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<\/a><\/p>\nThis morning (in the heresy and schism lecture) we stressed variety\u2013even Jesus, Paul, John express themselves differently. But are they saying the same thing?\u00a0 Just as soon a theology developments, differences appear, and the question becomes what is legitimate and what is not. But on the main issue the NT is clear\u2014 there are those being saved, and those being destroyed (1 Cor. 1; 2 Cor. 2).\u00a0 External pressure meant that only the serious joined, the rest were outside.\u00a0 \u00a0But outside what? The word implies structure, organizing\u2013 see Mk. 4.11ff\u2013 \u2018those outside\u2019. What did response to the Gospel mean? Joining the church, but what was the church?\u00a0 There were theological and phenominological aspects which ought to be related to each other.<\/p>\n
The church is the medium of partially realized eschatology, between the two advents of Jesus, more specifically between the resurrection of Jesus and his return\u2013 parousia.\u00a0 The church\u2019s existence bears witness that Jesus is Lord and to the resurrection. If it ceases to bear this witness, it ceases to exist, whatever structure it may retain. Of course this is a matter of gradation.\u00a0 Others have different ways of sharing this witness\u2013 charismatic, sacramental, ethical.\u00a0 This takes us from theology to phenomenology.<\/p>\n
What in NT times did this church look like? How was it organized? We shall have to talk about ministry, but this is not necessary. Our earliest pictures hardly need ministers. Mt. 18\u2013 deal with your brother privately, or with 2 or 3, or take it to the church. Thus either you gain your brother, or he goes out. 1 Cor. 5 is nearly the same. The church must meet but Paul carries weight.\u00a0 The result is the same-exclusion. cf. church meetings in 1 Cor. 14. The general rule is prophet one sits down when prophet two stands up. Some different groups must be tolerant of each other but must not exclude each other (Rom. 14). Where ministers exist they tend to focus these activities and the visibility of the church, but add no new principles. They were inevitable.\u00a0 There was pressure of religious and spiritual maturity. There were issue of age and social presentability.\u00a0 The NT is concerned to check rather than to add.<\/p>\n
But any organization can by appropriate measures of discipline by exclusion. Where in the NT does this happen? How is it done? For what reasons? Paul presents a varied picture of discipline and tolerance. It is particularly important to analyze this. 1 Cor. 16.22f. If anyone does love the Lord, let them be anathema.. But in Gal. 1.8-9 he anathematizes those who preach \u2018another\u2019 Gospel. cf. 2 Cor. 11.3-4. See especially 1 Cor. including the list in 6.9-11. The incestuous man must be thrown out. One should appointed to act as judge.\u00a0 What happens if the marriage rules are transgressed?\u00a0 \u201cEidolothuton\u2013 \u2018you can\u2019t drink from the cup of demons and the cup of the Lord\u2019. What does cannot mean?\u00a0 Note obedience regarding 16.15f.<\/p>\n
Appeal\u2013 Paul appeals to his own apostolic authority and to universal Christian praxis. In 2 Cor. and Gal. Paul is helpless, he can only ask for obedience.<\/p>\n
Acts 5\u2013 Ananias and Sapphira- here we see radical discipline.\u00a0 Acts 9, unwillingness to accept Paul. Acts 11, Peter rebuked, mission to the Gentiles. Acts 15\u2013 how is the matter settled\u2013 by rules. Acts 20 grievous rules in the future.<\/p>\n
John\u2013 the world, Diotrephes 1 Jn. 4.1; 3 Jn. 9-10<\/p>\n
Hebrews- second repentance (Luther)\u2013 10.26; 12.17; 6.4-8.<\/p>\n
1 Pet. 4-5<\/p>\n
Pastorals\u2013 exclusion of the recalcitrant.<\/p>\n
Mk. 10\u2013 the strange exorcist, and rules for rulers.<\/p>\n
What can we collect and deduce here\u2013 very little. At first the main criterion seems to be personal loyalty. Perhaps loyalty is measured by behavior, belief but this grows into keeping the rules and accepting the doctrines.\u00a0 This on the personal level or with collective discipline raises the question of schism which in turn leads to \u2018early Catholicism\u2019. Was there a special mixture of constituents in the NT?\u00a0 [but note the presence of the \u2018idiotes\u2019<\/em> in the prophecy time of worship in 1 Cor. 14. Non-believers were invited to the meetings apparently which one would expect with an evangelistic religion. BW3] Eventually when doctrine becomes dogma and there is ministry, discipline, sacraments and rules for taking it, there is pressure for uniformity.\u00a0 Schism arises out of a break of the uniformity.<\/p>\nKasemann asks does the NT provide for the unity of the church?\u00a0 Certainly not for its uniformity for we observed different ministerial structures. When does a Christian body engage in schism over against another part of the body?\u00a0 When must a member be excluded? When they deny the Lord who saved them? And what is contained in this denial? And how is rule to be applied?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This morning (in the heresy and schism lecture) we stressed variety\u2013even Jesus, Paul, John express themselves differently. But are they saying the same thing?\u00a0 Just as soon a theology developments, differences appear, and the question becomes what is legitimate and what is not. But on the main issue the NT is clear\u2014 there are those […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":62475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[14292],"class_list":["post-62649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-a-celebration-of-discipline"],"yoast_head":"\n
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