Reformation 500
This month marks an historic milestone – the 500th anniversary of the date traditionally set for the posting of the Ninety-Five These by Martin Luther, an action that would lead to what history has dubbed the Protestant Reformation. We at Grace Lutheran Church are part of the legacy of that movement, and our distinctive “flavor” of Christianity is based on the teachings of Martin Luther and his colleagues, the most influential of which was Phillip Melanchthon.
This fourth opportunity to observe a centennial anniversary of the Reformation brings with it its own moments in history. This is the first time in three hundred years that Europe is peaceful during the observance. One hundred years ago, the First World War raged across Europe, making observance of the Reformation’s anniversary in Wittenburg by American Lutherans practically impossible, and politically dangerous in the United States, considering its German origins. The third centennial of the Reformation came just a couple of years after the end of the Napoleonic Wars that also raged across Europe, scarring both land and people.
Thus this year we have unprecedented access to Wittenburg, and hundreds of thousands of Lutherans from around the world will make their way to Wittenburg to pay homage to the start of the Protestant movement. But this year also is unique in regards to previous centennials in regards to the state of relations between the Lutheran Churches and the Roman Catholic Church.
After centuries of hostility, sometimes even open warfare, there has been a recent movement towards understanding and even reconciliation. Since the fracturing of the Christian Church is one of the primary reasons so many outside the Church look down upon it, such a trend should help us share the Gospel more effectively with the world. That is why many Lutherans, including many in the ELCA, are choosing intentionally to “observe” the 500th anniversary rather than to “celebrate” it. It’s important to remember it, to understand why it happened, to continue to advocate for the principles behind it, but not to use it to elevate one part of the Body of Christ above another in regards to God’s favor.
However, there are excellent ways to use this opportunity to grow as disciples of Jesus. One important way that connects strongly to the first moments of the Reformation is to devote ourselves to study, especially of the Bible. Luther was in Wittenburg as much to teach and to learn at the university there, as he was there to be a parish priest. In other words, the Lutheran Church was born in a university, and the freedom to learn, to question, to challenge, to debate, and even to protest (we are PROTESTants, after all), is part of our Lutheran DNA.
This is also an opportunity to remind ourselves that those who have followed in Luther’s footsteps haven’t always been true to the Gospel, true to the mind of Christ, true to the Scriptures when it comes to grace and how we look at ourselves and those around us. In particular, our collective historical and catastrophic failure as a church (starting with Luther himself) to treat the Jewish people with love, compassion, and patience is not to our credit. We would do well to learn from that failure and to grow from it.
But ultimately, the Protestant Reformation is about Jesus and our relationship to him as his people, individually and collectively. The Reformation reminds us that Jesus loves us first, a love to which we are not entitled but instead we receive as a gift, and thus Jesus loves us all equally. To live our lives for the sake of others confident in that gift of divine love is the best way we can truly honor the Protestant Reformation and those who led by the Grace of God.
Peace,
Pastor Jeff
This fourth opportunity to observe a centennial anniversary of the Reformation brings with it its own moments in history. This is the first time in three hundred years that Europe is peaceful during the observance. One hundred years ago, the First World War raged across Europe, making observance of the Reformation’s anniversary in Wittenburg by American Lutherans practically impossible, and politically dangerous in the United States, considering its German origins. The third centennial of the Reformation came just a couple of years after the end of the Napoleonic Wars that also raged across Europe, scarring both land and people.
Thus this year we have unprecedented access to Wittenburg, and hundreds of thousands of Lutherans from around the world will make their way to Wittenburg to pay homage to the start of the Protestant movement. But this year also is unique in regards to previous centennials in regards to the state of relations between the Lutheran Churches and the Roman Catholic Church.
After centuries of hostility, sometimes even open warfare, there has been a recent movement towards understanding and even reconciliation. Since the fracturing of the Christian Church is one of the primary reasons so many outside the Church look down upon it, such a trend should help us share the Gospel more effectively with the world. That is why many Lutherans, including many in the ELCA, are choosing intentionally to “observe” the 500th anniversary rather than to “celebrate” it. It’s important to remember it, to understand why it happened, to continue to advocate for the principles behind it, but not to use it to elevate one part of the Body of Christ above another in regards to God’s favor.
However, there are excellent ways to use this opportunity to grow as disciples of Jesus. One important way that connects strongly to the first moments of the Reformation is to devote ourselves to study, especially of the Bible. Luther was in Wittenburg as much to teach and to learn at the university there, as he was there to be a parish priest. In other words, the Lutheran Church was born in a university, and the freedom to learn, to question, to challenge, to debate, and even to protest (we are PROTESTants, after all), is part of our Lutheran DNA.
This is also an opportunity to remind ourselves that those who have followed in Luther’s footsteps haven’t always been true to the Gospel, true to the mind of Christ, true to the Scriptures when it comes to grace and how we look at ourselves and those around us. In particular, our collective historical and catastrophic failure as a church (starting with Luther himself) to treat the Jewish people with love, compassion, and patience is not to our credit. We would do well to learn from that failure and to grow from it.
But ultimately, the Protestant Reformation is about Jesus and our relationship to him as his people, individually and collectively. The Reformation reminds us that Jesus loves us first, a love to which we are not entitled but instead we receive as a gift, and thus Jesus loves us all equally. To live our lives for the sake of others confident in that gift of divine love is the best way we can truly honor the Protestant Reformation and those who led by the Grace of God.
Peace,
Pastor Jeff
