REFORMATION LIFE

Reformation of life

Dear brothers and sisters!

October comes very suddenly. We just had a spike in the temperature – a September heat wave. WOW week at Cal Poly passed, and then, to our surprise, October comes. Usually, it gets more obvious with toy pumpkins and other decorations on display at the stores. Every store tries to outdo the next in pushing merchandise related to the feast at the very end of October. And if you walk into a store and ask about the feast, you won’t get the answer that I prefer. Almost everything that is sold, one way or another, is related to death, while our heritage encourages us to concentrate on life.      

Dr. Martin Luther was thinking about the lives of his parishioners when he nailed the invitation for a discussion of his 95 theses to the Wittenberg church door. He knew that the church would be full that night, for the people used to come for the All the Saint’s Day Eve service. The posting of the 95 theses was not an exhibition of his pride – he was already a doctor of the Church, and his income did not depend on it. Also, it was not an attempt to present something controversial for the sake of intellectual discussion – some kind of brain teaser. It was genuine care for the lives on earth, and most importantly for the eternal destiny of his flock. Men and Women, families with and without children, rich and poor, German and non-German alike, clergy, monks, laity, etc.

Eternal lives were at stake – for the TRUTH will make you free, the truth which is found in the Word of God (John 8:32). “God’s Word forever shall abide,” a line in his most favorite hymn (LSB 657:4). For what will set your mind at ease? Government? Rulers come and go – good ones and the bad ones. The beloved Saxony of little Martin no longer exists, it’s Germany now. There used to be 13 original colonies of the British Empire, and now we live in the United States of America. There is no earthly power or authority – government, money, or army – that can survive the ultimate test of time. Yet, the Word of the LORD endures forever (1 Pet. 2:24-25).

This Word purifies the hearts, pointing to the remnant of sin in our lives, leading to confession, comforting with Words of forgiveness for Christ’s sake, and leading us to the path of maturation (2 Tim. 3:16). This purification of hearts combined leads to the purification of the Church. The Church of Luther’s times needed to be purged, the churches of the West need cleansing now. That is why every year on October 31, celebrating the Reformation Day, we gladly remember a humble attempt to turn people’s attention to the promises of the Gospel. The Gospel that soothes the soul, the Gospel that helps to fight overwhelming anxiety, the Gospel that shuts down any accusation toward the ones who want to live in peace with God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.