Just read a fascinating paper by Dr. Adams of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
In it, he outlines a theory that the LCMS today is divided in 3 distinct factions:
Traditional Missouri
Moderate Missouri
Neo-Evangelical Missouri
It's a great read - and to me, it rings true!
Wonderful paper. I differ in only one respect: I saw this division- and especially the influence of the Neo-Evangelicals- when I was a student at River Forest in the late Seventies and early Eighties. For that matter, I saw it coming as early as the Sixties. The Neo-Evangelicals have always been among us; it's only lately that they've risen to positions of influence.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. I just finished reading it and am emailing the link to my pastor, who's probably already read it.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have defined what in your heart you know is happening, and to be spurred on to doing what must be done.
I'm about to embark on a position at my church in evangelism, and this paper provides good armor for that position, because among us are those frustrated by the numbers--or the lack of them. If we only hunt for bodies to fill our pews and offer them nothing more than a safe place to sit their butts on Sunday morning--if we don't make Lutherans of them and remain Luterhans ourselves--we're failing worse than if we "attracted" no one.
--w