Lutheran Identity, the PSD, and an Attempted Steal
There is a proposed resolution being presented to the convention of the Pacific Southwest District that involves “Lutheran Identity.”
This is indeed a sneaky resolution that, frankly, should be ruled out of order because it is 1) self-contradictory, 2) it falsely accuses people who disagree with it of holding to false doctrine (works righteousness), and, 3) its motivation - which is mentioned at the end of the resolution - is simply the attempt to “steal a base” (to use a sportsball analogy) and work around a mandate of synod.
The text of the resolution (2-02) is reproduced in its entirety at the end of this post.
I do think delegates need to push back and quash this attempt - and I do expect it to be tried elsewhere. So the pitcher had better be keeping an eye on the runner at first, and be prepared to (if you pardon the mixed metaphor) “stop the steal.” I hope we’re allowed to say that now.
I’m not much of a sports guy, but in the LCMS, it seems that all analogies must include either sports, Star Wars, or Lord of the Rings. It seems to be an unwritten expression of our identity. But for the time being, I’ll forego mentioning Darth Vader and Gollum, and stick with sports.
Sorry, guys. Enjoy your day off.
The crux of this resolution is the attempt to define Lutheran Identity “solely… by the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions.” At first blush, this sounds pretty good. The resolution even lists all of our confessionally-binding documents. Who could be against that? That’s as Confessional-Lutheran as apple pie is American. But that is the problem. It’s a trap (you can look the meme up yourself). “Identity” is not simply a synonym for “confessional subscription.” Lutheran Identity of necessity includes the Bible and our Confessions, but it also, of necessity, includes more than that.
And I can prove it in about 30 seconds.
The title of this resolution is “To Define and Affirm Lutheran Identity.” They are using the word “Lutheran.” And indeed, the word “Lutheran” is a signifier of Lutheran identity. It is literally used in the name of the synod, the name of our confession, and the names of nearly all of our congregations and schools. When you see the word “Lutheran” it is an assertion of Lutheran Identity by definition. But the word “Lutheran” never appears in the Bible or the Book of Concord. The word “Lutheran” is rather a part of our history that has come down to us as a longstanding custom, an extra-biblical and extra-confessional tradition that is nearly universal among us.
And that is what “identity” actually entails.
We have national identity, ethnic identity, regional or state identity, religious identity, generational identity, etc. For example, here is a list of foods that are expressions of national identities, which will pop into your minds immediately as you read them: haggis, borscht, pasta, fish and chips, sushi, and sauerkraut. None of these are expressions of national identity because of a legalistic declaration in the constitution or laws of the countries. Identity is not defined by a text. Rather, these are markers of national identity because of longstanding historical usages and social custom. And these customs are good and healthy and natural. They foster a sense of belonging and unity - or as we might say according to our identity: concord. To acknowledge them is to simply acknowledge reality. The idea of identity is so universal that it is simply part of being human.
In fact, I had earlier mentioned the old saying about something being “as American as apple pie,” and sometimes “baseball” is added to the mix. Fifty years ago, General Motors had a commercial jingle: “Baseball, hot-dogs, apple pie… and Chevrolet.” That is because these foods are expressions of our American identity. It doesn’t mean we all have to like all of them - but rather these are examples of a longstanding usage and custom among us, the way that fish and chips was quintessentially British (though it now seems that curry has overtaken it in ubiquity).
Identity involves ritual. Fireworks on the 4th of July is likewise an expression of American identity, even though there is nothing in the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution that mandates this ceremony. It’s just a customary usage that developed over time, and became a tradition. Only those who want to sow the seeds of disunity and discord would oppose such organic expressions of national identity.
So, again, identity is expressed by the customs and folkways and traditions that typify a group of people. There is nothing in the US Constitution, the US Code, or the Federal Register that codifies baseball, hot-dogs, apple pie, and fireworks as expressions of American identity, just as there is nothing in the Bible or Book of Concord about using the name “Lutheran.”
In fact, to demonstrate how self-contradictory this resolution is, consider the name “St. Paul Lutheran Church” on a church sign. This is, by definition, a literal example of Lutheran Identity. It is a Lutheran church identifying itself as Lutheran. But again, the word “Lutheran” is neither biblical, nor confessional. It is rather historical, customary, and traditional. Ironically, “St. Paul Catholic Church” would be an example of Lutheran identity according to this resolution, as, unlike the word “Lutheran,” the word “Catholic” is a description of our church, confession, and faith as found in, and described by, the Book of Concord.
Or here is another absurdum that results from this artificial and contrived definition of Lutheran Identity: our custom among Lutherans in English- (and German-) speaking counties of calling our clergy by the honorific “Pastor” (i.e. “Pastor Lastname”). This practice is not found in the Lutheran Confessions. But the title “Reverend Father” is. So this bizarre bureaucratic definition of Lutheran Identity would accept “Father Lastname” but not “Pastor Lastname.” We at Gottesdienst might retort with the ancient and traditional meme: “Why not both?”
