Living Lutheran. . .

I had set it aside but then picked it up.  The Living Lutheran is back in print, albeit down to four issues a year, and the Winter issue is telling.  While never actually conceived of nor implemented as a doctrinal journal to teach the faith or even confess it in words, it remains the official periodical of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  So what does that mean exactly and what is it all about?

I took the liberty of surveying the magazine to find 11 authors (3 of them even male) but instead of putting before you the names of the various articles, what you have below are the words in large print drawn out from the prose.  Here is the gist of what the ELCA has become, at least by its own definition and according to its on publication.  The banner on the front cover proclaims that these are stories of God's people living their faith.  Just inside that cover the reader is told of the ELCA we are a church that values and encourages diverse voices and lively dialogue in our faith and life.  Living Lutheran is an opportunity for church members to express individual perspectives, and does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Now that is interesting -- an official journal that does not necessarily reflect what the church that publishes it officially holds.

Early on we are told "Our loving Lord laughs often and joyously and invites us to do so as well."  Good to know.  I am not sure if the Lord is laughing at the same things we are or if the Lord is weeping over the things at which we snicker.  But that would involve seriously mining through what the Church believes and confesses and that is not quite what this journal is all about.  So as long as everyone is smiling or laughing it would seem all is well.  Then follows the introduction to the newly elected and installed presiding bishop and secretary.  I presume there is a bit more gravity given to this but perhaps not.  Then a piece about Charlie Brown's Christmas and one on putting the putz (decoration?) into Christmas.

As if on cue, the magazine insists "God did not lead them through familiarity or tradition but through wonder and curiosity."  The Magi, that is.  Outsiders with nothing more than an innate curiosity and a sense of openness to find God where you never expected Him (should I have said her?).  Oddly enough, the next pages describe "The Pig Project has distributed more than 3,500 pounds of meat."  In Iowa, pigs are big business so a food ministry distributing pork is probably to be expected.  In the same story it is proudly announced that the author finds it "counter to the narrative that the church is dying, to see congregations adapting and changing."  But it is dying.  Not because I said it but because the statistics chronicle the decline of a denomination that is close to half of its original size in 1988.  Presumably no one wants to admit that and not on the pages of the denomination's only print journal.

In an article on Ash Wednesday, there is great mention of how we are all broken and a listing of many sins (even systemic and corporate sins) but no sins against the sexual morality of the Bible.  Oh well, God forgives them all and as long as we name our pain, we are good to go, it would seem.  Not sure if it qualifies as corporate or systemic sin but there is an obligatory article on "The impacts of the federal spending law -- along with an ad for their own credit union, I might add.  There is the expected article which speaks of "A reflection on the multicultural young adult event" which should be every event in the ELCA.  Don't forget the National Day of Racial Healing to Center Storytelling."  It may seem a bit odd that a church body nearly 99% white would have so prominent a mention here but that is the shape of the gospel proclaimed in the ELCA -- yes, Jesus did something for us on the cross but what about how bad things are now and what should we be doing to fix what Jesus apparently did not.  Can you hear the snark in my voice?

In the end, we can be comforted by the final words.  "God made you quirky and loves you a whole lot."  That about sums up the New Testament, now doesn't it?  I have no doubt about the sincerity of the writers or even the goodness of some of their causes.  What I simply do not get is how the primary publication of the ELCA can somehow fail to describe what this Gospel is or confess it clearly along with such glowing descriptions of the way some are living out their faith.  My point is simply this.  Without defining the faith that you are living out, the work you fails the definition of Lutheran.  Unless you think the Reformation was about diversity, social ministry, and good works to take the place of Christ's good work on the cross.  I am sorry I am such a downer today but it is very difficult to take the smiles seriously given the doctrinal failings of a church created from a proud past with a hopeful future.