Doctrine and outreach

President Kieschnick's concern about "incessant internal purification" distracting us from mission work (January Reporter) is, with all due respect, pure fantasy.

If anything, we are plagued by incessant confusion and division about the pure Gospel. Examples? First, there is the neo-Pentecostal movement in our Synod. As President Kuhn said in his 2001 convention report, "the charismatic movement and the teachings of God's Word are incompatible." And then there are the lobbies for women's ordination, open communion and various confusions about the Gospel ministry. Instead of "incessant" attempts to correct these aberrations, our real danger is incessant yakkedeyak to evade the issues.

Getting the message straight is logically and theologically prior to getting it out! Evangelism depends absolutely on the evangel, the content of the Gospel. If synodical trumpets cannot give a clear sound (1 Cor. 14:7,8), they need to be replaced --precisely for the sake of the Church's sacred mission!

Dr. Kurt Marquart

Fort Wayne, Ind.