Enthusiasm? No Thanks! An Evangelisch-Katholisch Response To Synodality

There are those of us within the Church who self-identity as 'Evangelisch-Katholisch' or 'Augustana-Catholic', whose dearest wish is to live to see a reconciliation between Lutherans and Catholics, or at the very least, more provision for inter-communion and joint worship. 


This is especially true of both post-war German Churches, where it is hoped that the recent Synod gathering in Rome will go some way towards healing the schism.

As such, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Synodical Way (Weg) would be right up our 'Straße' but you'd be mistaken.

The Synodical Path is pretty much entirely spirit led and seems mostly based upon personal revelation, with delegates constantly deferring to each individual listening to what the holy spirit is telling us and where its leading us.

In his Smalcald Articles part 3 article 8, Martin Luther talks about 'enthusiasm' and totally rejects what he describes as the inward Word, the secret Word and the unspoken Word.

Luther stresses that God grants his spirit and grace through the outward word alone. So if we want God's spirit then it must also come through the external Word.

Luther warns against the theology teachers who boast that they have the spirit, without and before the Word.

Luther sees danger in claiming to have the spirit apart from the word, because he feels that it results in us standing as judge 'over' the scripture, bringing our judgement to the Lord's word.

In other words, if I have the spirit dwelling in my own heart without the preached word, then it's more than likely I am probably listening to my own feelings, not anykind of revelation.

This was Luther's issue, not just with the Papacy but also the Anabaptists and it would be his problem with the various Pentecostal churches of today. 

For Luther, mysticism places experience above the word, just as liberalisim places reason above the word.

A recent example which highlights some of the challenges arising from being, principly 'spirit-led', can be found in the way progressive Catholics have responded with dismay to the African Bishops who have almost universally rejected Pope Francis' recent 'Fiducia supplicans' (Blessings for same sex couples) *or blessings for two individuals, not the relationship, depending on how you interpret this extremely vague document*

For me, Fiducia supplicans and its blessings for our LGBT brothers and sisters isn't a seismic shift towards ssm as the traddies claim. Nor is it a clandestine conversion therapy prayer, where those blessed change their so-called 'sinful lifestyle'. Nor is it a big nothing burger, it's simply a tiny simple gesture of respect, dignity and mercy.

For progressive and inclusive Catholics in the West, Fiducia Supplicans should be viewed in the context of the Church's evolving views on things like slavery and capital punishment, which were once quite different.

This is because the spirit moves and speaks in the modern age, in the wider culture and society, not just within the Church or among the faithful.

The problem with this approach is the question of whose culture is the spirit moving in? And whose society is the spirit speaking in? Is it in liberal Western culture or is the spirit moving and speaking in Africa? 

To insist that the spirit cannot move in the often conservative and traditionalist African Church, is to indulge in the same old paternalistic, colonialist attitudes, even if it's for noble reasons and being done out of love and inclusion.

Instead, we'd be better served in looking to those Reformed and Lutheran Churches who have already wrestled with this question and found answers firmly rooted in law and gospel.

I pray that we find an answer to this question of inclusion which sees us no longer treating LGBT Christians as second class Catholics and I pray that the shift towards Synodality is God's will, that it continues and ultimately succeeds.

All these discussions should begin in the knowledge that God loves us all and Jesus has come that we may have life, regardless of who we are or what we do, but tbh I don't think 'spirit led listening encounters' are the way forward.



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