It was years ago when this book first found it's way into my personal library and it quickly became a favourite. It came at a time when I was becoming aware of other Christian faith traditions (one of the other "rooms" off the hallway that C.S. Lewis likens it to, page 16**) and felt compelled for several reasons to explore the rooms to compare to my own. I am, after all, in the same "room" I was born into, one where I was baptized into Christ as an infant, confirmed and made an adult member after 3 years of being catechized, attended part of grade school, all of high school and part of college still in the "room" and went on to marry a Seminary student who was also in this same "room". To be specific, my "room" is the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. I like it here! It's familiar, comfortable and the potlucks are awesome. More importantly, I believe everything I've been taught here. So what good can come from exploring other "rooms"?
On a fairly superficial level, it satisfies my curiosity. In my day to day life, I'm more often rubbing shoulders with people outside my room. I hear them talk sometimes using terminology that's familiar to me but I start to suspect has different meaning when used in their context. I feel a kinship with these fellow Christians who believe as I do in the God of the Bible and Jesus as their Saviour, but I also feel like I'm in a different "room" - because I am. And so I ask myself the question every good Lutheran asks: "What does this mean?".
In my journey so far to answer that question and with the help of "The Spirituality of the Cross", it has drawn me closer to Christ. It has done that because it has made me go back to the Word to answer the question. This book was just a catalyst, a jumping off point. But it's the Word of God that brings us to faith, that strengthens that faith and that points us to Jesus on every page. As I've compared what I've been taught with what others may believe using Scripture as my guide, I am appreciating and cherishing my Room. Not because of the name above the door but because of how carefully and methodically everything in that room is designed to point towards the cross of Christ. As I consider differing theology and dare to imagine what life would be like without real presence in the Lord's Supper, that Baptism saves, closed communion, roles of men and women, and proper distinction of Law and Gospel to name just a few, I quickly realize that the grass is certainly not greener on the other side nor following the Biblical path that God desires for his children.
The term "evangelical" is confusing in today's Christian culture. Page 18 talks briefly about this misunderstanding. He goes on to define what "Gospel" means which is also a common word that's not always easy to define. I desired more of an explanation than what he gave and I came upon the following from the Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord V 3-6:
It is used in two ways in the Holy Scriptures and also by ancient and modern Church teachers. Sometimes it is used to mean the entire doctrine of Christ, our Lord, which He proclaimed in His ministry on earth and commanded to be proclaimed in the New Testament. Therefore, this includes the explanation of the Law and the proclamation of the favour and grace of God His heavenly Father. For it is written, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mark 1:1). And shortly afterward the chief points are stated: Repentance and forgiveness of sins. So when Christ after His resurrection commanded the apostles to "proclaim the gospel to the whole creation" (Mark 16:15), He compressed the sum of this doctrine into a few words. He also said, "Thus it is written, that Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that rependence and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations" (Luke 24:46-47). Paul, too, calls his entire doctrine the Gospel (Acts 20:21). He summarizes this doctrine under two points: Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. In this sense the general definition of the word Gospel, when used in a wide sense and without proper distinction between the Law and the Gospel, is correctly said to be a preaching of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. For John, Christ, and the apostles began their preaching with repentance and explained and taught not only the gracious promise of the forgiveness of sins, but also God's Law. Furthermore, the term Gospel is used in another way. In its proper sense, Gospel does not mean the preaching of repentance, but only the preaching of God's grace. This follows directly after the preaching of repentance, as Christ says, "Repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15).
Now that we have that cleared up, we move onto the term "spirituality" that the author defines as having to do "precisely with the content, what fills abstract theology, mundane institutions, and the everyday life of the Christian with their substance". (page 20,21)
May it be said (just in case it needs to be said) that Lutherans do not worship Martin Luther. Sure, some of us may have Marty and Katie bobbleheads but that's beside the point! I agree with the author on page 23 where he writes, "One of the great strengths of the Lutheran tradition is that theology is taken seriously and has been thoroughly worked out. Sophisticated theology, biblical scholarship, and vigorous polemics are to be found in abundance among Lutherans."
We Pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, in this world of unrest and strife You founded Your holy Christian Church through faith as a kingdom of peace and joy. You have established this worldwide communion of saints in which all believers are joined by the invisible bond of faith and in which we are gathered around Your Word and Sacraments. I thank You for making me a citizen in Your holy kingdom through the cleansing waters of Baptism. I praise You for Your goodness because You bestowed upon me and all Your children Your Holy Spirit. Keep the flame of faith alive in all believers through the forgiveness and peace given us through Your precious body and blood in the bread and wine of the Sacrament. Continue to fill us with the spirit of love and peace toward one another. Make us the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Fulfill among us Your promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against Your church. Extend Your kingdom so that Your salvation reaches to the ends of the earth. Hear us for the sake of Your truth. Amen. (Lutheran Book of Prayer)
*I plan on suggesting some supplemental listening podcasts as we go along for those that are interested. I'm a huge fan of Issues, etc. which is not from my Lutheran denomination but The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Most of the content has not been an issue. As always, be discerning but I will try my best and only suggest those I've listened too. You can listen directly from your computer but I prefer to listen through the app on my phone. This way I can drive around doing my business and listen as I go!
