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CELEBRATING THE REFORMATION
Lenae Rasmussen

“We are at the dawn of a new era!” exclaimed Luther almost 500 years ago. His remark was more prophetic than he could possibly have imagined (Spitz, 301). While some people would like to forget about the Reformation and the confessions of the evangelical-Lutheran church, the Augsburg Lutheran Churches and LCMC celebrate Reformation Day and Martin Luther’s rediscovery of the gospel. Why? Because his discovery is the good news that Jesus came to justify the ungodly! Proclaiming this radical gospel set sixteenth century people free from the superstitious “religious Halloween” imposed upon them by the medieval papacy. Christ’s words ring true: “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

The Reformation began at a time “when things went bump in the night!” Everyday was like Halloween! In addition to being afraid of black cats and witches, people lived in fear of hell and damnation. Not wanting to go to hell isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the reason they were afraid of hell is—the gospel was lost! The gospel was obscured by a superstitious myth that hung over people like a shroud—the fear that they could and thus must contribute to their salvation. Martin Luther’s rediscovery of the gospel—that Jesus died for you and God forgives your sin for Christ’s sake—set people free from myths and self-righteous schemes. The Reformation movement truly was the dawning of a new era of Gospel-speaking marked by the breaking-in of the kingdom of God through Christ’s gift of faith in him crucified.

We, too, are at the dawn of a new era—a revival of the Reformation movement in our own churches marked by a return to God’s Word and Paul’s radical preaching that sinners are put right with God by grace alone, that is, by faith alone in Christ crucified. That is what we mean when we say, “we resist any corruption of this gospel.” People are always trying to add or take away from the gospel so as to make their own mark in history; it is human nature. Nevertheless, when that happens the gospel is obscured as in medieval times. While relics such as “Joseph’s pants” and chicken bones disguised as bones of the apostles don’t draw such big crowds nowadays, the sale of indulgences remains and superstitious ideas about episcopal succession persist in the minds of some people. The human urge to “do something” to contribute to one’s salvation is strong. It is the “upward fall” that tempts every generation anew.

Thus, we celebrate Luther’s rediscovery of the gospel every day, but especially on October 31, 2004, Reformation Sunday. It is the old, old story that we never tire of telling. It is our plan: looking to the cross of Christ, we proclaim God’s word as law and gospel for the redemption of his people today. We celebrate the Reformation by proclaiming the gospel and leaving the results up to God. And, that is all we can do. As Luther himself confessed, “God has led me as a horse having blinders so that I cannot see those who come up against me.”

So put away “Joseph’s pants” and superstitious myths about episcopacy. They have no power. Deliver God’s message loud and clear for all to hear. God himself will transform your hearers from a state of doubt and uncertainty to a state of trust and belief in his word and promise without any immediate verification because he can. He is God, and when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed (John 8:32).

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