An Excerpt from Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel
by Ray Keating
Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is about a former CIA agent who became a Lutheran pastor. (As noted in the book, by the way, Grant and his close clergy friends are avid Touchstone readers.)
Grant’s former and current lives collide after a shooting at his church, and his unique skills are called on to help protect the Pope after the pontiff offers a controversial proposal – titled “A Public Mission of Mere Christianity” – for a more unified Christian voice in the public arena on moral issues.
Pastor Grant is invited to dine with a group of Catholic clergy at one point in the story, and is asked, more or less, about the state of Lutheranism today. And especially given the controversial steps taken by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in recent times and the election of a new president in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, many might be asking: What the heck is going on with those Lutherans?
In the following excerpt, Grant offers his take.
After getting his clambake bucket, along with potato salad and bread, Grant was waved over to a table by Father Stanley Burns, the senior parish priest at St. Luke’s. Grant knew or recognized everyone. In addition to Burns, Bishop Peter Carolan, Auxiliary Bishop Mark Zeller, and Cardinal Santos were seated at the table.
It was time to be the theologian.
“Pastor Grant, please sit down and eat with us,” said Burns.
“Thank you, Father,” replied Stephen. Everyone stood and shook Stephen’s hand.
Grant added with a wry smile, “But are you gentlemen really sure you want a Lutheran at the table?”
Cardinal Santos declared, “Of course. That is what this mission is supposed to be about, correct? Perhaps greater unity in the public square starts with eating meals together, eh? I understand that eating dinner together helps families, and what are we Christians supposed to be, but of the same family.”
“Besides,” Bishop Carolan added, “You’re more Catholic than many Catholics I come across, Pastor Grant.”
Stephen replied, “Well, don’t let some of my Lutheran brethren hear you say that.”
Bishop Zeller asked, “Would it really cause problems?”
“You don’t really want to hear about arcane Lutheran politics and struggles.”
“Actually, I would like to learn more,” said Zeller. “Since the Holy Father’s announcement about this ‘Public Mission of Mere Christianity,’ I’ve noted my own ignorance regarding our Christian brothers and sisters in other denominations. What little I know of modern Lutheranism is that it seems that there are some significant divisions, right?”
Stephen said, “That is more correct than you probably realize.” He looked at the four faces at the table. When not cracking lobster claws or scooping clams from shells, their attention was on Grant. So he decided to forge ahead. “OK, if you don’t mind me eating and talking at the same time, I’ll give you the quick Lutheran 101. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, or the ELCA, is the largest Lutheran church body in the country. But I would argue that in terms of its leadership, at least, it is perhaps the least Lutheran entity. It has descended into a very liberal Protestantism, with the social gospel crowding out the Holy Gospel, and cultural trends too often overriding the authority of Holy Scripture. At the same time, though, there are many faithful, traditional Christian pastors and laity within the ELCA, and they are struggling over what to do given the direction of the national church.”
“That is quite a dilemma,” said Father Burns.
As he ripped the tail off the lobster, and broke open the shell, Stephen continued, “It is. As for me, I’m a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, or the LCMS, which is the second largest Lutheran church body in the U.S. We’re much more conservative or traditional – depending on the pastor and congregation – than the ELCA. I’m happy to say that the LCMS works hard to stay faithful to Holy Scripture, and does not let politics, or the latest social causes or cultural trends push it off track.”
“Good for you,” said Carolan.
“Yes, but we have our challenges as well. There are battles over worship and liturgy, the role of women, church structure, who is eligible to receive communion, and the do’s and don’ts when coming together with other non-LCMS Christians due in particular to a very conservative wing that, at least in my own view, verges on isolationist at times.”
“Well, it sounds like Lutheranism in the U.S. faces many of the same challenges that Roman Catholicism does,” Zeller said. “We have many of the same, or at least similar, challenges or factions, but all under the umbrella of Roman Catholicism.”
“No doubt,” said Stephen. “I think most denominations do today. And while I joked about your comment, Bishop Carolan, you hit the nail on the head in noting that perhaps I’m more Catholic than some of those who actually are Roman Catholic. As various people much smarter and more insightful than myself have argued, this points to the growing reality that traditional Christians across denominational lines often have more in common with each other than they do with the liberals or revisionists within their own church body.”
Cardinal Santos said, “And hence, we have ‘A Public Mission of Mere Christianity.’”
“Right,” said an increasingly excited Pastor Grant. “And that’s why so many of us see this as a great and historic opportunity. But I’m preaching to the choir – a most distinguished choir. I’m sorry, gentlemen.”
“Sorry?” said Carolan. “Why? What you’ve said, and your obvious enthusiasm, is reassuring and contagious.”
Zeller added, “Might I ask another Lutheran question, Pastor Grant?”
“Of course, Father.”
“You mentioned that the ELCA was descending into liberal Protestantism.”
“Yes.”
“What’s the general view among Lutherans as to your Protestantism, if you will? I’ve heard in passing some contradictory things, including that some Lutherans do not consider themselves to be Protestants. That’s perplexing to this Roman Catholic who takes it for granted that Lutherans are Protestants. After all, didn’t Martin Luther launch the Protestant Reformation?”
“Ah, even here we Lutherans disagree. In addition to the liberal-conservative-traditionalist wrangling among Lutherans, many, myself included, see Lutherans breaking out as Protestant Lutherans and Catholic Lutherans. The Protestant Lutherans, whether liberals or more conservative, tend to shun the liturgy and de-emphasize, to a certain degree, the sacraments, and embrace the Protestant label. In contrast, the Catholic Lutherans – sometimes called evangelical catholics – tend to be more liturgical and sacramental, and embrace the idea that Luther never intended to start a new church. But he only sought to reform what we now call the Roman Catholic Church.”
Bishop Carolan queried, “And you fall into the Catholic Lutheran group, I assume?”
“Yes, I do. And I know that no one else at this table will likely find this amusing, but I joke with some Catholic friends that we Lutherans are the real Catholics.”
“You’re right, Pastor Grant, we don’t find that amusing at all,” said Bishop Carolan with a straight face, that quickly broke into a smile and laugh, with the rest of the table joining in...........
Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is Ray Keating’s first novel. Keating is a weekly columnist for Dolan Media Company (with his column appearing in newspapers such as Long Island Business News and Colorado Springs Business Journal), and an economist. The book can be purchased at Amazon.com. Link for the book is here.
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