Reformation Sunday
Each year, at this time, we celebrate a holiday on October
31st and it is… well its not just Halloween. On the eve of All
Saints’ Day (which we’ll celebrate next Sunday), we commemorate Reformation
Day. It marks the anniversary of a beginning of a reform movement within the
larger church, when Martin Luther posted 95 thesis (or suggestions for reform)…
and this action, because of so many other events happening in that turbulent
moment in history, began a seismic time of change in the church. Some people
believe that right now, 500 years later, we’re in another time like that…
You’ve noticed. Think of someone in your life (maybe you)
who isn’t finding relevance or value in church participation. What do they say
about that? What is it exactly that they are opting out of? How does
this make you feel?
Christian author Phyllis Tickle noticed that every 500 years
or so, it seems like God has (or God’s people have?) a big rummage sale: A lot
of things that the church used to see as central are no longer needed and are
“put out on tables in the driveway” in order to make room for a new day. Five hundred
years ago, Martin Luther nailed 95 Theses to the front door of the church. Five
hundred years before that, the Great Schism happened, and the Church split into
East (Constantinople) and West (Rome). Five hundred years before that, the
monastic movement brought new life to the Church; and 500 years before that, it
was JESUS.
So, here’s a big question: What if the changes in attendance
and priorities aren’t about the church failing or society going bad; what if
God is simply doing something new?
If that was true, if this is
another moment of Reformation, then this is a terribly exciting time to
be church. It’s a time to turn off the auto-pilot button and be
curious. It’s time to listen and learn together. What is God up to? Churches
that are curious and connected to God, each other, and the neighborhood are the
churches that are vital. Life-giving. Even life-changing.[1]
The prophet Jeremiah imagined a future time—that there would
come a time when the law of the Lord would be inside people, written on their
hearts/minds… God and people would be intimately connected. From the least to
the greatest, all would know God because God forgives and remembers their sin
no more.
When I interview confirmation students, this is what they
think God is about… God is mercy. God is forgiveness. God is love.
But… God is also mystery. There’s a lot of things we’re not
really sure about and there are not lots of places to explore our questions…
but we do have ideas about God’s actions.
We also wonder about what God requires of us. On one hand,
we imagine that God expects us to live lives of serving others, and we love
that baptismal promise “to work for justice and peace in all the earth,”
starting in our own schools and work places… on the other hand, we know how we
fall short. In Confirmation class this week, the topic was about how we are
both sinners and saints. Not like 50% one and 50% the other. Not 80%-20%. But
we are 100% both… paradoxically, total
sinner, by that we mean we’re capable of horrible things & even if we seem
like pretty good people, we fall short either because of what we do or what we
don’t do…
But we are also 100% saint (before we die even, before the
church declares us saints) because of what God has done for us, because of how
God sees us. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “We see that people are acceptable to
God because they have faith, and not because of any good works.” This was an
insight that completely changed Martin Luther—who struggled for his whole early
life with the sense that he could never be good enough for a judging, holy God,
and finally realized that the gift was that God makes the first move, God is
mercy, God is compassion.
Because of God’s deep, abiding love, because of God’s choice
for us, we are freed to be salt, to be light… to finally be actually free.
As Jesus invites, “If you continue in my word, your are
truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you
free.”
Now, depending on our own personal histories, perhaps we
would say to Jesus with the Pharisees in the story in John… “Um, Jesus, we
don’t really need you… we’ve always been free.”
That’s very ironic coming from the Pharisees, since the
story of Moses leading the people out of slavery is absolutely a key part of
their community history…
And, if we dig a little deeper, slavery is absolutely a key
part of our stories. Whether that’s the reality of slavery that has made the
U.S. what it is today, or if it’s more mental or metaphorical kinds of slavery
(addictions or misplaced loyalties)… we all have experienced being enslaved to
something or someone, we all have a need for freedom.
Think of it… there are so many times when we don’t feel
free… even here, even now…
But Jesus invites us through all the changes and chances of
life, to follow, to get on board, to continue in Christ’s word, to know real truth,
to actually be free.
When have you been really free?
Have you ever? Have you ever known deep in your gut that there
is enough, God has provided more than enough, and it’s just about the
will/faith to believe it?
It’s kind of like in one of the old adventure movies where
someone has to take a step out into the dark abyss on pure faith and… there, a
step appears.
Here’s the thing… if this is a time of great Reformation
once again, that means there are no experts anymore about exactly what we need
to do next. What the most faithful next step would be, what exactly God intends
for us to do…
But the good news is this. God equips, inspires, and calls
us to go out together where there aren’t any experts anymore.
God’s abundance isn’t just in what we have, but in what we
can do for each other, and in every part of our life together, we have the
freedom to set things down or take things up, praying that God’s Spirit in the
middle of us will help us know together the opportune, “just right” times for
laying down certain things and taking up others. Some days, we get to joyfully
witness people like Will, Erin, Noah, Emma, and LeighAnna Affirming their
Baptism, and new members joining in this ministry, by their actions saying that
we are one in this faith adventure. Other days, we may be less certain about
what we have to celebrate together…
But one of my colleagues wrote this: “If I was an author,
the title of my book would be Trust How God Works. God comes to us in
God’s Word. Jesus sneaks in and forgives us in the bread and wine. The Spirit
blows new life into us in the waters of baptism.”[2]
And because God does all this, it may be that we find
ourselves being salt—salt that seasons the whole batch of dough. We might find
ourselves glimpsed as light—for those who need hope in the midst of fear,
grief, and despair.
If Jesus makes you free, you will be free indeed. Free to gather
together, free to live fully, free to serve, free to advocate, free to
transform the world.
In just a moment, we’ll sing together… calling out again
God’s vision of Christ as Tree of Life. For now, let it be our prayer:
Christ,
you lead and we shall follow, stumbling those our steps may be;
one
with you in joy and sorrow, we the river, you the sea.
Light
of life beyond conceiving, mighty Spirit of our Lord;
Give
new strength to our believing, give us faith to live your word.[3]
