tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19071531712378916.post5174476769363419584..comments2022-11-11T00:56:30.446-08:00Comments on Concordia | The Lutheran Confessions: Church as Congregation: Luther's Focus, the Pope's RealizationRev. Paul T. McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04846468267196335350noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19071531712378916.post-66722446012123290782007-02-07T00:31:00.000-08:002007-02-07T00:31:00.000-08:00If the Church is truly one, and manifests as the c...If the Church is truly one, and manifests as the congregation, how is it possible to differentiate between Christians who, by definition are members of the congregation, regarding Eucharistic fellowship.<br /><br />If we are all members of the one congregation, on what basis do we decline sharing the Eucharist with members of that one congregation?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19071531712378916.post-42935731421869789642006-12-11T16:10:00.000-08:002006-12-11T16:10:00.000-08:00Dr. Sonntag,
I wonder if it is the most accurate ...Dr. Sonntag,<br /><br />I wonder if it is the most accurate to say that we are gathered in one big sanctuary *around God's Word and sacraments,* though. I would put it slightly different: we are gathered in one big sanctuary around the throne of God and the Lamb *by God's Word and sacraments.*<br /><br />Thus the vital importance of the pure teaching of the Gospel and the right use of the William Weedonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19071531712378916.post-43015527489823952662006-12-11T09:38:00.000-08:002006-12-11T09:38:00.000-08:00As I said, I agree with Pastor Weedon's fine comme...As I said, I agree with Pastor Weedon's fine comments on the oneness of the true church. Yet maybe the pope had a good point too regarding the importance of congregations. Now, I don't want to play off congregations against the church. No need for that. Yet at the same time, it must be said that, if we read the statements of the Confessions concerning the pastoral office (Augsburg Conf. 28 and Holger Sonntaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02617999502870344554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19071531712378916.post-28247811756115824582006-12-11T08:14:00.000-08:002006-12-11T08:14:00.000-08:00I appreciate these comments on the church. While i...I appreciate these comments on the church. While it does make sense to speak of "churches" (congregations, church associations, etc.), we also must not lose sight of the fact pointed out in this article: the church is one. This is why Melanchthon and Chemnitz bring in the creeds here: "I believe ... in THE communion of saints." Church fellowship implies seeing each other gathered in one big Holger Sonntaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02617999502870344554noreply@blogger.com