Yeah, I don’t think they thought this one through very well.
There is also a general Christian identity that transcends confessional lines. One way Christians express their identity is to wear a cross around their necks, hang crosses on the wall, and put crosses on the exteriors of their church and school buildings. The cross is probably the most well-known expression of Christian identity of all, yet the Bible says nothing about using it as an artistic symbol of identity to adorn our churches, homes, or persons. Ditto for other expressions of Christian identity, such as the fish symbol, the season of Lent, celebrating our Lord’s birth in late December or early January (not to mention singing Silent Night by candlelight, and decorating trees for Christmas). These are all expressions of Christian identity, but they are not mentioned in Scripture. Some radicals go so far as to say that these customs should be abolished precisely because they aren’t in the Bible.
The Paschal Greeting is such an ancient and ubiquitous expression of our Christian identity that its origins are unknown, and it is said in every language around the world. But once again, this natural and joyful celebration and expression of our identity in our shared confession of the risen Christ is not described or prescribed - nor even mentioned - by Scripture.
And like all traditions within Christianity, we Lutherans have other customs of our own that articulate our Lutheran identity. Nearly every Lutheran congregation sings A Mighty Fortress. In fact, nearly every hymn published in the first Lutheran hymnal in 1524 has continued to appear in every subsequent Lutheran hymnal in nearly every language. And yet, none of these hymns appears in the Bible or the Confessions. Moreover, the art form known as the chorale is distinctly an expression of Lutheran identity, and has been so for five hundred years - and is also not in the Bible or Book of Concord.
The symbol of Luther’s Seal is also an expression of Lutheran identity, though it is also extra-biblical and extra-confessional. But it is distinctly Lutheran - as no Presbyterian or Baptist or Roman Catholic is ever going to display it on their persons or in their churches. Some people even have it on a medallion worn around the neck with the inscription “I am a Lutheran” as an explicit declaration of Lutheran Identity. The dog-tags of service members likewise list “Lutheran” as a religious identity. Our custom of celebrating Reformation Day on October 31st is likewise a beautiful expression of our Lutheran Identity. But none of these are found in Scripture or the Lutheran Confessions. The statues of Martin Luther at our seminaries (and at some of our universities) are likewise customary expressions of our Lutheran Identity that you simply cannot find in the Bible or the Book of Concord. Hopefully, they haven’t yet been removed as a virtue signal by the time you’re reading this.
This bureaucratic definition limiting Lutheran Identity to only that which is in Scripture and the Confessions is too narrow. It is an arbitrary stricture that conflates the idea of identity with the concept of confessional subscription. These are simply not the same thing.
Secondly, this resolution is weaselly, as it vilifies anyone who would disagree with it as a heretic. It says:
Resolved, That the term “Lutheran Identity” be defined first and foremost according to Article IV of the Augsburg Confession: “Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or words. People are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight (Romans 3 and 4)”, and not in a manner that adds moral, ethical, cultural, legal, or political requirements or preferences to the Evangelical Lutheran confession.
Do they really want to argue that holding a broader view of Lutheran Identity (including such things as using the name “Lutheran” or displaying a Luther Seal or statue on campus) is denying Article 4? Whom do they have in mind? Who is actually doing this? Someone must be for it to be mentioned here. I disagree with this resolution’s narrow and arbitrary - and simply wrong - definition of “Lutheran Identity,” but does it follow that I am denying Article 4 or the Gospel? Are they accusing me of heresy? Again, this is the Straw Man fallacy at work.
This is not good, to say the least. How could the floor committee allow such a blatant fallacy to go unchecked? Were they reviewing submissions right after Gemuetlichkeit? This resolution suggests to me that maybe we need a synodwide review of basic logic and rhetoric. The renaissance of classical education is needed now more than ever.
Finally, what’s the end game here? What is the motivation for this bait-and-switch attempt to redefine Lutheran Identity in such a stilted, restricted, and unnatural manner? Well, you don’t have to look far, for here it is:
Resolved, That the Pacific Southwest District in Convention memorialize the Synod in Convention to ensure the existing Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome Standards (LIMOS) (https://cus.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2025/03/LIMOS-Evaluation-Tool.pdf) used in the visitation of our Concordia Universities are in alignment with this definition of Lutheran Identity.
Ding ding ding!
This is what it is all about. This is a political pushback against the synod’s will that our university system express a greater commitment to our Lutheran Identity, and so they seek to get around it by “stealing a base.”
And to go a bit deeper, what else is this really all about? What is at the core?
The liturgy.
Yes, it usually is. This whole thing is an elaborate ruse to weasel out of worship that is identifiably Lutheran, and expresses our Lutheran Identity. And their own attempt even runs afoul of their own definition! This would be Three-Stooges level comedy if it didn’t involve something as important as our faith.
