A WORD FOR TODAY, October 23, 2024
Peggy Hoppes
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Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, October 23, 2024
Lectionary Scriptures for October 27, 2024, Reformation Day: Revelation 14:6-7; Psalm 46; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36
Reformation Day is on October 31st. On that day we remember the bold action of Martin Luther, who in 1517 posted ninety-five theses on the door of Wittenberg Church. The theses were written to open debate between scholars about the abuses in the Church at that time. This began a reform movement that sought to restore the Church the Christ built. Luther, other reformers, and those who followed them were fighting against a body that had lost touch with God’s grace. Religion was much like it was in the day of Jesus Christ, with leaders determined to keep or enhance their positions and power. It was a religion that burdened God’s people with Law, losing touch with the center of God’s salvation: the cross. They sold indulgences to raise funds to build a massive new church building in Rome and they did this by feeding the fears of hell that were held by the people. They made the people believe that the only way they would make it to heaven was to pay for it. They even offered salvation for those who had already died: they could pay to free their loved ones who were wallowing in purgatory.
Luther was a priest and a teacher, burdened heavily by his calling. He feared sin and he feared that his own sinfulness was greater than the mercy and grace of God. He did not see how he could be forgiven and spent hours in confession. Luther was at the point of despair when he sought solace from God’s word and his confessor. Johann von Staupitz, tired of Luther’s lengthy confessions, reminded Luther of the Gospel of grace, that Christ died for his sin. Luther grasped this grace when he read Romans 3, the text we always use for Reformation Sunday. “But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe.” It is by faith we are saved, not by works. Jesus completed the work of justification on the cross.
Martin Luther realized that eternity in heaven is dependent entirely on the grace of God. When Martin Luther rediscovered this truth, he realized that our own works would never earn us salvation. In faith we cry out to the God who saves. In that faith we have hope and the freedom to live in God’s kingdom now while we wait for God’s kingdom to be fulfilled.
In Luther’s quest to help Christians grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, he invited them into the conversations of theology and church. Instead of answering his critics with a typical Latin answer, Luther wrote in German, then had the works published and sold to anyone. Though the printing press existed for fifty years, Luther worked to make it a viable form of communication. He encouraged and supported the printers. He helped design a format that was appealing to the masses. His pamphlets and books, often written to respond to the questions of other theologians, were published by dozens of printers in many cities. His work changed the publishing industry in ways that we still use today. Even our morning newspaper today was influenced by the way Luther published his works.
The timing was just right: the printing press provided widespread distribution of his message. It was a time of political, social, and scientific upheaval. He had the support of powerful men, so his reforms reached far past the religious realm. He sought education reforms, desiring that all children be literate. Schools were built and children were treated less like cattle and more like the future of the nation and Church. He recognized that we live in two kingdoms - temporal and spiritual, an ideology that encourages justice - so that all people might work for the glory of God even when following earthbound vocations. When we do not have to buy our way to heaven, we are given the freedom to live in God’s grace today, looking forward to the promises of God that will be fulfilled in His time and way.
For Luther, freedom was not to do whatever we wanted to do, it was freedom to be as God created us to be. He never sought division; he sought change. Unfortunately, just like the religious leaders in Jesus’ day, the religious leaders in Luther’s day had no room for God’s word in their lives. They began building walls between Christians that has lasted more than five hundred years. Yet, even as Luther was willing to risk division by speaking forth God’s grace, he longed that the Church would remain whole. We continue to live in the freedom given by God through Jesus Christ so that we can reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ, so that someday the Church will be healed and made whole once again. If not in this life, at least God’s promises will bring us together to share the feast of victory for eternity.
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 point of view. Despite our differences, we are encouraged to gather together on a regular basis to hear God’s Word and consider what it means for our own personal lives.
I certainly have a very specific point of view. We are in the middle of a difficult and divisive political season in the US, and I have my own opinions about how the upcoming election should end. I also have very strong opinions in matters of faith. I am a Christian with a Lutheran perspective. I don't usually blatantly divulge my opinions, although I suspect that my writing reveals 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.
