thinking-out-loud: Father Knows Best
thinking-out-loud: Father Knows Best:
I think that I was recently accused of playing "Father Knows Best." Well, no, not me personally or specifically. But the description was intended for pastors who have admitted children to the Holy Communion at an earlier-than-LCMS-average age and apart from the rite of confirmation. As I understand the line of argument, it is evidently now okay to do this, because the Lutheran Service Book includes a "Rite of First Communion." But to do so heretofore was, again, a case of playing "Father Knows Best." I've been puzzling over this for the past few weeks now, ever since I encountered it. I honestly don't understand the intention of this label. I am vaguely aware that there was an old, black-and-white television sitcom by the name of "Father Knows Best." I doubt that I would be able to differentiate it from "Leave It to Beaver" or "My Three Sons." Maybe avid watchers of cable t.v. would instantly be able to nod in sage agreement with the critique at hand. For my part, though, I am more than a little hazy as to what it is that pastors like myself have been "playing." Let me go on record as being categorically opposed to pastors re-enacting episodes of old television programs. I really don't think they should be coming up with any new episodes, either. Those characters and their situations are someone else's intellectual property, and I'm sure that playing them would be a copyright violation, syndication notwithstanding. Besides, that stuff was all in black and white, which isn't very attractive, effective or successful anymore. Yet, that doesn't seem to have been the point of criticism, after all.Another Lutheran blog turned me on to Rev. Stuckwisch a month back. He has been blogging since May. His nearly daily posts are thought provoking and intense. I commend to you the above Father-themed post. If you can't read through tongue-in-cheek monologue it may not be for you. Rhetorically, its genius. Perhaps his post resonated as I share a similar understanding of admission to the Lord's Supper, the biblical role of fathers, and what is proper pastoral care. If this post isn't your cup of tea, try another. His thoughts are well-crafted and worth the time. Click here to read more of the original post.<
