The Value of Heresy?

Sometimes I have to wonder about the necessity of having my mind stretched by scholars who espouse views on Christianity which in a not so kinder time would have been considered heresy.

I also have to wonder about attending conferences where said individuals are asked to keynote.

I am very aware that today's heretic is tomorrow's champion of the faith--see Martin Luther.

Yet, did Martin Luther ever deny anything written in the Apostles', Nicene, or Athanasian Creed?

Did Luther's scholarship allow him to embrace ideas which were counter to the expressions of the earliest, orthodox beliefs?

Not hardly.

I have little room to talk about such matters because at this juncture of my life, I am not courageous enough to confront such things while they are taking place.  I avoided the question and answers sessions at both of today's presentations.  I avoided the presentations altogether actually to write sermons and do a little self-care.

I was told in no uncertain terms it was a good thing that I did so because my attendance would have done nothing for my blood pressure. :-)

In a vastly pluralistic society, more and more are becoming convinced that Christianity isn't unique.  More and more are becoming convinced Christianity is simply one more path to the mountain-top many in humankind are striving to climb.  More and more within churches are convinced denominations are passe and only offer some kind of smorgasbord to suit various tastes.

But is this the truth as we espouse it?

Shall we as Lutherans forsake our confessions and our doctrine so that we can all just get along?

Note to those who would suggest yes: remember this quote I had from Timothy Keller a while back:

Belief that you are accepted by God by sheer grace is profoundly humbling.  The people who are fanatics, then, are so not because they are too committed to the gospel but because they are not committed to it enough.

Think of people you consider fanatical.  They're overbearing, self-righteous, opinionated, insensitive, and harsh.  Why?  It's not because they are too Christian but because they are not Christian enough.  They are fanatically zealous and courageous, but they are not fanatically humble, sensitive, loving, empathetic, forgiving, or understanding--as Christ was.  Because they think of Christianity as a self-improvement program, they emulate the Jesus of the whips in the temple, but not the Jesus who said, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone" (John 8:7).  What strikes us as overly fanatical is actually a failure to be fully committed to Christ and his gospel.
Knowing the radicalness of God's grace does not lead to arrogance or hatred of others.  Instead, it leads to a fanaticism of humility, sensitivity, love, empathy, forgiveness and understanding.  We as Lutherans should heed such words--even though there is no "requirement" to espouse them.

There is no need for heresy to remind us of our calling as Christians.  Such a thing should come from with our own churches and denominations.  It's built into our DNA from the get go.  Do we need to be shocked to listen?  To act?  To anger us just enough to motivate us? 

Maybe.

I'm leaving the door open for that possibility.

But chalk another year up to a Theological Conference seeped in non-Lutheran, anti-orthodox squalor.