Sunday, October 31, 1999
Sunday, October 31, 1999 |
I'm sorry. I can't help myself. Forgive me. OK? Consider the source. I just can't write an article on Oct. 31 without writing about this. (And it's NOT Halloween!) It's “The Reformation”. If you're a brave soul, please have a little fun with the following quiz. (Answers are at the end.) 1. About how many years ago did Martin Luther live? a. 500 b. 100 c. 30 2. In what country did Martin Luther live? a. England b. Germany c. U.S.A. 3. What church was Martin Luther originally in? a. Baptist b. Always had his own church c. Roman Catholic 4. What occupation was Martin Luther? a. Lawyer b. Pastor c. Professor 5. Martin Luther disagreed with authorities about what? a. Civil Rights b. Taxes c. Indulgences d. Marriage Restrictions 6. Martin Luther is associated with what emphases? a. Grace, Faith, Scripture Alone b. Justification by faith c. Priesthood of all believers 7. Martin Luther's most famous writing is what? a. Free-at-Last Speech b. 95 Theses c. Bible 8. One of Luther's greatest concerns was what? a. Being famous b. Getting married c. Using the “Language of the people” 9. The collection of writings representing the Lutheran Perspective of the Christian Faith is called what? a. Luther's Works b. The Lutheran Confessions c. The Lutheran Bible 10. Today the emphasis of “Reformation” is upon what? a. History b. Current Events c. The Future of the Church Answers: 1. a, Watch out, Martin Luther KING Jr. was named after this historical figure. 2. b 3. c 4. b & c, Luther began studying Law, but changed to the priesthood. He was actually both a Pastor and Professor of Theology at the University of Wittenberg. 5. c, “Indulgences” were a custom of the time to sell forgiveness of sins. That practice ceased not long after. 6. a, b, & c! a. In Latin: Sola Gratia! Sola Fide! Sola Scriptura! b. Justification by faith NOT “works.” c. “Priesthood of all believers” declares that any believer can pray and talk directly with God for forgiveness. 7. b, “Theses” were statements or questions for debate. It was “The 95 Theses” that Luther nailed on the church door at Wittenberg Oct. 31, 1517, which retrospectively “began” the Protestant Reformation. 8. c, Luther never wanted to be famous or “start a new church.” He married Katherine von Bora, a former nun, but this was not why he left the Roman Church. “The language of the people” was his thing. Don't you think he would start a “Christian alternative rock band” for young people of our day? 9. b, “Confessions” means “statements of faith”, not “I'm sorry for...” Many of Luther's writings are collected in Luther's Works. And there is no such thing as a Lutheran Bible. However, Luther was the first to translate the Bible into German for the people of his homeland! 10. a, b, & c The study of history never only looks back! In fact, studying and understanding Reformation history comes to a huge current event when today, Oct. 31, 1999, in Augsburg, Germany, both Roman Catholics and Lutherans sign “The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification,” which affirms agreement on the main theological difference which started “The Reformation”! And who knows what positive impact may yet come in the future! Finally, on a personal note: Never do I teach that “Luther was all right and the Catholics were all wrong.” Never! My emphasis is to recognize the positive influence Luther and his teachings had for the whole Church. Thanks for listening. Happy Reformation Day! Kollmeyer is Sr. Pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fayetteville. Ía
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