Territorial Bloggings

Days like today make me yearn for the days when I was blissfully ignorant enough to avoid getting entangled in Church/Congregational politics.

We had a voter’s meeting today, and it’s bothering me way too much. I guess I just have a hard time with having to face non-theological (much less illogical) arguments & appeals. I’ve been replaying some of the events, statements, and positions over & over in my mind most of the afternoon, just trying to process it. And I’m still having trouble. I think it’s largely because many of the arguments were couched in non-theological terms. Emotionalism was a significant component, one that was driving some perspectives that (I think) were too tactical & narrow in their foci.

One of the problems that I have with what Waltherian Lutheranism (as practiced in the LCMS) has (de)evolved into over the past 150 or so years (especially in the past 50), is that so many things of a theolocial/doctrinal nature are being decided via majority vote. Theology is not determined by getting the most votes, or at least it shouldn’t be. Doctrine is not to be decided by who can sway the most folks to their side. Far too many things & decisions are mis-identified (purposefully or not) as not really being doctrinal or theological. The Kingdoms of the Left & Right get mixed-up, rather than being properly identified & separated. Who leads an adult Bible class is a matter of doctrine/theology. Whether or not to put on a new roof is not.

It is truly amazing to see just how many factions, undercurrents, and (un/ill-informed) points of view can exist in a relatively small congregation. I could live with being disproven by clear examples from Scripture & Confessions (despite my oftentimes arrogant & know-it-all demeanor, I am quite open to correction…), but I can’t quite be winsome when confronted with illogical and/or emotionalistic appeals.

Right now, I’m wondering why I try to be involved, when it seems quite obvious that I’m out of step with prevailing currents. Especially when existing LCMS bylaws & practices could be so easily leveled against the Scripture & Confessions-based stances that I endeavor to hold & espouse.

I’m still trying to process all this. And, fortunately for me (mayhaps not so much for you), I can use this blog as a place to try and put some shape & form to my thoughts.

More (maybe) later…

-ghp