Open Letter To Christ The Lord Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, GA
Submitted by Wayne on Sun, 2006-07-09 11:06.
Ballet | Bible | Church | Doctrine | History | Patriots | War
Open Letter To Christ The Lord Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, GA
At the invitation of a fellow dancer, my wife joined CtL's dance ministry this morning to perform a ballet dance to Battle Hymn of the Republic. This same dance was performed at The Studio's 2006 spring recital (by the same adult dancers) as one of several patriotic worship dances. The hymn and dance were approved by the music leader of CtL, and these same women have danced at CtL in the past as recently as two weeks ago. CtL has four Sunday morning services. After having worshipped through their dance at the two earlier services this morning, the senior pastor approached the dancers and asked them not to do so at the two later services. The reason given was a vague claim of supposed offense to the hymn.
Where might such pretend offense originate? The Battle Hymn of the Republic was sung by Northern troops during the mid-1860s. It is was a very popular tune (even in the South) with many different lyrics originally, but eventually the mostly modern version was written by Julia Ward Howe in 1861 (or possibly 1862). Even though this war had almost nothing to do with slavery, despite the modern indoctrination otherwise, the closest one could come to associating this hymn with slavery is the line:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.
(This was later changed to "let us live to make men free.") From where does this purported offense come? If it is somehow derived from the mere, implied reference to a tumultuous time in our nation's history, then by all means, let's deny, rewrite, or ignore that history, so that we may be doomed to repeat it.
Rumors of this hymn having been removed from the green Lutheran Book of Worship are false. It's number 332 under Christian Hope. It is also present in the upcoming Evangelical Lutheran Worship book. As politically correct as the ELCA is, if they've deemed it worthy to keep, why doesn't CtL? Have Lutherans lost their Christian hope? Do Lutherans no longer look forward to the Second Coming of the Lord? Or do they simply avoid singing about it? Or is it merely CtL's congregration or its leadership having issues with this Scripturally consistent hymn of worship?
As parents of an airman (who is currently defending your lives by serving in Iraq), children of servicemen, political activists, and educators of the next generation of leaders, we place great pride in the service of our country. America was birthed as a testimony to the Lord and His liberty; as far as our nation may have fallen from these Biblical roots, we still take great pride in the patriotic, Godly remnant of this Christian nation, even if wounded and stained. We also take righteous offense at any faux injury caused by celebration of our Christian nation and of our Lord's Second Coming.
Having left the Lutheran Church many years ago because of their general abandonment of the Scriptures and its Authority, we no longer worship in a Lutheran setting. Christian dance in a Lutheran church also now seems at odds with CtL's perverted doctrine. As such, we are not likely to return to a Lutheran setting even in an attempt to minister in a Godly and Biblical fashion. If our ministry is desired, though, please feel free to contact us, and we'll meet you elsewhere.
Trackback URL for this post:
http://tuscanycircle.net/trackback/425
"appropriate in some settings"
Submitted by Wayne on Tue, 2006-07-11 13:08.
It should be noted that the dance occurred shortly after Independence Day. In light of the holiday, one week earlier (the week before the dance), that very song was sung in that church.
My concern is to whom the pastor listens. The Bible, the Lutheran Book of Worship, the music director, and last week's experience were apparently all irrelevant to the decision to censor this dance. If the pastor is so afraid to offend (I still don't understand who would be offended here), then he had better stop preaching the Word of God, the single most divisive book ever written. Perhaps this move is already under way at CtL. Otherwise, it would seem the pastor needs to learn how to truly hear the Spirit of God and discern Him apart from his own, irrational feelings.
Senior pastor finally responds
Submitted by Wayne on Wed, 2006-07-12 16:32.
[Note this response was not sent to Katrina, who wrote the senior pastor personally (a copy of the open letter), but to the leader of the CtL's dance ministry. The senior pastor has not responded to Katrina.]
I have taken a couple to days to respond to be sure that I have gathered all my thoughts together.
