Shepherd Notes October 2024
A BRIEF REVIEW OF WHY WE CELEBRATE REFORMATION SUNDAY
While the rest of the world celebrates a spooky holiday, the Lutheran Christian community, for the most part, celebrates Reformation Day; although, admittedly, many Lutherans have lost sight of the reasons behind the Reformation. Martin Luther’s study of the scripture led him to a path he recognized as religious truth and salvation. That truth led him to disagree with the church’s teachings of the Bible, with the priests serving as intermediaries between the Bible and the laity. He also strongly disagreed with the sale of indulgences whose proceeds were used to build the church. Luther posted his ‘Ninety-five Theses’ (95 points of discussion within the academic community in which he served as a teacher), on the door of the Castle Church, Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517. This was on the eve of All Saints’ Day. This has become the traditional day for remembering the start of the Reformation.
Many opposed the movements of the church, but Martin Luther brought it to light and sought reformation within the church. His theses gave grounds for people to question the church; it was a time of large religious and political change. Luther preached reformation, but his thesis was warped for political, social, and economic reasons by various emerging leaders of the movement. This brought about a fractionalization in the Roman Catholic Church and the emergence of the Protestant Reformation. Reformation Day is recognized by a number of churches around the world, especially the Protestants. It is an official holiday in most German states and seeks to celebrate the significant religious reforms brought on by “The 95 Theses.” Reformation Day stands by truth and the Bible as the sole source of religious authority. The world of the late medieval Roman Catholic Church was a complex one. The office of the pope in Rome, had become deeply involved in the political life of western Europe by the mixing of the civil authority and the authority of the church contributed to many abuses. These abuses were mostly surrounding the practice of the sale of indulgences or spiritual privileges by the clergy, with the full approval of the leaders in Rome. Luther and other reformers objected to this, but the posting of the Theses by Dr. Luther triggered the public objections. The final result was the expulsion of those reformers from the church in Rome. But the church at large enjoyed loyalty as it had before. One development is clear: the political authorities increasingly sought to curtail the public role of the church and thereby triggered tension. That tension continues to this day with the separation of the church and state here in this country. As Lutherans we celebrate the return of the Church to the Word of God as the guiding light for our life’s journey. We should take this opportunity to celebrate Jesus Christ as the church-es cornerstone and study and apply the Word of God as the guide for our daily living. So, with that being said, we will continue to celebrate the Lordship of Jesus Christ within our Church.
Your Servant in Christ Pastor Brian