Resuscitation or Resurrection

By Robert Schmidt, M.Div., S.T.M., M.A., Ph.D.

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod isn’t quite dead yet.  However, the prognosis is discouraging.  Congregations are aging.  Most of them are shrinking in membership.  Many smaller congregations cannot afford a pastor. The Synod is badly split.  Missionaries have had to be brought home.  The colleges and Universities are trying to stay alive in the face of bad economic conditions. Many pastors are at the point of burn-out.  Few of their children even consider the ministry.

The malady weighs on us all and plans abound to resuscitate the church.  Like the Pharisees of old, one plan is to try to keep the teaching pure, to keep the members uncontaminated from other denominations and other faiths.  The prescription is closed communion, refusal to engage in anything like joint worship, and avoiding any contamination at civic events with people of other faiths.

Another plan is to try again to unify the Synod under a banner broad enough for all.  Conferences are held for better communication, talking about doctrinal differences, and recovering loyalty to the Synod.  The fellowship is appreciated as much as a dying patient loves to see her warring children gather at her bedside.  But the breathing is still shallow and labored.  The visitors look at the clock and calendar and wonder, “how long?”

Still another plan is amputation.  Both sides in the current LC-MS dispute have wondered about leaving the Synod if their side loses.  Such an amputation might bring some of the hostility to an end.  However, the larger question remains of whether the energies currently channeled into the dispute would be redirected into mission and ministry.  Will smaller congregations start growing? Will ministerial candidates multiply?  Who will pay for the institutions? Upon hearing the news of a possible amputation the patient turns to the wall crying.

Plans for the resuscitation of the Synod germinate from the fear of death for traditional ideas of ministry, theological education, parish structure, denominational pride, the myth of walking together, financial assets, and job security.  It is tough to see anyone die, especially a mother who gave us birth, nurtured us on our way, taught us wisdom, and gave us our identity. 

But rather to try to resuscitate the dying we might rather rejoice in the resurrection. What if we returned to Jesus’ example of calling and training lay ministers to be his disciples?  In the moribund Judaism of his day, Jesus called no scribes, doctors of the law, or synagogue officials.  Rather he called fishermen, a political activist, a tax collector, and others to be his followers.

For three years he educated them in the midst of ministry.  He announced the kingdom, and began fulfilling its promises.  He forgave sins, fed the hungry, healed the diseased and liberated people from demons.  Reflecting on his actions he taught his disciples.  Then he sent them out to do the same things, proclaim the good news of the kingdom and demonstrate its power.  And Jesus saw Satan drop from of heaven.

Money was no problem.  There was little and little was needed.  No institutions needed to be supported without which no ministry could take place.  It was a dangerous ministry as more traditional officials saw the eroding of their influence and control.  However, it was a happy and joyous ministry that did not depend on the approval of people but on the power of God.

When Jesus taught lay people to be his disciples, he taught them to be his replacements.  Greater works than his, they would do.  As he had called and trained lay people to be his disciples, they were to call and train others to be his disciples as well.  Fellowship rules were soon abandoned.  Peter has a nightmare and visits a Roman Centurion.  Lay deacon, Philip, baptizes an Ethiopian.  Despite disagreements and congregational conflicts there was still, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism one God and Father above us all.”

Tentmakers could start churches and elders could celebrate communion. The word of the Lord grew, from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the world.  Here was a church, weak, vulnerable, arguing about the teaching, but fully alive.  They shared the word of the Lord as it was passed around as letters and gospel tracts. Not built on rules it was open to the leading of the Spirit and celebrated its liberty. Soon it became the model for the world as the Gospel brought diverse people together into one inclusive fellowship.

As we watch our tired mother turn over in agony again and again, we choke back a sob for those better days.  They will not come again.  We pray for resurrection.