(PS: Wear RED)

I’m not sure how many denominations outside of Lutherans celebrate Reformation Sunday—but they should!  We are the original protesters, aptly named, Protestants, and after they kicked Martin Luther out of the Catholic Church in 1517 not only was the Lutheran Church formed, but most other Protestant denominations soon emerged. We are the Mother Church, we are the origin, we are the ones who birthed all the other expressions of Protestantism! I would think they would have cause to celebrate on October 26.

Sure, there are differences between the different Protestants, but those differences are really adiaphora (One of my favorite words. In Greek, it means things of little importance such as the style of worship or the vestments of the clergy or title of the clergy.) But once you get past those superficial differences that divide Protestants, my theory is that they are all Lutherans at their core—they just don’t know it!

The Lutherans were the first to stand firm on FAITH ALONE—that we are saved by our faith in Jesus Christ, and not by our works. You ask a Presbyterian that, and they would whole heartedly agree.

The Lutherans were unyielding on GRACE ALONE—that God’s grace comes to us freely and cannot be earned through our good works. You ask an Episcopalian that, and they would nod in agreement.

The Lutherans drew a line in the sand on the authority of Scripture by declaring the WORD ALONE. You ask a Baptist that, and they would shout, “Amen!”

The Lutherans leveled the playing field, declaring everyone, clergy and lay alike, have a calling from God through their Baptism, and we called it, “THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS,” and the Methodists would raise their hand in agreement.

You see, they are all really Lutherans, they just don’t know it!

But we do. We know the courage it took for Luther to stand against the Catholic Church, the most powerful organization in the world at the time. We know the solid rock of theology that serves as the foundation for all other Protestants. We know that we continue to be a beacon of light for the world.

Billy Graham once said that the Lutheran Church was the sleeping giant, that if it were ever to wake up, it would lead to revival across America.

                  It is time to wake up to who we are

                  It is time to wake up to whose we are

                  It is time to wake up to proclaim the purity of the Gospel

                  It is time to wake up with the joy of grace

On October 26, let’s wake up the sleeping giant, beginning at Christ Lutheran, and celebrate Reformation Day.

Wear RED!
Pastor Scott