To The Bored

In today's world that's tantamount to an unforgivable sin: to be boring. And surely anything that bores a person is regarded as an intolerable burden.

And then there's Lutheran liturgy. Boring. Same old, same old. Hymn sung. Prayers prayed. Scriptures heard. Sermons preached. Offerings gathered. Intercessions offered. Thanksgiving raised. Words of our Lord gratefully heard. Body and Blood eaten and drunk. More songs. Blessing and you're out of there. Come back next week for the same. And the week after and the week after. Interminable boredom?

It's a secret we Lutherans like to keep to ourselves, but many of us prefer the same, same old that the Church has been living off of for, lo these thousands of years, to the nifty stuff that appeals to the entertainment itch of our sinful flesh. Old fashioned Lutherans don't come to Church to have the entertainment itch scratched; old fashioned Lutherans come to Church to feast on God's Word and to receive the unspeakable joy of our Lord's body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins. The Word isn't given to entertain us (though at times it is entertaining), but to sanctify us. The Word makes all things holy. And so our Symbols remind us:

“Places, times, persons, and the entire outward order of worship have therefore been instituted and appointed in order that the Word of God may exert its power publicly.” Large Catechism, I:94

and also here:

“Therefore in his immeasurable goodness and mercy God provides for the public proclamation of his divine eternal law and of the wondrous counsel of our redemption, the holy gospel of his eternal Son, our only Savior Jesus Christ, which alone can save. By means of this proclamation he gathers an everlasting church from humankind, and he effects in human hearts true repentance and knowledge of sin and true faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. God wants to call human beings to eternal salvation, to draw them to himself, to convert them, to give them new birth and to sanctify them through these means, and in no other way than through his holy Word (which people hear proclaimed and read) and through the sacraments (which they use according to the Word). SD II:50

Just as we are not meant to be mere consumers, we are not meant to be spectators in the audience. We are guests of the Divine Master, invited to a feast where nothing less than the very Life of all life is offered up to us in rich fare. You can WATCH life portrayed before you in entertaining ways, or you can RECEIVE life via ear and mouth. Honestly, you tell me which sounds more exciting? Yes, it looks a tad boring to the world; which is why the world will spurn it and go on to what it deems is more exciting and entertaining. For us old fashioned, boring Lutherans, we can only shake our head at the sadness of the choice. Do know that when you're tired of the cotton candy and such, there's a solid feast of life waiting for you here where it's always been.

Here stands the font before our eyes,
Telling how God has received us.
The altar recalls Christ's sacrifice
And what His Supper here gives us.
Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim
Christ yesterday, today, the same,
And evermore, our Redeemer.

Grant, then, O God, Your will be done,
That, when the Church bells are ringing,
Many in saving faith may come
Where Christ His message is bringing:
"I know My own; My own know Me.
You, not the world, my face shall see.
My peace I leave with You. Amen."
LSB 645:4,5