First, I read your responce to Terri [the associate pastor] although I did not read her reply. I appreciated the level of love, care, and respect that everyone is giving each other in this discussion. It says alot about our Christian faith.
Secondly, This matter may have much do with my own personal experience. In East Tennessee, this song was associate with racism as well as patriotism. I don't have any documents to back that up, only the personal experience was watching rebel flags be flown during its singing. I would suspect my childhood memories which I have searched through the last few days could be mixed and confused.
Thirdly, in all my 23 years of ministry, I have never done what I did Sunday. It was an emotion that I cannot express in words. I almost left during the second performance. Again, this is more about emotion than logic. I just knew deep inside myself that I needed to end what was terrifiying me. That may not make logical since and emotions don't.
Fourth, from a theological perspective I would not align myself with those who would choose to keep this hymn. That may be politically incorrect during this time of war in our nation. But my picture of Jesus is not one who came armed with an army wiping out evil, but a God who came in a self sacrficing, non-violent way. He really did lay down his life for others. In fact, he made his disciple put his sword away when soldiers came to arrest him in Gethsemane. And when his disciple cut off the ear of one of the soldiers, He repaired the ear of the soldier who his disciple did cut. Violence was not his way. His way is love. He loves us to our death in spite of our disobedience.
That is not to be confused with my support of our soldiers overseas. I think you are aware of my love and support of Ed Head, who I e-mail almost daily as my way of touching one soldier in the ranks. I long for his and all other soldiers for their safe return home.
Let me be clear, that is NOT the reason I stopped the performance. I would have overlooked my personal theological difference with the larger community. I would have set aside my thought in light of what the larger Lutheran church found acceptable.
My responce was that of one person's experience, and I appeal to you to understand the strength of emotions as one who lives her life within the artist community. My heart and soul was in rage as I thought of rebel flags and civil war. That was not what others may have experienced but it was my experience. Art speaks to all of us differently.
Thank you for talking through this and I would be open to carry on the conversation.
Pastor Bob
"Jesus is not one who came armed"
Submitted by Wayne on Wed, 2006-07-12 16:37.
He has made my mouth like a sharp sword
Submitted by Dave on Fri, 2006-07-14 19:29.
Church apostasy
Submitted by Wayne on Wed, 2006-07-12 16:42.
Public schools, but not church
Submitted by Wayne on Tue, 2007-12-11 09:01.
It seems the Battle Hymn of the Republic is allowed in government schools, but not in church:
Lutheran pastors are AWOL
Submitted by Wayne on Tue, 2007-12-11 16:26.
Knowing the anti-Biblical drivel Lutheran seminaries teach their clergy, it's no wonder pastors are turning from the Truth and embracing sin:
Associate pastor responds
While I realize this is a complex issue, I would simply like to speak in support of Pastor Bob's decision yesterday. When I spoke with my husband about the hymn, he commented that in his years at UGA, this song was used as a tribute to segregation and with racial overtones. While I did not have that same association with the song, it seems that some do. Because of that possibility, I agree that we (the church) need to be intentional to care for those who may attend our church, of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. We will never get it right -- but when we see a place where we may be off track, it is with an honest and compassionate heart that we try to switch gears. I think that was Bob's intention, no matter how abrupt it may have been.
As far as the new hymnal goes, I am part of the training team for our synod to introduce this new resource. While in Chicago at training, it was mentioned that there are many songs/hymns in the ELW, some which may be appropriate in some settings but not in others. For example, singing "Children of the Heavenly Father" in Swedish might be very popular in a rural Minnesota congregation founded by Swedes, but in urban Atlanta it might not be appropriate. It was emphasized to us how critical it is that hymn/song choices be relevant to the local setting, culture and demographics. I tell you this to say that not everything in the ELW is being endorsed for every church setting -- but that it is a collection to be used at the church's discretion.
Thank you for your time reading my random thoughts. While I support Pastor Bob, I also support you as a church member, living out your calling through dance. Thank you for all your hard work, sore muscles, and heartfelt faith.