LCMS

As the TIME Magazine article in response to the Pew report closes with:

The survey's biggest challenge is to the theologians and pastors who will have to reconcile their flocks' acceptance of a new, polyglot heaven with the strict admission criteria to the gated community that preceded it.

Personally, I don't have much of an issue with this, after all, I want people who come from a variety of background approaches and life to gather each week to hear what Jesus has to say. In other words, I don't think the gate to the entry to the church should have been there in the first place.

But in Paul's letter to the 1st Corinthians, he writes, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes" (11:26). When we consider this in light of Paul's broader work, we get the idea that, by "Lord's death", he's referring to the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. In the language of my last post, he's talking about the second level, stuff that, according to Pew, most of us ignore.

So, that brings up an interesting question. If eating the body and blood of Christ involves a proclamation of the second level, and according to the recent Pew report most who bear the title Christians don't really view it as a second level faith, who should be coming to the table?

I should pause here and say that I belong to a faith tradition that adheres to closed communion, a practice rooted in the traditions of the Early Church where, following the Scripture reading and sermon, those who were not Christian or were preparing for baptism were dismissed, the doors were closed, and the service continued with the Lord's Supper. This is because we believe that, in a way we can't explain, in the bread and wine we physically receive the body and blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and the strength to live out our Christian life.

Well, in seminary, we were told that the easiest way to determine who should come to the table would be those who profess membership to our denomination (which, dogmatically speaking, is very second level). The idea was that they linked themselves to that body and therefore, in addition to a public linking to a second level confession, they should have been taught that faith as well. However, according to the details in the Pew report, 78% of LCMS Lutherans think multiple religions will bring you to the same destination, which means they aren't holding to a second level confession. (thanks Lutheran Kantor). It seems that somebody simply saying, "I go here." in no way means, "I believe this."

So, how should a pastor respond? Here's my solution, tomorrow, I'm going to do some teaching right before communion. I'm going to talk about the Pew report, the idea of the second level, and invite people to the Lord's Table who wish to "proclaim the Lord's death." I'll also give people permission to stay in their seats if they aren't comfortable making that profession yet. I wonder if anyone will stay seated?

Many of us love Mac ads, be it Mac vs. PC or just a new product being unveiled with catchy music. So, what happens when Microsoft attempts to be creative? This:

On another note, for all of you in the LCMS, doesn't this remind you of most of our video production and creative communications?

What a past couple weeks it's been. From all the stress involved in finally getting the Fishbowl up and running to the conclusion of the whole Lenten season with Easter weekend, I'm not exactly sure how I stayed conscious, let alone sane.

Beyond prayer and an incredibly supportive wife, there were some incredible words of encouragement from a few of different sources. Two of them fell very much along the same lines. One was a pastor back East who found me through the Genesis page and sent me a message titled, "Renegade Lutheran". The other was one of the elders at Christ Lutheran in Denver where I've been helping out in the absence of their pastor. Both gentleman are very conservative and commented how refreshing it is to see an LCMS pastor who is passionate about reaching the lost, and yet also bold about his Lutheran confession.

The other compliment came from a long time LCMS pastor who a friend of mine might coin as "theologically loose". When he got word of the Fishbowl he was simply delighted that somebody in the LCMS was truly willing to step outside the box and engage the world at large.

Then of course, you have the other pastor who's assisting with me here at Christ. His encouragement? He sent me this cartoon (and took sermons on both Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday)!

To all of you, for all of your encouragement, I thank you.