By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you-- I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ ---
The greatest error ever to befall the church is either the misuse or the disuse of the instruments of God's grace -- His Word and Sacraments.
Article 5 of the Augsburg Confession states:
"So that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given (John 20:22). He works faith, where and when it pleases God (John 3:8), in those that hear the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ's sake. This happens not through our own merits, but for Christ's sake… Our churches condemn the Anabaptists and others who think that through their own preparations and works the Holy Spirit comes to them without the external Word."
Simply put, this means we Christians have only one way to come to know God, overcome the enemy, live in the world, and make a difference, It is through Christ in Word and Sacrament.
Period.
It is never by the standards of this world.
And yet, like to madcaps eager to make something happen, there will always be a temptation to think perhaps with a little extra push we can get faster and better results we'd like to see in the church. Perhaps with the addition of some new attention-grabber, bait, or grease we can appeal more effectively.
Perhaps with the contribution of a new method or change of technique we can make the church more vigorous or attractive. The church seems to be losing brand in our generation.
That happened to the Republican Party. Virginia Rep. Tom Davis said about that, "the Republican brand is in the trash can...if we were dog food, they would take us off the shelf."
Should we then as Lutherans retire our brand because it doesn't sell well or bring in the numbers?
Maybe we need to change the constitution and by-laws. Maybe we need to change the liturgy. Maybe we need to change the length of the service. Possibly we need to change our strategy. Perhaps we need to add a coffee shop. Maybe we need to bare down more on our own members to step up. Maybe we need to ask people what they are looking for in a church and go according to the surveys. Maybe we need to advertise. Maybe we need a consultant. Maybe we should figure out what attraction some other church has that we don't.
Perhaps we should be more pious. Perhaps we should be more down-to-earth. Perhaps we need to be more ecumenical. Maybe we should be more strict. Maybe we should be less strict. Maybe we should be more bold. Maybe we should be more accepting.
Maybe we ought to try some of the business approaches that work for successful entrepreneurs. I don't know, but maybe a change of style or new design for the church would work. Should we look at church growth strategies? Maybe we should go to a Willow Creek seminar. (The irony is that the wildly "successful" Willow Creek phenomenon has recently needed to be re-invented. They themselves have said it hasn’t worked and needs to be completely re-tooled). The lure is always out there to re-invent the church. And on and on.
But how about this.
We live in the world, but we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons with which we fight are not the techniques, methods, styles, modes, strategies, attractions, approaches, designs, or ways of the world. On the contrary, the Word of the Gospel is the divine power to demolish every pretension that sets itself up.
St. Paul said, "By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you."
It is the tender ministry of the Good Shepherd upon which the church depends. Generation after generation, life by life, day by day the unconquerable power of God's grace through Jesus Christ alone carries His church. It is in the sweet message of forgiveness and peace through our Savior which alone sustains the church – not some style or fashion.
We add nothing --- and need to add nothing --- and must add nothing to the Means of Grace.
Through these the Holy Spirit is given. He works faith where it pleases Him to do so. But He will use the instruments He has chosen, even if they appear weak, dated, ineffectual, washed-out, or unpopular.
It is for Christ's sake alone that you and I abandon all earthly strongholds, all standards of this world, all contrived or enticing methods, and in the strength of Christ alone, in the joy of the Sacraments of Christ alone, know we are where God would have us be and receive all He means for us to have.
