A Voice from the Past - Augustine

(I was not able to find a quote from Berengar, but I offer this quote from Augustine, which though on another subject, seems relevant to this one.)

But when he saith, "Moses meant not what you say, but what I say," yet denieth not that what each of us say, may both be true, O my God, life of the poor, in Whose bosom is no contradiction, pour down a softening dew on my heart , that I may patiently bear with such as say this to me, not because they have a divine Spirit, and have seen in the heart of Thy servant what they speak, but because they be proud; not knowing Moses' opinion, but loving their own, not because it is truth but because it is theirs.Otherwise they would equally love another true opinion, as I love what they say, when they say true: not because it is theirs, but because it is true; and on that very ground  not theirs because it is. But if they therefore love it, because it is true, then it is both theirs, and mine; as being in common to all lovers of truth.

Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 AD, The Confessions, Book XII, Chapter XXV, 34, (translated by E. B. Pusey,  Barnes and Nobles Books, 1999, p. 306).

How can we avoid loving opinions not because they are true, but because they are ours? What are the warning signs?

Berengar - The Man Who Chickened Out

Berengar was a man who lived in a key turning point in the history of the church. The events that surrounded him made a significant difference in the history of the later Medieval church. Berengar, based on his own study, reached the conclusion that Christ was not physically present in the Lord's Supper. This set off a series of councils, in which the supporters of the idea of the physical presence tried to condemn Berengar. While there was support for both views, Berengar was ultimately condemned and, faced with death, denied his views. But Berengar was not convinced and continued to argue for his view. Meanwhile, Gregory VII was made pope. Philip Schaff argues that Berengar had reason to believe that Gregory was willing to accept his views, regarding the matter as a thing indifferent. But Gregory appears to have backed down when he saw that so many of the rank and file supported the opposite view. He may have been afraid it would endanger his intended reforms if he supported this unpopular view. So Berengar was once again condemned and denied his view. And Pope Innocent III officially declared that belief in the real presence was required by the Medieval church system.

Why were so many in favor of the view Christ was physically present in communion? It made it easier to believe that one could be accepted by God simply by going through the motions of partaking of the sacrament. It also exalted the clergy, who were seen as having the authority of making this transformation come about. At that time the church organization was in a corrupt condition, and there was very little preaching being done, but the main thing the priests did was administer the sacraments. Also, a more magical idea fit in better with the remnants of pagan belief. As I have said before, I do not believe that Scripture makes it clear in what way Christ is present in the Eucharist. But I have a real problem with it being made automatic, rather than dependent on the faith of the recipients. And I have a bigger one with one view being made out to be the only acceptable view and with condemning those who do not hold it.

Now I do not want to sit in judgment on Berengar or Gregory. I have never been put in the position of having to pay with my life or even endangering my reform movement if I stand up for what I believe. And I think it would be easy to rationalize that this was, after all, a minor point. But the fact that these two men chickened out meant that the visible church organization was saddled with the dogmatic enforcement of the contrary view for hundreds of years. We do not know what would have happened if they had stood firm. It might have made little difference in the long run. Or maybe things would have been different. We will never know.  

New Yoke - Matthew 11:28-30

Internal Change

Following God needs to be a transformation that takes place from the inside out (Romans 12:1,2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:16). Now an important aspect of this is the realization that the transformation that takes place in our lives is a result of God working in us (2 Corinthians 3:5,6; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:29). But there is also another aspect that might be missed. There are different words used for “conform” or “transform” in Scripture. One refers to what something actually is on the inside. It is used in Philippians 2:6 in reference to Christ being in the form of God (being in fact deity). It is where we get the English word “metamorphosis” from. You start with a caterpillar and it goes into a cocoon and is transformed from the inside out into a butterfly. This is the word that is used to describe the change God wants to work in the life of believers (Romans 12:2; 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:10). There is another word which means to put on a disguise; it is the word from which we get the word “scheme”. It is used of Satan transforming himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). It is also used of Christians becoming conformed to the world. Now too frequently there is a tendency for us to see Christianity as external conformity to a standard. But is this what God really wants?   

The problem with external conformity based on a set of rules is that God wants people who worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24), who do things based on the love for God inside them (1 John 4:19). In fact, God has some very stern words for those who simply go through the motions of following Him (Malachi 1:10; Isaiah 66:3; Matthew 23:23-27). Now these are obviously speaking against blatant cases. I do not want to lay a legalistic burden on anyone, and I know how easy it is to go on a guilt trip by putting our motivations up to a microscope. But I do believe we need to honestly ask, are we just trying to outwardly conform to an external standard rather than letting God transform us from the inside? Another approach that people can accept is that of internal conformity. This is based not on obedience to a standard but on our relationship with other Christians. Now I do not want to teach individualism or minimize the importance of genuine Christian fellowship (Hebrews 10:24,25). But it is a mistake to put yourself in the position of doing good things in order to please men (Matthew 6:1-18; Galatians 1:10; Proverbs 29:25). Rather, we need to base our Christian life on a deep understanding of God and His truth (Jeremiah 9:23-24; Hebrews 5:12-14; 2 Timothy 2:15). For if we focus on being and producing people who are firmly grounded in God’s truth from the inside out, then we will truly be and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).

A Touch of Humor - Observing

How does the media affect our perception of things? How big a problem is it?

Old Erich Proverb - Finished

Jesus said "It is finished," but we always want to add something.

A Voice from the Past - Ambrose

So we see how grave a matter it is to deprive another, with whom we ought rather to suffer, of anything, or to act injuriously towards one to whom we ought to give a share in our services. This is a true law of nature, which binds us to show all kindly feeling, so that we should all of us in turn help help one another, as parts of one body,and should never think of depriving another of anything, seeing it is against the law of nature even to abstain from giving help. We are born in such a way that limb combines with limb, and one works with another, and all assist each other in mutual service.

Ambrose, 337-397, Duties of the Clergy, Book III, Chapter III, 19 (translated by Rev. H. De Romestin, The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, T & T Clark and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1997, Second Series, Vol. X, p. 70).

What does it mean to be part of the body of Christ? How should it affect how we behave toward one another?