Re: sacraments as means of grace (was Re: [asa] Pregnancy & Communio)

Hi George,

Yes, it's interesting to actually look at confessions of faith and it doesn't surprise me that Lutheran formulations should emphasize the sacraments as means of grace.

What's interesting, however, is the way the same sort of ideas "lurk" under the surface of what otherwise seems far less sacramental language.

In that respect, I was prompted to have a look at the "Doctrinal Basis of the Baptist Union of Victoria" - which is the doctrinal statement that member congregations of the BUV officially affirm (although, it has to be said, one does see quite a bit of interpretive leeway!);

<cite>
The two ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ, namely, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, which are of perpetual obligation: Baptism being the immersion of believers upon the profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and a symbol of the fellowship of the regenerate in His death, burial and resurrection; the Lord's Supper being a memorial, until He come, of the sacrifice of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. \"
</cite>

On the surface this appears to advocate a very minimal sacramentalism - with baptism being spoken of only as a "symbol".

BUT (wait for it!)

From later in the same document;

<cite>
Christian Baptism, by which is meant the immersion of believers as instituted by our Lord, is a personal, public confession of the believer’s identification with Christ, AND ALSO AS A MEANS OF GRACE TO THE CHRISTIAN. (emphasis added)
</cite>

When it comes to elucidating the idea of the Lord's Supper, the actual words "means of grace" aren't found, but one can see the idea is certainly present;

<cite>
The Fellowship of the Lord’s Supper.
(a) To Baptists the Church is not so much an organization as a fellowship; effective only as there is spiritual association with the Head of the Church.
(b) The Lord’s Supper is a service of spiritual fellowship whereby, through remembrance of His Life and Death believers may experience in supreme degree the reality and influence of His Presence.
(c) It is an opportunity of entering into close fellowship with the Lord in the Holy of Holies, where there is a re-kindling of love and a reconsecration of life to His service.
</cite>

I suppose one would have to look in detail at the sacramental theology of particular groups in order to understand how they are using the various terms. And an understanding of how such terminology was appropriated in a given theological context would be very helpful.

I agree, incidentally, that this sort of discussion ought to be seen as very fruitful in the context of science/faith dialogue and it would be interesting to draw out the implications. I imagine it would be somewhat of particular interest for one in the Lutheran tradition and I wonder if you've written anything on the subject?

Blessings,
Murray Hogg
Pastor, East Camberwell Baptist Church, Victoria, Australia
Post-Grad Student (MTh), Australian College of Theology

George Murphy wrote:
> What "most protestants" believe depends on, among other things, who one
> includes as "protestant." But to get to the issue itself, yes, I think
> that those who reject the idea that the sacraments are means of grace,
> however they're categorized, are wrong. For whatever it's worth, the
> term "protestant" was first used of those who later would be called
> "Lutheran" because of their protest against imperial/Roman policy at the
> Diet of Speyer in 1529. The confession of the same group at the Diet of
> Augsburg the next year says, in its 9th article on baptism that "grace
> is offered through it," and in Article 13 that the sacraments are
> instituted not only as outward signs but "in order thereby to awaken and
> strengthen our faith."
>
> This discussion may get interdicted soon as being off-topic but I've
> always felt that the sacraments, precisely because of their material
> (and even technological) character are relevant to theology-science
> dialogue.
>
> Shalom
> George
> http://home.neo.rr.com/scitheologyglm

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Received on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:15:12 +1100