Study One: Bringing Good News to Inactive Christians
Many congregations and pastors wrestle with how to reach out to inactives. Martin Luther dealt with this challenge as pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Wittenberg, Germany. His advice from the Large Catechism may help us develop gospel-centered approaches to such concerns.
Background for reflection
Martin Luther composed the Large Catechism in 1529 while writing the more well-known Small Catechism. He intended the work as simple instruction for pastors and the literate laity on the basic texts of the Christian faith: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and Confession and Absolution. His writing was based on Luther’s own catechetical sermons, which he had delivered in his own parish in 1528 and 1529. They often reflect practical issues of congregational life.
Luther dealt with a decrease in participation at the Lord’s Supper. Before the Reformation, people were forced by law to commune once a year or lose their membership in the church. Luther, wanting to end this "slaughter of souls" where people were forced against their will to commune, did away with such compulsion. Some understood their new freedom and stayed away altogether. During Holy Week 1529, Luther addressed this problem in a series of sermons, which made their way into the Large Catechism. His approach may be applied to inactive members today. The material for this study comes from the Large Catechism, Lord’s Supper, par. 39-84 now in The Book of Concord, edited by Theodore Tappert (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1959), pp. 451-56.
Questions for Discussion
Remember What God Offers Here. Throughout this section, Luther calls the Lord’s Supper a "treasure" (German: Schatz), a very powerful term. In what ways is the Lord’s Supper a treasure for you and your congregation?
The Two-Fold Nature of the Problem. Par. 40-41 describe Luther’s dilemma as people have become "lazy and listless" or think themselves so strong that they do not need the Supper. What are some of the reasons why people may "drop out" of church life today? Sometimes our solution to such problems may be legalistic. In par. 42 Luther worries about coercion. What forms of legalism might institute a new "slaughter of souls" in our congregations?
Inactive Christians Are Not All Alike. We sometimes make the mistake of lumping all inactive members into a single group. This view often results in judgmental attitudes that crush people who need comfort. Luther distinguishes four situations.
Those Who Despise the Sacrament. In par. 45-54, Luther uses Christ’s command, "Do this in remembrance of me," to emphasize that some need to realize that Christ, not the congregation or the pastor, insists that we receive the Lord’s Supper. My own experience as a pastor indicates that relatively few inactives actually despise God and the gospel. Luther realizes that participation in the Lord’s Supper is not optional (par. 49-50) and that it is not a matter of following human rules and desires but Christ (par. 51-52). We worship not to please some human authority but to put Christ at the center. How may we focus on Christ with children, inactive members or non-members?
Those Who Feel Unworthy. In par. 55-74, Luther deals with people who are dealing with some sort of spiritual crisis. In par. 55-57, he focused on guilt and shame. People felt unfit to receive the Lord’s Supper. Have you ever felt this way? What spiritual crises might keep people from worship today?
To deal with this predicament, Luther uses both the law (Christ’s command to "Do this") and the gospel (Christ’s promise of forgiveness). For Luther, Christ’s command does not merely condemn but also encourages us (par. 62-63). "Do this" means "Sinners are welcome here." How are our congregations welcoming places? For persons in spiritual crisis, Luther emphasizes God’s promise as well (par. 66-74). What does it mean that Christ’s body and blood are "for you"? How does the Lord’s Supper help you and others?
Those Who Feel Nothing. In our own day, apathy may represent one of the greatest challenges to congregational life. Luther also dealt with this challenge in par. 75-82. Notice that Luther does not become legalistic by shaking people up or telling them to "get serious." Instead, Luther reminds them of their human condition (par. 75-78), their place in this evil world (par. 79), and the power of evil (par. 80-82). What circumstances benumb us and our neighbors today?
Those for Whom Nothing Works. At the end (par. 83-84) Luther even considers those who are unmoved by his description of the flesh, the world and the devil. Even here he does not judge them. How may we behave toward the chronically inactive in non-judgmental ways?
This, Too, Is My Problem. Luther’s approach is not legalistic. One way he avoids this pitfall is by identifying himself with the very people he describes. Par. 53: "I have found in my own experience" and par. 55: "This also is my temptation." How do you identify with the inactive?
Giving the Devil His Due. Perhaps most surprising to modern readers of Luther is his emphasis on the devil. He realizes that wherever people hear the good news, they will face spiritual trials and attacks. Thus, for him, inactivity is not simply "our fault" and, hence a matter of blame. Inactivity also involves forces and powers far stronger and more devastating than any one individual. How may this insight help ministry with "sleeping" Christians? How may it help you as you face your own spiritual crises?
Some Difficult Words. In par. 42, Luther talks about such people "not being Christian." He is not judging their relation to God but pointing out how serious this matter is. In par. 58 note that the "shameless and unruly" are hardened people who publicly ridicule the gospel and the Lord’s Supper and do not think they need forgiveness. Such spiritual arrogance, in my experience, is extremely rare. In par. 69 Luther realizes that just as Christ’s presence brought judgment upon many who despised him while he was on earth, so his presence in the Lord’s Supper is never neutral. Yet, forgiveness is always there for those who need it.
Go back to Lutheran Confessions: Guide for the New Millenium introduction page
Go on to Study Two: Conversations About Congregational Conflict
Read about Additional Topics and ResourcesPosted 5/5/99 by Kyle Barger