Religiosity

Is it just me, or do you sometimes feel spiritually homeless? When I examine the rituals of the high church, the funny hats, the smoke, and all the embellishments… it doesn’t feel familiar to me. As I watch the Cardinals gliding across the gilded cathedral floor this week, they may as well be aliens. To be sure, it is not just Catholics that have oddities. Lutherans and Episcopalians are strange as well. I often find myself asking “are we still doing that?” To be clear, I deeply admire people who are more pious than I am. However, that doesn’t mean that I can easily pretend to get something meaningful out of a ritual simply because it’s an old tradition. In fact, the longer that I know something has been done in a certain way, the more I want to change it. Is that me valuing creativity, or me being self-aggrandizing?

The trouble is… if I reject the historical Church, then that usually sends me into the arms of religious folks who have adopted some bizarre theology, usually derived from a kind of cult leader. While they may at least know what century they’re in, they can’t get beyond their individual emotional experience. In this new-age Christianity, Jesus becomes more like a boyfriend and Worship becomes more like a rock concert.

My point here is not to throw stones. I am simply demonstrating how difficult it is to find a spiritual home. It feels impossible to find a place that both challenges and comforts. To be honest, Lamb of God Church falls short too. Still, I gravitate toward our attempt to capture the best aspects of multiple religious expressions. I recall hearing about Lamb of God for the first time and being intensely intrigued by our Lutherpalian identity. It communicated to me that they must be grounded in solid theology, while simultaneously, prioritize being in relationship together. This is a rare find!

Although I am biased, I appreciate that we strive for a healthy balance between tradition and the modern era. Our goal is to be ritualistic without being superstitious. We want to celebrate individual expression without hallowing ourselves out. If a tradition stays, then we all understand the value that it brings. We will boldly profess what we believe, but not at the expense of healthy relationship.

For me, the key to faith is participation! We are not watching the priest or listening to the band. Faith is not a spectator sport. It is “us” coming together that makes our experience with God transcendent. We “together” are the experience.  It is not what we are doing, saying, wearing, or watching that God cares most about. When we begin Worship on Sunday, I invite you to acknowledge our togetherness. Indeed, without your presence we are not the same community. We are less whole without you. God is more robust, more present, when our diversity exists within a loving community. A community where all are welcome and all are present at the table.

Bring who you are…garb and all,

Pastor Lucas  

Photo by James Coleman