DECLINE AND GROWTH: A L O O K AT T H E L U T H E R A N W O R L D T O D AY
by Mathew Block
I
f I ask you to describe a typical Lutheran, what do you imagine? Do you assume it would be someone of German or Scandinavian descent? If so, think again. Today, the typical Lutheran—at least the one actually in church on Sunday morning—is far more likely to be someone from Africa. In fact, the world’s largest Lutheran church body today is in Ethiopia. A lot has changed in the five centuries since the Reformation began. From Wittenberg, Martin Luther’s ideas spread throughout Europe. The Lutheran church which sprang up in response established deep roots in Germany as well as in the Nordic nations and Baltic provinces. Over the next few centuries, Lutherans would eventually go on to proclaim the Gospel in other lands—other continents—leading to the birth of Lutheran missions and churches throughout the world. As time went on, however, not all of these churches remained faithful to their Lutheran heritage—nor to the Scriptures which inspired the Reformation. Church mergers led to a decline (or sometimes even a ban) on
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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022
Lutheran teaching and practice. New theologians arose who questioned the historicity of the Bible. Less and less emphasis was placed on the Lutheran Confessions as authoritative in the life of the church. Fast-forward to today, and we find state and mainline Lutheran churches which sometimes seem to focus more on contemporary politics than on Jesus Himself.
The situation in Europe and North America The departure from biblical teaching by European Lutheran state churches has resulted in a steady decline in religiosity among rank-and-file members. After all, if what you’re taught from the pulpit isn’t substantially different than what contemporary culture already tells you, why bother going? Many of these people are still counted as members by the state church for historic reasons; but they
