Sola Scriptura, Scripture Alone, one of the foundations of the Protestant Reformation speaks to our tension when we feel lost and are looking for direction. Luther maintained that truth comes from Scripture and not from a human representative. I often think of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness and how he always responded to the Evil One by quoting scripture. Are there other examples? I was surprised when I typed “what must I do….” Into a concordance to find the first reference in the Bible was a favorite verse I had to memorize. God said to Cain after Cain killed Abel,
“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7)
In the New Testament, an expert in the law came to Jesus and tested him by asking
“Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
We call this “the Golden Rule” and many use it as a stereotypical answer for what Scripture advises. The point Luther was making was that wisdom comes from Scripture, not the TV, a podcast, a friend, or a stirring sermon. There is no substitute for reading the Word in any translation. Reformation is a time when we can reflect on our habits for internalizing Scripture. Maybe we are a family-Bible-on-a-shelf person. Maybe we convince ourselves that we are so busy that Sunday sermons can strengthen us for a week of life. Coffee and chat with a friend can be comforting, right. Reformation is a time when we can ask ourselves if our soul is hungry.
On the Way to Wonder 