Young Men are The Future
Young men are the future of the Anglican Church in North America. They are the resource, if well stewarded, by which the church will be replenished through the Spirit. Young men will also, if either neglected or ignored, opt out of ordained ministry altogether in favor of pursuits and careers that value them.
The ACNA is at just such a crossroads now.
Our History
For most of Anglicanism’s American history, young men were at the center of its ministry efforts. Virginian clergy William Meade and William Wilmer teamed up with heavyweights Francis Scott Key (the national anthem guy) and Chief Justice John Marshall to recruit and train young men for ministry by founding Virginia Theological Seminary. Not to be outdone, bishop Philander Chase of Ohio broke ground on Kenyon College months later to recruit and train young men for ministry.
A generation later, Leonidas Polk founded an “Oxford of the South,” Sewanee, to elevate the order and discipline of Orthodox Anglicanism by building an ecclesiastical aristocracy to rival England.
After the War, widows and military men opened schools drawing on their experience and resources to train male leaders for the impoverished region. At the death of their founders, these schools were usually willed to the Diocese, and became primary recruiting and preparatory tools for seminaries, putting future civic and military leaders in close contact with the next generation of Christian ministers.
The Present Crisis
These were projects specific to their time and place, and rote imitation of those projects might be out of reach at this juncture. But one can’t help but notice the focus on young men for the work of ministry in the critical renewal and growth years of American Anglicanism.
Where, now, is the call, “as brothers of the Son of Man, rise up, O men of God”?
That call, if it’s being sounded at all, is not coming from the top. The number of clergy and pastoral resident positions that remain empty is growing, not shrinking, and it’s not obvious that the leaders of the ACNA are available to the young men in their dioceses, much less rolling out the red carpet for them.
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk
This lack of pastoral awareness to young men could not have been made more clear than in the vague and forgettable note Archbishop Wood sent out last week condemning “the attempt to silence those with whom we differ by force.”
What?
Who was silencing whom? The deranged criminal who stabbed a Ukrainian refugee of war (one of the three incidents mentioned in the letter) was not silencing someone with whom he disagreed, nor was the shooter of the public school, so far as we know.
Even amid these other two tragedies, however, Charlie Kirk rises head and shoulders above the others because Charlie was killed for holding and defending politically controversial opinions inherent to orthodox Christianity. The Zoomers and younger Millennials who knew Charlie through his constant presence on their YouTube feeds, X posts, and Instagram recommendations rightly see a connection between his excellent communication and his murder. It was a threat by Transgender radicals—if you criticize us effectively, we reserve the right to kill you.
Furthermore, the ACNA statement sounded like a blanket condemnation of “violence or use of coercive force,” a notion that the Archbishop neither defined nor located in the Scriptures or Formularies.
Why the weak condemnation of transgender murderers instead of the Biblical language of breaking the teeth of the evildoer? The civil authority might not bring heaven to earth, but Paul says it is the Vengeance of God on earth (Romans 12:19-13:6).
In a moment where millions are asking what to do, Anglican political theology, present in the historic canons of the church, the Book of Homilies, and most importantly, in the Articles XXXV and XXXVII, provides excellent civil guidance. Pastorally, could the archbishop do better than to tell his future clergy to turn to Christ through the Anglican tradition? Pray the Psalter for the healing of the soul and for God’s posture towards the wicked. Reflect on the Ten Commandments. Pray the Great Litany. Revisit the service of Holy Matrimony and take it seriously. Note how it addresses issues of complementarity of men and women and marriage’s role “for the upbuilding of Christ’s Kingdom in family, church and society.”
