A Discipleship Guide for Lutherans
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I routinely am part of a conversations about how to share the good news of God in Christ with others and how to invite people into a life of faith. It is a concern that many have, not always because of the good news of Jesus but because of the bad news of church decline. But wrong motivation doesn’t mean the doorway isn’t still there for good stuff to emerge.
But I often hear the same thing from mainline folks everywhere. We like to serve. We like to pay attention to the world around us. But we don’t like to talk about our faith. Almost always the reason is the same: whatever brand of church we are part of doesn’t do that. It’s in our DNA.
I don’t see this nearly as often in African American churches, Pentecostal churches, and lots of other less mainstream traditions. But in predominately white, mainline churches it seems to be almost a mantra.
It is time to stop! The Lutheran strand of Christianity that I belong to is clearly founded in sharing the gospel. The focus on Jesus as the Word made flesh and the emphasis on hearing the good news of the gospel and believing it is the primary reason Lutheranism exists. Yet after World War II Lutherans merged into larger and larger denominations, combining various northern European enclaves into what would become one of the larger mainline churches in America.
Joining the mainline was the beginning of not sharing our faith. It is true for all mainline traditions. The word “mainline” came from Philadelphia where well to do people could live in neighborhoods well served by the best trains (the “main lines”). Well to do people lived in these communities and formed well to do congregations. In some ways “mainline” is synonymous with “white” and “privileged” all at the same time.
These churches didn’t do evangelism. They simply stood proud and were open to all who wanted to join them to come and be a part of the success they shared. It was a circular system. Joining a mainline church gave the member status. Joining a mainline church made the church stronger. Everybody wins.
But in a system where joining and winning go together, it is easy for the gospel to get lost and for the reasons to become Christian to become obscured. People talk of programs and come for the music, youth group, the preacher, or whatever perks come with belonging.
If mainline churches are going to re-root, they will first have to repent of being “mainline.” It has been a trap that we have been drawn into. In the process we have become enamored with church life but often diminished our ability to focus on Jesus. And then we have seen it as normative and moved much that should be central out to the periphery.
So next time you feel tempted to say, “We don’t do that…” when it is time to talk about your faith, catch yourself and say, “I’ve been coopted into not talking about my faith – I refuse to stay captive to that anymore.” And begin to find ways to graciously share and encourage others to share as well. It is a much more faithful (and less mainline) way to follow Jesus.
Thanks You are on target.
Hi Bob - thanks for the note and the kind response. Be blessed!
Dave, thanks for the history lesson. As someone who converted into Lutheranism, I never actually knew where the term "mainline" came from. And I never understood why people don't shout out from the rooftops the Good News of grace that we Lutherans have to share with people. I wonder if part of that comes from the faulty idea of what evangelism is (Bible thumping), rather than noticing where God is already active and inviting people into that activity. I love your last paragraph because it incorporates something that Lutherans should already be familiar with - confession and forgiveness. We are captive and sin and cannot free ourselves. Privilege is that captivity and we need Jesus to free us. And when we have been set free, look out. How beautiful that is. And then look out, we are set free to go and proclaim and be out in the world with others and share that Good News, and notice it where it already is. Thank you for this beautiful article.
Hi Matt - great to hear from you and I appreciate your response. Yes, captive is the right word for our sin and it is hard for people to think of privilege (which are also sometimes thought of as blessings) as sin. But they certainly can be synonymous. I hope people catch the vision as you say it to be "free to go and to proclaim..." Have a blessed Advent and Christmas.
YES! DNA can be changed, believe it or not. The congregation I serve in Cary, NC, Christ the King Lutheran Church, several years ago adopted the motto "All are welcome, no exceptions" which has since seeped into its DNA. Despite the pandemic, we received almost 150 new members this year (the last group of 40 is joining this Sunday), a direct result not just of our evangelism efforts, but also because we've trained people to be welcoming to vsitors and guests. Going forward, we are part of a joint social media marketing campaign of 8 ELCA churches in the Triangle region of NC. Check it out at hopeforthetriangle.org. (Also: Hi, Dave! Hope you are doing well).
Wolfgang, Thanks for the testimony that we can do things differently and for the good work you are doing there! With effort, we can make changes and be more outwardly focused and Christ-centered in our work. May you and your family have a blessed Advent and Christmas!)
Interesting. I too, was raised to pray in the closet (as per the Bible) so we led by Protestant Christian (Presbyterian) example careful never to allow idolatry or ego to interfere or guide my /our public prayers or actions. Quietly introducing someone who has asked for my help to a congregation Is fine (I also do good deeds anonymously for the same reasons) but pronouncing God or Christ as my personal savior making a public spectacle of worship even in my own church or donating to mega political evangelical churches for spiritual favors (no matter how much crying on air Tammy does or what $1,000.00 cloth or seed will do for me) does not sit with me. I just cannot do it. I cannot even do the if you love God posts on Facebook. I view them as self-promoting not evidence of true devotion that business of earthly recognition over that of God and Heaven. We no longer attend services and I miss the moral ethical reminders that are soooo helpful to guide/influence our decisions and behaviors
Thanks for your kind reply and I hope you are in good health and the happiest of holidays. Your point on tolerance and openness is well taken it s probably more important than rigid adherence but at times a true struggle, to be sure (for me).
Thanks Barbara. I struggle with some of the same dynamics, especially the "If you love God...." posts on Facebook. But I know that there are also places where we should be more open and inviting with our faith than we have been, so there is some balance point that we are all struggling to find. I hope you are well - have a great Advent and Christmas and thanks for the post. Great to hear from you!
It's that 'mission' or 'museum' syndrome. Having a daughter in museums, even the museums are reinventing themselves to reach more people. Maybe the new image should be mausoleum.
This made me smile! "Mausoleum" Hope you are well.
I always wondered about the meaning and origin of the term "mainline" in describing certain denominations What you've shared is not all the surprising, now that I know!
It has long been my contention that most of the people in our mainline churches have a great relationship with their congregation but have little or no relationship with God. This spiritual disconnect is causing problems in stewardship, evangelism, & is a key to preventing our facing our lack of diversity.
Rick - thanks for the comment. Without the kinds of renewal you point to spiritually, it will be an uphill climb to nowhere. But I still believe that with a renewed spiritual focus, we can help people both renew their relationship with God and be better agents on behalf of God as well. Have a blessed Advent!