Hello,
Most people think
that today is Halloween, and that it is, but for us Lutheran folk there is a
more important designation to Oct. 31.
For us, this is the Birthday of the Lutheran Church, and this year it is
a significant Birthday, our 500th.
500 years ago, a
German monk, named Martin Luther, posted 95 theses for debate among his college
faculty concerning things that he believed were churchly things that needed
correction….or reformation. Someone got
ahold of these 95 points of debate and due to a newfound technological invention,
the printing press, they were distrusted far and wide, and thus the Reformation
took hold. It was never Luther’s intent
to birth a church, but rather it was his hope that the church would turn away
from practices that he believed were not Biblical. Unfortunately, he was met with strong
resistance from the Church, which eventually kicked him out, and without a Church
that called him one of their own, a church began that bore his name. Lutheran….not because he is to be the one
worshipped in this church….but because those who are part of the Lutheran
church, even to this day, view the Christian faith through the concerns that
were raised October 31, 1517.
For many years, this day took on the tone of
a victory celebration. We Lutherans
celebrating that we had gotten it right, and still have it right. Those a generation older than I, remember the
battle lines that were continued to be drawn between Lutherans and Roman
Catholics, even to the point that those who bore those titles were expected to
keep their distance from the other.
Thank God we have
reformed beyond those days! Today, we
who are Lutheran look upon this day as a day of thanks, thankful for the
continuing renewal and reformation that God is doing amidst all God’s people,
including (and maybe especially) those who bear the name Lutheran.
To those who are
not Christian, the multiple denominational character of the Christian church is
baffling and even a stumbling block to their participation in the faith. “If Christians can’t get their act together
and figure out what they believe, how can I have any idea what I am supposed to
believe,” say those who are not Christian.
It is confusing, even to us who name ourselves Christian. “Why can’t we just be Christian?”, people
say. “Why the need for Lutherans, Roman
Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, and the like?” Some Christians seek to deal with dilemma by
being part of a non-denominational church.
Truth is, although such churches may not be affiliated with a named
denomination, each of them, whether they know it or not, follow the particular
teachings of some denomination.
So, on this
Reformation Day, why not?....Why not get rid of the denomination thing, and
just call ourselves Christian.
Well, the first
thing to say is that I would be quick to state as strongly as I can, those who
are gathered under any denominational name are indeed Christian. Much like everyone who comes to a Nuernberger
family reunion is certainly a Nuernberger, but we are not identical in our
Nuernbergerarianism. Cousins in family, as
I believe denominations are home to cousins in the Christian faith.
As I look around
the Christian church, I see different kinds of people, and I am thankful that
the Christian church is a big enough tent to gather us all in. We Lutherans tend to be folks who for some
reason are very aware of our weaknesses, and therefore when we hear the Gospel
we hone in on that which overcomes every weakness….God’s grace. Other Christians, for some reason, have their
own focal points, and their ears pick up on that which enlightens their
lives. Truth is that no denomination
holds the entire truth, and all of us can learn from each other. Even the Bible, in my reading of it, is not monolithic in its proclamation. That is why it is called a canon, which means
“yardstick”. The Christian faith never
has been founded on a point, it has been established within a yardstick, a
yardstick on which I can find my point and others find theirs.
For too long,
Christians have acted as if different denominations were competing for the
truth. Although not completely
eradicated, this competition has given way to an understanding of the Christian
faith as a conglomerate of folks who, when cemented together by the Holy Spirit,
the truth can be seen, if only in a mirror dimly.
So, if you are one who has seen the church
as a fragmented group of folks who can’t get their act together, let me invite
you to worship in a number of churches and see that each church, when it is at
its best, is trying to create a space for different kinds of people upon whom
God has poured out his love….different like me….and different like you. Thank God that God is big enough to wrap his
arms around all different kinds of people!
Have a great week.
God’s grace and peace,(ggap)
Pastor Jerry Nuernberger
No comments:
Post a Comment