As for adiaphora, they are defined as those discretionary church practices which are "neither commanded nor forbidden by God," or "in the Word of God." Offhand, that may give the misimpression that adiaphora are whatever is neither commanded nor forbidden in Scripture, so that if Scripture did command a particular practice, that practice would still be mandatory and not an adiaphora at all.
But no, the Formula of Concord's term, "Word of God," should not in this case simply be equated with Scripture. For in Scripture God did explicitly command such practices as circumcision, the Sabbath, even women's head coverings. Yet all of these, no matter how biblical, the Formula, like the Augustana, freely regards as no longer binding but discretionary, or even as "the precepts of men".
We all have a way to be selective listeners. We all do that - even with Scripture. It is today's note about adiaphora that makes me take another look at how we make some things binding and then let loose of others. As we look at some of the images from the Hebrew Scriptures and take note of the world view from several thousand years ago and how we look differently at that which was so much a part of why people did what they did and what they expected from what they did. We quite literally have take some of those images and we do not believe them. The heavens as a ceiling with holes in it...the underground as a place of the dead, doesn't get much play today - if any. Yes, I suppose you can have that kind of world/universe view today and be a part of the celebration of the Good News. But...it is not a necessary view that we must hold to be in the church. Such is the case with our battles around homosexuality. Our view of things have changed. Yes, some may think that gay and lesbian relationships are "unnatural" and therefore against God's will, but not all must believe that and it cannot be used like a law that would preclude people from complete incorporation in the life of the body of Christ. There are those scholars from may disciplines that would argue that the view presented in Scripture is not dealing with much of what we are looking at today and there would be others who would even say that the passages in Scripture do not condemn homosexuality but use it as part of a larger argument - for which we could use some other activities more universal to all of us. So...what can we say is a "discretionary church practice?" And what does that mean for the shape of the church among us?
Connection: We continue to move along into a new day. Unfortunately, we do not allow some of the parts of our lives to move along in time and be shaped anew. This is especially the case in regard to things we label "religious." In the meantime, we deny ourselves the opportunity to be the loving presence the Scriptures unveil without hesitation.
When you call us to follow, O God, we follow you in our time and we follow you with hearts that are open to how your Spirit breaks open each day and uses the gifts of your saints to re-view all things in accordance with your Good News. Continue to grant us courage and wisdom as we prayerfully consider the life of the body of Christ among us. Amen.
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