This continues from Part EC12 (Table of Contents in Part EC1), a series restoring availability of English translations of several of Walther's convention essays that have seemingly been abandoned by Concordia Publishing House. — This is the last of eight essays, Central District 1871, elucidating the Theses in Walther's True Visible Church book, he covers XVIII D relating to "adiaphora". The writers of the Foreword to this series (Arand and Suelflow?) wrote the following words referencing this essay:
"There are altogether 25 theses in Walther’s book, but his discussion of them ends with Thesis XVIII D. Apparently it would have ended with XVIII C at the Eastern District convention in 1868 at Richmond, Va. [EC12]…if the Central District had not requested elucidation on XVIII D, the point dealing with adiaphora (things neither commanded nor forbidden in Scripture). (It will be noted that this last lecture came much later than the others.) In light of the questions being asked within the church today concerning the wearing of vestments by pastors, the use and value of the historic Lutheran liturgy, the relevance and emotional appeal of Lutheran hymns, and the debate over the role that sociological tools and market research should play in the shaping of Lutheran worship, this lecture on adiaphora is arguably one of the most important in the entire series and deserves extra attention here."
While I will disagree on which essays are the most important, i.e. the ones dealing with Justification (EC4 & EC11), yet I would agree to the very real importance of this essay for today.
Notable Quotes:
10: "The papal Church also says that we must submit to the Word of God, but immediately adds that we must also submit to the traditions and commandments of the church".
10: "there is no such difference among His Christians that some should command and others should obey".
10: "no one should be moved to obedience by pious talk, by long arguments, but by the Word alone".
11: "how much more must we shake off and condemn everything that men want to burden us with contrary to our Christian freedom".
12: "thus Christ also hath redeemed us from the law, spiritually: not breaking and doing away with the law, but thus transforming our heart".
12: "God's people [in Old Testament] were prepared to long for the One who could fulfill the whole Law and redeem them from the Law"
12: "Therefore, although the Lord God has given His precepts in the Old Testament, we [Christians] do not keep them because they do not apply to us".
14: Ceremonies: "Therefore, as desirable as it is that the edifying ceremonies should find acceptance in all Christian congregations, it would nevertheless be folly to strive for their introduction and uniformity in such a way as if the lack of them would abolish the true unity of the church." [see this blog and labels "Liturgical movement", "Liturgical vestments" on the right.]
15: "this passage from the Article XXVIII [Augsburg Confession] proves precisely what the Article VII teaches, namely, that the uniformity of ceremonies does not belong to the unity of the church" [against "Gottesdienst"]
16: "We know and maintain that the character, the soul of Lutheranism lies not in external customs but in pure doctrine. If a congregation had the most beautiful ceremonies in the very best order, but did not have the pure Gospel, it would be anything but Lutheran." [Cp. Bente's statement in his Preface to the Triglotta]
16: "It is also a pity that there are so many different ceremonies in our synod".
17-18: "not a good atmosphere if people do not want to kneel at confession and communion".
18: "…the Lutheran church can endure all constitutions of external church government…episcopal, presbyterial, consistorial and congregational … In the last of these [congregational], which is at the same time the expression of the recognition of Christian freedom, the congregation exercises the highest judgment. This we have also adopted,… because it follows the example of the apostolic church."
20: "this article [XVIII] also gives instruction as to how the power inherent in every congregation is to be handled."
20: "…it may always be asked whether it is right to use one’s right."
21: "It is true that this does not hinder salvation if, for example, men and women sit together in church…". [Missourians viewed separate seating as desirable but not necessary]
24: "If the discipline of the church is in disrepair, if false doctrine penetrates, if injustice goes unpunished, then the responsibility lies with every member who does not bear witness against it."
25: "…every congregation to be careful that its preachers do not go too far in matters of Christian freedom."
27: Luther: "Love is empress over ceremonies, and ceremonies should give way to love, but not love to ceremonies."
28: "…the character of our time. Love is demanded when it is a matter of doctrine, when God's Word alone should be master". [cp. with Dr. Carl S. Meyer's essay in 1956]
In the following, underlining follows Walther's emphasis, which is sometimes missing in the 1992 CPH translation. Paragraph breaks follow the 1992 translation, many hyperlinks added:
