REFORMATION SUNDAY.
All: We pray for the church, the world & the whole creation.
Pastor: Almighty God, gracious Lord, and Holy Spirit, ever present God, who renews & reforms the church in every age. Pour out your Holy Spirit & keep us steadfast in Your world.
All: Fill this church & community with compassion & truth.
Pastor: Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed to live out the love of Christ in any time and age. Reform us, reunite us, strengthen us, redirect us and restore our faith in Your abundant grace.
All: We trust in the freedom and call given to us in baptism to be faithful servants and committed stewards. In church, in the world and in all creation. Amen.
Gospel John 8.31-36
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ 33 They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’
34 Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.
36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Sermon: “Always Reforming.”
Rooted in the past and going into the future, the church must always be reformed to live out the call and the love of Christ.
Semper reformanda.
It is the last Sunday of October, and it is Reformation Sunday in our church. A day colored in red with passion and fire – just like the spirit of reformation colored the mind of the German Monk Martin Luther.
So much passion and fire settled on him, that he started one of the biggest transformations in our times and in our history.
Moved by the Spirit Martin Luther wanted to reform the Catholic church from within. Martin Luther wanted the church to be free from all the pomp and circumstances of the Catholic Church, he wanted it to be closer to God’s Word and Gospel, to our hearts and mother language: as Christ went into the temple and turned the tables up side down, Martin Luthher turned the tables of Indulgences Sales of the Catholic Church side down with his 91 thesis on the church door in 1517.
And then with passion like a fire, The Reformation shouted out the call for change. Igniting the power of transformation, the need for reformation, restoration, renewal, rebirth, recall, reboot, reimagination and changed the the religious landscape in the world and the course of history.
Denmark, the small kingdom North of Germany, that has often been portrayed as a kind little country that did cancel any revolutions and uproars because it rained, was one of the first country to follow the call to reform. In 1536 the Catholic Church was reformed into a Lutheran Church.
But it was not only a birth of the Lutheran Church but the beginning of so many protestant denominations growing and being formed: The Presbyterian, the Reformed, The Anglican, and from there the Baptist, The Adventist, The Mennonites, The Amish, The Seventh Day Adventist, The Episcopalian, the Methodist and Salvation Army.
All these denominations collectively known as Protestantism, reshaped Europe’s religious, cultural, and political landscape, breaking the Catholic Church monopoly. The impact of the reformation extended far beyond religious realms. Moreover, it influences the formation of nation states and the pursuit of religious tolerance. The diversity was rich. And if we understand the historical roots we might be able to cultivate greater understanding, respect and unity among believers. It is always good to know history , - you might learn something. Recently we have a Movie Rental Crew in church, and I was talking to the sweet young producer. She marveled about out beautiful church, - and then she said: I was baptized in Christian Church, what kind of Church are you – what religion do you belong to. I almost went quiet but then said…. Well, let me remind you of history…… Or like the visitor who looked at me in bewilderment when I said we were a Lutheran Church, built on the teachings and confessions of Martin Luther… and he said: But you are white!... And I had to say Wrong Martin Luther! And it really doesn’t matter if we are white or black!
As Lutheran was born of changed, we are called to engage in meaningful conversations, bridging divides not building walls, and appreciating the richness of our diverse heritage.
History may teach us lessons.
But history should not keep us in the past.
The church is like a ship. A Vessel heading out on the stormy waters, heading for tomorrow, for hope and for healing. The church is a moving sailing ship… not a ship anchored in a safe museum.
The Reformation transforming the church under Martin Luther’s vision and call, is the church that we are a proud part of. And the only way to honor the reformation is to keep reforming, keep getting our feet dirty, being involved in this time and age and continue to be a hospital and a home for those in need, those longing, those asking, those grieving, those struggling and those confused.
I just attended a wonderful thought-provoking and conversational Synod Retreat Theoasis where we were constantly asked to think about how we are church today and how we could be church tomorrow in a religious, cultural and social landscape under constant change. Thinking outside the box – yes outside the church walls which often boxes us in in how it used to be. And guess what: we are not walking backwards; we are not turning the clocks back to going back to a time 25 or 50 years ago. That ship has sailed… and hopefully not the church with it!
Like Jesus was reforming the Jewish Religion and Tradition of rules and laws into a Gospel of good news and change… as Martin Luther broke down the walls of the Catholic church and opened up to the growth of so many new denominations, as the Enlightenment and the Modern times have broken social, technological, medical barriers down and change the history – so we are in a time of constant change. The church outreach needs to change while the Gospel, God’s Grace and the teachings of Christ stay universally the same to set us free.
The church is not a noun – it is a verb. Church is something we do together and are together.
The church might be a specific place, like this beautiful beloved Danish Church – but this building however beautiful and meaningful it is to us--- would be nothing other than any building if it were not for God’s Words spoken among us. Words that move us. Words that transform us. Words that strengthen us. Words that let us know that we are loved, blessed and worthy. Words that make a difference and give us hope in a hopeless world.
Words that stay with us, builds us and calls us to go out and do likewise, to walk humbly with God, be kind and work for justice and peace.
Words that color our worldview red and passioned, warm and fueled by faith and hope to dismiss the fear that threatens to get hold of us. Do not lose heart. Don is not afraid; faith keeps whispering to us. Look up, look at your neighbor, look over your own tip of your nose.
That is what Jesus tried to instill in those he had a conversation within the Gospel – the Jews who had come to believe in him…. but still did not really understand the freedom of faith about which he was talking. They were still so bound in their proud history and glory days of Abraham.
“We are the descendants of Abrham, and have neve been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying… You will be made free?”
What do you mean, Jesus, why do you say that I am not free? Just think about what keeps us locked in or as slaves?
An addiction – to drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex or money?
A prejudice and misconception?
An imprisonment in an unhealthy relationship, a violent friendship, unhealthy habits or unrealistic expectations?
Bad financial status, unemployment, homelessness, hunger or illness.
Slaves of long working hours and days, craving increasingly, losing sight of real values and real people?
On this reformation, with the words of Christ – The Truth will make you free – think about what you really long to be free from: a heavy guilt or shame, a misunderstanding that ruined a relationship, an anger, a secret that tears you up, a grief, a heartache, a financial burden…. Maybe accepting the truth about is or giving up some vengeance, anger or old habits might set you free?
“The truth will make you free, Jesus said. But quite often we cannot handle the truth, to quote a famous movie.
The Truth is that we need grace. We need to be loved first. WE need to be forgiven, blessed and seen.
And this we are told again her in church – you are loved, you are blessed, you are seen, you are worthy – you are mine, God says.
Let that truth dwell in you, be written in your heart to give you strength and faith to go out a be a blessing.