Note that in matters of Lutheran Identity in worship, this resolution cites Formula 10:
Resolved, That the term “Lutheran Identity” be affirmed as adherence to the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions alone, understanding that “the churches will not condemn one another because of differences in ceremonies when, in Christian liberty, one has less or more of them“ (Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article X, Line 31), and rejoicing in the Evangelical Lutheran foundation of grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone, and Christ alone as the foundation of the Lutheran Confessions.
Ding ding ding, again!
They cite one line out of Formula 10 out of context, giving the impression that Lutheran Identity in matters of worship is “Do What Thou Wilt,” that it is “anything goes,” that other than the idea that you can do whatever you want, there is no connection between our liturgical heritage and our Lutheran Identity, that the lex orandi is severed from the lex credendi. And moreover, nobody can offer any criticism of any kind of worship whatsoever. Notice that in this resolution, there is no mention of Article 24 (in both the Augsburg Confession and the Apology). Both of these articles - Article 24 and Formula 10 - have to be confessed and held together. And guess who does just that? The Gottesdienst crowd! We uphold and embrace both Article 24 and Formula 10. And we don’t do it in the manner of Muslims who argue that the later citation abrogates the earlier one. We also don’t do like Roman Catholics who cite James while ignoring or downplaying Paul. We Lutherans uphold and embrace both Paul and James. We confess both of them at the same time, and read each within the context of the other. That is the honest hermeneutic.
To mention Formula 10 and not Article 24 is lying by omission.
So let me help:
Falsely are our churches accused of abolishing the Mass; for the Mass is retained among us, and celebrated with the highest reverence.
~ AC 24:1-2At the outset we must again make the preliminary statement that we do not abolish the Mass, but religiously maintain and defend it. For among us masses are celebrated every Lord’s Day and on the other festivals, in which the Sacrament is offered to those who wish to use it, after they have been examined and absolved. And the usual public ceremonies are observed, the series of lessons, of prayers, vestments, and other like things.
~ Ap 24:1
And, of course, nobody in the Gottesdienst crowd argues that our colleagues who have retained the celebration of the Mass among us with reverence are to be condemned for having either more or less ceremony than we do. We don’t chant the Gospel or the Creed at my congregation - but we don’t condemn those who do. We have Matins on Sunday, and I vest in a cope - but we don’t condemn those who don’t. But we are going to implore those who have abolished the Mass, who do not retain and celebrate the Mass with the highest reverence, who have removed “the usual public ceremonies” and “vestments” and “other like things” that are explicitly part of both our Confessions and our Lutheran Identity not to perform the confessional equivalent of quoting James while ignoring Paul.
So once again, it all boils down to worship. The “missional” faction wants to water down our Lutheran Identity because they think aping the identity of non-denominationalism, of Baptists, of neo-Evangelicals, and of Pentecostals in our worship services in church, school, and university will somehow better serve the endeavor of Lutheran missionary outreach. It’s “ditch the liturgy” dressed up in a confessional costume.
The best construction (and this is truly the best construction) is that the “missional” types are all-in regarding Lutheran Identity, but are calling for a kind of bait-and-switch approach to lure people into Lutheran Identity by way of some other kind of identity. It is, at best, a kind of “sanctified duplicity.”
Well, I suppose using cunning and craftiness to steal a base is part of the great American game of baseball. It is also a universal and traditional (and expected) element of the identity of the political apparatchik. But when it comes to the identity of our faith, maybe we should leave the crafts and assaults to the devil.
Here is the resolution in its entirety, line by line:
1 To Define and Affirm Lutheran Identity
2 RESOLUTION 2-02
3 Overture 2-02 (CW, 134, 135)
4 WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod states in Article II of its Constitution:
5 “The Synod, and every member of the Synod, accepts without reservation:
6 1. The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of
7 faith and of practice;
8 2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and
9 exposition of the Word of God, to wit: the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed,
10 the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the
11 Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of
12 Concord.”
13 (p.11, Handbook 2023); therefore be it
14 Resolved, That the term “Lutheran Identity" be defined solely by the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions; and
15 be it further
16 Resolved, That the term "Lutheran Identity" be defined first and foremost according to Article IV of the Augsburg
17 Confession: “Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or words.
18 People are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that
19 their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for
20 righteousness in His sight (Romans 3 and 4)", and not in a manner that adds moral, ethical, cultural, legal, or political
21 requirements or preferences to the Evangelical Lutheran confession; and be it further
22 Resolved, That the term "Lutheran Identity" be affirmed as adherence to the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions
23 alone, understanding that “the churches will not condemn one another because of differences in ceremonies when, in
24 Christian liberty, one has less or more of them“ (Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article X, Line 31), and
25 rejoicing in the Evangelical Lutheran foundation of grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone, and Christ alone as the
26 foundation of the Lutheran Confessions; and be it finally
27 Resolved, That the Pacific Southwest District in Convention memorialize the Synod in Convention to ensure the
28 existing Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome Standards (LIMOS) (https://cus.edu/wp
29 content/uploads/2025/03/LIMOS-Evaluation-Tool.pdf) used in the visitation of our Concordia Universities are in
30 alignment with this definition of Lutheran Identity