Typical Good, Faithful Pastors

I am not talking about the pastors who spend all their time and energy in politics, playing the game of their Father Below.

There are many faithful Lutheran pastors, trying to teach God's Word and shepherd their flocks in the midst of apostasy around them. There is no good solution since other groups are similar or worse. ELCA, of course, is beyond the beyond, as the Irish-American author Frank McCourt says.

These pastors are not well paid. They may be appreciated in their congregations. Probably everyone hears the prosperity gospel of this age, so the congregation feels God has abandoned them. Their synods take them for granted until another once-in-a-lifetime-giving-opportunity comes along.

Many labor in those areas where Lutherans are not as dense as at headquarters. Perhaps most of the population is indifferent, Roman Catholic, Jewish, or Baptist. In the South, a Lutheran is just another Roman Catholic, a wine-bibber or worse. The politician-pastors grab for the easy calls, the prestige positions.

I met one of these truly humble pastors the other day. I just want to salute him and all those like him. God knows who they are. Walther said something like this - They were scorned in their lifetime, but now they shine like the sun.