Joel 2:27-29; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14
(look these up at bible.oremus.org or biblegateway.com) |
| A Lego depiction of Martin Luther nailing the 95 Theses that started the original Reformation |
Today friends, it’s Reformation Sunday! Yippie! Yay! And can I get an Amen?
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| Or, maybe you feel more like this about the topic of Reformation. |
I know, I know, it’s hard to hold in our enthusiasm on a day where we discuss the finer points of Reformed theology! But let’s try to contain ourselves, to curb our enthusiasm, lest we get too carried away in all the excitement!
So, what is it that makes us who we are? Why are we Reformed? What are we even talking about?
As Presbyterians, we talk about our confessional heritage, which means that we take guidance from this lovely volume called the Book of Confessions. This, combined with the Book of Order, form the Constitution of the PCUSA. Now, let’s take a survey: how many of you have this on your bedstands for gripping reading? How many of you quote passages of the Second Helvetic with your loved one over the breakfast table?
Or, more realistically, How many of you have never seen this book in your life?
Really, that’s alright. I didn’t teach any of your confirmation classes so you’re not in trouble with me, I still love you. In fact, I’m going to sum this book up for you in one handy phrase:
We are a church reformed, and always in need of reform.
Now, that does not mean changing just for change’s sake, but that we understand the need to adapt ourselves when the circumstances, well, demand reformation.
For example, we include the Barmen Declaration, written in response to Nazi-era Europe, which says that we shouldn’t let the Nazis dictate how we run our churches, however convenient it might be not to be executed.
The Confession of 1967 deals with, well, the 60’s, and says that maybe the 60’s are a different life reality than the 1600’s.
And the Balfour Declaration (which is not yet in the Book of Confessions but has been under debate for inclusion) arises from the Apartheid regime in South Africa, and states that Apartheid is wrong and the church has something important to say about that.
Then there’s the (sort-of) Brief Statement of Faith, which was created when the different Presbyterian groups reunited into the PCUSA we know today.
As members in the Reformed tradition, we realize that there are times when we must adapt to the present circumstances in order to thrive. And this is good to remember, even when we don’t sit down and write a confessional statement about it.
One example I find really interesting is how we’ve adapted our practices of Holy Communion to the needs of the frontier in early American church history. The norm was to practice Communion each Sunday in established communities and churches back East, but on the frontier, it could be difficult even to get a preacher, maybe a circuit rider. Also, while bread was easy enough to make, it was harder to get wine or grape juice, since there was no refrigeration and travel might be by horse, stagecoach, or train--making glass bottles tough to transport. Instead of just skipping worship, we adapted to having Communion on a quarterly minimum basis, when we could get a pastor and a grape beverage together at the same time for the sacrament. In fact, this church only ten years ago finally voted to increase the frequency to monthly communion, and the ‘old blue’ and the new purple hymnals both remind us that it is actually okay to celebrate Communion weekly!
Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians---we all have had at least one Reformation in our past. I want to lift this up today because I know that many folks in this congregation were raised in church traditions other than the PCUSA, and also this can be a touchy subject in ecumenical dialogue. Suffice it to say, we wouldn’t want to go around saying, “I’m more reformed than you.” Like I mentioned in the Youth Moment today, it’s hard when someone else tells us that our room is messy. We might get a little defensive.
Really, though, it’s better when we can all admit that we all fall short sometimes. For example, many churches divided up over slavery; and mostly, even if it took 100 years, got back together again. For us, we say that Christ alone is Lord of our consciences, and we also believe that good people can still disagree yet worship together and be in fellowship with one another.
So what does all of this have to do with Scriptures for today? Like the men praying in the temple in Jesus’ parable, we can’t brag that we’re better than anyone else. We should be humble servants of God, not ashamed of who we are, but humble. And by being humble, we can be joyful and loving, knowing that even when we make a mess of things, in our lives or in our churches, we are redeemed people, forgiven, and able to begin anew. And the beginning of beginning anew is in those moments when our young people will see visions and our old people will dream dreams, and we can begin to work together, led by the Holy Spirit, into something better than we’ve ever imagined. Thanks be to God!
So let’s look together at the litany in our bulletin, and let’s read through it together, and if you like, take it home afterwards and pray your way through it, think about what it means, even look up something you don’t understand or wonder how we got there. Let us affirm our faith together:
Link to Reformation Litany using each of our Confessions can be found here:
Prayer Requests:
For those wrestling with the pain of divorce
For safety for everyone this Halloween
All who struggle with winter weather
All who work for change and growth
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