For Wilshire Baptist Church
Sunday was Reformation Sunday around the world. It’s the day when Protestant denominations and independent churches recall the time in 1517 when monk and theologian Martin Luther nailed a list of questions and propositions regarding repentance and salvation on the door of a Catholic church in Wittenberg, Germany. At Wilshire we usually make some mention of it, but not this year. Except for an organ postlude of Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” there was not any specific mention of the Reformation, and that’s fine with me. I’ve never considered it a big flag waving day.
For me, Reformation Sunday has never been about big church practices and theology but rather a reminder that each of us has a direct relationship with God. At the heart of Luther’s “95 Theses,” as it was called, was his belief that God intended believers to seek repentance and that faith alone, and not deeds, would lead to salvation. Nobody and no church could do that for you.
And that may be the rub for some of us. Our direct, personal relationship with God comes with a direct, personal responsibility to live our faith in a way that models the love and grace of God through Jesus Christ. As an “independent” Christian, I can’t claim that the church or my time spent at church makes me a holy person. I can’t be out of control Monday through Saturday and then drop into my reformed church on Sunday to be re-formed in the likeness of Christ. (Actually, I can, but if I continue that cycle deliberately then something is definitely wrong.)
And that has been a lifelong and daily challenge. Especially in this year of COVID and contentious politicking. Getting through each day without “losing my religion,” as they say, requires large reserves of self-control. With so many people shouting, I have to fight the urge to shout back. I’ve been tempted but I’ve backed down from unfollowing or unfriending people on social media who are loud about their opinions that I disagree with. The easier fix is to turn off social media.
Martin Luther no doubt felt pressure to push back against the ugly forces in his world when he wrote “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” sometime between 1527 and 1529. Consider these words from the third verse:
And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us.
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure.
One little word shall fell him.
Luther doesn’t say what that one little word might be. I’m not really wanting to “fell” anyone, nor do I believe I’m up against the actual Prince of Darkness. But when keeping my re-formed self in check against my most ugly human tendencies, words like “love” and “patience” come to mind. Interestingly, I find love much easier than patience.