Reformation—conclusion
I suppose I should have said something about being Lutheran this week, after all Reformation is the Lutheran 4th
of July and you wouldn't celebrate independence without some flag
waving and fireworks. So here is a Luther quote that might make a bang,
"If I am not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there."
Which I think he was only able to say because of this flag waving
quote, "Faith is a living, bold trust in God's
grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand
times trusting in it."
Radical trust is what it means to be a Christian
of the Lutheran flavor even though Lutherans, like everyone else would
prefer a cross the t and dot the i system where God had to play by
rules we understand and ultimately control. But to trust that God loves
with no strings attached, no down payment required, because God's very
nature is love means God's love is truly free.
I don't mean all paths
lead to the same truth. Only Jesus crossed the t and dotted the i in
the way that means no one else has to. There is only one way, only one
truth, only one life that makes this life and forever life possible. So
what if we were to say this Reformation Sunday that we'd be willing to
risk death a thousand times if the laughter in heaven came from more
people than our limited knowledge and doctrine allows for?
But then why
wait? A bold trust in God's grace means we don't have to wait for
heavenly laugher for whenever we are so certain of God's favor to live
at peace with all people, especially those who disagree with us - even
fellow Lutherans - the laughter in heaven is God's.
Originally posted at Living the Lectionary, part of the CCblogs network.
