God's Church: Ordinances in the Church
Ordinances in the Church
What? Don't you mean order in the Church?
No- Ordinances!
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are generally referred to as ordinances today, though some groups prefer to call them sacraments. The word "sacrament" means to make sacred, to dedicate to a god or to sacred use. The Latin word was used in the Vulgate to translate the Greek musterion, which gave it the idea of something mysterious or magical. Thus groups that prefer to call these rites of the church sacraments usually connect with them some mysterious power or actual conveying of grace. The Council of Trent, held between 1545 and 1563 in Trent, was the 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. Prompted by the Protestant Reformation, it has been described as the embodiment of the Counter-Reformation. This council of Catholic bishops defined a sacrament as "something presented to the sense, which has the power, by divine institution, not only of signifying, but also of efficiently conveying grace."
By contrast., we believe "ordinance" (though a synonym of sacrament in the dictionary) does not incorporate the idea of conveying grace but only the idea of a symbol. Thus the ordinance itself has no inherent power to change those observing it, though God may use it to minister to them.
Why just two ordinances? Glad you asked…
Many theologians restrict the ordinances to those ordered by Christ to be administered in the church. By this kind of definition baptism and the Lord's Supper are clearly ordinances though foot-washing might also be. If an ordinance may be more broadly conceived (yet within the parameters of being God-ordained and related to the church), then marriage and the rite of praying for the sick in James 5 might also be considered ordinances. Marriage was God-ordained and symbolizes the important relationship between Christ and the church; and praying for the sick involves the church through its elders. All agree, however, that baptism and the Lord's Supper qualify as ordinances of the church. However a good foot washing never hurts!
Next week we will go over baptism and the Lord's supper.
Love to all,
Pastor Mike
(602) 510-5563
