Breaking News!
That’s a headline that used to mean something. These days, though, “breaking news” is used to simply garner clicks, and often times, the “news” might not even be factual. It misleads through deceit. But hey! The author got his click!
Many of you may have received an email yesterday with that headline followed by “The LCMS Votes for Change: Harrison Receives 43.8% of 1st Round of Synodical President Vote.” Actually, your screen size will have determined how much of the title you saw. The title alone makes it appear that President Harrison was defeated, but this is not the “truth” that the particular media group claims to promote.
For any of you familiar with this media group, you will know that the majority of their material is a lengthy, misleading (but catchy) headline that automatically links to another article or video. In this day and age where “headlines are the whole story,” many are deceived by them. A person might say, “Well that’s on the individual for not continuing to read the source or watch the video.” That may be, but especially within the Church, we are called to speak differently. Just to cite one example, Ephesians 4:25 says, “Therefore, having put away all falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” (See also 2 Timothy 3:13.)
On this particular article from the presidential election, it would have been less misleading had Biermann received the highest vote count even if not a majority. But again, I think we can do better and should do better than “less misleading,” especially if the media group has “truth” in their name. A person or group can endorse and promote their chosen candidate without having to deceive people about the opponents.
Now, it is true that for the first time in the Harrison presidency that a second (and maybe even third) ballot will be required. It is also true that this is only the second time that five men have allowed their name to stand (despite misleading headlines from this particular media group that some had withdrawn). With five men in the race, it is incredibly difficult to accomplish what President Harrison did last time and win on the first ballot. The way our elections are set up, it should not be a surprise that we have to vote again. But to say that a second ballot being required while the incumbent remains in the lead is the “LCMS Vot[ing] for Change” is just wrong.
Do not be deceived. Do not follow after ones who create unnecessary obstacles within the Church and especially ones who pop up by a different name every three years about 9 months before convention! If the second and likely the third round of voting does produce a new synodical president, then the headline will be accurate. Whoever the president of the LCMS should be for the 2026-29 term, he will still be bound to the Scriptures and the Confessions. Pray for unity amongst the brethren and for faithfulness during the second round of voting beginning this weekend.