I do often allow myself a limited focus when the Church calendar reaches Reformation Sunday. 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 my Lutheran faith. Is every Lutheran a theology geek like me? I have to admit that I am an odd man out: I have studied the scriptures for this devotion and for the classes and workshops I have led over the years. I often choose books to challenge myself to better understand different aspects of our faith. Every denomination has people who are very serious about these things and others who choose their local congregation for other reasons. I write about Martin Luther for Reformation Sunday because I like to be reminded once a year of my spiritual heritage.
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 by the truth from all that keeps us from the One whom gave us life. 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.
I am an artist. I make a type of painting that includes a painted background with a decoupaged frame. I add a cross in the middle and use music pages out of old hymn books for the decoupage. I love to search antique stores for those old books. There are specific things I want in an old hymnal: slightly yellowed pages, attractive type set, song titles at the top of the page. I also look for specific songs in the book. Unfortunately, I once purchased a hymn book that was almost useless; though it looked like a Christian hymnal, it had songs with non-Christian theology. Even the name of Jesus was impossible to find in its pages. I was able to pull just enough pages to make one painting, but I recycled the rest. Though I use just bits and pieces of the pages, I am careful to make the hymns I use recognizable by specifically choosing words and lines that we know and love. Those songs in that strange hymnal were not at all familiar.
I always look for one specific hymn when purchasing those hymnals: “A Mighty Fortress.” This is a beloved hymn for me as a Lutheran, but I’ve discovered that most denominational hymnals include it. Martin Luther was a prolific writer and hymnwriter, but “A Mighty Fortress” is probably the most well-known of his work. It has often been called “The Battle Hymn of the Reformation” but it can be found even in Roman Catholic hymnals. It has been translated into many languages, including seventy different translations in English.
The text of the hymn follows the message of Psalm 46 very closely. The psalm is a Zion hymn, which were written to praise God for establishing his people and his kingdom. They are a mix of history, culture, tradition and loyalty. They are dedicated to extolling the city of God. No other place on earth warrants this praise, according to the poets. For Luther, Zion was not just a city but was God Himself, our refuge and our strength. We sing “A Mighty Fortress” to praise God for being with us. The psalmist expresses trust in God in the midst of chaos; though the world is in turmoil, there is quiet and safety in God, our refuge.
We need to be reminded regularly of how great God is. God seems smaller in our eyes when we fail to look at Him and His Word. The more we study and pray, the bigger He is, the more we trust that He will help us, the more we will know He is God. We are to realize, acknowledge, experience, enjoy, and appreciate God. The more we praise Him, the more He will grow in our eyes and the world will see Him through us. The psalmist teaches us that God’s presence on Zion brings protection, but no building is a talisman against defeat. Jesus in the Temple, the very presence of God. We can find confidence in Christ’s presence. Jesus Christ is the source of God’s protective strength in our lives. We need not fear because Christ’s kingdom will enjoy a rule of absolute peace.
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 reason! 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 God’s people. 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. The Psalmist wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations.” Luther heard those words and lived them to the glory of God, setting aside His fear for faith.
There are very real reasons to be afraid in our world. I’m not sure that there are more reasons today, although it seems like it sometimes, doesn’t it? We are afraid of the things that will affect the world and our nation. We are afraid of the crime in our neighborhoods. We are afraid of natural disasters that can destroy our homes. We are afraid of more personal things like financial ruin. We have a collective fear of disease. The political conversation is filled with fear. Sometimes we don’t even really know what we fear.
We look to God as a refuge, yet John wrote in the text from Revelation, “Fear the Lord.” There are benefits of being afraid because we react to our fear by doing what needs to be done to avoid the bad things that can happen. However, we can be so focused on fear that we miss the blessings of life. So, why would we have to fear the One who has promised to be our source for joy and hope and peace?
Fear of the Lord is not the same kind of fear we experience when we face crime or natural disaster or financial ruin or disease. It isn’t the fear we experience in the haunted house or the movie theater. It isn’t the fear we experience when we are threatened. Fear of the Lord is a reverence for the Holy One, trusting that He is where we’ll find our joy and hope and peace. Solomon tells us in the book of Proverbs that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Awe in the One who is our salvation will make Him grow in our eyes and in the eyes of the world.
