According the the Veith and Sutton book, "Authentic Christianity," there are "reportedly 70-90 million Lutherans in the world." They go on to write, "But Lutheran church bodies, like those of other theological traditions, come in both liberal and conservative varieties...northern European nations have become highly secularized. Church attendance is miniscule, though church membership remains high."
They go on to write, "Today, the real center of Lutheranism is not in its European lands of origin but in Africa and Asia...there are more than 20 million in Africa and more than 10 million in Asia. The fastest growing Lutheran Church is in India."
Interestingly, the African and Asian Churches are mostly liturgical in their worship. There is an emphasis on traditional worship, and utilization of Word and Sacraments.
What can we learn from these growing churches. Maybe we don't need "seeker services," modern worship choruses, and pastors so casually dressed that they look like they walked off a beach. Mainline Lutheran Churches in America are still bleeding members.
Perhaps it's time for us to get back to what we do best: let God serve us in the Divine Service, cherish the Liturgy which is nothing more than God speaking to us and we, in turn, speaking back to Him, placing the emphasis on Law/Gospel preaching, singing the great hymns of the church and coming with humble hearts to receive our Lord's body and blood in the Holy Supper. I wonder what work the Holy Spirit might do if we were to return to what got us here in the first place?
