Word of the Week: Wittenberg

While we’re a Reformed church, we don’t tend to billboard that heritage. For example, the pastors don’t usually quote the Reformers at length in sermons. We don’t hold special services to celebrate the anniversary of the Reformation. However, one thing we cherish from the Reformation is an emphasis on the Bible. And, as providence would have it, our Scripture passage on Sunday and our Reformed history overlapped a bit (even if I didn’t mention it in the sermon).

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther hammered the nail that would kick off the Protestant Reformation in Europe. He pinned his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg. Sometimes this gets framed as a rebellious act (because Americans love rebels). In reality, this was just how someone issued a challenge to debate in those days. Even still, Luther started a conversation that would spread all through Europe. His first thesis read: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”

Martin Luther wasn’t stating something novel here. His opening statement only proved that Luther had read his Bible. As we saw on Sunday, 1 Peter 4:1-11 teaches us the same thing. Much has changed since 1517, but some things remain the same and one of those is this: The Christian life is a life of repentance. You can’t become a Christian without that first act of repentance, and you can’t remain one without a life of continued repentance. Christian faithfulness is repeatedly turning away from our sin and turning towards the righteousness of Christ.

Sometimes it’s good for us to pause and remember that Christianity wasn’t invented yesterday. There’s a long line of brothers and sisters who have gone before us, walking the same road we walk. Jesus was enough for them and he remains enough for us today. He was their righteousness and is our righteousness. They lived for Jesus. Will we?