Necessary Roughness

Funny how the blogosphere works. I was searching the web site of the LCMS Ohio District for details regarding the “Transforming Congregations” initiative they are preparing for my congregation. I didn’t see any posts on T.C., but I saw a post on Issues, Etc., which I forwarded to some friends, who discovered another post on the site and began circulating.

Rev. Terry Cripe, president of the Ohio District, published a post on the revitalization of congregations. He mentions Ablaze!^TM, but instead of focusing on the counting of contacts, he focuses on maintaining the distinctiveness of Lutheran teaching.

He tells the story of four Lutheran pastors who upon further examination found their congregations weren’t Lutheran anymore. Instead of giving in, these pastors began reviewing the Small Catechism with their congregations. Some received it well, and some didn’t. Key quote:

These pastors could have taken an easier route. They could have rolled with the situation and continued down the path they found. But instead, they took the road less traveled. The saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, minus legalism, minus decision-theology, minus pietism, was restored in all of its comforting beauty and power. Wherever people hear that their sins are forgiven and that through faith in this Christ, a glorious eternity awaits them, a fruitful response comes and the congregation is strengthened.

The whole post is worth your time.

Some of my friends know that I am quite leery when any program is established, especially a man-made program done in the name of the church. If this is indicative of what is coming with the “Transforming Congregations” program, this would be a very good thing. God grant it!