Posted on by Kurt Bodling

the Holy Spirit and unity

“I am sad to see how much we abuse the Holy Spirit. In their imagination and in disregard of the will that intends that we be one, some men, on their own initiative, create their own churches, their own theologies, and their own beliefs, which in fact are only petty subjective opinions. The Holy Spirit has no opinions. He only repeats what Christ taught us in order to lead to the whole truth.

“I say this in all seriousness: The absence of the Holy Spirit in the Church creates all the divisions. Where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God. Where the Spirit is, there is the Church.” Thought 213. (p. 111)

Sarah, Robert Cardinal with Nicolas Diat. The Power of Silence Against the Dictatorship of Noise. With an Afterword by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Translated by Michael J. Miller. [including some conversation with Dom Dysmas de Lassus, the Father General of the Carthusian Order at Grande Chartreuse.] San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2017.

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“Theology is the main requisite for entering into and embodying Christian wisdom. We read the Scriptures, but without theology, we understand only the letter and do not enter into the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We read the mystics, but without theology, we do not understand the profundity of their spiritual insights and enter into mystical experience. We have authentic moments of silence, meditation and prayer, but without theological exercise, our life will not become doxological, permeated by prayer and thanksgiving. Theology is the way to enter into God’s mystery.”

(Barban, Alessandro. “Lectio Divina and Monastic Theology in Camaldolese Life” in Belisle, Peter-Damian, editor. The Privilege of Love: Camaldolese Benedictine Spirituality. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 2002, p. 50)

Rest assured that there’s still a place for theology in today’s world! All Christians need at least some theological knowledge so that they can work with the heart wisdom gleaned through the spiritual disciplines.

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what the Church is and does, part 3

“I believe that there is forgiveness of sin nowhere else than in this community and that beyond it nothing can help to gain it–no good deeds, no matter how many or how great they might be; and that within this community nothing can invalidate this forgiveness of sin–no matter how gravely and often one may sin; and that such forgiveness continues as long as this one community exists. To this [community] Christ gave the power of the keys, saying in Matthew 18 [:18 ], ‘Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.’ He said the same to Peter as an individual, representing and taking the place of one and only one church.”

Luther, Martin. “Personal Prayer Book” (1522) Luther’s Works Vol. 43. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1968, page 29.

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what the Church is and does, part 2

“I believe no one can be saved who is not in this gathering or community, harmoniously sharing the same faith with it, the same word, sacraments, hope, and love. And that no Jew, heretic, pagan, or sinner can be saved along with this community unless he becomes reconciled with it and unites with it in full agreement in all things.”

Luther, Martin. “Personal Prayer Book” (1522) Luther’s Works Vol. 43. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1968, page 28.

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what the Church is and does, part 1

“I believe that throughout the whole wide world there is only one holy, universal, Christian church, which is nothing other than the gathering or congregation of saints–pious believers on earth. This church is gathered, preserved, and governed by the same Holy Spirit and is given daily increase by means of the sacraments and the word of God.”

(Luther, Martin. “Personal Prayer Book” (1522) Luther’s Works Vol. 43. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1968, page 28)

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irreconcilable differences? hope not!

Quote:
“We have irreconcilable differences with Rome on the second and third articles related to the work of Christ and justification by faith alone that date back to the sixteenth century. But we share a number of common convictions regarding the first article of the creed as it relates to the moral issues of society and God’s continuing work in creation (creatio continua).”

Note:
As a respected seminary professor in the LCMS, Arand knows of what he speaks, but I sure wish he hadn’t called the differences “irreconcilable.” That troubles me. At one time it wouldn’t have. Still, I guess it’s good there’s something we agree on.

Charles P. Arand, “Tending Our Common Home: Reflections on Laudato Si’.” Concordia Journal Fall 2015, vol. 41, no. 4, page 308.

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Living Faith of the Heart

“But the monastic understanding of Jesus is far more than mere correct doctrine about Catholic or ecumenical Christian faith and morality, church and monastery structures, or the correct performance of liturgy and sacraments. It is a life experience. We become ‘like Christ,’ or ‘Christian.’ Perhaps that is why monastics have always been both protectors of orthodoxy and pioneers in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue.”

Talbot, John Michael. Blessings of St. Benedict. Collegeville, MN : Liturgical Press, 2011, page 126.

Talbot says that while correct doctrine is necessary, it isn’t enough. That would only be head knowledge of Christ; and it’s important not to forget a heart knowledge of Jesus. I wonder whether he would admit that this “life experience” of the Lord can be gained through immersion in “correct doctrine.” I ask because I have known many folks utterly concerned about protecting “pure doctrine” and orthodoxy, who never wanted to get tainted by being involved in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue.

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

holy mother Church

Note:
Bishop NT Wright (an Anglican) brings in John Calvin to support the thought that community is necessary for Christian life. Well, yes, but…. Wright here equates “a Christian” with “a newborn baby”. St. Paul, however, did speak of passing beyond childish things, and switching from spiritual milk to spiritual meat. Certainly in the beginning a convert needs the Church community as a baby needs direct, personal nurture. But later on, I believe that “community” can be understood in a more cosmic sense. It’s still there, the Church is, but may not have to be there in the form of the local congregation. Maybe the Church shows up for some people as “the whole Christian Church on earth.” Maybe the Church can show up as the “great cloud of witnesses” and the “whole host of Heaven.” At least for some Christians.

Quote:
“‘If God is our father, the church is our mother.’ The words are those of the Swiss Reformer John Calvin. Several biblical passages speak in this way (notably, Galatians 4.26-27, echoing Isaiah 54.1). They underline the fact that it is as impossible, unnecessary and undesirable to be a Christian all by yourself as it is to be a newborn baby all by yourself.” (p. 180)

Source: Wright, Tom. Simply Christian. London: SPCK, 2006.

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irreconcilable differences

Note:
Yesterday the commonplace carried a hopeful note that because Lutherans and Catholics do theology in the same way and are both careful to write theology precisely, the two have made progress on bridging the gap between them. He specifically referred to the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification as evidence. The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) didn’t sign on to the Joint Declaration and today’s author knows better than to make the same kind of hopeful praise.

So, in a slight counterpoint to yesterday’s post I note that, as a respected seminary professor in the LCMS, Charles Arand clearly knows of what he speaks, but I sure wish he hadn’t called the differences “irreconcilable.”

[And, as I don’t know who is reading this post, perhaps I need to explain that “second and third articles” below refers to the second and third parts of the Apostles’ Creed, which confess our faith in Jesus and justification, and in the Holy Spirit and the Church, while the “first article” confesses our faith in the Father and his act of creation.]

Quote:
“We have irreconcilable differences with Rome on the second and third articles related to the work of Christ and justification by faith alone that date back to the sixteenth century. But we share a number of common convictions regarding the first article of the creed as it relates to the moral issues of society and God’s continuing work in creation (creatio continua).” (p. 308)

Source: Charles P. Arand, “Tending Our Common Home: Reflections on Laudato Si’.” Concordia Journal Fall 2015, vol. 41, no. 4,

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a noisy Church

“It is time to revolt against the dictatorship of noise that seeks to break our hearts and our intellects. A noisy society is like sorry-looking cardboard stage scenery, a world without substance, an immature flight. A noisy Church would become vain, unfaithful, and dangerous.”


Robert Cardinal Sarah with Nicolas Diat. The Power of Silence Against the Dictatorship of Noise. With an Afterword by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Translated by Michael J. Miller. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2017), p. 240.