Reformation as an Ongoing Process

The last Sunday in October is Reformation Sunday, remembering October 31, 1517, when a young monk, Martin Luther, posted his 95 Theses, calling the church to trust God’s grace, rather than earthly institutions.

Luther’s time was frightening. The political, economic, and religious landscape was changing, like tectonic plates shifting. Principalities gave way as nations formed and wrestled for power and wealth. The printing press made mass communication lightning fast. Advances in navigation exploded shipping and global trade. Sugar, alcohol, and spices — things we don’t need but that give a rush to the senses and store well in the hold of a ship — circulated rapidly.

Christendom felt assailed by other religions and factions within. Popes and emperors issued edicts and sent forth troops. Guns, cannons, and engineers brought warfare to new depths of devastation. Exploration gave way to conquest, colonization, and enslavement — all to finance this struggle for wealth and power, which at core was a striving for self-justification and a sense of safety.

Luther turned to Psalm 46, which says our refuge and strength is not in gunpowder or gold but in God. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” He picked a sturdy melody of the time — some say a popular beer-drinking tune — and wrote, “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” — “A mighty fortress is our God.”

This is not to say God is warlike or weaponizing, but rather that the peace and safety of our souls is secure in Christ. As we come to understand this, we begin to heal and help and share resources, rather than hurt and harm and hoard.

In this spirit, St. John’s has started new teams for Diversity & Inclusion and for Communication, and this post reflects the work of both teams. The text font is Trebuchet, in 14 point, a little larger than usual, with more space between lines and shorter paragraphs — all to make it easier for people with dyslexia to read.

On the cross, God removed the barrier of hostility between us and God. Now we’re doing what we can — one step at a time — to remove barriers between people and the good news that God loves each of us, exactly as we are.

Happy Reformation!
Pastor John