Walking in Two Ways - and That Could Be OK If We Just Admit It

People who pay attention to the Synod and it's politics will have long noted that there are two major streams in the LCMS. To call them liberal and conservative isn't quite accurate, but rather the question becomes how best to serve our Congregations, our Communities, and the world with our Church.

On the one hand, there are those who long to simply be what we have always (or so we say) been - a liturgical, confessional Church body, sharing in the great liturgical history of the Church, proclaiming the truth of God's love.

On the other hand, there are those who wish to take a more flexible approach, trying to bring the Gospel to people in ways that might be more familiar or easily digestible to them.

It's probably clear that I belong to the former. I think there are some very large problems that come up with the "flexible" approach. However, I don't doubt the sincerity the folks who take that approach. I don't think that they are trying to be evil -- and I would hope they would give me that same benefit. Sadly this is often less than the case on both sides.

And this comes to the point. Maybe it's time to admit that we aren't "a" Synod -- maybe its time to admit that we are two.

If you have two opposing styles of thoughts, there's three options:

1. Theological duke out until one side wins.
2. Political fights trying to wipe out the other side.
3. Peaceful Split.

Option 1 doesn't seem to be happening. The majority of folks on both sides seem rather entrenched. Option 2 is what has been happening for far too long - which is why we have all sorts of political tomfoolery that happens over and over again.

Maybe it's just time for a split. Let's divy things up. We've got two Seminaries - we can split them. We've got several universities - let's see what each side needs and split them. We can go in peace - and let each group, instead of burning energy against their own theological opponents simply go and live.

It may just be pride messing with both of us now - arrogance and egoism. We could just each... go.