Why we should celebrate Reformation Sunday
It's Reformation Sunday this week in Protestant circles, which for us
Lutherans means we're into the season of questioning the benefit of the
thing. One particularly well-stated article was posted by Clint Schnekloth at LivingLutheran.com:
As it stands, Reformation Sunday is the only Sunday of the entire church
year that commemorates a moment in the history of Christianity rather
than a moment in the narrative of Scripture itself. It is elevated and
idealized precisely because it is so unique. This needs to stop.
Clint is absolutely right. Reformation Sunday
shouldn't be a celebration of one moment in the history of
Christianity. But I would argue that we should change how we celebrate
Reformation Sunday rather than bury it, as Clint has recommended.
Why? Because it's not THE Reformation Sunday. True, we've set
our liturgical calendar to commemorate the date on which Brother Martin
posted his 95 theses for public consideration (a mythology I'll address
on Sunday in my sermon). However, one could (and I believe should)
point out that there have been moments like this throughout the church's
history, all of which are worthy of being called reformation moments,
moments where the church has been re-oriented toward the gospel, moved
away from the many, many roads down which our distracted, narcissistic
minds can take us.
It's been well documented that Luther was horrified when he heard people referring to themselves as "Lutherans." "I ask that my name be left silent and people not call themselves Lutheran, but rather
Christians. Who is Luther? The doctrine is not mine. I have been crucified for no one," said the good Doctor. Citation
You could take this argument and add it to the list of reasons to bury
Reformation Sunday. But to do so would also be to hide the reasons FOR
celebration: those times when the Spirit has led the church kicking and
screaming into a new reality. It's possible we are experiencing such a
time right now, and if so, we should give thanks and celebrate that the
Spirit continues to work in such fractured vessels as our beloved
church.
Originally posted at Nachfolge
Comments
Theophile replied on Permalink
Sunday/Sabbath reform?
If we stick to scripture we find unbelievers arriving with perfumes for a dead body on Sunday, the day after Christ was risen. Lets do the math: Jesus said He would be in the grave for 3 days and 3 nights, He "gave up the ghost at 3PM, three 24 hour periods later would be 3PM, in the afternoon, the day before the tomb was found empty at daybreak...on the SABBATH.
Even a half hearted "real" study on the Sabbath / Sunday question turns up the fact that all "Christians" kept the Sabbath for 300 years after Christ, until Sabbath keeping was outlawed out of hatred of Jews, and the new "Christian sabbath" at the opposite end of the week, on the day off the sun god Baal: at the "Council of Laodicea", according to the doctrines of men.
Read Foxes book of Martyrs for a testimony of how reading/believing the Bible can change and influence peoples lives.
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Fox's Book Of Martyrs, by Unknown.
Anonymous replied on Permalink
Sabbath Legalism
Theophile - It is ironic that you respond to a post on Reformation Day by promoting the very legalism the reformers fought and died to liberate us from. So, instead of worshipping on Sun-day, you prefer to worship on the day dedicated to Saturn? The only reason you call a given day Saturday and not Sunday is that a committee of men chose to put the international date-line at a certain place on the globe - IE: The designation of the day is humanly and not divinely determined. (Google the words Kiribati & Dateline). "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Gal.5:1)
Theophile replied on Permalink
Legalism really Sunday?
Have You read Foxes book of Martyrs? Do You consider God's commandments bondage? I thought it was the bondage of sin and death Christ has given us liberty from. Umm... To better understand the reformation please read Foxes Martyrs:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22400/22400-h/22400-h.htm
Philly Friend replied on Permalink
Reformation Sunday
I'm disappointed that there is fading interest in Reformation Day or Reformation Sunday - and I'm not even Lutheran. I am simply an evangelical Christian that lives in the benefit of that great event celebrated on Reformation Sunday. Sola Scriptura; Sola Fidae: I wish ALL Protestant churches were more cognisant of their heritage. Besides; what a marvelous opportunity to connect with our common evangelical heritage, rather than join in the celebration of pagan Halloween.
Philly friend