In the last few weeks I’ve had a number of posts focused on the LCMS and the former radio program “Issues, Etc.” I only recently became aware of the program and didn’t have a chance to listen to it. However it is mind-boggling to me “why” such a program, one that proclaimed the Gospel the way “Issues, Etc” did, would be cancelled. It got me to thinking, just what kind of program was “Issues, Etc”? In keeping up with the blogging taking place about the cancellation I came across some pretty solid explanations.
Pastor Weedon had this tribute post. Here are some excerepts.
We were taught not be ashamed of the Gospel “for it is the power of God.”
We learned that good sermons teach the truths of God faithfully and clearly. Listening to Christ-Centered, Cross-focused sermons from Rev. Bill Cwirla, Rev. Will Weedon, and Dr. David Scaer were favored by all. When we applied the sermon diagnostic tool to the Christ-less sermons so prevalent today we were appalled.
We now know what we believe, teach, and confess as Lutherans because of Dr. Lawrence White, Dr. Karl Barth, Rev. Peter Bender and Dr. Ken Schurb who provided catechetical instruction grounded in God’s Word.
Instruction in the proper distinction between Law and Gospel was provided by Dr. Carl Fickenscher, Dr. Tom Baker, Dr. Cory Maas, and Dr. Richard Eyer. They brought to bear the teachings and C.F.W. Walther.
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We studied many Hymns including “What Child is This” and “Stricken Smitten and Afflicted” with Dr. Art Just and Pastor Henry Gerike. Lutherans gave the church hymns because hymns teach us doctrine. Through hymns we praise God by telling everyone what he has done.
We unpacked the myths about Luther and Worship with Rev. Will Weedon and Dr. Ken Schurb, and in so doing learned that worship is not about what we do for God, but about receiving his gifts and hearing God’s Word.
The doctrine of vocation was thoroughly explored by Dr. Gene Edward Veith and Dr. Steven Hein. The purpose of vocation is to serve and love one another – we are all masks of God. “God doesn’t need our good works. But our neighbor does.”
We were taught “Why Bad Things Happen” from Rev. Matt Harrison. We learned how suffering is the Lord’s alien work as Martin Luther would say. Suffering drives us to Jesus for he is the way.
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History was another topic often discussed with Dr. Paul Maier and Dr. Martin Noland. The topics included The Events Surrounding the Death & Resurrection of Jesus Christ, The Reformation, Roman Catholicism, and Early Christian Historian Eusebuis.
The errors of Pietism and the Church Growth Movement were exposed by Aaron Wolf, Dr. Larry Rast, Rev. Rod Zwonitzer, Craig Parton, and Chris Rosebrough. We learned what the true marks of a church involve – the means of grace and salvation, the proclamation of the Gospel and sacrament administration.
We may never have known of such great theologians as Dr. Norman Nagel, Dr. Louis Brighton, and Dr. Ron Feuerhahn who were eager to share their insightful instruction on Eternal Life, The Presence of God, The Lords Supper, and Papal Authority & Roman Doctrine.Luther’s explanation in the Heidelberg Disputation of Theologians of the Cross was clearly conveyed by Dr. Paul Grime, Dr. Steven Hein, and Dr. R. Scott Clark. “That person deserves to be called a theologian who comprehends what is visible of God through suffering and the cross.”
Culturally relevant topics were discussed by Dr. Mike Horton and Dr. Laurence White. They involved American Evangelicalism, Christianity and Pop Culture, and the Secularization of the Church. We were taught that there is no such thing as Evangelical style and Lutheran substance. “It’s not style or substance; its style forms substance.” In the church, what we believe establishes what we do and who we are.
The blog Stand Firm, started in the wake of the program cancellation, had this to say about “Issues, Etc.” while hinting at why it may have been cancelled.
Issues, Etc. was one of the few remaining jewels the LCMS had left in it’s crown. The center stone of that crown, the ultimate jewel of infinite value, is the theology on which this synod was founded, our Confession.
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Pastor Todd Wilken, the host of Issues, Etc., never backed down from his defense of the Gospel, yet for all the years the show was broadcast, he did so with grace and without rancor, even when addressing people whose views were radically different than his own.
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Issues, Etc. critiqued a broad range of topics, including several which are very near and dear to some of our synod’s leaders. The most notable of these topics is the Church Growth Movement.
That in a nutshell is what the program “Issues, Etc” was for those that weren’t sure. Now if you are like me and want to listen to old shows now that you know about the program, archives are here and here in addition to at KFUO’s site. If you want articles from the Journal, yes there was a journal in addition to the radio program, check this out. And after listening consider signing the petition if you haven’t already done so.
(H/T on archive locations – BringBackIssues)
