Talking Points with Pastor Lucas - Ministry in a Negative World

“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10b). The Apostle John heard these words of Jesus to the Church of Smyrna in His heavenly vision. They are a call to faithfulness amid a culture hostile to faith. They are fitting words for Christians of all times, but certainly for us. At all times we are called to discipleship—to repent of our sins and to live out our faith according to our daily stations of life.

In other words, faithfulness is never static. Faith is always in motion. Faith, says Martin Luther in his preface to the book of Romans, is a living, busy, active thing. It clings to Christ and can be seen in our good works and life of service to those in our daily vocations of life.

Be faithful. That’s also the church’s charge. Regardless of the challenges, we who make up the church are called to faithfulness. That means the church is a community in motion, not one that is static, but one whose movement is always simultaneously inward toward the means of grace (word and sacrament) and outward toward people who need this grace. 

Culture is likewise never stagnant. It’s always changing, always on the move, and in our society that movement is clearly away from the Gospel. In my last article, I noted how author Mark Sayers said we are in a gray zone—the overlap of time between the ending of an old era and the beginning of a new one. One distinct feature of these times has been expounded on by Aaron Renn in his recent book, which notes that for the first time in the history of our country orthodox Christianity is viewed negatively by secular society (Life in the Negative World, 2024).

We certainly see this in our state legislative agendas. Where it used to be welcomed, religion, and especially Christianity, is increasingly seen as a threat to an inclusive society and must not be afforded the religious liberty privileges of the past. We also see it in the general suspicion of Christianity by society. For example, in 1952 President Eisenhower famously said, “Our form of government has no sense unless it is founded in a deeply religious faith, and I don’t care what it is.” But now, as Renn details, Christian morality is expressly repudiated and seen as a threat to the public good and public moral order (p.7).

Even so, the Lord calls us to be faithful. To trust in His promises. As we do, we rest assured the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. This confidence allows us to maintain a non-anxious presence as we navigate and lead through the challenges of our culture.

In fact, sometimes faith requires we act with urgency and decisiveness, even in the face of adversity. Faith is busy after all. It’s always in motion, clinging to Christ and loving our neighbor. The adversity of a gray zone negative world has certainly depleted North American Christianity, even amid a multiethnic and growing national population. Likewise, with the LCMS. In 2000 the Synod reported our membership was at 2.55 million members. As of 2022, Synod reports we were at 1.7 million members. We had 6,143 congregations in 2000 and 5,888 congregations in 2022. Additionally, we are now beginning to experience the long predicted pastoral shortage. Our February Council of Presidents meeting reported we have nearly 11% of our congregations vacant, with another 10% served only part time. Likewise, our Lutheran schools are experiencing a massive shortage of trained Lutheran school teachers, but this as enrollments are swelling.

All together this creates a lot of hand wringing. I do not care for hand wringing. It often brings two types of reactions:  increased anxiety and panic or immobilization and inaction. Part of being faithful includes using wisdom to act strategically and urgently given the facts, while avoiding unnecessary anxiety and panic that leads to bad decisions. Like riding a horse, we must be active in keeping our balance lest we fall off either side into panic or inaction. Such behaviors war against faithfulness.    

But that’s why I give thanks for the pastors and church leaders who bring thoughtful options and actions to our gray zone and negative world challenges, even as they remain stalwartly faithful. I invite you to add your voice to the mix. Walking together as the church we need to collaborate on how to address the challenges of our times for the good of God’s people and the growth of Christ’s kingdom. In other words, consider how we might Go First.

Current examples of action are seen in our Synod’s Set Apart to Serve emphasis that’s making an intentional concerted effort to raise up future church workers and pastors. So, join us in encouraging our youth to consider church work! Likewise, my own alma mater, Concordia University, St. Paul has guaranteed that any aspiring church worker will not pay more than $6,000 in annual tuition, and further, that any pre-seminary/pre-deaconess student will pay no tuition at all.

Yet, we still have immediate needs and challenges to consider, intentionally, strategically, and faithfully. We must consider options to address the present pastoral shortage, as well as the effects of the negative world upon the organizational structure and active ministry of the local congregation.

·  How do we serve those who long for the means of grace but have no pastor?
·  How do we remain faithful yet also take salutary risks that adapt to the challenge of our times?
·  How might district and Synod practices be more adaptive or creative to address the contracting (shrinking) church environment?
·  How can congregations collaborate with other congregations and/or adjust their polity to adapt to shrinking conditions?
·  How might congregations build bridges and interact with a broader community (and government) that does not inherently welcome their presence while remaining faithful?
·  How can church workers and pastors support one another and collaborate on how to offer a faithful non-anxious presence in a gray zone negative world?

There is much for us to consider and put into action. Yet, like he did for the congregation at Smyrna, the Lord promises He will be with us during the tribulation we encounter, come what may, even as we await the crown of life He won for us through His shed blood on the cross.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Lucas V. Woodford
President, MN South District, LCMS