Two Pastoral Responses Compared
Compare the official ACNA statement to the response of Matthew Harrison, the President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. President Harrison clearly addresses the depth and reasons for the tragedy, what the role of the state could and should be, how the people of God ought to respond in their vocations, and how the young men and women shaken by the cold blooded murder of a fellow saint ought to respond in ways that will strengthen their faith and society around them in ways that matter. In each of these areas, the Archbishop’s statement pales in comparison.
| Sectional Breakdown of | Matthew Harrison Statement | Steve Wood Statement |
|---|---|---|
| The Tragedy: | Charlie Kirk was a devout Christian, murdered for his conservative religious and political views by a young man who has fallen victim to the ideological demons of our time. It is becoming clear that the man who killed him had been radicalized by “anti-fascist” groupthink and rhetoric, which pervades university campuses, circles of political extremists, and especially the internet. Fellow high school students reportedly called the shooter “Reddit kid” after a particular platform known for extremism. Indeed, the man’s very bullets were inscribed, “Hey fascist! Catch!” In the wake of Mr. Kirk’s unjust demise, extremists now revel in his murder, even creating media, T-shirts, etc., to celebrate the death. The depth of evil knows no bounds. As Luther wrote in the Smalcald Articles, the “hereditary sin [that resides in our hearts] is such a deep corruption of nature that no reason can understand it. Rather, it must be believed from the revelation of Scripture” (SA III I 3). I’m not such a fool as to think evil is the particular propensity of but one extreme of the ideological spectrum. “None is righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10). “Whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God” (Rom. 3:19). Pundits have crafted lists of Mr. Kirk’s statements, which allegedly justify his murder. But no speech of any human being justifies his or her murder. It’s also clear to me that very few who make such accusations listened to or watched his events across the country. While I do not endorse all Mr. Kirk’s religious or other comments he made in his debates, I do not believe he was a racist, and certainly no hater. Pull his videos up on YouTube and judge for yourself. |
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The past several days have been a difficult and profoundly troubling time in our national life. A school shooting in Colorado, the release of video footage of the murder of Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte light rail, and the assassination of Charlie Kirk have left many reeling. The violent taking of life – and in the case of Mr. Kirk, the attempt to silence by force those with whom we differ – is a profound evil. |
| The Prophetic Response to the World: | At the same time, we recognize the deep Christian influence in the founding of the United States, particularly in the establishment of the reasonable and ethical authority of law, which is expressed in the Ten Commandments and sound reason. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” (Declaration of Independence). Here sound reason echoes the orders of creation and redemption. Indeed, every person is not only created in God’s image, but worth the very blood of Christ. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). We believe in healthy patriotism. The LCMS also strongly encourages participation by its people in honorable civic affairs of all sorts, from law enforcement to the military, judiciary and all elected positions. This accords with the New Testament. Jesus never tells a soldier or an official to stop serving the state as though doing so were improper for a Christian (Luke 7:8). But He does insist they act justly in doing so (Luke 3:14). Our Augsburg Confession wholeheartedly commends service in the secular realm by Christians. Our churches teach that lawful civil regulations are good works of God. They teach that it is right for Christians to hold political office, to serve as judges, to judge matters by imperial laws and other existing laws, to impose just punishments, to engage in just wars, to serves as soldiers, to make legal contracts, to hold property, to take oaths when required by the magistrates, for a man to marry a wife, or a woman to be given in marriage (AC XVI). |
Holy Scripture teaches that all people are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). This inherent dignity is not conferred by political affiliation or ideology, but by the Creator Himself – a truth recognized by our nation’s founders and enshrined in our Declaration of Independence. Whenever violence is committed against another person, it is not only an offense against civil order but also an assault upon the very image of God and a sin against God Himself. Our Christian witness requires us to affirm, without hesitation, the worth and dignity of every human being. … Our nation’s wounds cannot be mended by politics, nor its divisions healed by human effort. Only in the cross of Jesus Christ do we find truth and hope – for the cross reveals the depth of our sin and the surpassing greatness of God’s mercy. Christ’s resurrection assures us that evil and death will not have the final word. And the outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowers us to live as witnesses in our society of His kingdom of peace and righteousness. So may we proclaim with conviction that faith in Jesus Christ is not one hope among many, but the only hope we have – the only hope our nation has – the only hope the world has. |
