Any thoughts on ALPHA?
Does anyone out there have any strong thoughts on ALPHA, from a Lutheran p.o.v.?
Any links to resources that break ALPHA down, and examine it by holding it up against orthodox Lutheranism?
Any ideas on why it’s so appealing to Lutherans?
Any thoughts on why CPH hasn’t developed a Lutheran alternative? (I have a question in to Paul McCain on this, but I have yet to hear anything back from him on this…)
I know that there’s been much discussion on/about ALPHA over at LQ, as well as over at BJS, and while those are/have been useful, they’ve also been somewhat highly charged (LQ more than BJS, to be fair) with more heat than light, and I’m looking in a slightly more objective direction at this point.
ALPHA concerns me greatly, in that I’m perplexed as to why orthodox, Confessional Lutherans would be tempted to use it, thinking that they could somehow follow the “eat the meat & spit out the bones” approach. It strikes me as a dangerous game. And I’m almost equally as perplexed that there hasn’t been an alternative developed, tested, vetted, and promoted so that good, Lutheran theology isn’t viewed as something that isn’t “friendly” to newbies. (by the same token, I should say that I do somewhat dispute the premise that doctrine must somehow be “watered down” in order to not “scare away” those newbies; this is a premise upon which ALPHA seems to be built…)
Any thoughts/ideas/tips that y’all might have will be gratefully received, discussed, etc…
-ghp
The two main problems I see with it are: 1. It is based on decision theology. 2. It was originally designed for non-Christians with little to no understanding of Christianity.
The Alpha Curriculum was one of the deciding factor for our family leaving the ELCA. It had been in our old church for years. The year before we left, it was given to me to use as THE catechismal text for my group of catechumen. (yes, the program was parent-led) The lessons were mind-blowingly simple for kids raised in a Christian church (Who is God, What is Jesus, Who is the Holy Spirit). When I asked the director when we would begin instruction using Luther’s Small Catechism, she informed me that it had been dropped due to PARENTS complaining that their kids were bored with it. I recently learned that, 15 years later, it was added back to the confirmation program; good news until you stop to consider that the church had confirmed a generation of kids who were not taught Luther’s Small Catechism.
There are a number of good critiques of the Alpha Curriculum, begun by Nicky Gumbel. It has no place in any solid sacramental church, Lutheran or otherwise. I would not wish to see it remade into a Lutheran form. For an overview of Christian principles, Luther’s Small Catechism does a much better job. The Book of Concord would also be great, for those who want more in-depth reading. Sure, there’s no catchy cartoons or free suppers, but lots of truth!
Links:
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/alpha.html
http://www.pfo.org/alpha-cr.htm