Pastor Craig - October 2016

 The fear of change and the illusion of keeping everything the same is something that has driven human beings for centuries. You can imagine the first caveman that tried his meat over a burning log and now we have "flame-broiled" whoppers. Who could have imagined the black "bubbling crude" coming out of the ground would create fuel? Look around where you are and see the benefits of those who had an idea for trying something new.

 With each new idea there seems to be a time of trial and error followed by unsettledness by people who try to keep things the same. Not because of the idea being bad, just in the fact that it has not been proven to be good. One of the early unsung helpers of the church was a Pharisee named Gamaliel. Peter and the apostles were arrested and put into prison. Were miraculously released and stood before the council. It was Gamaliel that said, if this plan or undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them, in that case you may even be found fighting against God. (Acts 5:33-42 for the whole story)

 This month begins the year-long celebration of the 500 year anniversary of Martin Luther's putting the 95 Thesis on the Wittenberg church door on October 31, 1517. Even though the "reforming" of the church was already underway, in our longing for dates as when things begin, this date and act was seen as the start of the Reformation of the church. It did not happen overnight. It wasn't like suddenly everyone was on board with all of these changes. Even Luther himself, wondered if he was on the right path or not. He was changing the value of centuries of Church Father's writings that had been seen as authoritative being equal in importance to scripture. Luther did want to start something new. He wanted to reform and change what the church, which he loved, had become.

Throughout the centuries, many of Luther's reforms have found their way into the Roman Catholic Church. The most notable is the Mass or service being celebrated in the language of the people, unheard of in Luther's day. However, since the 70's it has been a standard practice for the last 40 years. A number of years ago, there was an official document that basically stated that after lots of pages and lots and lots of work, that the Roman Catholic church acknowledged that some of what Luther said was right and the Lutheran church recognized that the pope was not the anti-Christ, which Luther wrote.

You have heard it say "Only time will tell!" But we want the answer now. We work through every scenario possible. We pray and ask God for guidance and patience, and always end up trusting in God. In the coming year, in confirmation, in Bible study and even a series of preaching, we will be looking at Martin Luther not as one who has all the answers, but one who trusted God and God's word to lead him in the right path.

 Happy Reformation Day this October 31st.

Pastor Craig