Monday, March 25, 2019

Don't be too anything. . .

The internet is abuzz with stories of priests who get in trouble for being traditional Roman Catholics, for introducing either the Latin Mass or for ordering the Novus Ordo with traditional ceremonies (everything from chant to incense).   In some cases, some bishops (Cupich) are intimidating such priests with threats that challenge their sanity and may require them to enter counseling.  Recently, there was a story in the news about a Michigan priest who was removed from his parish because he began to introduce elements of traditional worship.  In the case of this priest, Fr Dwyer, he was accused of introducing incense, vesting the altar servers in cassocks and surplices, and putting some candles on the altar. He also introduced a some elements of Latin and Gregorian chant. Most admit that he did so with care, gradually and with catechesis–explaining what he was doing and why-- but it was not enough to prevent his removal.  Now I have no personal knowledge of any of these situations but I suspect the story is true.

While the above is happening in Roman Catholic settings, there is similar truth among Lutherans, even within the LCMS.  It is not uncommon for pastors to get into trouble for doing little more than holding to the official position of the LCMS by patiently and with deliberate catechesis reintroducing the liturgy, the official hymnal of our church, historic Lutheran worship practices, the teaching and practice of close(d) communion, the teaching and practice of women's roles consistent with LCMS teaching, and the like.  In some places, the bishop (district president is the LCMS nomenclature) is quick to discourage the pastor from the pursuit of more faithful Lutheran doctrine and practice -- especially if the overseer fears that it will create conflict.  On the other hand, the same bishops seem to have no problem in suggesting candidates to calling congregations who will lead them away from the use of the hymnal, the liturgy, or faithful Lutheran worship practice and will support these changes because they believe such is the shape of our future.

So what am I saying?  Sometimes the most dangerous thing you can be as a pastor (or priest) is to be a faithful example of what your church believes, teaches, and practices.  We live in a world in which it is considered good to press even further the progressive edge of your church body but not so good to hold to what your church body has believed, taught, and confessed.  This is true whether you are a Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, or Roman Catholic.  To many folks inside and outside of the church, the best pastor or church leader is the one who is out ahead of the church on such things as gender, sexuality, subjective truth, Biblical integrity, and doctrinal fidelity.  And, by extension, the worst thing you can be is to be considered inflexible or rigid in maintaining the faith once delivered to the saints.

If the church is to survive, she will not survive by surrendering her identity for the sake of the moment and if a pastor or priest is to succeed it will not be by surrendering his integrity in the pursuit of being liked or relevant.  These are trying times and even if the bishops do not get it, the future lies with those who are faithful.  The ultimate faithfulness, of course, is not to an institution but to the voice of God's Word and to the catholic and apostolic faith that this Word informs and guards.  But that faithfulness will come with a cost.  You can complain about it and your complaint may be true enough but our Lord never once suggested that faithfulness was the easy path or the popular one.  In fact, He went to great pains to make sure we knew before signing on that faithfulness would be constantly tested, tried, persecuted, and threatened.  If you are not prepared for this, then you are not ready to be commended to the church as a worthy servant and office bearer. 

7 comments:

Carl Vehse said...

"... the bishop (district president is the LCMS nomenclature)"

No! In the Missouri Synod these are completely different vocations. It's disturbing that a member of the CCM is unaware (or ignores) the difference.

Anonymous said...

The Blogger is beating a dead horse by blaming the LCMS District
Presidenta for the liturgical freedom Christians have. The high
church clergy want all the smells and bells, chanting and chancel
prancing. The regular clergy want to worship the Lord with praise
and adoration and the latest 2006 synodical hymnal.

John Joseph Flanagan said...

To make a wise judgment about ceremonies and traditions used in worship, we need to ascertain if the practice is being continued for our own benefit, or is it really centered around Christ. Do we add traditions simply for the sake of some exclusive tribal identity, or are we focused on sincerely and humbly worshipping the Lord? Some traditions get in the way of true worship, rather than enhancing it. As Christians, each generation within the synods and denominations must recognize that change is not always a bad thing, except in the area of Biblical truth.

Anonymous said...

A wise man told me recently that he comes to church to worship his Lord and Savior, not to watch a performance. When I asked how he can do that with all of the movement in the Chancel, he simply told me, "I keep my head down."
It has reached the point that the worship service has become a distraction to the person in the pew and is more like that of a performance. I thought the point of it all was to lend proper praise and adoration, but instead the attention is on the presiding minister and what color chasuble he's wearing, how ornate it is, does he chant off-key, why does he keep kneeling down behind the altar, when is the organist going to break into a hymn with his solo, and the list goes on and on.
The simplistic service with the wearing of the white alb and seasonal stole, the spoken liturgy, the Processional Cross instead of the Crucifix is preferred by many and the worship of God is directed to where it needs to be, and not distracted by the comings and goings in the Chancel. The Blogger would be well-served to recognize that there are other choices, and with the rise of technology, a member could just as well find a live stream of a church, without ever leaving his living room and bathrobe.

Anonymous said...

Pastor Peters wrote:

"In some places, the bishop (district president is the LCMS nomenclature) is quick to discourage the pastor from the pursuit of more faithful Lutheran doctrine and practice -- especially if the overseer fears that it will create conflict."


Let me guess. The 20th century LCMS is too Waltherian and therefore too out of touch with the "young people." The 21st century LCMS is hip, cool, and "purpose-driven." The LCMS DPs have books by this man on their shelves:

https://pastorrick.com/

Anonymous said...

"The Blogger would be well-served to recognize that there are other choices, and with the rise of technology, a member could just as well find a live stream of a church, without ever leaving his living room and bathrobe."

Such a man is despising the Sacrament, and we know what Luther said about such in the Large Catechism. It is absurd to base our praxis on a hypothetical member in any case.

Your wise man probably would've had to keep his head down in the Temple as well. A lot of ostentatious showing off and colors and ceremony there too. Smells and bells, if you will. Probably kneeling and prostrations as well.

Besides all this, I don't think "The Blogger" would have any issue with your preferred level of ceremony. The issue is with people who abandon the treasure of the Liturgy, or make up their own week by week.

Anonymous said...

It has reached the point that the worship service has become a distraction to the person in the pew and is more like that of a performance. I thought the point of it all was to receive the gifts of God through the means of grace and respond with a sacrifice of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. But instead the attention is on the presiding praise band, the big projector screens and the hipster minister dressed in his de rigueur wardrobe, how hip and trendy it is, his relevant, practical, rubber-meets-the-road sermonettes exhorting his followers to do more and do better to bring the lost into the Kingdom of God, all the while using eisegesis to expound Scripture, and the list goes on and on.

The LCMS is truly in a civil war of attrition. All one can do is vote with one’s feet and with one’s pocketbook. I pray God’s hand be upon the LCMS and guide her through this time when the liturgy of the Divine Service is being denigrated by those in the LCMS who don’t appreciate it and would efface it.