By James Dolph
Let’s travel back in time for a moment to the early years of the 16th century. Something happened that changed the course of Christian history. At this time, many took issue with the way the Church was running things. Many felt it was prioritizing power and money over pastoral care. A German monk and theologian named Martin Luther had a few things to say publicly against the Church — 95, to be exact. As a result, Luther was kicked out of the Church, jump-starting what we now call the Protestant Reformation.
Anyone who knows anything about the origins of Protestant Christianity knows a thing or two about this story. But the Reformation happened so long ago. Why does it still matter to us today?
I can think of a few reasons.
We all have a story. We all have a history. The story of the Reformation gives us the chance to tell the family history of our faith. We get to tell and hear stories about all those who came before us and taught us about our tradition, both Baptist and the broader Christian tradition. We get to tell and hear stories about people who risked everything so we can gather where we do in the way we do.
We are given a reminder. A reminder of why we gather. Not just because we get to hear some words preached from the pulpit or because we get to sit next to familiar faces each week. Today, we are reminded why those who took the first steps toward reformation did: God’s love is free and for everyone.
We are challenged. Through retelling our story, Reformation Sunday also challenges us to do better each day. We are called to be more loving, more grace-filled people. We are called to remember that each piece of who we are was knitted together by God. And we are called to treat each other as such.
So, as you go through worship this morning, I hope you take a moment to consider what it means to be in a space that would not have been dreamed of six centuries ago yet exists because someone dared to speak up and do something different.