X. De Ceremoniis Ecclesiasticis
The Question of Indifferent Things
The chapter introduces adiaphora—matters indifferent to God's word—and the controversy over ecclesiastical rites instituted only for order.
These are what are commonly called adiaphora, or middle things—that is, things that are indifferent. A controversy has also arisen among the theologians of the Augsburg Confession over ceremonies or ecclesiastical rites, which in the word of God are neither commanded nor forbidden, but were introduced into the church solely for the sake of order and propriety.
The Controversy Over Conformity Under Persecution
The dispute is framed: whether abolished indifferent ceremonies may be restored to conform with papal authorities during a time of persecution and confession.
The state of the controversy. The question was raised whether, in a time of persecution and in a case of confession — even if opponents were unwilling to agree with us in doctrine — nevertheless, with conscience preserved, certain ceremonies already abolished, which are in themselves indifferent matters and are neither commanded nor forbidden by God, could be called back into use when adversaries request and press for this; and whether in this way we can rightly conform with the papal authorities in ceremonies and indifferent matters of this kind. One side affirmed that this could be done; the other, however, denied it.
Ceremonies Are Not Divine Worship
The affirmative teaching begins: ecclesiastical rites are not divine worship, for Scripture condemns treating human commandments as doctrines.
THE AFFIRMATIVE. A sincere teaching and confession on this article. I. To settle this controversy with unanimous consent, we believe, teach, and confess that ecclesiastical ceremonies or rites — which are neither commanded nor forbidden by the word of God, but were instituted solely for the sake of propriety and order — are not themselves divine worship, nor any part at least of divine worship. For it is written: "In vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."✦
The Church's Freedom to Change Ceremonies
The church is free at all times and places to change indifferent ceremonies according to what best serves edification.
II. We believe, teach, and confess that it is permissible for the Church of God, anywhere in the world and at any time, to change such ceremonies according to the situation at hand: following that principle which is judged most useful to the Church of God and best suited to its edification.
Guarding the Weak in Faith
Even in freedom, frivolity must be avoided and the weak in faith must be treated with gentle consideration.
III. In this matter, however, we judge that all frivolity must be avoided and stumbling blocks guarded against — above all, consideration must be shown to those who are weak in faith, and they must be treated gently.
Standing Firm in Persecution
In times of persecution demanding confession, we must not yield in indifferent matters, for the truth of the Gospel and Christian freedom are at stake.
IV. We believe, we teach, and we confess that in times of persecution, when a clear and steadfast confession is demanded from us by the enemies of the Gospel, we must not yield in matters of indifference: for the Apostle says this: By the freedom with which Christ freed us, stand firm in it, and do not be subjected again to a yoke of slavery.✦ And elsewhere: Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.✦ What fellowship does light have with darkness?✦ And so on. Likewise, to them we did not yield in subjection even for an hour, so that the truth of the Gospel might remain among you.✦ For in such a state of affairs, it is no longer a question of matters of indifference, but of the truth of the Gospel and of Christian freedom, which must be guarded carefully and kept hidden: and how caution must be taken so that idolatry is not openly confirmed and the weak in faith are not offended. In matters of this kind, it is certainly not for us to bestow anything on our adversaries: but our duty requires that we put forward a pious and noble confession, and that we patiently bear those things which the Lord has imposed on us to be borne, and which he has permitted the enemies of the Word of God to bring against us.
Unity Amidst Ceremonial Diversity
Churches ought not condemn one another over differing external ceremonies, provided there is agreement in doctrine and sacraments.
V. We believe, teach, and confess that one church shouldn't condemn another on this account: because this church or that one observes more or fewer external ceremonies that the Lord didn't institute, provided only that there's agreement among them in doctrine and all its articles and in the true use of the Sacraments. For this is an old and true saying: disagreement about fasting doesn't break the harmony of faith.
Condemning False Teachings on Ceremonies
The negative section opens by rejecting all false teachings contrary to God's word on this article.
Negative. The rejection of false teachings concerning this article. We reject and condemn these false teachings that are contrary to the word of God.
Rejecting Human Traditions as Divine Worship
We reject the teaching that human traditions are to be regarded as divine worship or part of it.
I. That human traditions and regulations, in matters of the church, are to be regarded as worship of God in themselves, or at least as part of divine worship.
Rejecting Coercion in Indifferent Matters
We reject the coercion of ceremonies upon the church as though they were necessary, against Christian freedom.
II. When ceremonies and regulations of this kind are forced on the Church of God by a kind of coercion, as though they were necessary — and this, indeed, against the Christian freedom that the Church of Christ possesses in such external matters.
Rejecting Compromise with Enemies of the Gospel
We reject the claim that we may accommodate enemies of the Gospel in indifferent matters during persecution, for this harms the heavenly truth.
III. When people claim that during a time of persecution, when a clear confession is required, it's acceptable to accommodate the enemies of the Gospel in matters of indifference, to make a pact with them and go along with them — this is bound up with harm to the heavenly truth.
Rejecting the Abolition of Christian Liberty
We reject the abolition of ceremonies on the opinion that the church is not free to use them for edification.
