Outer Rim Territories

One of the great lectures this first week of classes came from Dr. Scaer which also dovetailed nicely into a point Dr. Masaki made from Ignatius of Antioch. Simply put, our doctrines aren’t merely creative thoughts of the early church or the church throughout the centuries. Rather the church determined whether her doctrine were parts of the whole of Christ and His Word. This is the catholic principle, “part of the whole.” Doctrine isn’t the creative thought of a few. Nor can we come up with creative doctrine. Instead, doctrine must be catholic, part of the whole of the bride of Christ. 

Many dispute the relation of doctrine and practice, especially in regards to rubrics like “sit” or “kneel” but especially “chant.” Even if we dispose of these things, certain conduct is not only appropriate but it is so in every place and time. One such practice that comes to mind is the sign of the cross. 

Hymnody and liturgical song cannot be considered a matter of personal taste. If it is properly understood as preaching, God speaking to us, then it to must follow the same principle as our doctrine. Is it Christ speaking? Is it part of the whole of Christ’s Word? Is it catholic, that is, part of whole of the preaching of Christ, His church, and His apostles?

In a similar vein, this catholic principle is helpful when Christians and especially we LCMS Lutherans who share the same hymnal (for the most part). When we join together do we confess and practice in the uniqueness of our place? Or rather do we swallow our pride and follow the commonly agreed upon form for the sake of good conduct and order?

Rev. Stuckwisch has an appropriate critique of the usage of the Lutheran Service Book. He’s arguing that we should act catholic, acts as parts of the whole of our tradition, setting aside our practical differences for that which we have agreed is good, right, and salutary.

thinking-out-loud: I Think Ill Call Him “Mischief”
I’m probably forgetting some significant exceptions. Im fallible. But as I think back on the past two years since the Lutheran Service Book was published, and as I think about the various conferences, conventions and other convocations Ive attended, whether large or small, I can only recall one such occasion when we actually followed the orders of service “as is.” The Higher Things conference was that one notable exception; there we did things by the book LSB, even though we needed to publish our own conference booklet of “daily services” for the week, incorporating the hymns and Psalmody, etc. While doing things by the book ought to be the norm, in my opinion, it stands out as an exception because the usual approach, in so far as I have experienced, is to cut and paste from hither and yon, add and subtract, rearrange, and all manner of such “Mischief.” read more…

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