Adult Discussion - Lutheranism As A Way of Life
Before Sandy and I became Members of Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in early August, Pastor Chad gave us a booklet “Baptized We Live – Lutheranism As A Way Of Life”, by Daniel Erlander. What I like about this booklet is that it attempts to answer the question “What is Lutheran Christianity?” in a manner that avoids defining Lutheranism as primarily a system of doctrines – let’s leave doctrines to the theologians! In contrast the booklet focuses on Lutheranism as a way of seeing, hearing, teaching and following.
We are going to kick-off Adult Discussion by discussing this booklet. Those of you are not life-long Lutherans, are invited to the discussions in the hope that you would find discussion of this booklet as informative as I did. Those of you who are life-long Lutherans, and who feel that additional discussion of what it means to live a Lutheran life would not be of benefit to you, you are invited to the discussions so that you can be of benefit to the rest of us.
Before we explore what Daniel Erlander believes Lutheranism is as a way of life, we are going to survey ourselves to see what we think it is. Would you be interested in answering any of the following questions? Would you be interested in the answers your fellow ASLCers have? Please come to the first session of Adult Discussion next Sunday, September 14, at 9:45 am. You can pick up your copy of “Baptized We Live” then.
Sunday September 14: Introduction: What is Lutheran Christianity?
“You may notice that many of the characteristics of the Lutheran way described in this booklet are also traits of other Christian traditions. This fact reminds us that Lutherans have no monopoly on certain ways of being Christian. However this booklet suggests that the total of characteristics discussed is the Lutheran way.”
I am aware that being a Lutheran at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Colombia Maryland, is different in some aspects than being a Lutheran at Solomon Lutheran Church, Greeneville Tennessee (Est. 1797 – Oldest Lutheran Church West of the Alleghenies), even though both are ELCA congregations. Some of you have come from other ELCA congregations. How do you think ASLC differs from them in terms of beliefs, practices, and Lutheranism as a way of life?
And I am aware that there are Lutheran churches in the US, other than the ELCA, e.g. Missouri Synod, Wisconsin Synod. What do you think we as Lutherans have in common with them in terms of beliefs, practices, and Lutheranism as a way of life? What differences do you think we have with them in terms of beliefs, practices, and Lutheranism as a way of life?
And there are still more Lutheran churches outside of the US. Some of you have come from these churches, e.g. Denmark, Finland. What do you think we as Lutherans have in common with them in terms of beliefs, practices, and Lutheranism as a way of life? What differences do you think we have with them in terms of beliefs, practices, and Lutheranism as a way of life?
And there are other Christian churches beyond the Lutheran tradition, e.g. Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist. Some of you have come from these churches. What do you think we as Lutherans have in common with them in terms of beliefs, practices, and Christianity as a way of life? What differences do you think we have with them in terms of beliefs, practices, and Christianity as a way of life?
Sunday September: Chapter One: A Way of Seeing
“We do not find God. God finds us.”
Please e-mail me with suggestions for next week’s discussion.
1 comment:
The last quote, " We do not find God. God finds us." I couldn't agree more. I certainly wasn't searching for him and it was more than obvious that he found me. A little nudge here, a little nudge there, sometimes a whisper, sometimes a shout. And endless patience (on his part). I am still in awe....
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