Four
Hundred Years, has
been on my bookshelf since seminary. Someone was cleaning out their library. I
have never read it. The book contains a group of essays reflecting on 400 years
of Reformation. Why not include reflection on 1917 thoughts of Luther?
In
2017, the 500th Commemoration of the Reformation, was marked by the
Lutheran World Federation with a threefold theme: Salvation, Creation, and Human
beings NOT FOR SALE. The church reflected on God’s grace in a hurting world and
our response to the grace we have received. This changes how we approach and
actively work for mercy and justice.
In
1917, the 400th Anniversary, as presented in the essays, was rah-rah
Luther. Speaking of men and God as ‘He,’ the essays leaned into a Reformation
that happened in 1517 and remained in a time capsule. The essays do remind
readers of important Lutheran tenants: education of all, scripture in the hands
of all, and grace for all. The essays introduce Luther as a person who loved
children, music, the Bible. There was little reflection on the muddier parts of
Luther’s writings. It comes across as ‘nice.’ It comes across as hero-worship.
The
book is pre-WWII. While having read Luther in seminary, my Lutheran theology and
ethic was formed with conversation partners who were influenced by WWII
(Bonhoeffer, Tillich). I grew up in a church that articulated reformation as
ongoing. Word is living Word and grace is present and active. My experience of
Lutheran is not one with a time capsule or hero-worship; it is rather alive, as
the ELCIC (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) tagline states: “living out
God’s grace and unconditional love.”
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