Grampben,
I think you have a very good point. The terms for Protestants and Catholics are becoming confused, and I have a working theory that it’s related to a combination of 1) people don’t take the time to learn what words actually mean anymore, and 2) there’s been a concerted effort by some segments of society to either radically or subtly alter the common definition of terms for their own ends.
Classically, Lutherans have not understood themselves as “Protestants,” but as “Catholics.” I think our Anglican friends would say the same thing, and perhaps others as well. To fail to be catholic, in the Lutheran understanding, would make one a schismatic-- and no Lutheran who appreciates their history thinks of themselves as a schismatic. We confess unity in faith and the three great Sacraments, with Christ as the source and sum of all Christian expression. We heartily ring out the Athanasian Creed every Trinity Sunday, recounting the words, “This is the catholic faith, unless one holds it faithfully, he cannot be saved.”
But there’s been a lot of water under the proverbial bridge since the Reformation. One can argue how “catholic” the majority of contemporary Lutheran churches are, and frankly, you can find a lot of contemporary Lutherans who are much more comfortable with identifying as Protestants, having become comfortable with the state of division in the Church, and choosing to partner more with either a liberal rejection of Scripture or with a fundamentalist Anabaptist concept minimizing the Sacraments and valid Tradition. Frankly, most of the Lutheran churches in my area are either making sad attempts to look and feel like Willow Creek, or abandoning the Scriptures which crimp their perverted lifestyles. Also sad, is that the liberal theology that pushed this junk in 20th century Lutheranism, was alive and well in 20th century American Roman Catholicism, which for the most part left many catholic minded Lutherans thinking that the grass wasn’t much greener on the other side of the fence.
Quite frankly, Lutherans have been a mess for the last half of the 20th century, and we don’t look too promising heading into the 3rd millennium… and one might extend that analysis to the state of the entire American Christian experiment. The great Fr. Neuhaus, recently deceased, I believe gave as one of his driving reasons for moving into the Roman communion, that the major Lutheran communions had become content to leave their Reformation mission within the broader catholic context, and simply be content with being schismatic Protestants. Knowing that the authentic goal of Lutheran theology was always eventual repair and reunion of we separated brethren with Rome, he couldn’t abide the choice to remain Lutheran… even after decades of service to Lutherans as perhaps the pre-eminent theologian of our time. And, as a Roman, he continued to work in his priestly role, to draw Lutherans and Romans together, helping improve our understandings of each other, and to walk together in charity.
It will be interesting to me, as time goes by, and we find out whether Lutherans will choose, in their larger corporate bodies, to be schismatics or catholics. I remain a Lutheran only so long as I can work with the definition that I confess and practice a simple catholic faith, for the good of my neighbor and the glory of Christ. If or when that opportunity evaporates from the Lutheran communions, I will have some very difficult choices to make.
Peace.
