Tabletalk (from Ligonier) on the Three Forms of Unity

The latest edition of Tabletalk magazine from Ligonier Ministries is hot off the press.  This month's issue (April 2008) is devoted to the Three Forms of Unity, and includes articles by some folks you may know.

You can preview the issue (April 2008) here.   Click here: Ligonier Ministries | Tabletalk Magazine .

If you haven't already subscribed, you ought to consider it. 

Comments

[George]

This looks like good stuff and I can't wait to digest some of it. You know, this more or less strikes at the heart of some of what has been going on in the Lutheran church(es) over the past 15-20 years and, most importantly, these past few weeks: "Unity" implies agreement on the part of a considerable number of people, loosely connected through separate meetings (congregations), on scriptural basics. And that's extremely important! I can only hope that it exists to the extent that one of their synodical presidents seems to claim.

One of the things that has been bothering me lately is that (according to Barna, anyway) there are multiple spin-offs of dissolutioned attenders of megachurches into "house churches" nowadays. I can't blame them for fleeing the megachurch format, but who or what guides them in their separate, small gatherings from afterward? There's plenty of room for them to go in all sorts of divergent directions.

And, although even most independent churches don't seem to buy into it, there is value in a common confession of beliefs about the scriptures, repeated by the collective assembly on a regular basis, affirming unity in how they view God's Word.

As the Apostle's Creed, set to music in the old German hymn, says very well:

We all believe in one true God,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Ever present help in need,
Praised by all the heav'nly host,
By whose mighty pow'r alone,
All is made and wrought and done.

We all believe in Jesus Christ,
Son of God and Mary's son,
Who descended from His throne,
And for us salvation won;
By whose cross and death are we,
Rescued from all misery.

We all confess the Holy Ghost,
Who from both fore'er proceeds;
Who upholds and comforts us,
In all trials, fears, and needs.
Blest and Holy Trinity,
Praise forever be to thee!

[plw]

Kim, We just happen to get our first Tabletalk in the mail and saw you had done an article in it! And what a good magazine. Done very well. All the articles were great.