we do is commonly or normally understood as an act of worship.) Pledges, like oaths, may simply be personal assurances or emphases given to ourselves or others in human being to human being relations. The Bible really does not offer specific commands or prohibitions on the use of pledges in these matters.
Perhaps the best or safest approach is to use a number of general guidelines or self-directed questions when we strive to decide if a certain pledge is appropriate or not. We may ask, for example, Is the point I want to make worthy of a formal pledge rather than a simple promise? Or is the subject frivolous or of such little import that a pledge is inappropriate if not a little goofy? Am I comfortable with this use of language or would I prefer simply to say what I want to say and be done with it? Might my words leave a false impression with others (e.g., that I am not a person of my word unless I preface my promises with added verbiage)? Have the words of this particular pledge become mere traditional phraseology that has little or no impact on others? Might an objection to the use of this wording be ill-advised because it will result in people giving too much attention to the words and not enough attention to the purposes or goals of the promise itself? In general, then, we will strive to allow the use of pledges when they are fitting or suitable for a given purpose at a given time. We can appraise each use on a case by case basis.
I also think we should anticipate differing degrees of comfort among our Christian brothers and sisters in such issues. Fine. But let us avoid the binding of another's conscience in such issues that are not fully addressed in the Bible. And let us take another's words and actions in the kindest possible way.
Regarding the specific wording of the 4-H pledge you cite ("I pledge my heart"), I really don't know what it means (when viewed grammatically) but it certainly seems like an affirmation of emotion. We do that all the time, with the understanding, assumption, or explicit reminder that all such loyalties and attachments are subject to our allegiance to and love for our saving Lord God. When the most important relationship is intact and protected, other relationships and loyalties can better find their appropriate levels. We usually don't say all this explicitly but assume it or take it for granted when expressing promises in life. My opinion is, again, that we are fully free to speak such a pledge or not to do so, according to the specific situation, purpose, audience, etc.
Does the WELS have any known objections to the organization 4-H? My husband is questioning the pledge that members say at the beginning of each meeting: "I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service and my health to better living, for my club, my community , my country and my world." It's motto is "to make the best better" and this is what I understand the pledge to be saying also. (That is to think more clearly, be more loyal etc.) 4-H is a government sponsored program, with no religious instruction or claims made. Service projects are done as a good citizen, but not in a good works type of way.
I have not found any published WELS objections to 4-H. You can find out more about this organization on its national website at http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov. It is interesting to note that 4-H, according to its website, has "changed from an organization primarily concerned with improving agriculture production and food preservation to one dedicated to the development of young people." Christian parents know that faith in Christ is the necessary foundation on which all other development can properly take place.
A friend of mine is currently being recruited by a member of a lodge called, the Knights Templar. I know lodges teach things that are incompatable with biblical teachings, but I lack specific knowlege about masonism to point out the falsehoods that they teach and give a point by point comparison to what the bible teaches. Are there any references, possibly written by ex-lodge members, that would be helpful in doing this. My friend is fairly ignorant of both lodges and biblical Christianity and tends to believe whatever this lodge member tells him is the truth. I need to create some doubt as to the integrity of some of the things he has been told about the history, practices and moral appearance of masonic lodges.
A very good treatment of this subject has been written by Prof. John Brug, Religion of the Bible and of the Lodges. It can be found on the seminary's website at
http://www.wls.wels.net/library/Essays/Authors/B/BrugReligion/BrugReligion.htm
The subject has also been covered quite thoroughly in the WELS.net Q&A section. If you search the content there, the keyword "lodge" will retrieve 19 articles, and the keyword "masonry" will retrieve a further six.
The CLC will be discussing membership in the American Legion at their June convention. Are you familiar with the details of this discussion? If so, please comment on how you see this controversy in light of our own fellowship principles.
The answer to your first question is "no". We do not have detailed information about the discussion in the CLC or which direction it will go. We have received a couple of previous inquiries about it. The issue is whether membership in the American Legion always involves an endorsement of false religious values and requires participation in heterodox religious activities or whether one may be a "social member" who does not participate in any religious rites or make any religious commitments as seems to be the case with users of the facilities of the the YMCA.Through the years, both positions concerning the American Legion have been argued in our circles. It is my understanding that the CLC is undergoing a quite sharp and potentially divisive argument over this issue along the two lines indicated above.
From most of the information which I have seen lately, two things seem clear about the American Legion. They have objectionable religious features and activities, but they are not an inherently religious organization like the Masonic lodge. The following Q&A appeared on our WELS home page recently. I don't know who the author was.
What is the WELS position on membership in veteran's organizations, such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars? A belief in "God" is necessary for VFW membership, and the American Legion supports its own chaplains, religious services on national holidays, and part of all dues go to the Boy Scouts of America.You are correct that to be a member of these organizations you are required to state that you believe in God. However, these organizations are not inherently religious, nor do they make any statement regarding salvation. Belonging to these groups would be a matter of Christian freedom and not an expression of fellowship. On the other hand, partaking in the joint worship services would be an expression of fellowship and should be avoided. A Christian who is a member of one of these organizations could also use his membership to influence the group to avoid such joint ecumenical services and also support positive, God-pleasing projects.I am not sure if the questioner's statement that part of all dues goes to the Scouts is true of all groups of not. If it is, it seems that it would be quite difficult to be a member, but your information suggest it is not. I have not done any recent research on this so I am just answering off the cuff. It seems to me that there are enough objectionable and potentially offensive features that I as a pastor would not want to belong. I would warn members about the objectionable religious figures and would not endorse or encourage membership. But if membership is not an inherently religious fellowship, one could not make members of the congregation who are members of the Legion but refrain from religious activities or fellowship subject to church discipline. As I understand it, some in the CLC want to discipline people who are members; others feel this would be a legalistic measure.
Perhaps in light of the current discussion in CLC, this would be a good issue for WELS to look into again. We can't prejudge the CPC's action on this matter without clear information about their rationale. There seems to be aspects of the Legion which we need to speak against. It is less clear that the issue could be made a matter of church discipline.
I wanted to know if it is Biblical for me as a Lutheran to participate in the Medi-Share program. Their webpage is www.biblicalhealthcare.com.
The information on their site is not adequate to give a definite answer to your question. If this is simply a fraternal organization to provide the equivalent of medical insurance, it would be similar to being a member of AAL or Lutheran Brotherhood, organizations in which the members are not in fellowship with each other but in which problems can arise concerning an implied fellowship. It appears, however, that Medi-share goes beyond this and requires its members to participate in a fellowship of prayer without agreement in belief. It also seems that they regard their members as being under the spiritual care of an assigned elder. It appears from their web page that Medi-share has entangling aspects of a religious fellowship, which is to some degree based on legalistic principles. The best way for you to clarify this is to ask them directly whether being a member requires you to participate in prayer fellowship and places you under the spiritual discipline of the organization. Ask them whether the organization is considered to be a fellowship of faith. If the answer is yes, you should not participate.
I was reading your responses to questions about organizations, and I'm wondering what you meant that Job's Daughters misuses the Book of Job and falsely teaches it?
The Job's Daughters site says that their Ritual was written from ideas presented by the Founder, Mrs. Ethel T Wead Mick and taken from the Book of Job with particular reference to the 42nd Chapter, 15th Verse: "And in all the land were no women found so fair as the Daughters of Job; and their Father gave them inheritance among their brethren.". The ritual of Job's Daughters really has nothing to do with the book of Job except that they borrowed the name from this book. The religion of the lodge affiliate Job's Daughters is not Christian. It is not the religion of Job's daughters in the Bible.
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Bravo! Bravo!