Today’s Readings Podcast Description

How should the Church actually use the keys without turning discipline into either tyranny or despair? Calvin distinguishes public scandals from intermediate faults, and lighter offences from flagrant iniquities. Verbal, fatherly correction is enough for some; temporary exclusion from the Lord’s Supper is required for others, until repentance is made evident. Even emperors stand under this tribunal: Theodosius laid aside his insignia before Ambrose. Yet severity must be joined with meekness, lest the sinner be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Ancient multi-year exclusions often produced hypocrisy or despair rather than healing. Excommunication is not anathema. It does not erase a person from the number of the elect, nor consign him to final ruin. It judges present manners by the word o ...