| The Pastoral Response to the Church: | While the LCMS does not issue political directives nor insert itself in the vast majority of social and political issues of our day, we are compelled to call out evil because the Bible does so. The murder of a man for exercising his civil right to free speech is evil. Trans ideology — to which the murderer is connected — is an evil disordering of human existence, as are all matters that disorder families and individuals. It leaves people hurt and suffering. It displaces God’s design for the family with caricatures that cannot sustain society. Consider the many studies that have shown that the most progressive individuals are far less satisfied or happy in nearly all aspects of life. We are deeply concerned about and care for people who have succumbed to this disorder or are challenged by it. The church is for sinners all. We include ourselves in that number (Rom. 3:19). We do not hate. We love. We pray for the shooter’s repentance and conversion to Christ, even while supporting the administration of justice by the state in accord with Romans 13:4: “[The governing authority] does not bear the sword in vain.” Indeed, we pray that very justice — facing the death penalty — bring repentance and faith in Christ. Marxism, which is pervasive on many university campuses, praises anarchy and violence because violence is the means to throw the status quo into chaos and overthrow allegedly repressive regimes. As an atheistic paradigm of human social existence, Marxism views all law and ethics as utilitarian, indeed merely a human construct — including sexual identity itself, which has always been (Rom. 1) and is again, with an intensity never seen before, the frontier of “freedom” from Divine design. Hermann Sasse, the friend of the LCMS and great Lutheran who lived through the Hitler years in Germany, was the first publicly to reject the Aryan Paragraph of the Nazi party platform. He blew the whistle on real fascism and racism, and suffered for it. His collaborator Dietrich Bonhoeffer died for it. Last week, before our very eyes, Sasse’s comment on Marxism has again been proven true: “Marxist theory has been refuted with rivers of blood.” For the radicalized Marxist, if the divine mandate not to murder interferes with “progress,” so be it. If an outspoken conservative Christian has to die for progress, then so be it. Well, Charlie Kirk was such a Christian. I am such a Christian. And I know thousands more. |
In times of upheaval, we are tempted toward fear, cynicism, or retaliation. Yet our Lord calls us to another way: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). We must resist the spirit of the age that delights in division and cultivates suspicion. Instead, we are called to proactively promote respect, listen with humility, and reach across divides – even to those with whom we profoundly disagree. Violence cannot be healed by more violence; hatred cannot be driven out by hatred. Only the love of God in Jesus Christ can transform hearts and reconcile enemies. |
| The Personal Exhortation: | “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14). The rise of radical ideologies has affected you deeply. Whether your ethnicity or your sex, or perhaps your perceived social status, much of your identity has been the very bullseye of radicalism’s attacks. God-given and pleasing masculinity and strength, which demonstrates itself most beautifully and profoundly in self-sacrifice (Rom. 5:7), is ceaselessly vilified. The world has been fixated on everybody else’s perceived injustices but yours. You and your culture — indeed, all Western culture — are the source of all evil, they say. Young women have disproportionately rejected traditional values, particularly with respect to the family and children. DEI has cost you academic advancement and employment. The leftist attack experienced in most universities has ridiculed your biblical faith and the very values you learned from your fathers and mothers, grandparents and your Confirmation pastor — values that taught you Christ, forgiveness, love, service and vocation. The answer is not in opposite extremes. You are called by Christ to bear up in faith at this time. You were baptized for this moment. Do not give way to racial theories that contradict basic biblical truths of human dignity and Christ’s and the church’s love for all peoples. Peter preached, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality.” Literally, he said, “God does not receive faces,” that is, God does not judge you on how you look, on your culture or on your skin color (Acts 10:34; see also Matt. 27:32, Acts 2:10, Acts 11:20, Acts 13:1). Our ethnic genetics are all First Article gifts. The Bible calls upon men to “honor” and love their wives “as Christ loved the church” (Eph. 5:25). Relationships with women are not about power. They are about responsibility that sacrifices self