An Abiding Reformation

An Abiding Reformation Reformation Day (observed), Revelation : – ; : – ; : – Luther was not the first Reformer. The Reformation was a chain of events, a chain of theologians, monks and priests, a chain of abuse and neglect, that all led to the doorstep of the Castle Church in Wittenberg in 1517, when one of those theologian, monk priests, climbed those steps on October 31, as a result of the abuse of the church in the selling of salvation through the peddling of indulgences. At the risk of being overly dramatic, as the hammer drove the nails into the church door, it sent a shockwave through Wittenberg, through Germany, through Europe, through the world, through Christianity all the way through to today. Luther’s 95 Theses Against the Selling of Indulgences was written in Latin and was intended for academic and theological pondering, discussion and debate. This is why it was posted on the Holy Evening. The Evening before All Saints Day. This holiday, All Saints Day, would draw people from all over to celebrate the Saints of the church, especially in Wittenberg. Duke Fredrick had one of, if not the greatest collections of relics, consisting of bones and possessions of many Saints. So, All Saints Day in Wittenberg was a big deal. The sad thing, is that everyone could see the relics, but nobody saw the 95 Theses on All Saints Day. They had been removed. They had been taken down by some of Luther’s students at the university. They had been translated into German and then other languages, and were being run through the printing press. Soon they would be sold and distributed all over Europe. I’ve heard it said that the 95 Theses was being distributed in France, in their language, within 10 days after Luther’s hammer drove the nail into the door of the church. That, my friends, is the 16th century version of going viral. But, all of this happened, because the people were already ready for it. Luther was saying the things that the people were already feeling, even if they couldn’t articulate it. Luther considered himself a follower of John Huss. The Bohemian reformer from a century before Luther. Much of what Huss preached, Luther preached. And, much of what Huss preached, John Wycliffe had preached. And on and on and on it went among others throughout time in Europe. Deemed a heretic, Wycliffe was silenced. Deemed a heretic, Huss was silenced. And so were the others. All of them executed by the Church. And, this looked to be the same fate Luther would face. Ultimately, Luther was deemed a heretic by the Pope, he could be legally executed, and he was considered anathema; damned, outside the church and the saving grace of God. This is the price that is paid for the truth of the Gospel. This is the price we pay, hopefully not to that degree, even today. Christianity is mocked and ridiculed. Television, politicians, musicians, academics, you name it, they mock and ridicule Christ, His Church, your faith, your belief, and your God. I have lost friends by proclaiming Christ. It hurts. I’m sure you have had similar experiences. This is why Christ says to take up your cross and follow Him. Take up your suffering, the ridicule, the hate, and, as St. Paul proclaims, “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:10-11). Just two years ago, we celebrated the 500-year anniversary of the Reformation. October 31, 2017. It was a big deal. Even the non-denominational churches jumped in and claimed Luther as their own. I doubt many of them are doing it this year. But, the slogan that the LCMS had for that celebration was this, “It is STILL all about Jesus.” And it STILL is. The Reformation was never about Luther. It was a fight for the truth of the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was about how one is reconciled to God. And it is by grace alone, through faith alone, found in the Scriptures alone. Jesus told the Pharisees this morning, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (v. 31b-32). If I had one, single, solitary word for you today, to summarize our Gospel reading, to summarize the Reformation, to summarize the Christian life today, it would be that word abide. That word, abide, or, μένω in the Greek, means to live, dwell, to remain… in the Word of Christ. Dwell in the Gospel. Remain in the faith. When you abide in the Word, you can stand in and for the Word. When you dwell in the Gospel, you can stand up for the Gospel. When you remain in the faith, you can stand “against the rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). In 1521, Luther was summoned to a Diet in the city of Worms. A Diet was a tribunal of sorts, a meeting, that included the nobility of the region, representatives of the Church and even the Holy Roman Emperor himself. A hundred years before this, John Huss, was summoned to a Diet. He was promised safe passage to and from the Diet by the Emperor. Huss was demanded to recant what he had been teaching. He did not. He was immediately declared a heretic, his safe passage revoked, he was taken into custody, and burned at the stake. Luther, too was given the promise of safe passage to the Diet in Worms by the Emperor. He, too was called to recant. Luther knew what had happened to John Huss only a century before. But, he did not recant. Instead, He made this infamous speech, “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in the councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.” Luther had signed his death warrant and expected to be taken into custody, to be taken to prison, then executed, just like John Huss and John Wycliffe. Yet, he stood… on the Word of Christ. He stood against the authorities who meant to do him harm. And he stood up for those who had been held captive by a false gospel of having to work for their salvation. “For,” says St. Paul to us this morning, ”we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28). And further, he says this to the Ephesians, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:9). Abide, my friends. Live, dwell, remain in the love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and protection of your Lord and Savior. Stand for the true and pure teaching of the Gospel. You don’t deserve it, but He gives it. You don’t (you can’t) earn it, but He gives it. You can’t buy it, but He gives it…freely. Abide in that. Here we stand. "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water" (Rev. 14:7b). Amen.