Renewing the spirit

Lutherans begin a year of events commemorating Reformation’s 500th anniversary

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Renewing the spirit Illustration
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Renewing the spirit Illustration

On Monday, half a world away, Lutherans and Catholics will join together to commemorate the Reformation.

Pope Francis and Bishop Munib A. Younan, president of the Lutheran World Federation, will participate in a prayer service in Lund, Sweden, in an event kicking off a year's worth of events leading up to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation on Oct. 31, 2017.

The event is one long in the making, given the history between the denominations. Martin Luther, whose teachings inspired the founding of the Lutheran Church, is credited with sparking the Protestant Reformation in 1517, when he posted his "95 Theses" on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

Luther, a Roman Catholic, wasn't looking to start a new church. He was hoping to reform his own. He was unhappy, for one, with the church's practice of granting indulgences -- absolving people of sin for a price. But his battle for reforms led to his excommunication from the church. Other reformers, including Huldrych Zwingli and John Calvin, followed and the resulting movement led to deep divisions in Western Christianity.

The Rev. James Walter, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) in Little Rock, said Luther was born to parents who were well enough off to ensure he received a university education. His father wanted him to be a lawyer, but Luther instead became a monk.

"Through his struggles in the monastery and as a university professor teaching the Scriptures at Wittenberg, that in combination with the selling of indulgences had Luther step back," Walter said. "His call was not for another church but that, hey, we need to discuss these things."

Walter said Luther's posting of the "95 Theses," a list of questions and suggestions for debate, on All Hallow's Eve (Oct. 31) in 1517 was a call for a theological discussion of indulgences and reform.

"Ultimately for Luther it became all about the Gospel and the proclamation of the Gospel and what do we need to do that Christ already hasn't done for us," Walter said. "It became about God's word."

Luther also wanted to make sure that lay people had access to the Scriptures in their own language, Walter said, so that they could study the Scriptures themselves and not rely on what church councils had to say.

"That started to really snowball and Luther translated the Scriptures in German and he wrote a small catechism to teach his family some basic scriptural truths."

Luther's Small Catechism is still used today.

For Walter, the celebration of the Reformation is all about Christ.

"We celebrate the truth about Christ that has set us free," he said.

Luther may have been the man who lit the spark that started movement but, Walter said, "he just happened to be God's instrument, a mere mortal who proclaimed the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ."

While the pope and Lutheran leaders commemorate the Reformation on Monday, Lutherans -- and other Protestants -- in Arkansas will observe the occasion Sunday, as they, too, prepare for next year's 500th anniversary.

In Little Rock, First Lutheran Church will host the Central Arkansas Reformation Service at 3 p.m. The gathering of Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations is an annual event, which this year will feature the Rev. John Nordling, professor of theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., as the guest speaker. Ministers from several churches will participate in the service.

The Rev. Ron Bacic, pastor of First Lutheran, said all are welcome to attend. A German meal will be served after the service. The church is at 314 E. Eighth St.

"Through the use of hymns and readings of Scripture and prayer, we'll recall the wondrous things God has done in our lives and continues to do through his son, Jesus Christ," Bacic said.

The service will include the singing of several hymns, including "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," a Reformation standard written by Luther. The lyrics include:

A mighty fortress is our God,

A bulwark never failing;

Our helper he amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great,

And armed with cruel hate,

On Earth is not his equal.

Other Luther hymns will include "Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word" and "All Glory Be to God Alone." Other hymns will also be sung.

"Bring a joyful voice to sing and a hearty appetite for some good German food," Bacic said.

The meal after the service will feature German favorites including sauerbraten, bratwurst, sauerkraut and beer.

"It will be like a German food festival, miniature style," Bacic said.

It's also a preview of a food festival the church will host in January.

The congregation of Faith Lutheran Church in Little Rock is one of many others also commemorating the Reformation on Sunday, with a Sunday School class focused on the "95 Theses" at 9 a.m. and worship services at 10. The church, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is at 7525 W. Markham St.

The Rev. Josh Johnson said the congregation also will sing Reformation hymns, many credited to Luther. Bishop Mike Girlinghouse of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod will be the guest preacher.

Johnson said the annual celebration is a time to renew the Reformation spirit.

"At Faith Lutheran, one thing we say a lot is we are always being made new," he said. "The word of God, the church itself, is always growing. The Reformation almost 500 years ago was a really significant thing in history, but it's something we do continually in the here and now."

As the congregation prepares for next year's big anniversary, Johnson said they'll focus on their Lutheran roots.

"We'll be doing it in a way to better understand who we are so that we can be better neighbors, better servants in Christ's church in the world, because when you are aware of your identity and standing you can better communicate and enter into dialogue with others who might have a different slant on the Christian faith," he said.

One way they'll do that is by delving into Luther's Small Catechism and through a book study on what it means to be Lutheran, especially in the South.

"We are few and far between compared to where I come from up in Iowa," Johnson said.

Johnson said Monday's commemoration in Sweden is a big deal for Lutherans and Catholics.

"For me, what's really neat about it is we [Lutherans and Catholics] are closer than we've ever been in history to reconciling our relationship since that huge divide 499 years ago," he said.

The two church bodies have been in dialogue for almost 50 years working toward greater unity.

"There's been a key emphasis in recent years on how are we alike," Johnson said. "One, we are Christian -- Jesus is our lord and savior -- and that's what's most important."

Religion on 10/29/2016

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