I had the opportunity to peach yesterday at a Reformation
service at Shepherd of the Sea Lutheran Church.
In preparing for that sermon, I identified three changes which came to
the church as a result of Luther’s reform.
For each, there seems to be a similar change in our culture. I thought I would share them with you, over
the next couple of days.
The first change has to do with language. Luther’s reform allowed Sunday worship to use
the language of the people, rather than the ancient Latin which was previously
used. Before this change, folks showed
up, but had limited ability to understand what the priest was talking
about.
It seems we have a similar situation in today’s church. For me to preach about Jesus as the shepherd
of the sheep, I have to help you understand something about sheep and
shepherds. And (except for the few of
you in Agriculture) nowhere else, in the course of your life, will you learn
about sheep and shepherds. If I am
speaking to you about those in need of care and the one who lovingly cares for
the vulnerable, new language may be needed.
Some panic when change faces us. Not so for those of us who remember (and even
celebrate) Luther’s embrace of change in the sixteenth century. We will look for ways to make this change, so
that the unchanging Word of God and the eternal Truths of scripture might be
better understood. We will learn to
speak the language of the twenty-first century.
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