October 26, 2018
“Re.Form.ation”
So, here is a question I often ask: If Martin Luther was alive today, what would he be railing against? Let’s be honest, Martin ‘railed’ against abuses in the medieval church. He severely criticized the church leaders in his day because of the way that they misused their power to hurt people, instead of helping them. He didn’t waste words or soften his tone. His voice was loud and powerful. So…what wrongs in our church and in our world would deserve the wrath of Martin?
“One result of the Reformation has been the political protection of individuals to believe or worship how they want,” said [author/educator, Brad S.] Gregory. “However, this freedom has also delivered — contrary to what Luther would have wanted — the right for people to practice no religion at all, and more, in recent decades, the seeming inability of citizens to agree on even the most basic norms important for shared political and social life.”
Religious leaders in Africa made a startling discovery a few years ago. When leaders of different religions met to discuss what had happened to their continent to make it so hate-filled and violent…they discovered that they (the religious leaders) were the problem. Religion was dividing people instead of bringing them together. And it is also, sadly, true in America.
I think it’s time for a new re.form.ation. This time not a battlefield where fights over dogma bloody and weaken participants. This time a peaceful, yet honest, gathering of sisters and brothers of faith who want to co-exist in harmony on this beautiful planet that God has given us. We have huge problems to solve: population growth, global warming, economic disparity, incurable diseases, addictive behaviors,...We won’t solve our problems if we are fighting each other.
Remember Jesus’ prayer in John 16? He prayed to God, for his disciples, “…that they may be one as we are one.” In Christ we will find unity of purpose. That is a new Re.form.ation.
Blessings,
Pastor Mike
“Re.Form.ation”
So, here is a question I often ask: If Martin Luther was alive today, what would he be railing against? Let’s be honest, Martin ‘railed’ against abuses in the medieval church. He severely criticized the church leaders in his day because of the way that they misused their power to hurt people, instead of helping them. He didn’t waste words or soften his tone. His voice was loud and powerful. So…what wrongs in our church and in our world would deserve the wrath of Martin?
“One result of the Reformation has been the political protection of individuals to believe or worship how they want,” said [author/educator, Brad S.] Gregory. “However, this freedom has also delivered — contrary to what Luther would have wanted — the right for people to practice no religion at all, and more, in recent decades, the seeming inability of citizens to agree on even the most basic norms important for shared political and social life.”
Religious leaders in Africa made a startling discovery a few years ago. When leaders of different religions met to discuss what had happened to their continent to make it so hate-filled and violent…they discovered that they (the religious leaders) were the problem. Religion was dividing people instead of bringing them together. And it is also, sadly, true in America.
I think it’s time for a new re.form.ation. This time not a battlefield where fights over dogma bloody and weaken participants. This time a peaceful, yet honest, gathering of sisters and brothers of faith who want to co-exist in harmony on this beautiful planet that God has given us. We have huge problems to solve: population growth, global warming, economic disparity, incurable diseases, addictive behaviors,...We won’t solve our problems if we are fighting each other.
Remember Jesus’ prayer in John 16? He prayed to God, for his disciples, “…that they may be one as we are one.” In Christ we will find unity of purpose. That is a new Re.form.ation.
Blessings,
Pastor Mike