Our culture is focusing on next Thursday, October 31. For many it is important because it will be the sugar high for the month as they go trick-n-treating. When in Minneapolis, everyone remembered Halloween 1981 when three feet of snow fell. We are beginning to wear sweaters and enjoy the changing of leaves. Historically Halloween was the hallowed or holy evening before All Saints Day on November 1. It was a “thin place” in time when spirits could cross over from eternity to present day. So costumes were worn to trick the spirits that might come to harass us for bad relationships. Food was given to appease the dead. But also on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. It was the way to call a meeting to debate issues he had with the dominant Roman Catholic Church of his day. The printing press had just been invented and his 95 theses were put in print and distributed to the common person. It is not unsimilar to our modern day Presidential Debates that are designed as a forum for people of differing ideas to discuss issues facing everyone. For Luther, it was not the economy but how the practices of the church based on spiritual beliefs were impacting the social and economic world of his day. Luther disagreed with Rome in five major areas that have come to be known as the Five Sola-s.
- Sola Scriptura—Scripture alone
- Sola Cristus—Christ alone
- Sola fideles—Faith alone
- Sola Gracia—Grace alone
- Sola Gloria Deo—Glory to God alone
Before we delve into these five cornerstones of Christianity as presented by Luther, let’s take a moment and ponder how we handle disagreement. How do we speak truth to power? People use public debate as in our political elections right now. We have TV need anchors interviewing candidates or experts giving their “take” of a situation or person. We have seen public demonstrations with disastrous results. We have seen “marches” and “sit ins” that are peaceful and call for reform. We can write letters and emails. We can “defriend” someone because we disagree with them. We give the “cold shoulder” and “avoid“ those we have a grievance with.
The Bible speaks to the delemma of conflict in the church between two people.
“15-17 “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love. (Matthew 18:15-17, The Message)”
I love the way The MEssage translates these verses, ending with “offer again God’s forgiving love.” Let us pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the conflicts we see in our world today. Lord have mercy.Conflict
Our culture is focusing on next Thursday, October 31. For many it is important because it will be the sugar high for the month as they go trick-n-treating. When in Minneapolis, everyone remembered Halloween 1981 when three feet of snow fell. We are beginning to wear sweaters and enjoy the changing of leaves. Historically Halloween was the hallowed or holy evening before All Saints Day on November 1. It was a “thin place” in time when spirits could cross over from eternity to present day. So costumes were worn to trick the spirits that might come to harass us for bad relationships. Food was given to appease the dead. But also on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. It was the way to call a meeting to debate issues he had with the dominant Roman Catholic Church of his day. The printing press had just been invented and his 95 theses were put in print and distributed to the common person. It is not unsimilar to our modern day Presidential Debates that are designed as a forum for people of differing ideas to discuss issues facing everyone. For Luther, it was not the economy but how the practices of the church based on spiritual beliefs were impacting the social and economic world of his day. Luther disagreed with Rome in five major areas that have come to be known as the Five Sola-s.
- Sola Scriptura—Scripture alone
- Sola Cristus—Christ alone
- Sola fideles—Faith alone
- Sola Gracia—Grace alone
- Sola Gloria Deo—Glory to God alone
Before we delve into these five cornerstones of Christianity as presented by Luther, let’s take a moment and ponder how we handle disagreement. How do we speak truth to power? People use public debate as in our political elections right now. We have TV need anchors interviewing candidates or experts giving their “take” of a situation or person. We have seen public demonstrations with disastrous results. We have seen “marches” and “sit ins” that are peaceful and call for reform. We can write letters and emails. We can “defriend” someone because we disagree with them. We give the “cold shoulder” and “avoid“ those we have a grievance with.
The Bible speaks to the delemma of conflict in the church between two people.
“15-17 “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love. (Matthew 18:15-17, The Message)”
I love the way The MEssage translates these verses, ending with “offer again God’s forgiving love.” Let us pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the conflicts we see in our world today. Lord have mercy.
On the Way to Wonder 