Sunday, October 25, 2015

Reformation Sunday
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 46
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

A WORD FOR TODAY reaches a wide audience that spans the spectrum of the Christian world. There are readers from many nations, conservative and liberal, high church with all the bells and whistles and more casual worship, charismatic and traditional. Sadly, some of my readers may question the authenticity of others because of their stands on issues, their narrow focus, or certain points of view. Yet somehow we gather together on a regular basis to hear God's word and consider what it means for our own personal lives.

I, of course, have a very specific point of view: I am a Christian with a Lutheran perspective. I don't usually blatantly divulge this about myself, although I suspect that my writing reveals that much more than I realize. I write from my point of view, and though I know it is just one perspective, I hope it shines the light of Christ and helps Christians live the life they are called to live.

That said, the text for this week's Midweek Oasis is the one time each year that I allow myself to focus this writing on Martin Luther and the Reformation. It is Reformation Sunday, the day that recalls the radical actions of the monk/priest/professor Martin Luther who nailed a list of conversation starters (The 95 Theses) on the door of Wittenberg Church. Those theses question the state of the Church at that moment in history, opening conversation to reform and restore the Church.

I think one of the reasons why I continue to be a Lutheran is because we are serious about theology. Following Martin Luther's example, we think deeply about the things of God. This isn't to say that others are less interested in theology or that they don't think deeply about God, but learning and understanding the scriptures is a foundational characteristic of the Lutheran faith. Is every Lutheran a theology geek like me? I have to admit that I am an odd man out: I've even spent 2015 reading the Book of Concord, the documents written five hundred years ago establishing the Lutheran Confession of Faith. However, like all denominations, we have people who are very serious and others who have chosen to attend a particular church for other reasons. However, we exist because of the work of Martin Luther and I like to be reminded once a year of my heritage.

Despite being recognized as one of the most important people in the history of mankind, I have come to learn that many people don't even know about Martin Luther. If you do a goggle search you are as likely to get links to pages for Martin Luther King, Jr. as you are to find links about the sixteenth century German monk. When the movie came out about Luther a few years ago, a girl asked a friend if it was about the twentieth century American preacher and activist. I'm not a Luther scholar, so much of my own knowledge is based on popular understanding, but it is worth taking the time to look at his greatest accomplishment: bringing light to the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is grace.

Luther was certainly not the first in the church to preach the Gospel of grace, nor was he the only one to seek reform in the church. He just happened to do so at a time when all the circumstances were perfectly aligned for a radical change in thought, both politically and spiritually. The printing press made it possible to share information with the masses. The people had been oppressed for some time and were ready to rebel against authority. Darkness reigned in many ways, as the people were led by superstition and hunger rather than faith.

It all started when Luther posted a list of discussion topics on the church door at Wittenberg. The 95 Theses were never intended for public perusal, they were written for debate in the halls of sixteenth century academia. The debate reached much further than the walls of Wittenberg and set off debate within the church that would change the world in many ways.

The nailing of the 95 Theses, which happened on October 31, 1517, was just the beginning and in hindsight we know it is one of the least of his accomplishments. It focused heavily on the law-centered focus of the Church in his day, which insisted that the people of faith do many things to earn their place in the Kingdom of God. So much of what he wrote against put burdens on the people that were impossible to keep and which benefitted no one but the Church. His biggest pet peeve was that indulgences were sold to raise money to build yet another monstrous cathedral. Luther taught that we can't buy our way into heaven; we are saved by grace through faith.

Martin Luther was a prolific theologian. He wrote volumes of works on the scriptures, explaining the meaning and bringing out the grace of God in the words. He translated the Bible into the common language of his people, putting it into their hands so that they could read it for themselves. He made the people more active in the worship, inviting them into the praise and thanksgiving through song and at the Eucharistic table. He wrote great hymns such as "A Mighty Fortress is our God" and "Lord, Keep us Steadfast in Your Word."

These were all great things, yet they still were not his greatest accomplishment. Luther believed that faith was not a once a week thing, that faith belonged in every aspect of one's life. While some in his day believed that the only truly faith-filled life could be lived separated from the world in monasteries, Luther believed that everyone was called by God to live faithfully every moment of every day. The bishop and washerwoman, monk and manure man were equal in the eyes of God, both saints and sinners called to use God's gifts to His glory. He wrote a Catechism booklet that was intended to be used by all Christian families at home, to instruct the young and deepen the faith of the old as they worshipped God together, remembering their baptism daily. He wrote a larger Catechism to help pastors and preachers better understand the scriptures so that they could teach the people in their parishes.