** I am reading from the Revised Edition, 2010
Responding to Evangelical Proof Texts: "Christianity is a Relationship, Not a Religion"
What words popped out at you in this chapter?
What has your experience been in "other rooms"?
We Pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, in this world of unrest and strife You founded Your holy Christian Church through faith as a kingdom of peace and joy. You have established this worldwide communion of saints in which all believers are joined by the invisible bond of faith and in which we are gathered around Your Word and Sacraments. I thank You for making me a citizen in Your holy kingdom through the cleansing waters of Baptism. I praise You for Your goodness because You bestowed upon me and all Your children Your Holy Spirit. Keep the flame of faith alive in all believers through the forgiveness and peace given us through Your precious body and blood in the bread and wine of the Sacrament. Continue to fill us with the spirit of love and peace toward one another. Make us the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Fulfill among us Your promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against Your church. Extend Your kingdom so that Your salvation reaches to the ends of the earth. Hear us for the sake of Your truth. Amen. (Lutheran Book of Prayer)
*I plan on suggesting some supplemental listening podcasts as we go along for those that are interested. I'm a huge fan of Issues, etc. which is not from my Lutheran denomination but The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Most of the content has not been an issue. As always, be discerning but I will try my best and only suggest those I've listened too. You can listen directly from your computer but I prefer to listen through the app on my phone. This way I can drive around doing my business and listen as I go!
** I am reading from the Revised Edition, 2010
Responding to Evangelical Proof Texts: "Christianity is a Relationship, Not a Religion"
What words popped out at you in this chapter?
What has your experience been in "other rooms"?
5 comments:
First, Rachel, I have to say that was an amazingly well written blog post!
Now, to answer your second question first, because it is fairly simple. I’ve not had any experience in other rooms. I’ve talked to people in the hallway who’ve come out of the other rooms, but never ventured into any of the rooms myself. I do hope those who have been in other rooms will share their experience.
What popped out at me? Here are some quotes and my thoughts about them, in the order they appear in the book.
“Work, family pressures, practical responsibilities, hurting, and failures all have a way of breaking the spiritual mood.” That’s the truth.
Even the activities of religion “…can seem so ordinary. One would think that spirituality would be rather more spectacular.” Yes, one certainly would.
What a brave person the author was to dive headlong into all these different religions!
The author describes the merging of the different rooms into one pop Christianity that “seems bland and one-dimensional, full of good feelings, but rather empty of content.” The following sentence says, “In the meantime, the riches and insights of the historical Christian traditions are all but forgotten.” This makes me wonder whether in this book he will be pinning a whole lot more weight on “Christian traditions” than I would. Some of my fellow Lutherans do put more weight on historical traditions than I do. That’s not to say that this kind of focus is inappropriate. However, I prefer to focus on the fact that God is alive in the here and now. His word is just as living and active and relevant today as it was the day the words were first written. If there is too much focus on traditions, we risk trying to escape in our mind (and in our traditional church buildings and liturgies) to a holier place and time – which, incidentally, exists only in our imagination. There is no holier person or holier place or time than us, here, now. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” –Romans 3:23-24 In focusing too heavily on “Christian tradition,” there may be a danger of forgetting that Jesus is for me, for now, for here, for today. Our heavenly Father is at work in each of us and in the events of our time, just as much as he was ever at work in any other person or in the events of any other time.
For this reason, I really like the line where he says that the insights of the Lutheran faith “have a profound resonance in ordinary, everyday life, which is the realm in which God is hidden and revealed.” Yes!!!! So true!!!! Ordinary, everyday life is the realm in which God is hidden and revealed!
I noted particularly his discussion of the word “evangelical.” In my lifetime I have seen how the term has been twisted to now mostly refer to a category of Christians – and I mostly hear it used in political discussions. Ick. Growing up, I learned that to “evangelize” was to tell other people about Jesus. I honestly thought it was more about the spreading of the message rather than about the focus on the message itself. Outside of the realm of Christianity, I saw that “evangelize” meant something like “to spread the word about some strong belief or passion you have.” Isn’t that just like the world to take the Gospel out of the meaning? I appreciate having learned from this book that the original meaning of “evangelize” is “to focus on the Gospel.”
