Our visit to the “Luther Lands” also got me wondering about where Luther would land if he could extricate himself from history and step into the present.   What would Martin Luther think of the Lutheran Church in our time and place?  Lutherans of generations past have speculated upon this question.  Soon after his death the so-called “gnesio” or “genuine” Lutherans pitted themselves against those who they felt had compromised Martin’s theology and practice.

What do you think?  What would Martin Luther make of contemporary Lutheranism?  Or, more broadly, what would Luther make of the state of the Christian church more than 4 1/2 centuries after his death?  What does it mean to be “genuinely” Lutheran?  What difference does it make?

In Faith in the Freshman I mention my first interaction with Martin Luther through my reading of Roland Bainton’s biography, Here I Stand.  That was the impetus not only for my future scholarly work but also for my more in-depth faith exploration.  In the end it leads me back to where this little reflection started — our Lord’s passion, the living, the dying and rising, of Jesus Christ.  Luther’s understanding of Christian faith has been formative for me.  To be genuinely Lutheran is not only to be Christ-centered, but to begin and end with Jesus Christ and his saving work.

But best of all, he liked the Model A that the writer below drove to the meeting.

You spoke at the Waukesha Rotary Club on July 26th. I met your Father “Lefty” who was thrilled to see my 31 Ford Model A. Reading about Andrew in your book brought back memories of when I was first dianosed with Type 1 Diabetes 50 years ago. Same symptoms and rationalization. I was taking a physical for flight training in Goose Bay, Labrador. Needless to say I didn’t get to become a pilot which probably saved my life. (Vietnam!) I have a Grandson who is a gym rat at Carroll University and he also conducts basketball camps for girls and boys, . Your talk at Rotary was very inspirational and well received by members I talked to. Keep up the great effort for JDRF. Over $3,000 went to JDRF as gifts for our 50th wedding anniversay. Thank you many times over for what you do! God Bless, Marty Jannsen

In any case, enjoy the feature.  Until somebody buys the movie rights to the book and puts “Faith in the Freshman” on film, or until the documentary is produced for an ESPN special, this will cover it pretty well!

More than a few people have told me that it is not easy.  The emotion flares suddenly and all at once tears fill the eyes and a lump clogs the throat.  I even got a little weepy as I wrote the sermon a few days ago.

I have a few things going for me to make my job easier.  First, Hannah is marrying an awesome young man, Zach Meineke.  They met their freshman year at Concordia Nebraska (I tell you, that freshman year can be a transformational one in lots of ways — read the book!)  They are great for each other and happy together.

Second, and more important, I am preaching about Jesus.  I am preaching for the two of them but not about the two of them.  The focus, as in all of Christian worship, is on Christ.

That may not prevent my mind from wandering back and forth a little bit.  I’ll think back on when Hannah was a precious little girl, and I’ll stand in amazement at what a wonderful young woman she is now.  God has blessed our family with the gift of an incredible kid — Hannah Ruth Ferry, soon-to-be-Meineke.

Already a few tears are moistening at the corners of my eyes.  Will I make it through?  Let’s take a poll — who thinks I’ll get through the sermon without crying like a baby, and who thinks I’ll fall apart?  Also, I am open to advice from folks who have been there before.  Any suggestions for a first-time father-of-the-bride?

Personally, I don’t have much appetite for church politics.  Houston left me wondering whether the political polarization that I observed resembled the sort of factionalism St. Paul complained about when writing to the Corinthians.  While folks in New Orleans routinely exchange “high fives” with strangers walking past, people in Houston exchanged suspicious glances sizing up who was on which side.

In my work as president of CUW, I try to transcend the politics of the church.  We have lots of stakeholders and constituents, and among them are people of varying perspectives — even from within the LCMS.  That is why I enjoy working with the young people.  That is why I have “faith in the freshman” (I can’t write in my blog without a plug for the book).

So, let me throw out a few questions.  What happens to young people that causes them to become cynical when they get older?  What happens to the fresh faith of freshmen that moves so many of them to factionalism later on?  Why do the “high fives” of youth turn into suspicious whispers of adults?

Maybe you think my impressions are off base?  I’d be interested in yours.