Christ is LORD of the Church--not the Delegates

Yesterday at our local circuit pastors conference we had a really great discussion about the Lordship of Christ and about how He is the the KING and what that means for us as his subjects.  We also had a great discussion about how this terminology doesn't sit really well with the American culture of equality, democracy and franchised voters within a representative governmental structure.  This was a great seg-way into our review of the various resolutions which will be brought forward to our Kansas District Convention next month.

I'm truly baffled by some of the resolutions put forward by some of our sister congregations and circuits here in the Kansas District.  In particular, those resolutions seeking to ban congregations from participation in programs which seek to revitalize congregations and from using materials in worship which are not prepared by the LCMS Commission on Worship (including prayers and liturgies written by myself as well as the popular Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish?).

I guess the thing that bothers me is that if we are all autonomous congregations "walking together" in synod, doesn't that mean that we support one another in our efforts to reach people in our own, separate communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  How can it be that a homogeneous method of ministry can communicate to and connect with the Rancher in Watheena as it would the Bank President in Overland Park, or the immigrant working in a packing house in Garden City?  Each of those people will need to hear the same Gospel, but quite possibly (probably), expressed in much different ways and in different contexts.

Moreover, how does what we do to further the Kingdom in Olathe threaten anything that the congregation in central Kansas might be doing, especially if what they are doing is working well for them?  I'm certainly not going to question your methods of ministry if they seem to be making disciples, so why worry about our methods?  In fact it might take a wide variety of methods as Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:22, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some."

As I recall, our Lord told us to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20)--not German, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod church members, or even "Christians" as society knows them to be.  He called us to make DISCIPLES...people who know, love, and follow Jesus and who try to share that Jesus with the world.  And they won't all look, sound, act or walk the same way.

What if...
What if Matthew had written: "All  authority in District and Synod has been given to the delegates of District and Synod (i.e. Pastor and the lay person he chooses).  Therefore, stay here in your call forever, making perfect worshipers of a particular tradition and liturgy which can never be altered for any reason for ever and ever unless it has been commissioned by Synod, imposing your will and image of the church upon all those with whom you come in contact, as well as all others with whom you profess to be in fellowship with, (if not "walking together") in the name of doctrine, the Confessions and good order, regardless of what scripture and the Holy Spirit seem to say otherwise, teaching them to all to obey the resolutions, regardless of their status as autonomous congregations of Synod, and lo, I will not commune with you until you do so."

If that is what Matthew had written, we'd all do it right, wouldn't we?  And there would be no arguments (and I have a lot to sell you off the coast of Arizona)

Well, he didn't, so I'm relying upon the Scripture and the Holy Spirit to guide me allowing the Church to be a witness to those two things, and not a hindrance, waiting for all this madness to end.

Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come.

Mourning the passing of LCMS burgundy

Though Martin Luther shook the foundations of the earth when he challenged Rome, his followers over the ages have not been known to be so bold in embarrassing change.

As witness too this fact, I still hear folks referring to one particular service we follow as being from "page 15" even though there is no page 15 service in our current hymnal ( Lutheran Service Book (c) 2006) nor its predecessor (Lutheran Book of Worship/Lutheran Worship (c) 1978/1982). The "page 15" they refer to is from a hymnal published in 1941--71 years ago!

And, so, it is with great astonishment, yet chagrin, that I announce to you a great happening to our corporate brand as a denomination. We are no longer the church of the Burgundy cross. It is now blue. Same cross, and, apparently, the same fonts, as before, but LCMS Burgundy is no longer featured in the color palate. Its blue.

Now, the tri-circled "emphasis" device can be red, green and a different color of blue, but definitely not burgundy or purple. Black? Yes. Grey? Certainly. But not burgundy. Never burgundy.

So, what is an LCMS congregation to do?

Its taken some of us 20 years or more to embrace the "new" old logo. We've finally invested in signs with the burgundy/purple cross, we've installed purple carpeting to match in our sanctuaries, we've printed tons of business cards and letterhead with the purple cross, we have a myriad of Recognized Service Organizations which have implemented the cross and color scheme to their sub-brands. What ever shall we do now? It'll take years to use up all that "old" branded stuff. We are conservative (translation: tightwads) with our money and would never just through it away, especially after buying in bulk quantities which insured us the best deal. What ever shall we do?

But perhaps the most important question of all--What will we call the Purple Palace?
The Smurf Palace?

Workplace Chaplaincy!

As a former employee of arch-rival Monfort/Swift/ConAgra/JBC this blog drew my attention. I applaud Tyson for embracing such a forward thinking, yet controversial possition in this area. Most companies want to stay as far away from religion in the workplace as possible. Tyson has realized that people of faith help the bottom line (and probably get along a lot better at work and in the community as well)
Lutheran Confessions: Visiting some Lutherans at Tyson Foods Corporate: The history of Lutheranism and Tyson Foods in Northwest Arkansas are curiously intertwined. Of course, Tyson is much bigger than Lutheranis...

Survey | Young adults and church--Why Young Adults Leave the Church

Many say they find the church judgmental, unwelcoming or irrelevant. Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/13/3368548/why-young-adults-leave-the-church.html?story_link=email_msg

Whether you agree with thier arguments or not, we must listen to what our young adults are saying so that we can find ways to bring them back. Leave a comment on how you think we might break down these barriers to the Gospel?