Luther - Works of Martin Luther Vol. 6 - Righteousness is Love

time has passed since these were made; that meanwhile practical issueshave arisen and presented a difficult problem which demanded solution.The situation facing the Livonian congregation was not an isolated one.The like existed at many other places.26Practices, rites, ceremonies, forms, etc., are adiaphora. This was true;there was no law about them. This Luther asserted repeatedly. That libertyin deciding matters connected with worship rested with the localcongregation or authorities (I); that this whole question was “free,” Lutherhad likewise asserted in unmistakable language. Perhaps he was right to agreater degree than he was wrong; but he left the door open for a lot ofunwelcome visitors to enter! For did he not fail to take into considerationcertain definite practical values, — those of organization, authority, andmuch to be desired uniformity? Had his ideal only been reaction from theRoman example where all of these were in force?The churches espousing his Cause might be individualistic; but relation toand espousal of the common Movement brought corporate responsibilities.The Church of the Reformation has been a long time arriving at thisconsciousness! — -but on the other hand it was quick to assert then, andalways has been, and to practice liberty of action in these and many othermatters. What Luther laid down as an ideal principle and, if rightlycomprehended, the ideal method, became through sheer force of theassertive will of others a disturbing element in the development of theChurch’s life. Was it possible that there might be a time and a situationwhen such matters might no longer be adiaphora? — when the ideal wouldyield to a practical expression on quite different terms?Luther was seeing and reaping a certain kind of harvest that man couldmake out of his sowing, when he faced situations such as this in theLivonian congregation. This document recognizes the difficulties. It doesnot voice any betrayal of the ideal, or any yielding of it; but here he facesthe practical issue growing out of the ideal’s failure! This in its way was asmuch of a scandal as the former abominations had been in theirs. It was notthe first time in Luther’s experience that the ideal had not worked outsuccessfully; human nature did not always absorb idealism even underGospel freedom. More than one priest, more than one congregation, morethan one section, soon grasped their “freedom” and forthwith became a lawunto themselves.