Love Unlimited
Prayer:
Church Unity
A visitor to a mental hospital was astonished to note that there were only three guards watching over a hundred dangerous inmates. He asked his guide, “Don’t you fear that these people will overpower the guards and escape?”
“No,” was the reply. “Lunatics never unite.”
This Passage is NOT about the World
Adiaphora (“middle matters”; from Gk. for “indifferent things”; Ger. Mitteldinge). FC Ep X 1 speaks of adiaphora as “ceremonies or church usages which are neither commanded nor forbidden in the Word of God but have been introduced into the church in the interest of good order and the general welfare.”
[3] 1. To settle this dispute, we unanimously believe, teach, and confess that ceremonies or ecclesiastical practices that are neither commanded nor forbidden in God’s Word, but have been established only for good order and decorum, are in and of themselves neither worship ordained by God nor a part of such worship. “In vain do they worship me” with human precepts (Matt. 15[:9*]).
[4] 2. We believe, teach, and confess that the community of God in every place and at every time has the authority to alter such ceremonies according to its own situation, as may be most useful and edifying for the community of God.
[5] 3. Of course, all frivolity and offense must be avoided, and special consideration must be given particularly to those who are weak in faith.
[3] 1. To settle this dispute, we unanimously believe, teach, and confess that ceremonies or ecclesiastical practices that are neither commanded nor forbidden in God’s Word, but have been established only for good order and decorum, are in and of themselves neither worship ordained by God nor a part of such worship. “In vain do they worship me” with human precepts (Matt. 15[:9*]).
[4] 2. We believe, teach, and confess that the community of God in every place and at every time has the authority to alter such ceremonies according to its own situation, as may be most useful and edifying for the community of God.
[5] 3. Of course, all frivolity and offense must be avoided, and special consideration must be given particularly to those who are weak in faith.
Love Does No Harm
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother?