Well, the point of this is to say that I have been led to the perfect video that illustrates the task of the project and shows us the goal... You watch and see it if is not the flowering of koinonia from the erratic and divergent sound of chaos...
Sunday, February 3, 2013
The Goal of Koinonia
Those outside the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod may know nothing of the project called Koinonia. It is the dream child of our President, the Rev. Matthew Harrison, in the face of divergence, diversity, and difference that threatens the common witness and identity of our church body. While there are some tempted to meet this conflict with the force of by-law or demand, Harrison has invited us to a conversation in which we leave aside our prejudice and speak first of that which we hold together and then to that about which their is disagreement. The goal is find unity (at least among 85% of us or more) over a ten year period. There are those who think it all foolish and those who are impatient with its deliberate pace but I think it may be just right. I am hopeful.
Well, the point of this is to say that I have been led to the perfect video that illustrates the task of the project and shows us the goal... You watch and see it if is not the flowering of koinonia from the erratic and divergent sound of chaos...
Well, the point of this is to say that I have been led to the perfect video that illustrates the task of the project and shows us the goal... You watch and see it if is not the flowering of koinonia from the erratic and divergent sound of chaos...
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3 comments:
This is just going to lead to huge disappointment and even (formal) schism within the LCMS. A conversation to start the ball rolling to unity? That definitely implies there is no unity already.
Rather than trying to come to unity, it would be better to assess the cause as to how all this theological, doctrinal, and praxis divergence and diversity occurred in the first place. And the answer is simple--adiaphoron. How can unity be accomplished if so much can be labeld "adiaphoron?" The answer is it can't. As long as adiaphoron has the same exalted status as it has in the past in the LCMS, then there will be no unity of faith and doctrine, let alone praxis.
Conversation will only cause those participating to harden their stances. DOes that mean the confessionals will be forced to make even more concessions? If so, then you've already lost because the confessionals are already engaged in a holding action to maintain what they have. To make concessions is only going erase those gains.
I'm sorry to be so blunt about this, but this is the wrong solution to a problem that has been around in the LCMS for 50+ years. If the LCMS wants unity, it's going to have mandate it (which would be tantamount to papism, and that will never fly) or accept the status quo and let individual congregations choose what and how to be a church reminiscent of how the ELCA operates and that will only be a recipe for mass defections from the synod. Those seem to be your only two choices. For 50+ years, the congregational polity of the LCMS has allowed the influence of Calvinism, Evangelicanism, Liberalism, atheism to penetrate into the training of pastors and then sending them out. You simply can't undo 50+ years of this with a mere conversation.--Chris
Historically, this approached has worked in Lutheranism, from the Forumla of Concord to the shift in Wisconsin Synod from liberal to confessional... it can work. The issue here is clearly if the agitators will allow it to work...
Enjoy your contemporary worship. Although I don't like singing pop songs to the guitar praise band in church, some members of my family like it. I absolutely detest those LCMS congregations that offer only one kind of worship service -- Contemporary. If such congregations want to hold a contemporary service as a second Sunday service, then let them. The horse has left the barn. Keep the whole family happy. Live and let live.
If all LCMS congregations would be required to have at least one Sunday morning divine service and to teach new members Luther's Small Catechism, we could have 98% unity. Some nationwide uniformity is required in order to have a common confession, don't you think? I can go anywhere in the country and expect a Big Mac at a McDonald's. Why can't it be the same throughout the LCMS?
All opposing sides need to sit down and discuss why Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Beth Moore, etc. should be taught in Lutheran churches. Let them examine the numbers. Has the church growth movement caused a dramatic increase in membership? No one on either side of the debate wants to talk about the millions spent on church growth programs. Where is the audit of the money already spent? Could that money be better spent elsewhere?
All of these "reforms" were done to attract young people. Have they indeed joined the LCMS? If most young families notice that the worship and study materials at the local LCMS congregation are exactly the same as at the non-denominational church down the street, then why bother with the LCMS? Oh wait, there are differences: Better coffee and a superior praise band can be experienced at the non-denominational church.
Potential converts from evangelicalism to Lutheranism are not seeking a praise band, books and videos by Willow Creek or Saddleback, or in altar calls. Want proof? Ask those converts.
I hate to admit it, but I have higher hopes of the NALC declaring altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS than in the LCMS trying to figure out why it wants to become an evangelical church. At that point, I would be interested in leaving the LCMS for the NALC........
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