Suzy
was very excited to learn that there are hedgehogs in Germany. They are wild
and yes, you might be able to see a few in the streets, although they are soon
to hibernate. She wants to go exploring tomorrow …. And everyday … until she
sees one.
Our
study today was a history lesson. The Renaissance, the rise of cities,
universities, illiteracy, technological change, health, the Empire (Holy
Roman), Islam, European ‘age of discovery,’ were all significantly operable in
Luther’s context. Reading the list – does it sound familiar to the time in
which we live?
The
church is very much connected to a specific context, in a specific time. Following
the writings of Luther in the order they were written, one discovers they were written
to address specific matters in his context. He had two worlds – one that was
academic and one that was pastoral. His pastoral writings might surprise you.
He wrote a little pamphlet to his barber on how to pray. He wrote a
revolutionary piece “Consolation for Women Whose Pregnancies Have Not Gone
Well,” meaning miscarriage or still-births. At the time it was believed
that God was punishing women for sin and that is why their babies died. Luther did
not believe this at all.
When
walking through this door, into the courtyard of Luther’s house, if you look up
the entry ceiling is painted. In the middle there is a Luther Rose. If I did
not tell you, it was a picture of a ceiling, would you have guessed? Context
matters.
In
our time – our context – how do we respond to the significantly operable things
in the world? Illiteracy (academic and spiritual), technological change (AI),
health (pandemics, cancer, mental health), Empire (nationalism, falling
democracy), Islam, ‘age of discovery” (space, oceans…)?
How
do we teach, preach, and live the Gospel? How do we live out God’s unconditional
love and grace?
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