The Evangelical Lutheran Church In America held its Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis. Gathering in convention as an international church body as they do every odd numbered year, their gathering will be similar to such gatherings as they have been held in most Protestant denominations over the past several years – focusing on debate over the liberalizing of theological and ethical doctrines within the church.
As the ELCA and other denominations meet in such conventions, I am reminded of something that took place between Guenther Tharp and his mother several years ago.

Helga Tharp was becoming totally frustrated with the mess that served as Guenther’s bedroom.  The room was in constant disarray.  She wondered aloud how Guenther could even get in and out of the room – much less sleep and play in it.  Spanking, lectures, and grounding had no effect in altering his sloppy behavior. Then Helga heard about a rather ingenious plan which had worked for Mrs. Schultz down the street.  Helga cleaned Guenther’s room herself and charged a fine for the items she had to pick up.  Certainly, such a system of fines would have an impact on her messy son.
At the end of the first week, Mrs. Tharp left a bill on Guenther’s dresser. He owed his mother $9.35.
The next morning on the dresser where she had left her bill, Helga found the $9.35 – plus a 50 cent tip and a note which read, “Thanks, Mom, keep up the good work.”
The experience obviously produced something other than the understanding Helga sought to implant in her son.
Looking at Mrs. Tharp’s series of attempts to make Guenther more responsible in the upkeep of his room, she seems to have been following an insightful saying about education – “Tell me and I’ll forget.  Show me and I might remember.  Involve me and I’ll understand.”  In her last attempt, she hoped involving Guenther through the fines would increase his understanding of his responsibilities.
She was on the right track — but understanding does not stand alone — understanding needs a context, a frame of reference to make the understanding relevant and useful.
Whether we are talking about Guenther taking responsibility for his room; each individual person taking moral and ethical responsibility for his or her own life; nations setting their social, ethical, and moral agendas; or churches trying to remain faithful to their calling – there must be a recognized and accepted context.
Life’s ultimate context for understanding is faith – the ultimate beliefs by which we live and the foundations we recognize upon which those beliefs are based.

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