Of Rites, Ceremonies and Things Indifferent

CEREMONIES AND RITES

Unto the ancient people were given at one time certain ceremonies, as a kind of instruction for those who were kept under the law, as under a schoolmaster or tutor. But when Christ, the Deliverer, came and the law was abolished, we who believe are no more under the law (Rom. 6:14), and the ceremonies have disappeared; hence the apostles did not want to retain or to restore them in Christ's Church to such a degree that they openly testified that they did not wish to impose any burden upon the Church. Therefore, we would seem to be bringing in and restoring Judaism if we were to increase ceremonies and rites in Christ's Church according to the custom in the ancient Church. Hence, we by no means approve of the opinion of those who think that the Church of Christ must be held in check by many different rites, as if by some kind of training. For if the apostles did not want to impose upon Christian people ceremonies or rites which were appointed by God, who, I pray, in his right mind would obtrude upon them the inventions devised by man? The more the mass of rites is increased in the Church, the more is detracted not only from Christian liberty, but also from Christ, and from faith in him, as long as the people seek those things in ceremonies which they should seek in the only Son of God, Jesus Christ, through faith. Wherefore a few moderate and simple rites, that are not contrary to the Word of God, are sufficient for the godly.

Scripture references for paragraph 1

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

Romans 6:14
14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

DIVERSITY OF RITES

If different rites are found in churches, no one should think that for this reason the churches disagree. Socrates says: "It would be impossible to put together in writing all the rites of churches throughout cities and countries. No religion observes the same rites, even though it embraces the same doctrine concerning them. For those who are of the same faith disagree among themselves about rites" (Hist. ecclesiast. V.22, 30, 62). This much says Socrates. And we, today, having in our churches different rites in the celebration of the Lord's Supper and in some other things, nevertheless do not disagree in doctrine and faith; nor is the unity and fellowship of our churches thereby rent asunder. For the churches have always used their liberty in such rites, as being things indifferent. We also do the same thing today.

THINGS INDIFFERENT

But at the same time we admonish me to be on guard lest they reckon among things indifferent what are in fact not indifferent, as some are wont to regard the mass and the use of images in places of worship as things indifferent. "Indifferent," wrote Jerome to Augustine, "is that which is neither good nor bad, so that, whether you do it or not, you are neither just nor unjust." Therefore, when things indifferent are wrested to the confession of faith, they cease to be free; as Paul shows that it is lawful for a man to eat flesh if someone does not remind him that it was offered to idols; for then it is unlawful, because he who eats it seems to approve idolatry by eating it (I Cor. 8:9 ff.; 10:25 ff.).

Scripture references for paragraph 3

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

1 Corinthians 8:9-13
9Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
10For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols?
11So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
12By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.

1 Corinthians 10:1-33
1I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.
2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
3They all ate the same spiritual food
4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.
6These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.
7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and got up to indulge in revelry.”
8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
9We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
10And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
11Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
12So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.
16Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
17Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
18Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?
19Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.
21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.
22Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
23“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
24No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,
26for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
27If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.
28But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—
29the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?
30If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
32Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—
33as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

Source and edition

Second Helvetic Confession. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription

Unlicense. Source transcription.

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