A Lutheran Perspective to the Catholicity of the Church

A presentation on Lutheran ecclesiology. Презентация, посвященная экклесиологии Лютеранской церкви на англ. языке.

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 2017

From personal experience, this article shares to what degree the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria was and continues to be a gateway to the future, challenging among others the divisions that characterise the Church of Christ worldwide. The article argues that for the 16th-century Reformers the unity of the church was a given and that the (Lutheran) confessions were written to establish such a unity through agreement in confession and joint rejection of false doctrines. However, such statements of faith did not overcome the divisions, but institutionalised them, leading to a divided Church of Christ. Political intervention to work unity between Lutherans and Reformers deepened divisions more than ever, leading among others to a break of fellowship at the Lord’s Supper. Applying Luther’s hermeneutical principle of was Christum treibet (what drives Christ), the author seeks to rediscover a way of interpreting Scripture by focusing not on literal differences, but on th...

2018

This paper explores Lutheran spirituality through the Liturgy of the Divine Service. It begins with basis of liturgy through catechesis of Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms and their relationship to the Liturgy. Moreover through out this paper is a conversation with John W. Kleinig’s Grace Upon Grace and P. H. Pfatteicher’s Liturgical Spirituality. It concludes that basic catechesis is the foundation to connect the individual into the liturgy, which then becomes a corporate worship act before God in a community of living members. The Liturgy is a rhythmic cycle in which God serves his people through Word and Sacrament and his people respond in praise and thanksgiving. Scripture, creeds and confessions are all catechetical disciplines that develop the individual and corporate spirituality of the Church. Catechesis changes a person, for it is Law and Gospel through God’s Word and the liturgy that mysteriously transforms a person to fear and love God above all things and therefore serve his neighbour.

Dialog: A Journal of Theology, 2002

Although Lutheran theology is a gift to the historic church, Martin Luther's own views are specifically formulated for their 16 th century context. No universal or timeless theological system based upon Luther's authority should be appealed to. Then theses are here advanced that bridge the 16th and 21st centuries and challenge us to creative construction.

The mission of the Lutheran Church, deeply rooted in its Reformation heritage, continues to evolve in response to the challenges and complexities of a postmodern world. This paper explores the Lutheran mission through a critical, interdisciplinary, and deconstructive lens, emphasizing its adaptability and relationality. By examining its historical foundations, engagement with postmodern theology, deconstructive readings of Scripture, dialogical interactions with global challenges, and practical applications, the paper positions the church's mission as a dynamic interplay of tradition and innovation.

A Documentary History of Lutheranism, 2017

Table of Contents This unique collection of excerpts from Lutheran historical and theological documents - many translated here for the first time - present readers with a full picture of how the Lutheran movement developed in its thought and practice. Each chapter begins with a substantial introductory essay about the period and theme, which integrates the accompanying primary source documents. Published by Augsburg Fortress Press.

2012

f one were asked to explain the distinctiveness of Lutheran theology within the church catholic, one word would likely come to mind: justification. If one aspect of doctrine defines Lutheran theology over against other theologies, it is the centrality of justification by faith alone. This issue, described by Luther as “the doctrine upon which the church stands or falls,” was the heart of the conservative Reformation and remains so within churches of the Augsburg Confession. This being the case, it is surprising that the recent volume Justification: Five Views,1 neglects to include a Lutheran contributor. The editor explains that this is because Michael Horton’s confessional Reformed approach is thought to encapsulate confessional Lutheran approaches to the doctrine.2 Despite the similarities however, Horton’s essay fails to display the uniquely Lutheran approach to justification as it is expounded upon in Luther’s Galatians commentary and explained and defended in the Lutheran Confe...

Common Knowledge, 2002

The Church as Fullness of All Things: Lutheran Ecclesiology in Ecumenical Context, 2019

Edited by JONATHAN MUMME, RICHARD J. SERI NA JR., and MARK V./. BIRKHOLZ "Church as Fullness in All Things, a volume of timel) and learned chapters b) professors and pastors, constructive)) examines Lutheran ecclesiolog) b) returning to scripture and the histor y of the church and b) considering modern expressions of the Lutheran church in both European and American contexts. Especiall) welcomed are essa) s b) Roman Catho lics, Anglicans, and Reformed theologians that sympatheticall) and criticall) engage Lu theran ecclesiology. Pastors and la) people, teachers and students, will benefit from its insight and irenic tone." -Carl Beckwith, Samford University "All ecumenical dialogues of recent decades have flagged ecclesiolog) as a ke) question and shown that coming to joint understanding of the church is no small undertaking. Capacit:, for ecumenical dialogue grows onl) from the historical investigation and dog-• matic contemplation of this important topic. Following Luther the reformer, Lutheran theolog) has much to sa) about how unit) of doctrine is preserved as unit:,· in doctrine is sought. Both should be bound together in the strong and ardent belief in the unit:,· of the truth. Ma) this volume contribute to those ends."

The Church of God in Jesus Christ, 2019

On the Catholicity of the Church Robert Slesinski or the siNcere belieVer iN today's troubled world, the greatest source of consolation has to be the church as a sign of salvation-even in the face of the manifold forces seemingly conspiring against the continued existence of the church as an institution. the salvation, which is the church, is especially experienced at the divine liturgy or holy Mass, when the savior gives himself to the faithful in the sacrament of the holy eucharist whereby true communion is effected between god and man, and among men themselves. it is, indeed, around the altar of the lord that the ecclesial community is at once constituted and sustained, and from which the divine presence irradiates the ekklesia or assembly of the people, thereby giving luminous significance to the words of the Nicaean-Constantinopolitan Creed, "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic," which refer specifically to the Church, but which have their ultimate foundation in the lord. "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic"-these are the essential marks of the church of christ as professed by the christian assembly in its recitation of the creed and as traditionally taught in catechesis. these marks "sign" the church, because they bear the impress of her Founder. the church is "one," because there is but one body of christ and one spirit of god at work in the church. as st. Paul trenchantly notes (eph 4:5-6): "there is one lord, one faith, one baptism; one god and Father of all, who is over all, and works through all, and is in all." the church is "holy," because her lord is the font of all holiness. "For i, the lord, am your god; and you shall make and keep yourselves holy, because I am holy" (Lev 11:44). The Church is "catholic," because she is "the fullness of him who fills the universe in all its parts" (eph 1:23). the church is "apostolic," because she is fully faithful to the heritage of the first apostles, her first shepherds, and has, throughout the ages, been the zealous guardian of the spiritual patrimony originally bequeathed her by the lord. she has put on the armor of god (see eph 6:10-17) in order to go forth and fulfill the divine mandate first given the faithful Eleven and bring the Good News to the four corners of the globe: ". .. go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy spirit. teach them to carry out everything i have commanded you. . ." (Mt 28:19-20). the marks of the church moreover enjoy internal unity 1 among themselves, because they are all signs of the presence of christ in the church. this latter point is the profound, theological meaning of the marks of the church that is so often misunderstood by the rank and file faithful. The Church is one, because her Lord is One; the Church is holy, because her lord is holy; the church is catholic, because she is the body of him who enjoys the fullness of In the analysis of Catholicity offered here, Fr. Robert Slesinski examines insights from both Roman Catholic and Orthodox sources in an effort to suggest a richer meaning for this third mark of Christ's Church. Arguing that Catholicity is rooted in the fullness of Christ in the Church, Fr. Slesinski presents a description of the marks of the Church which may well have a positive impact on our separated brethren of the East.