Ecumenism= Evangelism AND Mission

I have been reading a book titled "The New Church Debate: Issues Facing American Lutheranism".  This book, written in 1983 contains a series of essays that spoke to ecclesial, theological, structural and sociological issues that impacted the formation of a united Lutheran church body in the United States.  This united church body is now the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

I came across an essay in this book that was written by the late William H. Lazareth entitled, "Evangelical Catholicity:  Lutheran Identity in an Ecumenical Age."  As American Lutherans were taking bold steps towards unity with one another in the United States, voices like Lazareth were speaking of a Lutheran identity that was Ecumenical.

Lazareth first writes about Christian identity and the significance of unity in an Escahtological Age.

"For Some of the most ardent Christians of our day, any concern for the visible unity of the church appears archaic.  They believe that there are far more urgent tasks to which the churches are called to be involved in.  Ironically, this impatience can arise from two quite different - and often incompatible - kinds of convictions" (p.16)

Lazareth then describes the differences between the conservative right and the liberal left and their ambivalence towards the visible unity of the Church.   For the conservative right, sharing the gospel is the first and foremost priority.  This group seeks to avoid as many stumbling blocks as possible when it comes to effective evangelism in the world.  As a result, they become suspicious of large institutions and structures believing that "organizational church unity...may actually be a hindrance" to their missionary goals.

As for the liberal left, the primary concern is  social justice.  Lazareth describes them as a group that could take or leave visible Church unity.  The liberal left strives and works for true equality, and justice in a broken world.  They seek to break down the dividing walls of race, class and poverty.  "If church unity makes for more effective social action, it is to be welcomed...what really matters, according to this second view, is our effective involvement in the burning societal issues of humankind" (p.16).

Fast forward to 2010 and we still find these struggles throughout the church today.  Perhaps the divide of Christians being "Evangelical" or "Social Justice oriented" is wider today, due to a polarized political landscape.  The reality in the United States is that we are living in a post-modern culture, and this country is once again a mission field.  Unfortunately many Christians identify themselves as either being with the conservative right or the liberal left.  Lazareth locates Lutheran identity and the ecumenical future as neither "conservative" OR "liberal". 

Lazareth points to the World Council of Churches Central Committee document from 1982 entitled, "Mission and Evangelism - an Ecumenical Affirmation."  Twenty Eight years ago both Lazareth and the World Council of Churches affirm that Evangelism and Mission come with being disciples of Jesus Christ.  It is Evangelism AND Mission, not Evangelism OR Mission.  One excerpt Lazareth shares from the WCC document states:

"...A proclamation that does not hold forth the promises of the justice of the kingdom to the poor of the earth is a caricature of the Gospel; but Christian participation in the struggles for justice which does not point towards the promises of the kingdom also makes a caricature of a Christian understanding of justice" (p.22)

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be Evangelical, pointing to the kingdom of God that is here and is to come.  If we embody both Evangelism and Mission, it is only natural then to be Ecumenical, the mission of the church is stronger when Christians receive the unity Christ has given his Church.

Lazareth writes about the 450th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession in 1980.  This world celebration caused Lutherans throughout the world to think about this confession of faith in an ecumenical context.  Lazareth points out that, at this time, Lutherans are in serious theological dialogues with other Christians communities.  Lazareth writes, "...Lutheran Christians, despite their ecclesiastical identification as Protestants, nevertheless define their ecclesiological identity as 'evangelical catholics'; that is, as a confessing and confessional communion within the church catholic" (p.26).

These are just snippets of a fantastic and insightful essay about Lutheran identity in an ecumenical age.  I wonder if Lazareth could have predicted the progress and milestones of the ecumenical movement when this essay was written in 1983?  In 2010, the ELCA is over 20 years old and is now in full communion with six mainline denominations.  Lazareth would probably argue that this has been possible because of our Evangelical Catholic identity.  Lutheran Christians do not believe that the "Lutheran Church" is the one true church but part of the one holy catholic church.  Understanding ourselves to be both Evangelical and Catholic, when we share the good news we point to God's kingdom of justice, and when engaged in social outreach we bear witness to Jesus Christ the bread of life.  We do not have to choose between evangelism, mission and ecumenism because each supports the other in pointing to the Cross of Christ in a broken world.