Lay People Are Not Being Taught About God's Calling For Them 

(First in a series of  six)

By: Rev. Jack Cascione

1.  Many lay people in the LCMS are no longer being taught Luther's and Walther's Teaching on the pastoral office.

After hearing all the rhetoric about what pastors are supposed to do and not to do one wonders if the laity exist to fill pews and increase statistics. At times it seems that the highest calling for a lay person in this life is to say, "I'm part of a growing church!"

Lay people are not being told Luther's teaching that lay people have a higher divine calling from God than the pastor in their own homes and in the state.

Rather, they are being indoctrinated and stretched between false dichotomies.  On the one hand, they hear Church Growth advocates teach that everyone is a minister, they need spiritual gifts inventories, and they need to be led by CEO/pastors and Boards of Directors if the congregation is going to grow.  On the other hand, they hear Hyper-Euro-Lutherans (those who want to promote 19th Century, pre-Walther, European, Lutheran hierarchy in the LCMS) teach that the pastor is the head of the congregation because he has the "sacrament of ordination."

It's the LCMS version of antinomians (who say there is no law) versus the legalists (who make up their own laws).

Lay people are often heard to clamor: "Oh, to participate in some of the pastor's spiritual gifts and duties!" Or they pray, "Oh Lord, give me grace through your chosen transubstantiated vessel, my Father-Pastor-Bishop." Or they pray, "Oh District Office, send us a CEO/Pastor/PLI-Leader who will direct the corporation, tell me how to enjoy myself in the worship service, and make all my decisions for me."

December 12, 2002