...to be continued (I got too wordy)
...the exciting conclusion:
At the end of the section entitled “The Original Evangelicals,” the author says, “The teachings of the first evangelicals prove to be particularly relevant to problems that are now vexing contemporary Christianity, and they speak in a powerful way to the needs and cravings of today’s generations.” Though irreverent, I say “well duh!” These timeless teachings are those of the eternal God, whose word was meant for all people of all times! I do hope the author will explain how he finds the teachings of the first evangelicals relevant to today’s problems. I, of course, believe they are, but I want to know what specific teachings and needs and cravings he is matching up.
On the misleading distinction between spirituality and theology…“They want religious experience without religious belief.” Yup. “Those who see spirituality in terms only of subjective gratification having nothing to do with objective truth lay themselves open to every kind of superstition and exploitation…” Oh, this problem is so pervasive in our culture. I see this as a fulfillment of the end times prophecy laid out in 1 Timothy 3:5 – “having a form of godliness but denying its power.”
The following quote popped out at me as being an odd statement. It is at the end of the 3rd to last paragraph of the chapter (I am reading this as an eBook so I can’t give you a page number). “The full dose of Lutheran spirituality can only, of course, be found within the day-to-day life of a Lutheran church.” I don’t even know what to say about that. It just seems like a weird statement to me. The very last sentence of the chapter says something like it… “[Spirituality’s] locus is the mysteries taking place in an ordinary local church.” So much focus on the local congregation as being the place where spirituality happens. This is a little bit iffy to me…
So many thoughts on this one chapter! Leave it to you, Rachel, to take us on such a thought-provoking journey.
- Your “roommate.”
When I was a little girl, I was around 8, my parents put me and my 3 brothers on a church bus one Sunday. This was my first experience with church. After that time my soul just yearned to be in the Lord's house, something I still feel to this day. But that was just the beginning of my journey. Up until age 18 I visited many different churches, United, Lutheran and even Catholic. I investigated astrology, numerology and other cult ideas. I read about and met people of many denominations and religions.
At the age of 18 my older brother who the Lord had brought to himself at about the same age as I was said to me, come away from the United church, come hear God's True Word, I was curious, so I did. My heart found peace in the Lutheran church, although there was so much I didn't understand, I turned away from the Lord for 10 years, he never left me and finally brought me back to himself. I learned much from those years and of course, I never knew the lessons until I looked back. At this point I have to say "Thank you Lord for holding on too me".
I have a new friend who lives in one of those other rooms. Her interpretation of what the Bible really says is sometimes very distressing to me. I value our friendship, we can speak honestly with each other and I am not one to let something very seriously incorrect go without a comment. Thankfully I have my Pastor to guide me.
I believe I am where I should be. I see a confused and fearful person. I love her, I will be there for her and I know she loves me too. The Lord will work as he chooses, in my life and in hers.
I am looking forward to this study.
Thank you so much for your comments, ladies! I still hope to hear from others reading along to add to the discussion. Don't be shy:)
RunningFromCrazy - always a pleasure to hear your thoughts! I laughed out loud at your signature name of "roommate" - too funny:) You got me there!
You are wise to take careful note of any "distorting of the liturgy" or our use of traditions. Time will tell as we read on in this book exactly where the author stands or if he clarifies it more. LCMS does have a side of them that lead toward "high church" that might make more of tradition and liturgy than we'd be comfortable with. Eastern Orthodox considers their liturgy a "means of grace" though maybe not using that phrase. Catholics officially hold Sacred Tradition up there with Scripture itself as sources of Christian doctrine (Council of Trent). Another side of Christianity throws it all out - anything hinting at historical, traditions, liturgical,creedal, etc. My point is, it can definitely go too far on either side. And the answer to what that Biblical middle ground is can only be found in Scripture alone. Stay tuned to more on this topic as we move along;)
In regards to your closing comment of concern, I totally get it! God does indeed come to us in the ordinary, everyday life of his people. I think what the author is alluding to here as how His mysteries (how He works through the Gospel in Word and Sacrament) are found in ordinary bread and ordinary wine, ordinary water and ordinary men all made powerful - extraordinary - through the Words and Promises of God. (Oops! Did I give too much away? haha!) This is a big part of what sets Lutheranism apart as VERY different from the rest. Keep in mind also that "church" doesn't always mean church building and what goes on inside but that the "church" can also mean individuals who are THE CHURCH (that's how I read that odd statement you pointed out). Again, good points to have on our radar as we continue to read on. I'm so excited for what is ahead!
Thank you, Anonymous, for sharing your personal story and struggles! I pray this will help encourage and equip you in your personal understanding and growth along with in your dealings with your friend. I will keep this in prayer!
And yes, that is good you can go to your Pastor! What a blessing:)
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