Scouting while non-sectarian should hardly be confused with being a secular organization. The BSA promotes Unionism and Syncretism. Worst still, the BSA promotes Pietism. I am surprised that Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison does not address this in greater detail in his response on the subject. I raised this issue early on in this discussion. Unfortunately, my comments have not been given any apparent consideration.

Scouting seeks to develop good habits and moral uprightness in boys and girls, but without Christ. A scout must believe in some god, but scouting cannot tolerate belief in Jesus Christ alone as the only basis for a really righteous life. Scouting may teach a boy or a girl how to become a useful, helpful, morally straight citizen; in the process, however, it may also develop in that boy or girl a crusted coat of self-righteousness, which protests, "I need no Savior." Then "what good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" The last state of the man will be worse than the first.

"We maintain," said one-time WELS President, John Brenner, "that the scout program still contains elements of religion, that it perverts the teachings of Holy Scriptures; and that, therefore, the Scriptures bid us to avoid it." President Brenner said that in 1945. We must still say that in 2013. That's where I and my family still stand. Where will you and your family stand? Where will your congregation stand? And going forward, where will the LCMS stand? Will the LCMS continue to be indifferent on the matter?