My view
Francis as the article rightly implies. Thomas W. Eifert Fayetteville, Pa.
Give me democracy A letter to the editor (May, page 48) questioned the length of time it takes to call a pastor compared to the elec- tion of the pope (recently just 13 days). Years ago Fredrik A. Schiotz, bishop of the former American Lutheran Church, said the ALC was democratic and its conventions were an essential part of operating a democratic church. The Roman Catholic Church is a dictatorial church. Its members had no say in who their new leader would be. A benevo- lent dictatorship is an efficient form of governance. It is not, however, how we in the ELCA operate our church. I’ll take the democratic form every day of
the week. Dick Hansen Green Valley, Ariz.
Spot on The third paragraph of Peter W. Mar- ty’s “Talking about prayer” (June, page 3) is terrific on the nature of prayer. Let’s eliminate the word answer and the notion that God needs a to-do list from us, and affirm that prayer is essentially conversation. “Conversa- tions aren’t about answers. They are about engaging a relationship. They involve sharing company with some- one. Deep conversations promote dis-
covery.” Absolutely wonderful. The Rev. Paul Holte Neenah, Wis.
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By James W. Schoeld An urgent call
Schoeld is a retired ELCA pastor who lives in Shoreline, Wash.
T
to humility Don’t get tangled up in certainty
he ELCA has recently gone through a decision that caused major disruption. This hasn’t affected me directly, but it has brought something to the surface
that we don’t talk about very much. When we speak of faith issues, we go to the Bible. Then
we forget/decide to ignore what the Bible itself says about faith. It boldly states that faith is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). That seems to allow some leeway on the finality of many of our opinions. I add to this God’s words in Job 38 and following. “Where were you when I laid the founda- tion of the earth? ... Who has the wisdom to number the clouds?” Then God’s comment is one we need to take to heart, “Surely you know.” It ranks with Jesus’ “You have heard that it was said to
those of ancient times … but I say to you ...” (Matthew 5:33-34). The ancient prophet states it this way: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). Is not this a call to humility? Don’t these approaches to our rigidity encourage us to lighten up in our certainties? A theologian has boldly stated, “The opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty.” When we speak as if in ultimate certainty, we are proudly declaring, “I’m right, you are wrong.” We then should remember God’s words to Isaiah and to Job and Jesus’ words to the Pharisees. The rigid orthodoxies in which we were raised with have had their day. They served to give us hundreds of Christian denominations. These endlessly proud state- ments have only split Christendom and made its witness confusing. What would happen if we called an end to right/wrong
language, an end to doctrinaire statements, an end to our self-congratulations for such brilliance? What would happen if we rejoice in our tradition and encourage other denominations to rejoice in theirs? We need not be in com- petition. We do need to witness to our Lord Jesus and his way. Putting other traditions down is simply Christian bullying.
I’m also totally impressed by the freedom of God’s Spirit to blow where it will and to enlighten by means beyond our imagining. If we merely try this within the family of Abraham’s descendants we would have done a lot to take seriously God’s call to humility.
July 2013 49
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