Corpus Permixtum

We had our first YAM Meeting of the year!!

Ok, it did not start out as impactful as the words suggest but anyway , as we sat down to discuss on the topic of doctrinal tolerance, sounds of the Thaipusam parade down orchard road was constantly ringing in our ears. The word tolerance holds unusual relevance at that moment.

Dominic started enthusiastically asking us whether Martin Luther was justified in breaking away from the church during the reformation. Was justification by faith such an important doctrine that there was no compromise , no place for tolerance ? How about 1 Corinthians 1:10 which says "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." ? ( Slight digression here , for those who are interested , the name of our dear couples' daugther whom the aunties and uncles would be bringing out for high tea appears in 1 Cor 1:11 (: )

Coming back to the point, Dominic then brought us back to AD 311, to the Donatist Controversy. During that time, Roman emperor Diocletian persecuted the Christians with an iron arm. Under the edict of 303 , Christian books were ordered to be burned and churches demolished. Christian leaders who handed over their books came to known as traditores -"those who handed over [their books]." The modern word "traitor" derives from the same root. One such traitor , Felix of Aptunga, was later consecrated Caecilian as Bishop of Carthage.

Many Christians were outraged at this, that a traitor was allowed to become the bishop. As a result , due to (non-tolerance) , the church split. And Augustine was called to resolve the tension between the factions. And a point Augustine brought up was the sinfulness of Christians. The church is not meant to be a socialety of saints , but a "mixed body" (corpus permixtum) of saints and sinners. ( Matthew 13:24-30). As such there should be tolerance between the factions.

The discussion then moved from the differences between charismatics and Protestants , Presbyterian and Methodist to Christians and Catholics. Joshua then suggested 3 points of our faith which are "uncompromisable". 1) The doctrine of atonement, 2) The Divinity of Christ , 3) The Doctrine of Trinity. After which , he gave a very interesting analogy of the Trinity using points , lines , squares and cubes with which Valerie pointed out many loopholes until all of us reminded her with all gentleness and love that it is just an analogy.

In conclusion, the validity of the church's ministry does not depend on the holiness of the people or of the ministers, but upon the person of Jesus Christ ...

(Parts of the Donatist Controversy is quoted from Alister McGrath's Christian Theology : An Introduction )