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Bible Sunday Nehemiah 8. 1-4a, 8-12, Colossians 3. 121-17, Matthew 24. 30-35 The Bible and the Reformation Well I hope that you have not been too disturbed by that little dramatic

presentation and the sight of a man wandering down the aisle of the

church clutching a large hammer!

The purpose of the drama was to remind you that not only is today the

Sunday set aside in the church calendar as “Bible Sunday”, it also, this

year, the day on which many churches will be marking the 500th

anniversary on an event which triggered the Reformation.

On the 31st October 1517 a relatively unknown German monk named

Martin Luther took a stand for what he believed God had been revealing

to him. He wrote down his thoughts as his ninety-five theses and nailed

them to the door of the church in Wittenberg. That act is one which would

leave indelible marks on European history.

Bible Sunday provides us with an opportunity to give thanks for the written

word of God. It is timely that it can be held on the same day that we

commemorate the anniversary of the Reformation for it was Martin Luther,

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who among others, turned men and women to the Bible – the written

source of revealed truth. Luther argued that every man and women should

have access to the scriptures for themselves so that God might speak to

them personally without the need for priestly intervention and, some time,

wrong interpretation.

Today we can celebrate the freedom of Christians of all shades to worship

as they wish. There is no Master but Christ.

It is said that the Reformation changed not only the Church but also, to

some extent, the soul of the British nation at all levels of society. Without

resorting to jingoism, I think it is fair to say that Britain whilst not becoming

perfect, did become a bulwark for peace, freedom and security throughout

the world.

Okay, you might argue that the British Empire has also left a lot to be

desired as we reflect back on our history. But Protestantism has left a

legacy of the so called “Protestant work ethic” where work was to be seen

as a calling and for our lives to be devoted to the benefit of others at home

and overseas. It has produced men and women such as the great social

workers and philanthropists of previous centuries such as William

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Wlberforce, Elizabeth Fry, Dr Barnado, and Quakers such Barclays,

Lloyds, Cadbury, Fry and so on.

Some will use today as an opportunity for reflection and others a chance

to heal old wounds. Whatever it may be for us, it is also an opportunity to

remember with thankfulness those who strove for, and often suffered as

a result (sometimes losing their lives) in defence both of the Bible and of

what they believed to be the revealed word of Truth. I always find great

inspiration from people like Luther who stand up for truth and justice in the

face of enormous opposition.

Luther’s act set in chain a series of events which ultimately led to the

emergence of the Protestant church. I don’t believe that Luther ever

intended to create new church. He simply wanted to reform what he saw

as a system shot through with corruption in the highest places. Luther was

working out the implications of his own recent spiritual breakthrough and

trying to start a debate about it. It turned out that those implications

reached much further than either he or his opponents initially imagined.

I am currently ready a book with title “Protestants. The Radicals who made

the Modern World”. It is by the Christian theologian and historian Alec

Ryrie. Whilst being a weighty tome, it is very readable and presents clearly

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the story the Reformation and the development of the Protestant church

that followed. I commend it to you.

Let’s think for a moment about that word “Protestant”. It comes from one

who protests. And this is where I think that the challenge is for us today in

a world that is filled with hatred, strife, greed and injustice are we prepared

to be like Luther and stand our ground at the risk of being misunderstood

and vilified. Isn’t that just what Jesus did 1500 years before Luther.

I suppose that most of us, given the choice, would prefer the easy option.

Anything for a quiet life is the saying. However, there will almost inevitably

come a time in each of our lives when, faced with certain situations, we

are called to stand our ground and speak up for what we believe to be

true.

Reformation, like salvation, is past, present and future. Faith, Christ,

Scripture and God’s Grace and Glory must all be our guiding lights today.

I do not want to give a history lesson this morning on Luther and his life.

Nor can I in the few minutes that are left try to sketch a history of the

Protestant church that developed and that is, along with the Bible, our

sacred heritage today. What I do want to do is to is leave with you a few

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quotes from Luther which we might take away with us this morning and

mediate upon.

In addition to his famous ninety-five theses, Luther also had a lot else to

say. I did a ‘Google’ search and was amazed with what I found. I have to

say that in addition to being a deeply spiritual man, Luther was also a fun-

loving man. We might be shocked by some of his humour which is very

earthy particularly when it comes to bodily functions. However, those are

probably not suitable for us today!

Let me, with the aid of our overheads, close by sharing some of those

thoughts with you.

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