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I have been called a Pharisee more times than I can remember. It goes with the territory. I host a conservative Christian radio talk show. I publicly defend the teachings and practices of the historic Church. I also publicly point out false teaching and practices in the Church today. For these reasons alone, some believe that I deserve to be called a Pharisee. But I'm not alone. Today, the label "Pharisee" is applied to many Christians just like me - perhaps you're one of them. We are Christians who cherish God's Word, the Church's historic Creeds, confessions and practices. When...

When about 75 people gathered outside the international headquarters of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod this week, it was a rare display of public dissension among the members of a relatively quiet Christian denomination. . . . When the church pulled the plug on its KFUO-AM program, "Issues, Etc.," and fired its host and producer, the show's fans turned up the volume. . . . The show had a conservative, traditionalist theological bent. . . . Many of the protesters said the current administration is too focused on recent evangelical megachurch growth models instead of on traditional Lutheran doctrine. . ....

Kirkwood — About 75 protesters gathered Monday outside the world headquarters of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, many holding signs that asked simply, "Why?" The question was directed at church leaders who, during Holy Week last month, pulled the plug on a popular radio program on the denomination's KFUO-AM station called "Issues, Etc." The host, the Rev. Todd Wilken, and producer, Jeff Schwarz, were fired without warning, and all reference to the show was taken off KFUO's website. Fans were left confused and angry. ... In the vacated time slot, the church has launched a new program called "The Afternoon Show,"...

read the original story here: Zion Lutheran begins 40 days campaign Sunday (LCMS)

Program's End Provokes Differing Views on Lutherans' Direction ... More importantly, I wish to address the unfortunate comments in the column that the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is deeply divided and that it is pushing "church marketing" over the historic confessions of the evangelical Lutheran Church. The Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick As a former guest on "Issues, Etc." and as a listener to the show I was very unhappy that it was cancelled. I can't help but conclude that the cancellation was somehow related to the deep divisions that exist in our denomination and that are referred to in the...

...when the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod canceled its popular, nationally syndicated radio program "Issues, Etc.," listeners were baffled. Billed as "talk radio for the thinking Christian," the show was known for its lively discussions analyzing cultural influences on the American church. It seemed like precisely the thing that the Missouri Synod, a 2.4-million-member denomination whose system of belief is firmly grounded in Scripture and an intellectually rigorous theology, would enthusiastically support. Despite the show's popularity, low cost and loyal donor base, Mr. Wilken and Jeff Schwarz, the producer of "Issues, Etc.," were dismissed without explanation on Tuesday of Holy Week. Within...

Usually radio hosts have to offend sacred moral sensibilities to be thrown off the air. Opie and Anthony were fired after they encouraged a couple to have sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Don Imus lost his job after using racist and sexist epithets against the Rutgers University women's basketball team. But when the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod canceled its popular, nationally syndicated radio program "Issues, Etc.," listeners were baffled. Billed as "talk radio for the thinking Christian," the show was known for its lively discussions analyzing cultural influences on the American church. It seemed like precisely the thing that the Missouri...

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod's Board of Communications suddenly pulled the plug today on our friends @ Issues, Etc. Both Rev. Todd Wilkens and his producer Jeff Schwarz, were both let go without advance notice.

In a post here on July 16 we mentioned an essay by Gene Edward Veith, titled "Liberal Conservatives", which in turn mentions an article by Todd Wilken titled "Bible-Believing Liberals". I had not been able to find this specific essay by Wilken, but somehow it has turned up on another blog, that of Rev. Paul McCain--who like Wilken is a Lutheran. If you would like to read Wilken's essay, this is it: Bible-Believing Liberals by Todd Wilken This is a very good essay that deals quite well with assertions such as "The church must change or die." (Interestingly, it features...

the new Issues, Etc. Journal - Vol. 1, No. 3 The Gospel in the Background Does Seeker-Oriented Evangelism Make the Most of Every Opportunity? by Todd WilkenFrom 1925 to 1976 filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock made 53 films. Hitchcock’s films are considered groundbreaking classics. The name "Hitchcock" brings to mind title after title— "The Man Who Knew Too Much," "Lifeboat," "Rope," "Vertigo" and "Psycho." Hitchcock’s films featured stars like Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Claude Rains, and Jimmy Stewart. Alfred Hitchcock was also famous for making cameo appearances in no less than 37 of his films. He never appeared for...