Anathema of Preterism

Organization:  The Christian News

Missouri Synod Lutheran Mouthpiece Takes Action to Condemn Preterism as Heresy

Don Preston

Many of you who visit this site will be aware that the Christian News, the official publication of the Missouri Synod Lutheran church, has recently published several articles condemning the preterist view of prophecy. 

Those who dare believe that Jesus kept his word to return when he said he would are now labeled as heretics and false teachers. In response to those articles, I (Don K. Preston) have written a letter to the editor of the Christian News, Mr. Peter Otten, challenging the News to sponsor a public oral debate between Mr. Phil Geissler, PhD, and me. 

The letter that I sent is posted below. It is a very serious thing to charge another person with heresy and false doctrine. It is not enough however, to claim that someone is guilty of teaching a falsehood. The claims must be proven, and surely, fairness would seem to demand that the accused be given the opportunity to respond. 

We urge the readers of this letter to contact the Christian News, and Mr. Otten, to urge them to accept this challenge. 

The address of the Christian News is 3277 Boeuf Lutheran Rd., New Haven, Mo. 63068-2213. The phone number at the office is 1-573-237-3110.

The letter follows: 

March 4, 2002 Re: Articles on Preterism 

Peter Otten, editor Christian News 3277 Boef Lutheran Rd. New Haven, Mo. 63068-2213 Dear Mr. Otten, 

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Don K. Preston. I am an advocate of Covenant Eschatology, and the author of 8 titles supporting the preterist view of prophecy, including Who Is This Babylon? a book that has received positive scholarly review.

 I am in receipt of the February 18, 2002 issue of the Christian News, and have read the articles seeking to condemn the Truth of Realized Eschatology. Of particular interest to me was the article by Dr. Phil Geissler, which was ostensibly a review of the Last Days video, produced by my friend, John Anderson. After reading the article carefully, it seemed abundantly clear to me that the review was in reality an attempt to frighten or intimidate the reader. While I am thankful that Dr. Geissler refrained from acerbic and caustic language, his review contains virtually no scriptural arguments, just a priori assumptions about what is and is not correct. Petitio principii seems the order of the day. 

Incidentally, while I did not appear in the Last Days video under review, I will appear in a second video currently being produced by Anderson. I thought it would be of interest to you, and to your readers, that John Anderson, producer of the video under attack/review, has contacted Dr. Geissler, and invited him to engage me in a national radio debate. Dr. Geissler has agreed, and we have a tentative date set for the last of April. Details will certainly follow. 

In addition however, since the Christian News has thrown down the gauntlet with the charge of heresy against those who espouse Covenant Eschatology, I would like to propose that the Christian News, and the Lutheran Synod, sponsor a public oral debate, of perhaps four nights in duration, between myself and Dr. Geissler. I am confident such a debate would generate nationwide attention and interest. 

Let me state also, that if Dr. Geissler has a partner that he would wish to include, or, if you yourself would like to engage in such discussions, John Anderson will also be glad to participate with me, and we could have a four way debate. Luther was given the opportunity to defend himself before those who accused him of false doctrine. It seems only fair and appropriate that those who follow in his steps would provide the same opportunity for those they have accused of heresy. This most critical and crucial issue is one of great urgency at this moment in history, even as Dr. Geissler has suggested in his article. I can assure you that John Anderson will gladly endorse me as a qualified representative of fulfilled eschatology.

In addition, he would promote such an event on at least six nationwide radio programs. These programs air six times a week, six days a week, and a debate would be promoted every day until the debate took place. Feel free to contact him if you have any questions concerning my qualifications or representative standing. His phone # is 1-336-372-8081. 

Feel free also to contact me at any time if you would like to discuss my proposal personally. I stand ready for a defense of the Gospel (Philippians 1:17). I look forward to hearing from you very soon in regard to this matter so that we might proceed with negotiations and finalize plans.

For His Truth, and In His Grace, Don K. Preston christnews Don K. Preston, minister Email DKPret@Brightok.net Phone 1-580-226-7070

Date:

06 Mar 2003

Time:

11:12:08

Comments

Christian News is written by people of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, but it is not "THE" official publication of the LC-MS. Check the home page of the LC-MS at www.lcms.org. Also it is not the "Lutheran Synod". Thank you. an LC-MS member who reads Christian News and other Lutheran publications.

Date:

16 May 2004

Time:

04:39:10

Comments

"Christian News" was founded by Herman Otten, who has never been certified for ministry in the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod. Not only is it not the official paper of the LC-MS, it has no actually affiliation with the LC-MS other than the fact that it is sent without charch to LC-MS churches in hopes of influencing them. I agree that the charge of "heresy" is very serious. The writers of Christian News are very free with their accusations, often relying on inuendo rather than substantiated facts. I'm not sure how you got the impression that Christian News is a mouthpiece for the LC-MS, but it is not.

Date:

29 Sep 2004

Time:

13:57:37

Comments

Christian News is NOT an official publication of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (the church body's current official name), nor are Rev. Herman Otten's views the authorized official doctrine of the LCMS.

Date:

06 Oct 2004

Time:

21:22:31

Comments

Christian News is as far away from being an official publication of the LC-MS as possible. It's current main objective is to attack the LC-MS president at any cost. It is written by one man who has WAY too much time on his hands and breaks the 8th Commandment more often than I had previously thought possible. It is, in every sense of the word, an extremist publication.

Date:

10 Oct 2004

Time:

16:15:39

Comments

The Lutheran Witness is the official publication of the Lutheran church Missouri Synod. Otten while popular in some Lutheran circles hardly speaks for the Synod. Especially when it comes to the Jews.

Date: 13 Sep 2005
Time: 18:58:54

Comments:

I was peppered with Christian News when a delegate to the convention but have not heard a peep from it about anything it is doing or proposing to help the disaster victims of Hurricane Katrina! People are starving and suffering; why aren't you sending to all the delegates on your mailing list to enlist their aid to help these victims?

Date: 08 Jan 2007
Time: 09:13:02

Comments0:

While Christian News may not be "THE" official paper of the LCMS it is widely supported by many in the LCMS. I do not support what is printed in Christian News all of the time but much of the time is does speak the truth. At this time I must agree with Christian News that you and Preterism (including Calvin and the like) are HERETICS!