I received a comment on idealism being one of the Church's deadliest enemies, and that pragmatism is just as evil, if not worse. "This is most certainly true." What is practical and programatic has been seen as the most important "effective tools" for what many beurocratic b.s.-ers in the district and synod offices call "ministry." But alas, this is not so, not so at all. For I find that 99.999% of all the crap sent to me, as a pastor, from district and synod, is not at all practical, nor effective, but practically worthless. In terms of theology, confession of faith, Lutheran identity, and the like, pragmatism, and its whore: The Church Growth Movement (not too much different than another "movement" I need to do here shortly [i.e., BM]) are only tools of the evil one, "...and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8 ESV) If you've exhausted the entire canon of Scripture in your teaching, preaching, etc., and thoroughly explained and interpreted the same through the full confession of our faith with the Book of Concord, and completely sung through and have had all your members memorize all of the solid Lutheran hymnody and liturgy; then you may want to "see what else is out there" (practically speaking). But no, you don't even have permission from Holy Church, and your ordination vows to do that! So why, in the name of Christ and His Church, are you so bent on being relevent, practical, "winsome" and liked by all, herding them in like cattle, instead of shepherding them as sheep? Why? Because you, oh creative-executive-type, are like the pragmatism, and the programs you bow to: "practically worthless."
In the words of one of the greatest exegetes the Lutheran Church has ever had, Dr. Harold Buls: "'nuff said!"
Regards,
The Northwoods Luther
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Right on, Northwoods Luther. Just one comment on your statement, "If you've exhausted the entire canon of Scripture...."
Jesus says: "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10, KJV).
Jesus reminds us to consider ourselves "unprofitable servants" - not creative leaders or corporate executive officers. The church isn't to work like the business world!!
If one (heaven forbid even a pastor) feels the need to go beyond God's Word,take a lesson from St. Paul who puts it much, much more nicely than I would, "To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe" (Philippians 3:1, KJV).
St. Paul didn't grow bored with repeating the same old Gospel over and over again. Shame on any Christian who would ever find God's Promises boring, ineffective or irrelevant.
Once finished studying the Word, start over!! It's truly the safest thing the child of God in Christ can do!!
Keep up the good work Northwoods Luther.
In Christ,
Lutefisk Lov'in Lutheran
Post a Comment