September 2017

 The month of September is upon us and this means that summer is already fading into memory and our eyes begin to focus upon the fall. At Mount Zion, fall marks the unfolding of many events and a return of established ministries such as Bible Study, Confirmation, Choirs, weekly meals and Food Pantry activity. In the midst of returning to a more patterned day to day week, (as opposed to the less than patterned weeks of summer), I've come to realize that we are a month away of a major celebration in the Lutheran Churches. The celebration of 500 years since that day (October 31, 1517) accredited to the starting of Reformation history.

 This is quite a big deal for many Lutheran bodies throughout the world. There are many "extra-curricular" speakers, events and celebrations planned in Tucson. There will be major events throughout the world, some of which will be brought into the media on a global level. I have ordered a fog machine and lightening to re-enact the storm that brought Luther to his knees and commit his life to serving the Lord! (NOT). How will we celebrate this event at Mount Zion? I'm not really very sure.

 Mount Zion is not a congregation steeped in the Lutheran traditions. We are a Lutheran church, shaped by the traditions of the last 500 years of Lutheranism, but we are not a congregation which emphasizes a presence of reflecting Lutheran traditions. >We tend to be a congregation which lives out the theology of Martin Luther, which is solely focused on Christ as God incarnate: the fullness of God pleased to dwell in the flesh.

 I offer a few quotes from Martin Luther in regard to the doctrine of his theology:

 (From a sermon offered July 1, 1531 on John 7:16-18,) "I say: This is my doctrine, the doctrine of Luther; and yet I also say: It is not my doctrine; it is not in my hand, but it is the gift of God. For, dear Lord God, I have not invented it in my head; it did not grow in my garden nor gush from my spring, nor did I give it birth. It is God's gift and not a human invention. And so both statements are true: It is mine, and yet it is not mine at all" Here lies the paradox of Christian discipleship.

 Luther's doctrine is rooted and finds prominence in one article which is spoken of in the preface which Luther wrote in the commentary on Galatians in 1535, which follows: " In my heart reigns this one article: faith in Christ . [Emboldened is my emphasis] From Him, through Him, and to Him all my theological thinking is flowing and re-flowing by day and by night. And yet I find that I have grasped nothing beyond a few meager rudiments and fragments of a wisdom that is so high, so broad, and so profound."

 Martin Luther's writings flow from a relationship with the Lord Jesus. This is the God of whom Luther knew; God in the historical Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God Almighty. Perhaps the best way to celebrate Luther and the Reformation is to spend intentional time continuing to grow in our relationship with the Lord through our prayers, our readings, our worship and our serving.

In Christ's love and service, Pastor Dan