Insight, Catharsis & Sinful Behavior

I have been thinking about the critiques of Perry Robinson and Drew. Essentially, the arguments are:

• Lutheran theology may cause a person to seek out a cathartic experience each Sunday.

• This cathartic experience does not necessarily lead to behavior change.

• The “insight” of Lutheran theology (simul justus et peccator, extra nos, etc.) does not necessarily lead to behavior change.

• This “insight” can actually become a rationalization to continue to sin.

• The cathartic experience can be an “opiate” that lulls the person to accept his sinful behavior.

• The cathartic experience can also lead to a rationalization that keeps the person from making a behavior change.

• Both the cathartic experience and insight may have no impact on motivation or desire to change sinful behavior.

• Finally, this whole situation is compounded by the fact that most Lutheran preaching, at least Confessional Lutheran preaching, does not focus much on Sanctification.

It would seem that one could argue that Lutheran theology is a ‘set up’ for sinning. A situation is set up in which a sinner seeks an emotional catharsis each week, yet keeps sinning. The sin is rationalized and the guilt is medicated by the narcotic catharsis each Sunday.

We are all sinners. However, we all have areas where we can improve. We have habitual sinful behavior that can change. The anger can be reduced, the pride lessened and the lust resisted.

I have never thought about this until now, but perhaps Lutheran theology takes away the desire, motivation and interest in changing sinful behavior (at least in some people).

I am not forgetting the role of the Holy Spirit in all of this. However, I wonder how much am I supposed to “work with the Holy Spirit” to change my sinful ways. Or, do I wait for the Holy Spirit to give me all the desire, motivation, interest, power and ability to change. If so, how long do I wait for the Holy Spirit to work in my life?

Perhaps Lutheran theology needs a warning label.