First: I referred to them as Lutheran monkeys because at some point in time they had discovered the Lutheran missionary compound and taken up residence there, and now they act like they own the place; yet as far as we know there was no evidence of any kind of change or growth in their spiritual lives as a result of living in this Lutheran environment all these years.
Not that this is true for all Lutherans by any means. I'm just reflecting that historically this seems to be kind of the way we've defined what it is to be "Lutheran" - somehow to find your way to a Lutheran place; somehow to take up residence there; somehow to act like you own the place. And some "Lutherans" can be that way for decades with no evidence of any kind of change or growth in their spiritual lives as a result of living in this Lutheran environment.
I say these things as a Lutheran, but I've been told that one could substitute the words "Baptist" or "Methodist" or "Pentecostal" or "Evangelical" or whatever other adjective you like for "Lutheran" and these comments would make as much sense in other churches.
Monkey theology at home.
Second: Another pastor recounted an incident the other day in which he was in a grocery story wearing his clerical collar when a woman asked him what date he was "born again." When he responded that he was "born again" at his baptism as an infant, she shook her head and told him that this didn't count because he had not made a conscious decision to receive baptism.
Leaving all the infant / adult baptism discussion aside for today, this kind of exchange makes me wonder this - is the only really important thing that we know the date on which the Lutheran monkeys took up residence in the missionary compound? What have they been doing there since then, or isn't that important at all?
That seems to be the attitude when people focus exclusively on "what date were you born again?" There seems to be no interest whatever on "what have you been doing since then? Have you been growing spiritually? Have you been rejoicing in the love of the Father? Have you been recognizing the forgiveness of Jesus in your life? Have you been afire with the flame of the Spirit?" That's hardly mentioned. Just: "when did you get in?"
Of course, now that I think about it that's the way folks are around town here, too. "How long have you lived here?" Almost twenty-two years. End of conversation - never mind that we came with three kids who have since graduated from the local high school and from college; two have advanced degrees; all three are married; there are three grandchildren; we've worked continuously these 22 years; there's a new roof and new windows on the house, and so forth and so on. "We've lived here almost twenty-two years" - and that's all anyone wants to here. "I was born again on such and such a date" - thanks for telling me that - I don't need to hear anymore.
Like living in the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matt 20), isn't it? All I have to figure out in my relationship to you is this: did you come into to the vineyard before me or after me, and legitimately or illegitimately? Then I'll know how we'll each get paid fairly.
Monkey theology at work.
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