We need not fear, like Martin Luther feared for himself and for his congregation, because God is a very present help in trouble. God is always there. He is a fortress in times of difficulty and a refuge in times of need. When things are looking bad in the world, as they must have looked to Luther in 1517, we can rest assured that God is present, active, and faithful.
In Jesus’ day, the leaders demanded obedience to the old laws that they taught were required for righteousness and did everything they could to keep the people in line. They laid heavy burdens on the people, and the people failed. The New Covenant gives the believer the faith and freedom to live according to His Word. The New Covenant gives us a new attitude; it changes how we look at God’s Law and God’s Word. In faith we respond to the call of God. The Old Covenant, which comes from outside, is replaced with a covenant that dwells inside our hearts. The Law still has a purpose: it helps us to see that we need a Savior. When we hear the Gospel, God’s Word is placed in the heart; faith is given so that the believer can act out of love rather than fear or greed. We are no longer burdened by that Law, but we are set free by faith to live out God’s Word in the world.
The brief Gospel lesson for this week took place after an encounter Jesus had with a crowd that was about to stone a woman who had been taken for adultery. We note that there was no man so threatened, but it has been suggested that some who would throw the stones were guilty with her. Jesus said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her,” and they were cut to the heart. One by one they walked away; no one was able to cast the first stone because they were sinners, too. The religious leaders then questioned Jesus. “Who are you to do these things?” They wanted to know where He got His authority. “You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.” In that conversation, Jesus revealed that they did not know the Father, but many came to believe in Him.
Jesus told those listening that the truth would set them free, but the Jewish leaders didn’t understand what he was talking about. “We are Abraham’s offspring and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?” They relied on their heritage; they relied on Abraham and Moses for their salvation. But since they could not keep the Law perfectly, they would always fail to live up to the expectations of that Law. Jesus said that whenever you sin, no matter how small or insignificant, you are a slave to sin. This is what Martin Luther discovered when he was trying to confess himself into salvation. I love my Lutheran heritage, but I know that it is only Jesus that can save.
Martin Luther was bold enough to cry out to God in his imperfection, seeking God’s mercy. It is easier for us to keep working toward our goal, to try to make ourselves good enough to come before the Lord. We don’t want God to see our imperfections and we fear what will happen when He does. It is much, much harder for us to embrace God’s grace because we are afraid that we are not worthy. Yet, the true path, the better path, is to cry out in faith knowing that God forgives those who repent. There is nothing we can do to earn His grace, but in faith we can boldly approach Him with our needs. He will listen. He will heal. In Him, and in Him alone, we have joy and hope and peace. That revelation spurred Luther to reform the church.
Martin Luther reminds us of the truth that the work of salvation is not dependent on man but on the mercy of God. When we realize that we are sinners, in need of a Savior, our whole world is turned upside down. We are set free from the burdens of the law so that we might live to the glory of God in His grace no matter who we are. This is what happened to Martin Luther when he read Paul’s words to the Romans; he realized that faith was the key to salvation. Those words changed him, and through his willingness to fight for the Gospel of Jesus Christ the world was changed forever.
God can do whatever He wants to do. This knowledge gave Martin Luther peace. He realized that it was not his works or his words that would bring salvation, and he knew that there was no peace in relying on his own abilities or actions. Only in God can we have peace. God can do whatever He wants to do, and He does all that He has promised. We live trusting in His faithfulness, crying “Hosanna” to our Father, counted among His firstborn despite our unworthiness. All this by grace through faith in the Eternal One who can save.
Martin Luther was like a man living in darkness, weighed down by the burden of his sin. But God answered with the gift of sight – spiritual sight. He was no longer blinded by the foolish ways of the world in which he lived but was bound by grace in faith. He knew the joy of that freedom, the freedom that comes from complete trust in God. We can cry out to God in our blindness and ask Him to see again. He will stop, call us to Himself and grant us what we desire. Jesus continues to intercede for us even as He sits at the right hand of God because His ministry is eternal.
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