The LCMS and Its Sensible Center

By Charles S. Mueller, Sr.

The word “synod” comes from two Greek words meaning “road” and “with,” as in “Let’s walk with one another down the road.”

Too Narrow or Too Broad?

For some in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) both of these words present problems. The extreme of one group sees the road as narrow and dangerous, allowing for no misstep and no margin of error. The opposite extreme sometimes seems to suggest that our Synod is a road so wide that it is hardly a road at all, and going nowhere.

 Fortunately for the LCMS, neither of these extremes makes any lasting impact on most of our members who, typical of any bell-curved group, cluster in the middle trying to make sensible decisions about what too narrow or too wide means. Striving to keep the church moving forward and together, they regularly redefine boundaries in the light of how Confessional and Lutheran principles can be best applied in an ever changing world.

 Walther’s View has Proven Itself

That’s how the Synod has worked for over 160 years, ever since Dr. C. F. W. Walther sketched out what walking together means in his inaugural presidential address. He began by recognizing that there were many who believed that, without stringent congregational limitations and tighter regulations, there was no way to keep this diverse, fledgling organization walking together. Walther disagreed. He predicted that the organization would survive because it had put itself under the Word of God, was empowered by the Spirit of God and had committed itself to persuasion as the appropriate energy in maintaining good interpersonal relationships. Time has tested Walther’s view and proven him correct—even up until now.

 Though a minority may differ, most know that the Word of God is operational in our Synod today and that the Spirit of God is active within our church body, empowering and enlightening us. But we always have to work on our skills of persuasion. Persuasion is as much an art as a science. It has to be practiced and learned. At the very least, it requires face-to-face contact and the use of careful, caring words. It calls for ears that James describes as “swift to hear” (James 1: 10).

Will We Commit to Persuasion?

Today, as seldom before, all of us in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod need to claim persuasion as the appropriate force in our interpersonal relationships and hone and develop our persuasive skills. How better to do that than by encouraging all the family members to step up to the table and participate as we discuss and determine for our day what is the proper width of the road on which we walk together. This much seems clear: The road is wider than some would have it but not as wide as others might suggest. Our church body knows how to make proper road-width determinations from time to time by applying the give-and-take that persuasion requires.

Everyone at the Table

To make sure the church is blessed with the best that God has for us, we must continue to invite all family members to the table, especially those with whom we do not agree or feel comfortable. Don’t exclude, but include, so we can apply Winston Churchill’s opinion that “. . . talk, talk, talk beats fight, fight, fight.” The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s sensible center can keep on making good decisions—and in the process help some who differ to find and accept some other legitimate choices.

 In order to do what needs doing in the years lying before us, we need everyone. None of us is as smart as all of us. Walther was right!