#60 Remembering the Reformation

Happy Reformation Day! It's been 500 years since Martin Luther kicked off the Reformation. Obviously those of us who belong to the Protestant denominations that developed out of the teaching of Luther and the other Reformers have been greatly affected by the Reformation. The Roman Catholic Church, too, has changed much in the past five centuries, and those changes are at least partly due to the Reformation. We can and should be grateful for the assurance of salvation that comes from being justified by grace through faith. We also can and should be grateful for easy access to the Bible, for worship in our own language, and for the ability to participate in worship through singing.

But over the past 500 years, Jesus Christ's church has become more and more divided. We've reformed quite a bit, but there's a lot of reforming to do. After 500 years, I think it's time to shift our focus. Let's stop using our theology to divide; let's not treat our fellow Christians as strangers. And, Protestants, please, please, please, stop talking about "Christians" and "Catholics." Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Reformed Christians have all signed a wonderful document that describes our shared belief that we are made right with God through faith, not works. (Learn more here!) Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians all affirm some version of the Nicene Creed. I sincerely hope that Jesus doesn't wait nearly 500 more years to return, but assuming that He doesn't, let's spend the next 500 years working together more and more. Let's make it our goal that in 500 years that are many, many fewer denominations than there are now.

Look, I know we have theological differences. I'm not saying we should relax our dedication to faithfully interpreting the Scriptures. But having differences in our beliefs shouldn't stop us from working together to serve our communities or from coming together for Bible studies or from meeting together for special worship services (even if we need to stay away from communion/Lord's Supper/eucharist/mass). And let's be honest. Some of our differences really aren't weighty enough to keep us separate. Revelation describes the church as the most diverse group of people ever assembled (see, e.g., Rev. 7:9). Think of the powerful witness it would be if we could belong to the same congregation even with our differences of opinion. There is one body and one Spirit, just as we were called to one hope when we were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Let's pray for the Spirit to bring us to more complete unity. Let's try our hardest to work together. By God's grace, let's keep reforming according to God's Word to be more like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace,
BMH