We live in days when the overthrow of the Churches seems imminent; of this I have long been cognisant. There is no edification of the Church; no correction of error; no sympathy for the weak; no single defence of sound brethren; no remedy is found either to heal the disease which has already seized us, or as a preventive against that which we expect. Altogether the state of the Church (if I may use a plain figure though it may seem too humble an one) is like an old coat, which is always being torn and can never be restored to its original strength. - St. Basil the Great, Letter 100
so much for going back to the good ole days, eh? seems as though the resources and strengths of the Church are are always very weak... only a few loaves, and sometimes some fish (depending on if a preacher is one year or three year LSB this week)... but yet the Christ is always compassionate, and feeds the multitudes with it
ReplyDeleteExactly, Jimbo. It reminded of Luther's writings about what he discovered on the visitations. Has it ever been different? Has each generation projected backwards an idealized picture? And yet through all the mess, the Word of God goes on being proclaimed and through it the Holy Spirit still calls, gather, enlightens and sanctifies a holy Christian Church, though ever that Church exists here on earth in great weakness and trouble.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a district vice president (two years ago) and a district mission facilitator (two weeks ago) refuse to defend Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions when challenged by laymen who don't want to be Lutheran.
ReplyDeleteIn the last week I've seen a church member deny the efficacy of the Lord's Supper and publicly refute the Small Catechism at a voters' meeting mere minutes after signing our congregation constitution that says members must uphold the SC and UAC. And so much for the Confirmation vow.
Another member (life-long Lutheran and many-time former President of the congregation) said he didn't know we received the forgiveness of sins in the Lord's Supper; that it was a memorial.
This was right after one of our church council members moved to get rid of weekly Communion that we've been offering for almost a year now because he's not making his tee-off time at the golf course ... and right before another member moved that the voters ask our pastor to put his name on a Call list.
St. Basil may have a point.