Guest Blogger Pastor Todd Wilken

You all know Pastor Todd Wilken, so I'm going to skip the intro and platitudes, and get right to it.

Here's a couple of clips of Pastor Wilken to get things rolling:

A Very Good Thing

for March 18, 2009
by Todd Wilken

“Well gentlemen, I’ll get right to the point. The purpose of the meeting is to let you know that after --believe me-- a great deal of consideration, it’s my decision to discontinue the Issues, Etc. radio show, meaning the elimination of both your positions.

“‘Terminate’ is a harsh word, but that’s the meaning of ‘eliminate the positions.’

“And it’s a very difficult thing to do. At times it almost makes you sick, but that’s the decision that’s been arrived at.”

We knew it couldn’t last. And we were right. It lasted only until holy Tuesday, March 18, 2008.

Jeff had always told me, “The best thing that could happen to Issues, Etc. would be if someone were stupid enough to cancel the show.” And, as he has been so many times over the last 15 years, Jeff was right.

Luther was right too: “Where God's Word is preached, accepted, or believed and produces fruit, there the holy Cross cannot be missing.” (LC, III, 70)

But remember, in Jesus, the holy Cross isn’t a bad thing; it’s a good thing.

What do I mean?

Was the cancelation of Issues, Etc. on March 18, 2008 a bad thing? Yes, it was. Did it disappoint and hurt many? Yes, it did. Did it prove to be a debacle for LCMS Inc. and KFUO? Yes, it did.

Luther also said, “A theologian of glory calls evil good and good evil. A theologian of the Cross calls the thing what it actually is.”



We are theologians of the Cross. We call the thing what it actually is. A year later we can look back and admit how senseless, foolish and wrong the cancelation of Issues, Etc. was.

A year later, we can also look back and see that Jesus was working His good in the middle of LCMS Inc.’s bad --but, I’m not necessarily talking about the fact that Issues, Etc. returned better than ever.

Ask yourself this question: What if, after its cancelation, Issues, Etc. had not returned? If Issues, Etc. had not returned, would we today be able to look back and see Jesus working His good in the middle of LCMS Inc.’s bad?

Yes, we would.

Luther said,

Where God's Word is preached, accepted, or believed and produces fruit, there the holy cross cannot be missing... And let no one think that he shall have peace. He must risk whatever he has upon earth—possessions, honor, house and estate, wife and children, body and life. Now, this hurts our flesh and the old Adam. The test is to be steadfast and to suffer with patience in whatever way we are assaulted, and to let go whatever is taken from us.”

On March 18, 2008, Issues, Etc. was taken from us. And, even if Issues, Etc. had not returned at all, even if its voice had been silenced forever, even if we would have had to let it go for good, Jesus still would have worked the good of His holy Cross for us all.

Look back to March 18, 2008 with clear eyes and be a theologian of the Cross. Look back and call the thing what it is.

Look back to March 18, 2008 with clear eyes made all the clearer because they are Christ-Centered and Cross-Focused. See Jesus in the middle of it all, planting his holy Cross in our lives, and by His holy Cross killing our flesh and the old Adam, and calling us to be steadfast and to suffer.

Look ahead to the future of Issues, Etc. and remember: “Where God's Word is preached, accepted, or believed and produces fruit, there the holy Cross cannot be missing.”

Cling to that Cross and to the One Who hung upon it for you. Remember, in Jesus, the holy Cross isn’t a bad thing; it’s a good thing, a very good thing.