North Star News 10-30-2014

October 31 is Reformation Day because on the eve of All Saints Day (that is, on October 31) 1517 Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany.  This event is the symbolic beginning of the great 16^th century upheaval called the Reformation.  Reformation Day is observed by Lutheran churches throughout the world but the idea that the Christian community is always to be reforming and occasionally needs a major overhaul is one that Christians of every denomination recognize.  There is an old Latin slogan “ecclesia semper reformanda est secundum verbum Dei” which means “the church is always reforming according to the word of God.”  So it was in 1517, and so it is in 2014.

            Luther’s 95 Theses were presented as propositions for debate concerning how the church could be more faithful to the witness of the Bible and the teachings of the early church.  Luther felt the practices of Christians had veered off course in his day, so he said “let’s talk about it.”  He truly wanted to reform the church through debate and persuasion, not divide it into hostile camps.  His sole purpose was to be faithful to the Bible and the early fathers, and his 95 Theses were meant to begin the process of returning to the ways of old, not to start something new.

            The first of the 95 Theses is this:  “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said ‘Repent’ (Matt. 4:17) he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”  This thesis is saying that individual believers are also to be reforming themselves constantly in light of the teachings of the Bible and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  If life is a journey from birth to death, and then on into eternal life, there are many times when a course correction is needed.  The only way to know if a person is on the right road is to consult the road map that God has given us in his Word.  Each day believers should be asking themselves, “is this the right thing to do?” or “is this the direction God wants me to go?” or “does this square with the teachings of Christ?”  Repentance is examining life, sometimes making a small change in direction, and sometimes starting on a whole new road..  As Psalm 119:105 says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

            John the Baptist also preached repentance, just as Jesus did.  According to Luke 3, after one of his fiery sermons there were many who could see they needed a course correction, so they asked John, “what should we do?”  To the multitude he said, “share what you have with those in need.”  To the tax collectors he said, “be honest in all your dealings.”  To the soldiers he said, “don’t exploit your power and plunder the people.”  (I am paraphrasing here.)  John was a man of keen insight, so when each group of people came to him he knew just what course correction they needed.  He spoke to each one about the place where they were about to veer off into selfishness, dishonesty, intimidation, or whatever it might be, and he pointed them to a better path.

            One prayer that would be good to use at the beginning of each day is found in Psalm 25:4 “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.”  The roadmap for life is found in the Bible which is readily available everywhere.  The guide for life is the Holy Spirit whom God has poured out upon “all flesh” – young and old, women and men, high and lowly. (Acts 2:17-18)  As surely as the church needed reform in the 16^th century, we need repentance and reform in the 21^st century.  What is one “course correction” (or reform, if you will) you could make today so that you are on the path the Lord wants you to travel?  Think about it this Halloween.