IV. When external ceremonies—which are indifferent—are abolished on the opinion that the Church of God is not free, as the situation arises, to use this or that ceremony by reason of Christian liberty, as it has judged useful for edification.
Read the original Latin
quae vulgo Adiaphora seu res mediae et indifferentes vocantur.
Orta est etiam inter Theologos Augustanae Confessionis controversia de ceremoniis seu ritibus Ecclesiasticis: qui in verbo Dei neque praecepti sunt, neque prohibiti: sed ordinis tantum et decori gratia in Ecclesiam sunt introducti.
Status controversiae. Quaesitum fuit, num persecutionis tempore, et in casu confessionis (etiamsi adversarii nobiscum in doctrina consentire nolint) nihilominus salva conscientia aliquae iam abrogatae ceremoniae, quae per se indifferentes, et a Deo neque mandatae neque prohibitae sint, postulantibus id et urgentibus adversariis, iterum in usum revocari possint: et an hoc modo cum Pontificiis in eiusmodi ceremoniis et adiaphoris conformari recte queamus. Una pars hoc fieri posse affirmavit: altera vero negavit.
AFFIRMATIVA. Sincera doctrina et confessio de hoc articulo.
I. Ad hanc controversiam dirimendam unanimi consensu credimus, docemus, et confitemur, quod ceremoniae sive ritus Ecclesiastici (qui verbo Dei neque praecepti sunt, neque prohibiti, sed tantum decori et ordinis causa instituti) non sint per se cultus divinus, aut aliqua saltem pars cultus divini. Scriptum est enim: Frustra colunt me, docentes, doctrinas, mandata hominum.
II. Credimus, docemus, et confitemur, Ecclesiae Dei, ubivis terrarum, et quocunque tempore, licere, pro re nata, ceremonias tales mutare: iuxta eam rationem, quae Ecclesiae Dei utilissima, et ad aedificationem eiusdem maxime accommodata iudicatur.
III. Ea tamen in re omnem levitatem fugiendam, et offendicula cavenda: in primis vero infirmorum in fide rationem habendam, et iis parcendum esse censemus.
IV. Credimus, docemus, et confitemur, quod temporibus persecutionum, quando perspicua et constans confessio a nobis exigitur, hostibus Evangelii in rebus adiaphoris non sit cedendum: Sic enim Apostolus inquit: Qua libertate Christus nos liberavit, in ea state, et nolite iterum iugo servitutis subiici. Et alibi: Nolite iugum ducere cum infidelibus, etc. Quae enim est societas luci ad tenebras? etc. Item: Quibus neque ad horam cessimus subiectione: ut veritas Evangelii permaneret apud vos. In tali enim rerum statu non agitur iam amplius de adiaphoris: sed de veritate Evangelii, et de libertate Christiana sarcta tectaque conservanda: et quomodo cavendum sit, ne manifeste Idololatria confirmetur, et infirmi in fide offendantur. In huiusmodi rebus nostrum certe non est, aliquid adversariis largiri: sed officium nostrum requirit, ut piam et ingenuam confessionem edamus, et ea patienter feramus, quae Dominus nobis ferenda imposuerit, et hostibus verbi Dei in nos permiserit.
V. Credimus, docemus, et confitemur, quod Ecclesia alia aliam damnare non debeat, propterea, quod haec vel illa plus minusve, externarum ceremoniarum, quas Dominus non instituit, observet: si modo in doctrina, eiusque articulis omnibus, et in vero sacramentorum usu sit inter eas consensus. Hoc enim vetus et verum dictum est: Dissonantia ieiunii non dissolvit consonantiam fidei.
NEGATIVA. Falsae doctrinae, de hoc articulo, reiectio.
Repudiamus atque damnamus haec falsa, et verbo Dei contraria dogmata.
I. Quod humanae traditiones et constitutiones, in Ecclesiasticis rebus, per se, pro cultu Dei, aut certe pro parte divini cultus sint habendae.
II. Quando eiusmodi ceremoniae et constitutiones, Ecclesiae Dei coactione quadam tanquam necessariae obtruduntur: et quidem contra libertatem Christianam, quam Ecclesia Christi, in rebus eiusmodi externis, habet.
III. Cum asseritur, quod tempore persecutionis, quando clara confessio requiritur, hostibus Evangelii in observatione eiusmodi rerum adiaphorarum gratificari, et cum ipsis pacisci et consentire liceat: quae res cum detrimento veritatis coelestis coniuncta est.
IV. Cum externae ceremoniae, quae indifferentes sunt, ea opinione abrogantur, quasi Ecclesiae Dei liberum non sit, pro re nata, ut iudicaverit ad aedificationem utile esse, hanc vel illam ceremoniam, ratione libertatis Christianae, usurpare.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Isa.29.13;Matt.15.9 — And the Lord said: "Because this people draws near with its mouth and honors me with its lips, but its heart is far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by humans." Matt.15.9 — But in vain do they worship me, teaching human commandments as doctrines.
- ↩Gal.5.1 — For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not again be subject to a yoke of slavery.
- ↩2Cor.6.14 — Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
- ↩2Cor.6.14 — Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
- ↩Gal.2.5 — To them we did not yield in submission for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
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