Leave “left Behind” Behind

As if they haven’t exploited Biblical material enough for their personal gain with their “Left Behind” series, Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins are planning another series called the Jesus Chronicles. What the nature of this latest venture will be remains to be seen. These two authors will be remembered for their sensationalist series of novels which utilized the book of Revelation to promote the Rapture theory, based on a millennialistic interpretation of Revelation.

Theirs is not the only recent novel spawned from a particular slant on the book of Revelation. A certain host on Christian radio has now published a counter series to that of “Left Behind.” His view is that Revelation describes the persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero and not some future tribulation of unbelievers, as does the “Left Behind” series. Tim LaHaye is not too happy with the fact that the publisher of his “Left Behind” books is now also publishing this counter series with a different “take” on the apocalyptic content of Revelation.

Rather than wasting money on sensational novels that use Revelation for their personal gain (42 million Left Behind books have now been sold), readers would do well to purchase a reliable commentary on Revelation by a reputable theologian who doesn’t get lost in personal fanciful interpretations, but lets Scripture interpret Scripture. Such reliable commentaries are available at our Lutheran Synod Book Company in Mankato, Minnesota. As for the “Left Behind” books and other books like them, it is best that they be left behind—way behind.

A New Synod Planned

A group of congregations within the ELCA are planning to form an “association of confessing congregations,” according to a report in The Lutheran, the official organ of the ELCA. The group known as “Word Alone” plans that the organization would be a non-geographic synod within the ELCA (something like the English District in the LCMS). One of the reasons given for forming a separate synod is to be “free of the imposition of the historic episcopate,” a feature which the ELCA has adopted since its alliance with the Episcopalian Church. A spokesman for “Word Alone” said there were also other reasons for a new synod, and that regardless of the sexuality decisions that are expected in 2005 and 2007 (whether or not to ordain homosexuals, etc.) they would still want a new organization because they see the ELCA “departing from the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions.”

Though the “Word Alone” people are understandably disturbed by the unscriptural trends in the ELCA, their “solution” to the problem is really no solution. Forming another synod within the larger church body is not the answer, for they are still allied with the erring body at least organizationally. If they want to be a truly confessional Lutheran group, they best separate themselves completely by stepping out of the parent body. As long as they stay within the umbrella of the ELCA they give the world a mixed signal.

Milk In The Jungle

“Milk” in Scripture is sometimes used as a synonym for spiritual sustenance (I Corinthians 3,2; Hebrews 5.12; I Peter 2,2 for example). “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” writes the apostle Peter. This is also the chief aim of our foreign missionaries in their work. So writes ELS missionary Terry Schutz concerning his work in the Amazon jungle: “Certainly our mission’s central priority will always be to bring spiritual food that sustains us unto eternal life, the saving Gospel message. However, the obligation we have toward those who are reached by our missionaries sometimes will include their physical needs, as is the case with undernourished children in the jungle. As the Amazon natives bring their children to our missionaries for life-saving waters of Baptism, it becomes evident that there are physical needs which demand attention, such as hygiene and nutrition. So along with God’s love that cares for their souls goes also an expression of His love that cares for their bodies.”

It is therefore with interest that we read in the “Helping Hands” report the following notice about another kind of “milk.” “A recent ELS fund-raising effort will soon bring several cows to our villages, so that the children can have a small bowl of milk.” “A small bowl of milk” for daily nutrition to go along with a “large bowl of milk” of the Word for their eternal good. Mission work some times of necessity includes both kinds of milk.

Paul Madson is a retired pastor living in North Mankato, Minnesota.