Being right -- and being alright

Lutherans love Doctrine and Theology. Precise words, strong doctrine, careful definitions are precious things. We don't shy away from confessing the truth clearly and courageously. But here's something that threatens solid and sound pastoral practice: the love for being always right. That's can become a problem not just for ourselves, but also for the people we serve.

We can never change Doctrine. But we can always talk, discuss and progress in Theology in the pastoral and congregational practice. As Orthodoxy is something defined and unified, Orthopraxy can be varied and open to discussion. That is because Theology is not always a matter of “either/or”, but rather, of “both/and”. Therefore, we can be right. And we can be alright. 

Let me explain.

Confessional Lutherans, especially pastors and theologians, are often trained to sniff out heresy in every single sound bite of theological conversations from some miles away—or at least we think we are. That can create certain temptations:

• The temptation to correct before we listen.

• The inward satisfaction of “spotting the heresy.”

• The reluctance to say, “That’s an interesting thought—I need to think about that,” because we feel pressure to already have the answer.

  * We start believing our calling is to always have the last word in every conversation

However, the truth is clear. There has never been a theologian in the history of the Church who was right about everything. Not Peter. Not Augustine. Not Aquinas. Not Luther. Every one of them had blind spots, lacked knowledge in some area, or, when that's the case, wrote something they would be better off not having put down in ink. Perhaps even did not express themselves as clearly as they could have. That doesn't diminish their contributions; it just makes evident what we all know - they are human.

There are, of course, matters on which the Church cannot and should not budge. But not every conversation is about those things.

Many of our pastoral conversations—especially in today's world—happen in the realm of confusion, not open rebellion. Misinformation, poor teaching, cultural pressure, or even just spiritual immaturity can all play a role in someone landing in a theological ditch. But you don't help someone out of the ditch by barking at them. You climb down beside them and help them up. We're called to be shepherds, not only sniffer dogs.

Of course, guarding the flock is part of our call. We contend for the faith. We refute false teaching. But the New Testament tells us how to do that: "with patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2). Not with arrogance. Not with a smirk. And not with the assumption that we ourselves don't need correction or growth. Paul told Timothy to watch his life and doctrine closely (1 Timothy 4:16). That's a helpful pairing. It's not just about what we know—it's about how we live, how we relate to others, how we carry ourselves in conversations, and how we reflect the gentleness and clarity of Christ.

Here are some concrete examples of where Lutheran Pastors may struggle with “Being Right” in areas where one-right answer-only option only is not the right answer:

1. Worship Styles and Practices

• Some pastors hold very firmly to a traditional liturgical form, believing it to be only right way to conduct worship, emphasizing historic Lutheran liturgy and hymns. Others might favour more blended worship expressions.

  Theologically, both can be faithful expressions if rooted in Word and Sacrament. Yet pastors sometimes debate or even resist change, wanting to “win” the argument for their style, forgetting the pastoral goal is to gather and nurture the flock, not merely enforce uniformity.

2. Approach to Pastoral Care and Counselling

• A pastor might insist on a very strict, doctrine-focused approach when counselling someone struggling with doubt, sin, or life challenges, wanting to be “right” doctrinally rather than listening carefully and responding pastorally. Another pastor might emphasize relational presence, grace, and accompaniment, even if the theology for that topic is not fully formed or neatly articulated at every moment.

  Both approaches can be faithful in different ways, but pastors may find it hard to let go of the need to be the doctrinally “right” counselor, rather than the compassionate shepherd.

3. Interpretation of Scripture on applied topics and issues

• Topics like Closed communion, the role of women in leadership, common x individual chalice, confirmation age instruction, children's education and the Service, liturgical year and the lectionary, christian nationalism, right or left, political preferences, and many more, often provoke strong convictions. 

  The temptation to theology-shaming or clergy-shaming others can overshadow the pastoral imperative to accompany and serve. These discussions rarely have one clear-cut answer in every case, calling for pastoral discretion, humility, patience, and a willingness to wrestle with Scripture and together as Church.

  4. Pastoral Authority and Congregational Conflict

• In the face of tension or disagreement, some pastors, wrestling with their insecurities, double down in asserting their authority—often disguised as doctrinal fidelity by flooding the conversation with biblical passages. For lack of better leadership and human skills for congregational disputes or disagreements, pastors may feel compelled to assert their “rightness” and appeal to authority so that have their will be done.

  Instead, a faithful approach might involve listening deeply, admitting uncertainty, or sharing leadership with others, even when it means not having the last word or definitive answer. 

What helps is being less obsessed with being always right all the time - especially in areas where we're simply trying to exercise power and control, making our will be done. Faithfulness to Christ happens through faithfulness to the teaching of the Scripture and through openness to dialogue and conversation. If everything the Church practised after the apostles was always right, we wouldn't have had so many reformations and theological discussions throughout history. Lutherans treasure doctrine, rightly so, but pastoral ministry is done in Doctrine, Theology and practice, within the tension of truth and love (Ephesians 4:15). Being “right” can sometimes become a quest for control or power, especially when teaching and practices are treated like weapons rather than gifts. 

Sometimes, people will come around—not because we argued them into the truth, but because the Holy Spirit used faithful, patient teaching over time. And sometimes, we'll discover that we needed correction, too—or at least, we needed to learn how to speak more clearly, more helpfully, more lovingly. And when it is our turn to reflect and change, we can learn that the solution to being made aware of a mistake is not to silently change the speech and act as if nothing ever happened. The Church doesn't advance through point-scoring. It grows through repentance, forgiveness and patient faithfulness.

We don’t have to trade sound doctrine for wrong practice. We should never do so. But instead of being obsessed with being right about everything all the time, we can focus on being faithful—faithful to Scripture, faithful to the Confessions, faithful in our words and tone, and faithful to the people we serve.

We may not always be right. But we will always be alright.