Peeling Away the Layers

In some of my IT Security classes, we talk about how a good approach to security is like that of a good onion. There will be many layers, some even varied in their implementation, so that a malicious attacker will need to deal with and overcome many barriers to break through. These many layers create an ever-increasing level of complexity and of cost (in terms of time, effort, skill and money).

I cannot help but think of this analogy as it relates to the process of navigating ideologies. It seems that when you really start to unpack an ideology, you can find yourself in an ever-increasing level of complexity and cost (again, in terms of time, effort, skill and even money to acquire some of the resources which may be needed).

In my journey towards full time ministry, I have many layers to peel off my onion as I confront decisions which will need to be made in the coming months, not the least of which is the choice between a traditional route offered by Concordia Seminary or the new SMP program. In a few weeks I will travel to the seminary for a bit of an open house they are having to help answer these and other questions.

I like to think of myself as a careful student of these matters, one seeking to learn and understand and in the end to help advance the Kingdom of God. But as complexity increases, my emotions begin to fragment. It is difficult to maintain balance and I find that can only come with much prayer and devotion. Let me be honest though, it is still very difficult.

One of the greatest difficulties I'm encountering is the realization that my denomination's expression of Lutheranism has a very real divide within it. I'm learning that there are conservatives and liberals within one of the most conservative organizations among Christendom. If you search for Lutheran blogs you will find a great number of them which contain writers who are pretty clearly emanating from the right side of the ideological continuum (or so they say). So, out of curiosity today while I was waiting to head into a meeting, I did a search on “liberal” Lutheran blogs just to see what I would find. I stumbled across this post by Christopher D. Hall where he was doing a similar search, asking, “Where are the 'moderate' LCMS blogs?” Imagine my surprise to find the following reference by Rev. Tom Chryst among the comments:

Article 7 is about the only one I know of. Oh and that guy “celebrating the journey” (Sojourner?). And one of the pastors posts “A few simple Lutheran Sermons”. There are a few, but not many.

What does this mean? I have to tell you that this would be the first time I've ever had that kind of label associated with me. That feels very weird. :-) So here is another layer of complexity, eh? I might be a social conservative, a political conservative, a theological conservative, but I'm a moderate Lutheran? Weird, weird, weird.

I don't know if it is even true. Is it because I don't like the “High Church” movement? Is it because I don't think liturgical worship should be a requirement among our congregations? Or, here's the most likely reason: Is it because I classify “close communion” with the theological term: hogwash? Well, okay. If that is the case then I guess I'm a moderate. I feel like I should go get a blue bumper sticker or something.

But seriously, this kind of thing scares me to death. In all my life I've never really thought about the political nature of a denomination and now it is being thrust in front of me...should I campaign? I'm not interested in Church Growth...does that help? I don't have a vested interest in the ABLAZE movement and I really really really like Christ Centered, Cross Focused theology. What if I said I actually like liturgical worship, but just like the freedom of other forms of Christ Centered, Cross Focused worship. Does keep me from going too far left?

You know, I'm actually an open minded sort of guy. So, if you are a conservative and I'm a moderate (wow that is just so WIERD) and you would like to convince me that all congregations should use liturgical worship, I would be willing to listen very carefully. If you think close communion is the way to go, please talk with me, I have questions. You just need to bring good reason, a Christ-centered theological perspective and a bunch of Scripture. I'm very Lutheran in my expression of Christianity. God help me.

In the mean time, I'm going to keep peeling on that onion and I'm going to keep celebrating the journey. God help me.