What Does This Mean?
The new PBS account of the life and times of Martin Luther aired earlier this week and was a fascinating look at this man, who was a monk, a scholar, a teacher, and a reformer. Although he was well educated and had opportunities above that of the average man, he found himself on the difficult and dangerous path of challenging the practices of the Church of Rome.
When we think of Martin Luther, most of us visualize a strong, determined man, a serious, deep-thinking individual who stood before the authorities of both church and state and declared that he could not deny what he had been preaching and writing. He believed with all his being that God was guiding his thoughts and actions as he came to the understanding that we cannot save ourselves by our works; rather, we have already been saved by Christ’s death and resurrection. While immersed in the study of Paul’s letter to the Romans, Luther had the “aha!” moment that was to become the central theme of his life’s work. “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)
As he read and studied the New Testament from the viewpoint of being saved by God’s grace through the gift of his son, Jesus, Luther developed a new outlook on the relationship between people and their heavenly father, as well as with one another. Acts of kindness, giving help to those in need, being a good citizen, were not to be done in hopes of getting something back – they were to be done out of love and concern for one another. The Reformation was more than a religious event, it was, in many ways, a social reformation as well.
Marriage and family life had a profound impact on Luther’s perspective on teaching and learning. He delighted in the curiosity of his first child, Hans, who was full of questions, and as he taught his children, he came to realize how poorly instructed the wider population was. To provide a means of education, Luther developed short, simple explanations of the fundamentals of Christian belief, which were eventually published together as the Small Catechism. The order in which the catechism is organized is intentional, as Luther believed that Christians needed to first learn and understand the Ten Commandments, which show us God’s demands and our inability to fulfill them, then move to the Apostles’ Creed, which declares what God does for us, and then to the Lord’s Prayer, which teaches us where we may go for help.
Whether we are sharing the faith with the children within our family circle or the children of our church family, we are well equipped to do so. Extensive religious studies, training and experience in teaching, or other specialized skills are not required. All we need is to trust that God’s love for us, his children of all ages, will shine through whatever we do, and there is the firm foundation of our faith!
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers