The Schleitheim Confesion, Article 2

The ban

A Christian should live with discipline and walk in the way of righteousness. Those who slip and fall into sin should be admonished twice in secret, but the third offense should be openly disciplined and banned as a final recourse. This should always occur prior to the breaking of bread.

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This is about excommunication, and comes almost entirely from Jesus' instructions in Matthew 18. If a person won't live what he says he believes, there's no reason to think he's a Christian and therefore no reason to allow him to take Communion.

The only part that doesn't come Jesus' own words is the last sentence, and even that makes sense in context. After all, there's no point in giving someone Communion if you're about to tell him he can't receive it. 

The Schleitheim Confesion, Article 1

,Since direct translations from the original German are very long-winded, I've decided to use the summaries from Wikipedia instead.

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BAPTISM 

Baptism is administered to those who have consciously repented and amended their lives and who believe that Christ died for their sins and who request it for themselves. Infants, therefore, were not to be baptized.

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Baptism was the most visible issue that separated the early Anabaptists from both the Church of Rome and the Reformers. In fact, the very name "Anabaptist" is a reference to their practice of "baptizing again", giving baptism to those who had been through the practice of infant baptism.

Wrapping up the Lord's Prayer and answering the question of what's next

That's it for the Lord's Prayer. It seems too short to me, but that's because I'm used to it in the King James Version, where it's significantly longer.

Next I'm going to go through the Schleitheim Confession again, though I don't know whether I'll comment on it or just present it like it is.

And lead us not into temptation

This is a simple request that God's leading not cause us to be tempted to do wrong. The book of James tells us that God never tempts anyone, so looked at in light of that it's asking him to protect us from ourselves.

We get tempted. It would make no sense for God to make a rule and then try to get us to break it. That just shows a really wrong-headed view of God as a cosmic tyrant instead of a loving father.

And forgive our trespasses, for we also forgive those indebted to us

This is a dangerous thing to pray. It admits that our being forgiven depends on our willingness to forgive others. It's more proof that God doesn't just want us when we die. He wants to change us now.

Your kingdom come

By saying this, we're saying that we want God's will to be done. A kingdom is a king's domain, a place where his laws are followed. This clause just means that we want everyone to acknowledge and obey God.

The Lord's Prayer

Next week I'll start breaking it down and looking at each phrase. First, though, here's the whole thing, from Luke 11.2-4:

Father, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread,

and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.

I was going to start the Lord's Prayer today, but never mind now

I'll explain why Friday.

The Ten Commandments redux and what comes next

Last week we finished going through the Ten Commandments. Here they are again,in a greatly simplified form.

No other gods.

No idols.

No blasphemy.

Keep the Sabbath holy.

Honor your parents.

No murder.

No sex with someone you're not married to.

No stealing.

No lying.

No coveting.

Next week I hope to start the Lord's Prayer.