LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 407

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THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 407

CTCR Review of “For the Sake
of Christ’s Commission”

In a memo dated June 19, 2002, President Gerald Kieschnick
requested the Commission on Theology and Church Relations to
“review the document entitled ‘For the Sake of Christ’s Commis-
sion,’ a report of the Church Growth Study Committee, study the
document thoroughly, and report its conclusions to me and to the
church no later than the 2004 Synodical Convention.” This request
was made, in part, to provide guidance and input to official enti-
ties in the Synod in evaluating “For the Sake of Christ’s Commis-
sion” as they carry out their official duties and responsibilities. The
following review is submitted in response to this assignment from
the President of the Synod.

Introduction

“For the Sake of Christ’s Commission” (FSCC) was prepared
in specific response to 1995 Res. 3-09, “To Address the Church
Growth Movement.” The several “whereases” of this resolution af-
firm the teaching of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions that it
is only through the means of grace that God gives growth to his
church. They also express concerns about “a denial of the efficacy
of the Means of Grace” evident in “some Church Growth materials
and practices.” It is then “Resolved”:
¢ That Circuit and District pastoral conferences, District staffs, and

congregations of the Synod be urged to study the CTCR report
Evangelism and Church Growth ... as well as other resources
that critically examine the Church Growth Movement;

¢ That congregations, Districts, and entities of the Synod which are
using Church Growth materials and practices examine them care-
fully and use them with proper discernment;

¢ That The Lutheran Witness, Reporter, and other publications of
the Synod report on the errors in some Church Growth materials
and practices and also in fairness show how some materials and
practices may be used in service of the Gospel and the advance-
ment of the Kingdom;

e That the President of the Synod consider appointing a committee
to study and address how the truth of the Scriptures and the
Lutheran Confessions might be clearly proclaimed in light of the
Church Growth Movement and the influences of American cul-
ture and pluralism;

e That the findings of this committee, if appointed, be shared with
all of the Synod as soon as possible.

FSCC focuses its attention primarily on characteristics and ten-
dencies of the church growth movement that are theologically
problematic. In this respect it responds directly and specifically to
the Synod’s request to “report on the errors in some Church
Growth materials and practices” and to set forth “the truth of the
Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions” over against these errors.
For reasons not explicitly stated in the report (e.g., perhaps a prior-
itizing of time and concerns, committee convictions about the na-
ture and proper focus of its assignment, etc.), little attention is
given in FSCC to the Synod’s request to “in fairness show how
some [Church Growth] materials and practices may be used in the
service of the Gospel and the advancement of the Kingdom,” to-
ward the end that “congregations, Districts, and entities of the
Synod which are using Church Growth materials and practices”
may “use them with proper discernment.” It is the opinion of the
CTCR that its report on Evangelism and Church Growth (refer-
enced in 1995 Res. 3-09), together with its reports on Spiritual
Gifts and A Théological Statement of Mission, can continue to be of
service to the church in affirming many of the valid warnings of
FSCC while at the same time offering some insight into how cer-
tain emphases of the church growth movement might be acknow]-
edged and adapted in ways that are consistent with Lutheran theol-

As a way of highlighting some of the salutary statements and
warnings of FSCC, and at the same time identifying issues and con-
cerns that receive less attention in this document, the Commission
offers below observations and affirmations regarding the mission of
the church built around the eight “theses” of A Theological State-
ment of Mission (TSM) and drawing on some of the insights offered
in Evangelism and Church Growth (ECG) and Spiritual Gifts (SG).

Mission Begins in the Heart of God

God’s mission does not begin with us. The church’s mission
does not begin with the church. Mission begins, continues, and cul-
minates in the heart and hands of a just and merciful God: “For
God loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever be-
lieves in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
First, last, and foremost, the church’s mission consists of “the
Lord’s gracious initiative and ongoing activity to save a world in-
capable of saving itself’ (TSM, 7).

As it carries out God’s mission, therefore, the church needs to
guard against any understanding of or approach to God’s mission
that centers in what “we” are striving to do and accomplish rather
than in what God has done and is doing for, in, and through his
church. FSCC is to be commended for its clear affirmation that
“The mission of the church is God’s mission” and for its many
straightforward reminders that “spiritual growth does not happen
entirely or in part through man-made devices and methodologies”
(2001 CW, 443). This is a central concern also in ECG:

As the Lulheran Church seeks to carry out the great commission in
keeping with canfessional doctrine, its approach will be noticeably theo-
centric. It is God who is working in the world through the means of
grace for the salvation of the lost. He is the one who converts. While
He has chosen to work conversion through human instruments, and
while their role is very important, they are still secondary. (ECG, 38)
The fact that spiritual growth does not take place through man-

made programs or methods does not mean, of course, that such pro-
grams or methods have no proper place in a church that recognizes
the theocentric nature of the church’s mission. It is important to
keep in mind that confessional Lutheran theology “neither dispar-
ages or diminishes the importance of the gifts of creation nor ig-
nores their use within the church. ... God not only uses creaturely
gifts for the extension of life in the world but he also brings them
into the service of the Gospel” (SG, 56).

ECG shares FSCC’s concern that “Church Growth materials
tend to become quite anthropocentric, focusing attention on the
church’s use of sociological techniques to communicate the Gospel
effectively” (ECG, 39). Congregations that have become obsessed
with “techniques,” or discouraged because of a lack of growth in
numbers, need to be reminded and assured “that God is the One
who gives the increase” (ECG, 39). But the question raised in a
pointed way by church growth proponents merits serious consid-
eration also by confessional Lutherans: “Is the church today using
every legitimate modern technique which God has made available
in an effort to meet its mission challenge?” (ECG, 39). While con-
fessional Lutherans will undoubtedly disagree with some church
growth advocates about the degree to which certain “techniques”
can be viewed as theologically “legitimate,” they will certainly
agree that every congregation needs to be challenged and encour-
aged “to be faithful in carrying out the task which [God] has given
it,” using all appropriate resources made available by God himself
(ECG, 39).

God’s Mission Is Necessary because of Sin

The “Good News” of the Gospel has no meaning, necessity, or
urgency apart from the “Bad News” of the Law: “All have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). “None is righteous,
no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God” (Rom.

3:10). “Since the fall of Adam all men who are born according to

2004 Convention Workbook