I hadn’t decided on what floor committee hearing to checkout so I just was sitting around when one of the regulars from Steadfast Lutherans, Jim Claybourn, came up and introduced himself. I decided to join him at the FC1 (Missions) hearing. It wasn’t one of the ones I was targeting, but turned out to be quite interesting.
The committee was discussing a new resolution that wasn’t yet published regarding targeting Generation X (me) and the Millennials. I kinda looked around and, if you know anything about the LCMS, didn’t see too many Gen. Xers (none?) so I figured I was obligated to get up and say something. I told them that my generation isn’t interested in being targeted by a program from some organization. We want something that gives us a foundation and something we can believe in. I told them we needed to get back to basics and clearly articulate who we are and what we believe in and that is what would attract Generation X.
I was trying to make the point that the clarity of our doctrine would attract people, not another program, but I’m not sure they heard that. One thing I don’t think the LCMS as a whole understands is that you can’t please everyone. To be a great organization you have to stand for something and that will often polarize people. The church is not an organization, but when we stand for the Gospel we will polarize people.
Outside of the hearing I met Pr. Matt Harrison and his wife. Pr. Harrison gave me a warm handshake and chuckled a thanks again for my video. Mrs. Harrison gave me a hug and thanked me for the video. She said it came at exactly the right time (during the JF #9 dust up) and she could hear him laughing from his computer.
This is a day late, but I thought I should to get it up anyway.
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Hey Brian,
We could be (and tried to be in the FC1 hearing) a perfect example of what is needed, as opposed as to what synod has been trying.
I’m a midwestern baby boomer who grew up Methodist, but have come to appreciate the Bible and Confession after marrying a Lutheran girl and, somewhat reluctantly, joining her LCMS congregation.
You are a Gen-x west coaster in the IT business who grew up LCMS.
Yet we both share the same thoughts on what Lutheran Confessions have to offer – a foundation based on the simple premise that we are Forgiven. Everything else is gimmick and clouds the simplicity of the Gospel as presented in the Book of Concord.
I’m hopeful that Rev Harrison can lead us back to our “roots”. I loved his response to Pr Wilken’s question in his interview on Issues,etc shortly after the election. Pr Wilken asked what Rev Harrison felt was the biggest challenge facing the LCMS. Rev Harrison responded “How we deal with being Lutheran”. What a simple but insightful response!
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