Reformation Monday: excommunication

Is that really a Lutheran thing?

Of course.  Any time a person is turned away from the communion table, they have been ex-communicated....put outside the community who gathers at the Lord's Table.  The term is generally used of people who at one time did participate and who are now banned.

Why would such a thing happen?

A perfectly good question.  It would seem that if Jesus was anything he was inclusive; all were invited into the Wedding Banquet  - although note there was a guy without the correct robe who was tossed out (see Matthew 22).  So many Christians believe that we are obligated to allow everyone or anyone to remain a part of the community of faith, just as they believe forgiveness means that perpetrators don't have to face consequences.  We stand heavily on the Grace and don't know exactly how the Law is to be applied.

Let's step back and look at the Lutheran understanding of Law.  Law has two functions.  First, law maintains civil order.  It's that straight forward. Then there is a second or theological function of the Law.  When Law functions theologically (before God) it reflects back to us the reality of who we are and how we are acting in God's world.  In this case, Law works like a mirror.  The picture we see of ourselves is that of a sinner......and we are driven to confession and repentance.  Once we stand before God in repentance, seeking to amend our lives, we stand under Grace....the wondrous love and forgiveness of Jesus and through Jesus.

Now, none of us do this perfectly.  Luther follows St Paul on this when he says  'we do the very thing we do not wish to do, and do not do the very thing we wished we did'.  We are saint and sinner simultaneously.  Yet in the act of confession we recognize how far we have drifted away from God's desired life for us and we turn again (repent, however small the increments) towards God and try living the life of faith once again.  We will never do it all right.  God will never tire of listening for our voice as we cry out.

When Law functions this way (driving us to confession) it deepens both our relationship with God and our spiritual understanding of what it looks like to live a life of faith.  No longer is it a question of whether we have broken the letter of a law, but rather whether our actions/attitudes/thoughts have contributed to the blossoming of God's kingdom.  When the commandment is to love your neighbor, the question the Law raises is How have you loved?  It is always a growth experience.

Unless it isn't.  Unless it is pro forma.  You speak the words but your actions continually belie your sincerity.  You live a life that intentionally and willfully brings death to others (both literally and figuratively).  This isn't about casual moral codes; it is about choosing ways that are contrary to God and then mindlessly expecting to receive an assurance that all is well and you are right with God. There is a failure of both confession and repentance.

When pastors are ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament they are entrusted with the office of the keys of St Peter: the keys that open or close the gates of heaven.  (don't take that literally; there are no gates and no keys).  The Office of Pastor is entrusted with the spiritual well being of all the flock for their eternal welfare.  Most of the time this looks like teaching and prayer and occasional soft admonishment.  Until it doesn't.

On occasion, the behavior of a person is so egregious and allergic to change that it becomes clear that they are not seeking the face of God.  Most of these folks simply separate themselves from the faith community, but some feel entitled to God's forgiveness (a gift!) with rights to God's table.  Rarely this will result in a pastor refusing to commune a person: ex-communication.  Sometimes it also means separation from the congregational body as well (a function of the congregational council).  All of this is intended to shock the person into amending their ways as they lose the closeness of the Risen Jesus in Word and Sacrament.  Ex-communication is intended to bring the offender back.

It is rarely done and never done lightly.....but it does happen.  If you are worried about it, it probably doesn't apply.

Sorry this was so long, but it is a long subject.