for another. Go to church. Excel in your vocations. Run for office. The biblical and Lutheran Doctrine of the Two Kingdoms does not mean you do not participate in the civil and political realm. Quite the opposite. We’ve never needed Christians more in our civic life. Volunteer at church. Talk to your pastor. Become the man God wills you to be so that, whether or not God gives you a bride, you can be a spiritual leader in your family, church and beyond. Avoid bad places on the web. Turn off the video games and engage in physical activity. Avoid isolation. Confess the truth of Christ. Seek healthy relationships with young women who share your values on children and family. Wait on the Lord. He loves you. Think about becoming a pastor. Visit the seminary. Read through the Scriptures. Or listen to the audio. Four chapters a day, and you’ll finish in a year! And devour the Book of Concord. The paperback pocketbook version from Concordia Publishing House is cheap. Revel in the Christian family and friends God has given you. Young women: Find the young Christian man who will use his office as husband to point and lead you to Jesus, love you, rejoice in your gifts and strengths, and treat you as the precious gift of God you are (Prov. 31). Help him become the strong man of character and faith he’s meant to be in Christ. Be open to the blessing of children. If our Lord does not call you to marriage and motherhood, trust in His plans for you — “plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11). Perhaps as important as anything, love those who hate you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:43–45) Charlie’s debate videos are a marvelous example of this. If you are experiencing confusing thoughts about sexuality, talk to your LCMS pastor. He loves you. Read the LCMS document on gender dysphoria: Gender Identity Disorder or Gender Dysphoria in Christian Perspective. Check out the Sixth Commandment treatment in your catechism. “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world” (I John 4:4). Our consolation is that Charlie rests in the arms of Jesus. He confessed Ephesians 2:8–9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” As important as it is for Christians to participate in our national life near this 250th anniversary of our founding, it is more important that we know Jesus our Savior, and that others know Him too. We weep for Charlie’s suffering and grieving wife, children and family, and we pray Christ and His blessed resurrection be their consolation. We weep for the devastated family of the accused, who helped bring him to justice. We weep for the accused himself, another soul lost to the lies of the evil one. We pray for repentance and faith in Christ. Come Lord Jesus quickly. |
I urge the faithful of our Church to pray earnestly: For all who are bereaved, persecuted, or suffering from acts of violence, that they may be upheld by the Lord’s presence and strengthened in hope. For our nation, that peace and mutual respect may prevail over violence and hatred. For the Church, that we may be steadfast in our witness to the gospel of peace. Beloved, the world needs to see in us the reality of the Kingdom that cannot be shaken. May we be diligent in prayer, bold in witness, and tireless in doing good. May the Lord use us as instruments of His peace, until that day when swords are beaten into plowshares and Christ reigns over all the earth. |
| Closing | And finally, a word from St. Paul to a young man named Timothy, which speaks to all of us now: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” (1 Tim. 2:1–7) |
A Collect for Our Country BCP 2019, p. 657 Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly ask you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought here out of many nations and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth; in the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail; all this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Collect for the Human Family BCP 2019, p. 659 O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
Either the executive office thought Kirk’s death was only significant because it contributed to a cloud of bad feelings (the mass revival service at his death and transformed political atmosphere would suggest otherwise), or they were too lazy to pull out their prayerbook and recall their Scriptures on how to address national tragedies that border on Christian martyrdom.
Out of Touch
Regardless, the ACNA executive office seems out of touch with young men in the pews. Refusing to address the critical issues of the next generation of young men entering into the priesthood is a quick way to lose their interest. Ignoring the heritage of the tradition in favor of empathetic sounding platitudes is how we lost the Episcopal Church. May the leadership of the ACNA heed the warning. [1]
- After the completion of this writing, GAFCON released a brief statement celebrating the forgiveness of evil and worship of God shown at Kirk’s funeral. It is encouraging to see some recognition of the significance of current events, though the statement is not a detailed pastoral address and not from the leaders of the Province. Again, leadership seems to be rising from the ranks, perhaps Plano in this case. May their tribe be emboldened and increase. ↑
