Over at his blog, Messiah College historian, John Fea links to one of his students who has created a Facebook page for “Hug A Lutheran Day.” We here at oldlife do not need a day to hug Lutherans. But we can appreciate their humor. The Messiah student (with props to http://www.oldlutheran.com) says you know you’re a Lutheran if:
…when someone mentions red and green (in terms of Christmas), you immediately think of a battle over hymnals.
…the pastor skips the last hymn to make sure church lasts exactly 60 minutes.
…in response to someone jumping up and shouting “Praise the Lord!”, you politely remind him or her that we don’t do that around here.
…you think a meeting isn’t legitimate unless it’s at least three hours long.
…you have more than five flavors of Jell-O in your pantry.
…when you were little, you actually thought the Reverend’s first name was “Pastor.”
…when you’re watching “Star Wars” in the theatre and when they say, “May the force be with you,” you reply, “and also with you.”
…you tap a church visitor on the shoulder and say, “excuse me, but you’re in my seat.”
…Bach is your favorite composer just because he was Lutheran, too. …your house is a mess because you’re “saved by Grace,” not by works.
…your mother reminds you often that she wishes you’d studied the organ.
…you sing “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” while sitting down. …you feel guilty about not feeling guilty.
The only one I would add, on a more serious note, is you know you’re a Lutheran if you believe in justification by faith alone. (Major props to Martin Luther.)
Old Life 