Reformation Day

On October 31st, 1517, Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. (The full title of the document is Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences.) I suppose Luther's act marked the unofficial start of the Lutheran Reformation, and so this Sunday a lot of churches will celebrate "Reformation Day."

I am ambivalent when it comes to celebrating the Reformation. On the one hand, the disunity of the Church clearly contradicts Jesus’ prayer for unity among his disciples. (John 17) Also, the false teaching that plagues much of Protestantism in general, and Lutheranism in particular, sometimes makes me want to “swim the Tiber” to the Roman Catholic Church. A pope who can put the kibosh on false teaching is pretty appealing.

Nevertheless, I deeply appreciate Martin Luther and his minions, especially Philipp Melanchthon and Martin Chemnitz. The confessions of these reformers are solid reminders of what it means to “worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) Even if Lutheran doctrine often gets misconstrued to mean that we should “continue in sin in order that grace may abound,” an actual reading of the Book of Concord makes it clear that the Lutheran Reformers were in fact upholding “the faith that once for all was entrusted to the saints.” (Jude 1:3)

Whenever we're tempted to seek salvation in the things that we can have, in the deeds that we can do, or in the people that we can become, the confessions point us back to the clear message of Scripture: the Christian life is a gift – Christ himself is the Father’s gift – grasped through faith alone. Yes, love – that is, patience with and kindness toward others, not some schmaltzy “anything goes” love – is the immediate consequence of a living faith. However, the fruit should not be confused with the root.

So, in honor of Reformation Day, here are some notable Lutheran quotes:

“When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said ‘Repent’, He called for the entire life of believers to be one of penitence.” - Thesis #1 of Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses

“This act or ceremony (of baptism) consists of being dipped under the water, which covers us completely, and being drawn out again. These two parts, being dipped under the water and emerging from it, point to the power and effect of baptism, which is nothing else than the slaying of the old Adam and the resurrection of the new creature, both of which must continue in us our whole life long. Thus a Christian life is nothing else than a daily baptism, begun once and continuing ever after. For we must keep at it without ceasing, always purging whatever pertains to the old Adam, so that whatever belongs to the new creature may come forth.” - Luther’s Large Catechism

“Faith is a living and unshakeable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake. This kind of confidence in God’s grace, this sort of knowledge of it, makes us joyful, high-spirited, and eager in our relations with God and with all mankind. That is what the Holy Spirit effects through faith. Hence, the man of faith, without being driven, willingly and gladly seeks to do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of hardships, for the sake of the love and glory of the God who has shown him such grace. It is impossible, indeed, to separate works from faith, just as it is impossible to separate heat and light from fire.” - Luther’s Preface to Romans

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” - Ephesians 2:8-10 (Paul was pre-Lutheran)

Happy Reformation Day.