From the little I've read so far, I've seen that Luther's ecclesiology was what one might call functional. The Church was neither an invisibile platonic form as the Reformed taught that each peculiar church agrees or disagrees with to some extent, neither was it the eschatologically present and glorified victorious church of Rome and the Papacy, or the holy flock of the … [Read more...]
Russian Arrest of Hooligans and Counter-Revolution
Historically Russia has had a long tradition of government repression of liberalism. The Tsars crushed the first democratic rebels at the turn of the century, and one of the priests leading them allegedly lost his faith when he saw the Tsar's forces attack the poor, shouting 'there is no Tsar, there is no God'. The two were firmly linked in the Russian consciousness. Orlando … [Read more...]
Not What These Hands Have Done (Horatius Bonar)
Hymn 567 in the Lutheran Service Book was written by a Free Kirk Presbyterian by the name of Horatius Bonar. (This hymn is a great expression of the doctrine of justification which was taught by the Reformation, and hardly recognizable when compared to the Pelagian love songs one shudders at today. It's strange how the meaning of 'Free Church' changed from being more to less … [Read more...]
Devotion to Christ the Worker
While studying Christian Socialism in England for my Master's paper, I found an interesting devotion that was spoken of amidst the working class and the defenders of the worker. One Christian Socialist wrote during the First World War: "Your scented and curled and comfortable little god on a nicely gilt crucifix is not the God of butchered soldiers and broken women and … [Read more...]
Parish Ale: Beer in Church, a Lengthy Tradition
In the middle ages (and in some places even until now) the parish was the centre of community life. There would be dances and celebrations in the church, as well as meetings of almost every kind. Some people stored valuables there, feeling that no one would dare rob such a sacred place. One Tradition I found out recently though was the brewing of beer for different feasts … [Read more...]