A Pastoral Response to "The Lutheran Collapse"

Recently a video was posted about the collapse of American Lutheranism. This video of unknown source serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges the historic, apostolic, and evangelical Christianity (The Lutheran Confessional Church) faces in America. I believe our response must be grounded in the eternal truths of Scripture, transcending human trends.
 
First, we must place our faith solely in God, who gives the growth. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Cor 3:6 (NKJV)). Our calling is to faithfully plant and nurture the seed of the Gospel, while the expansion of His Kingdom rests in God's sovereign power. 
 
Second, we find our assurance in the unchanging Word of God. A decline in a denomination's member often reflects a waning confidence in Scripture's authority. Luke wrote his Gospel so that Theophilus might “know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed” (Luke 1:4). The Word of God is our “anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Heb 6:19). The church's foundation remains steadfast: For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 3:11).
 
Some thoughts about the decline in the number of American Lutherans:

The Progressive Path of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA): 
The ELCA, as we well know, made a decisive shift to the extreme left on social issues, allowing partnered gay and lesbian individuals to serve as clergy in 2009. This pivot fractured the denomination, resulting in a continued decline with over 2.4 million members lost in 36 years. The anticipated influx of progressive Christians never materialized, as younger progressive Americans often seek alternatives beyond a progressive Lutheran church. While there has been a decline of members prior to 2009, since that year, and every single year since, they continue to hemorrhage members, and it is only increasing! Even within the body, reports forecast a collapse within 25 years (See: https://faithlead.org/blog/decline/) The trouble with the ELCA is they are identified as Lutheran by the world and they want to own it. But as Dr. Albert Mohler, of the Louisville Theological Seminary states, “The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is not Evangelical, they are not Lutheran and they are certainly not the Church. They are just “in America.” I might add that “but they hate America as well.”
 
The Rise of the Religiously Unaffiliated ("Nones"): 
The crisis is further compounded by a cultural shift where Americans of all ages are moving away from organized religion. Recent data also indicates that the “Boomers” have not returned to church as expected since COVID. The proportion of Americans identifying as "nones" has significantly increased, indicating a dramatic societal shift. In my state of Iowa alone, 30% of her citizens have “no religious preference.” This growing group is not merely switching churches; they are leaving all religious affiliations, challenging both conservative and progressive churches to reach those who no longer seek Christian ties.
 
Here is my pastoral response:
 
Investigating the source of the video on YouTube, they have been extremely critical concerning all of American Christendom in other videos not just American Lutheranism. They have been very busy! 89 videos (with AI help) in one month of the posting of this blog! What troubles me is that they are anonymous. I intend to take in their other videos but why anonymity? Are they fearful of retribution? If they speak the truth, why don’t they exhibit their trust in Christ Jesus by identifying themselves? I find it disappointing, but I will take what they have to say worthy of prayer and discernment. I will not be dismissive.
 
Perhaps as Lutherans we have clung to ethnic identity too long and failed to present a compelling, accessible, mission-driven Christian church. I am proud of my Norwegian and German Lutheran ties, but this is not my identity. My identity is in Christ alone. HOWEVER, the largest Lutheran church bodies who are faithful to the Scriptures, liturgical worship and the confessions are in the continent of Africa, and they are growing like crazy! Madagascar is home for the largest Lutheran body in the world. Other African nations have growing Lutheran churches as well. This undermines the premise that the decline is due to a Euro-centric denomination that is no longer relevant. Perhaps in the American context, the video, taken without a deep dive in its presented facts, still needs to be considered as a warning. 
 
Our response must be one of reformation around the Word of God and the Confessions, proper Christian worship, and faithful missional evangelism based on these principles: 
 
Fidelity to the Scriptures
There is no shortage of data that indicates a Gospel-less worship is a Christ-less worship and people depart. Additionally, research on this topic is clear: the commitment to biblical inerrancy provides a clear, non-negotiable theological boundary that can lead to stronger ties among existing members and less people leave the church. It is important to note that this can sometimes hinder those who are looking for a feel-good experience or affirmation in their sins without repentance. However, the churches who hold tight to the Scriptures, with orthodoxy (confessions) plus mission and cultural engagement, are healthy congregations. I recently heard a confessional Lutheran Church leader lament that we Confessional Lutherans are certain about the inerrancy of Scripture but we might have to repent of the fact that we don't trust ​the Scripture as certain as we profess. "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24).
 
Provide Faithful and Edifying Worship
Worship needs to be based on what God has provided through His Holy Word and not through the process of popularity or preferences. Christian liturgical worship is nearly 2000 years old, and it is time tested. The liturgy or Divine Service is about receiving Christ's means of grace through Word and Sacrament. That is, Christian worship is repeating back Holy Scripture that God gave His people and receiving His Sacraments for the forgiveness of sins. The premise of the video that we Lutherans need to dump liturgy because of dead orthodoxy and to draw young people is simply not true. If it was, the church in America would not be in a crisis as more and more Lutheran and non-Lutheran churches have departed from liturgical worship and yet the numbers do not support the premise in a macro scale. Contradicting itself, the unidentified source also released a video (2 days ago) that young people are being drawn to the church to time-tested liturgical worship (see: “Why Young Evangelicals Are Becoming Catholic and Orthodox” https://youtu.be/tPJ7K_yWago?si=7PRvrmNVkiwY0OTN), which supports my claim.
 
Prioritize Mission over Identity Preservation: 
The Great Commission mandates us to go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching them. This is at the core of The America Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC) and the whole Christian Church for that matter. If our traditions hinders this mission, we must adapt our methods while the Gospel remains unchanging.
 
Compelling Vision and Cultural Engagement: 
We must define our mission in the world by action, not opposition. In other words, we define ourselves and our identity in Christ and not strictly by who we are not, and we go and share the Gospel in our various God given vocations. Moving beyond culture wars, we should focus on evangelism - bringing comfort to tormented consciences - and discipleship; inspiring the faithful and attracting the de-churched, unchurched and those hurt by the church by making a tangible difference in their lives and communities.
 
Our goal should never be to restore past numbers. This may not be God’s plan. In some places the demographics don’t support the desire to return to the former glory days. In the rural parts of our country and especially in Iowa, the school bus does not fill up after running around a couple sections of land like it did in the 50s and 60s. There are less farms and certainly smaller families. Most of the Lutheran churches are in rural and small town parts of the country which has seen a tectonic population shift away toward metropolitan counties and cities in the last generation. 

With that, regardless of location, there is no shortage of people who need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to take courage that despite the demoralizing reports, the beauty of God’s plan is He promises there will always be a remnant who will remain faithful to Him (Ez 6:8-10). No matter how dark the world becomes or how dire the circumstances that emerge, the Gospel of Christ Jesus will never be defeated (Matt 16:18). The light that has come into the world through Christ Jesus and He will never be extinguished (John 8:12). 

The church may be smaller, nevertheless, we need to focus on being a committed confessional Christians  faithful to Christ’s command. God has shown in the Old and New Testaments that He can do wonderful things regardless of size. He saved His church of eight (Noah and his family), and the true faith continued. He sent the Christian church into the world with 12 Apostles! 

We must prioritize people over property and mission over institutional preservation. Let us “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18) and faithfully plant and nourish the seed of the Gospel, trusting that God will bring the increase. 

"To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."

For more information about The AALC please go to: TAALC.org.