It’s only about a half a mile. The monk walked from his cell in the monastery, past the university where he was a teacher, to the church at the other end of town. There he posted a notice on the door of the Church of All Saints. If any of the common people passing by were interested enough to look, they would soon turn away in disappointment. “It’s in Latin.”
That’s the way it may have happened on October 31, 1517, in the town of Wittenburg, in the German Principality of Saxony. I’m talking about the publication of the 95 Theses by Martin Luther. Little did anyone realize that these hammer blows on the door of the church would change Western Christianity, not to mention the course of history.
How could one man do it? He couldn’t, and he didn’t. Looking at all the events of what we’ve come to call the Reformation of the Church, it’s not really about Martin Luther; it’s not about the 95 Theses; it’s not about the right timing. The Reformation is all about the One Truth in Christ instead of the many “truths” around us.
When Father Martin issued his 95-fold call to the Church, he was challenging Christians. Not just the high and mighty, like the pope and the cardinals and the bishops and so forth. He was challenging all Christians (at least in the Western Church) to come back to the source of faith and life: the Word of God; the Bible. It’s eye-opening to consider that at the time of Luther, the Church was doing fine—if your standard of “doing fine” is activity, people involvement, influence, and property. The Collegiate Church of All Saints at Wittenburg was worthy of admiration. Their seven priests conducted thousands of masses a year. That meant a sizable income for the clergy, and even more so, people received assurance for the quicker release from purgatory for both themselves and their family members. It was a good deal all around, of great economic benefit to the city. And along comes this monk, who said…well, what did he say?
Father Martin did not say, “Don’t listen to the Church.” He did not say, “Believe whatever you want.” He said, “Let’s go back to the source.” What source? The Word of God. The Holy Scriptures. The Bible. Let’s get back to the source. Dare I ask, what have you done to get back to the source lately? How important is it to you to get God’s Word into your life? Because that’s what the Reformation was all about. Not about some mythical German hero named Luther, but about God’s grace, the real message of Holy Scripture. And here you have it. All of God’s mercy, packed in words; the whole Christ, crucified and risen for you, speaking His full message of repentance and salvation.
But look around today. There will be Reformation services elsewhere. These days there seem to be, even in the Church, so many different views, opinions, philosophies, and convictions that others begin to ask, “What does the Christian Church stand for?”
Jesus said, “If you abide in”—if you listen, stick to, remain with, hang on to—“if you abide in My Word, you are truly my disciples.” That’s a pretty big “if.” The best medicine prescribed by the doctor will be useless if you don’t take it! Jesus himself issues the invitation to abide in His Word, but that’s all it will be if you don’t take him up on it.
How many baptisms have taken place at this font during your lifetime? And yet, do you see all of those blessed by water and the Word sitting here with you today? How many confirmands have vowed faithfulness to Jesus and loyalty to the Church at this altar? Where are they now, and do you care?
How do you stick with it? How do you abide? I cannot possibly overstate the importance of Christian education, catechism instruction and regular worship attendance for the survival of each Lutheran in their Christian faith. It is nothing less than a threat to your spiritual survival to disregard the Word of God or to separate yourself from it. It seems so simple—staying plugged into the power source is necessary. But how often do God’s own people act like it isn’t necessary? How often do God’s own people pretend that getting God’s Word into themselves is an optional activity?
Perhaps you had hoped today to hear more praises of Martin Luther and the other great men and women of the Reformation. But that’s not our greatest need. Our greatest need is for Christ’s Holy Word to strengthen us for the road ahead. We need Jesus with us as we move toward our final goal.
Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” That truth we learned from men like Pastor Luther. And from those following him, including the teachers and preachers who have fed you with the heavenly food of the Gospel. That Gospel says: you cannot free yourself from what you are. The sinner, Jesus says, is a slave, tied up and loaded down. The truth that sets you free is that Jesus breaks the chains; Jesus leads you out into the light.
Jesus also said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” What a claim, and what a promise! For Christians, truth is not a theory or a philosophy or an ideology. Truth is a person. Jesus is truth. Jesus is God’s final and saving promise to you. Included in that promise is strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow; life constant and joyous in God’s presence that begins right now, and that is perfectly fulfilled in eternity. What do you have to do to realize that promise? Memorize the 95 Theses? Know your way around the LCMS handbook or Robert’s Rules of Order? Over-commit yourself on the church committee? None of the above. Remember Jesus’ words: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” The Son has done it. You can be free from slavery to sin. You can be free from slavery to self. You can live free from fear. The Son of God offers you himself. He gives you all for nothing. He pronounces you free and loose from sin. He calls you into a new kind of life—a life in which He has connected Himself to you for good.
Martin Luther’s legacy is that he pointed people to Jesus with great clarity. That can be our legacy too. It will happen if we get back to the source. That will happen if we meet Jesus face to face in Holy Scripture. That will happen as you build your life on the fact that the Son has set you free. Adapted from a sermon by Rev. Wilhelm Torgerson
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