09/10/2008: "The Lutheran Church and the Emergent Movement"

music: Abstract Truth
mood: Good Soil

Should the Lutheran Church adopt an "Emergent Model"?
This question comes up a lot. Here are some thoughts on it.

In our Lutheran tradition, it is a part of our heritage to voice our concerns about areas of “The Church” that we see as being in contrast with the Word of God. Using the emergent church website(1), there is an article that should be of special importance to the Missouri Synod. In an article by (presumably) an Emerging Church member , he carefully and simply lays out his concern for what he sees as a miscarriage of “church”. Not only are we as confessional Lutherans sensitive to these plights, we, by are confessions are intrinsically connected to these concerns. In articles five, eight, fourteen, fifteen, twenty-four and twenty-eight of the Augsburg Confession, the Lutherans were deeply concerned about what the role the church is. What does it mean to worship? These are all question being asked by the Emerging Church constituency as well. With my limited exposure to this group of people, I see something that is intoxicating for a Christian… I see excitement, hope and anticipation. There are a large number of Christians who are asking for a clearer definition of things like worship. As St. Melito of Sardis once asked in about 180 A.D.(2) , they are looking for an answer to what is on the other side of the “hand” that is reaching out to them in the darkness. They want to know if it is a friend or a foe that is coming to them in their discovery of worship, God’s Word and His Sacraments. Certainly we can agree that these are not irrational requests. These are not the rantings of lunatics. In the year 1517, Martin Luther himself posted his ninety-five theses in hopes that he might get an intelligent discussion on the issues involving the church that he found to be of a great concern. The call in the ninety-five theses is to step back and look at indulgences being forced upon the people. It was also a call to discover what, for the lack of a better term, was real in the practices of the Church and what merely an invention.

It would seem the Emergent people are asking similar questions. In the document section that states “I long for the attainable challenge of Jesus”, the author is crossing over into two sections of deeply important areas of Lutheran theology. First of all, the author has grown weary of his life with Christ being a series of hoops that are designed to increase their sanctification. The first being article V of the AC which clearly rejects this (with possible repercussions in AC IV) and again in articles VI and XX the AC gives a clear view of what our lives should look like in light of the saving work of Jesus Christ. Many of their concerns can be addressed by Lutherans. Another topic revolves around another “hot topic” for Lutherans when the author states “I long for a church that recognizes the value of ancient traditions” and “I long for a church that is not uncomfortable with mystery or with the sacraments” are none other than the natural law of God working on the hearts of Christians who desire to draw near to God in the way that He has given to His Church throughout the Millennia! In AC XIII we confess the overall nature and origin of the sacraments. In AC IX our confessions boldly confess the efficacy and necessity of Baptism and again we see in AC XXII that the innovations in the Lord’s Supper were rejected as it is more than a human ordinance, but a scripturally-witnessed sacrament from Jesus Christ Himself.

There are many other issues in the Emergent movement, but I believe I have been clear in pointing out some important similarities between our respective confessions. Of course the similarities do break down after a point. What makes the Emergent movement exciting is also what makes it volatile. It is very new. While the newness of the movement can be exciting and even attractive, I must be quite explicit as to what this means for the LCMS. Trying to capture such a movement within our own church body would be at best fleeting and at worst destructive to our polity and structure. Rather than seeing the Emergent people as a “new idea” or “movement”, I believe it would be better to view them from a more paternal stance. These people are not mature in their views, theology or polity. Rather than looking into what we might gain from them, let us consider how we might be of service to them. As stewards of Christ’s good gifts and mercy, I contend that it is our duty to send delegates to humbly bring them the answers to their questions via the confessions which have served us so well for nearly half a millennium. One day, by the grace of God, the seeds we plant in their fertile soil of discovery might blossom into a mature relationship. Perhaps one day see the adherents of the Emergent movements may go beyond the static and often frustrating stance of always asking questions and into the place where a very real and unchanging God is revealed to them in a way that they might one day even walk with us. The approach I am suggesting is exciting because it gets to the heart of what it means to be Lutheran. The challenge to the LCMS will reach far beyond any effort in our history. We have the opportunity to be at the Emergent garden as its seedling begins to break through the soil. By God’s good grace and Word, it can be us who nurtures them into the faith that has been material to all of us for so long.

Soli Deo Gloria

shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked

1. http://www.emergingchurch.info/reflection/brothermaynard/index.htm
2. Sermon on the Passover/Pascha (ca 180-190 AD)