I know such absolute declarations frighten Lutherans. But this is all the proof you need.
While vestments are indeed typically adiaphora ("indifferent things," i.e. things neither commanded nor forbidden by Scripture), there are times when they are not.
"Likewise, when there are useless, foolish displays, that are profitable neither for good order nor Christian discipline, nor evangelical propriety in the Church, these also are not genuine adiaphora, or matters of indifference." FC SD X:7Leitourgia Divina adiaphora non est.
HT: Greg at The Holy Cause.
Gulp. Reminds me of a Rorshach test. Are those flowers -- or sliced Kiwi fruit -- on that ah,
ReplyDeleterather unique creation?
Christine
So that's the appropriate chasuble for the Chicago Folk Service!
ReplyDeleteI once had a pastor's wife told me that contemptible...er, contemporary worship fell under adiaphora and thus was OK. I then replied that she should check out the Solid Declaration on adiaphora, that there were several things they were doing that were obscuring the Gospel.
ReplyDeleteAdiaphora...just don't go there if you want to justify bad lyrics and lack of message.
OK. Who's been spying in my vestments closet? I'm not amused!
ReplyDelete"Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition."
ReplyDelete(Matthew 15:6) This judgment applies today as well. This is always a present danger when tradition overshadows Jesus' covenant-gospel proclamation.
Dear Theophilus:
ReplyDeleteI really like your comment, and believe it deserves more than just a comment in reply. So I wrote a reply in the form of a new post.
Thanks!