Yet, these were still not the greatest of his accomplishments. Just as Jesus Christ had done fifteen hundred years before, Martin Luther turned the world upside down when he rediscovered the amazing grace of God. The sixteenth century was a time of darkness. It was dark because the people were very superstitious, often believing that they could control the uncontrollable with the right words or actions. Other worldly beings like fairies and demons dominated the imaginations of those living in Europe. The fears of the people were exploited by both the religious and the secular leaders of the day. The sale of indulgences fed the need for people to do something to earn the favor of God, and it helped the leaders build a huge beautiful new cathedral. They convinced the people that they could buy salvation for themselves and for those they loved promising salvation and forgiveness for those who could afford to pay.

The sellers of indulgences created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in the hearts of the believers, manipulating them into believing that they could buy their way, or the way of their loved ones, into heaven. Along with financial indulgences, the people thought they could do things to gain the forgiveness that God gives freely. People, including Martin Luther, did acts of piety in the hopes that it would bring them the holiness that God required of His people. While in Rome on business, Martin Luther visited the places that held sacred relics and even climbed the steps of the Lateran Church on his knees, saying the Lord's Prayer on every step. Many pilgrims did this, with the hope that they would satisfy God. Martin Luther was like a man living in darkness, weighed down by the burden of his sin. It is said that he used to spend hours confessing, desperate to confess every little thing he'd ever done wrong. He was imprisoned by his fear and doubt.

When he reached the top of the steps at the Lateran, Luther wondered to himself, "What if this doesn’t work?" Would the painful act bring him the peace of assurance that his salvation was secure? He didn't feel at peace that day, nor did he ever feel peace when he spent hours in confession. Nothing made him feel like he was forgiven. Nothing gave him the courage to boldly stand in God's promises. That is, until he discovered the truth in Paul's letter to the Romans.

Though there were those who tried to show him God's grace, but it took a moment of desperation in his darkness to cry out to God for help. "Save me," he begged. Then one day as Luther was reading the book of Romans a light shined in his darkness. He realized that justification comes from faith not from works of the Law. The doom and gloom of his inability to be good enough was conquered by the truth that God is good enough. God overcame his sin on the cross of Jesus Christ.

Luther finally saw clearly the grace that frees us from sin and death. This is the heart of the Gospel. It is not by my own ability that I am saved, but by the grace of God through the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. This we know by faith, faith given to us by God Himself.

God answered Luther's cry through the scriptures that he studied with passion and hope. There is nothing we can do because we are frail, sinful people, but God loved us so much that He gave us Jesus, the perfect priest who presented Himself as the perfect sacrifice. Luther believed that Christians were simultaneously saints and sinners, saved by the grace of God but still living in this imperfect world. He saw in the words of the whole Bible the joy and peace of freedom, the freedom that comes from complete trust in God. We can cry out to God and He will answer. Though we are imperfect and fail against Him daily, God will reveal Himself to us so that we will see and believe and be transformed by His grace.

The texts for this week are the same texts we use each year on Reformation Sunday. They are texts that I have written about many times over the years. We use them because they speak clearly the message of the Reformation: we are slaves to sin, we can't do anything good by our own power but Christ died to reconcile us to His Father and save us from ourselves to live and love and serve in joy and peace. We are set free from all that keeps us from the One whom gave us life by the truth. That day when Martin Luther rediscovered grace, he was set free from fear and doubt. The texts are a call to trust in God completely. Righteousness comes from the Spirit of God dwelling in the hearts of all who believe, not by the law. It is impossible for mankind to become righteous by our own power; we can't save ourselves from death by works or indulgences. It is only by the grace of God that we are saved.

Psalm 46 was among Luther's favorite passages; it is the passage on which he based the hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God." If there is anything we can learn from the life of Martin Luther, it is that God is indeed our refuge and our strength. Life was never easy for this man of faith. Many people hated him, sometimes for very good reasons. He was not the most gracious person. He was bold and unwavering with his opinion. He has been described as arrogant and chauvinistic. He said some things that I am sure he would regret today, words that have been used for generations in all the wrong ways. But he loved his wife, children and the people of his congregations. Most of all, he was grateful to God and trusted in His mercy and grace; he 'sinned boldly' knowing that God's grace was greater than his failure. He sought to live out his calling in this world by sharing the true Gospel with all who would listen.

It may seem odd to spend so much time in this Midweek Oasis on one man and so little time on the scriptures for this week. Despite the fact that he was imperfect, simultaneously a saint and sinner, his life shined the grace of God. Through his words and ministry we are reminded to always look toward Christ and the cross as the center of our faith. Martin Luther encourages us to study the scriptures for ourselves, to delve deeply into theology--the study of God--so that we, too, will see God's grace fully revealed. In doing so we will be freed from fear and doubt, blessed with a renewed understanding of God's new covenant with His people. Luther knew that God, and only God, is our refuge and our strength, that all we have is His and all we do is for His glory. May we learn from Martin Luther's life and ministry and dwell in God's grace with joy and peace.

The Psalmist writes, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Luther heard those words and lived them to the glory of God. Even if you don't belong to a tradition that celebrates Reformation Day, I pray you will join me in praising God for all the wonderful things He did through the life and ministry of this man Martin Luther.