Ripples of the Reformation can be seen everywhere

The Reformation. What is that, you ask? While it was an entire movement in history, covering many years, it is most often pegged to October 31, 1517, when a monk, priest, and professor by the name of Martin Luther posted a notice calling for debate on the Castle Church door in Wittenberg. And unless Reformation falls on a Sunday, it is usually celebrated the Sunday prior to the 31st among Lutherans. That would be this coming weekend. And it has a message for everyone.
And what is the point, the message of the Reformation? At its heart is that it is taught among us that “we cannot obtain forgiveness of sin and righteousness before God by our own merits, works, or satisfactions, but that we receive forgiveness of sin and become righteous before God by grace, for Christ’s sake, through faith, when we believe that Christ suffered for us and that for His sake our sin is forgiven and righteousness and eternal life are given to us.” Those aren’t my words; they were words boldly presented to Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, in 1530, as the Saxon reformers made clear their differences with the Roman Catholic Church. (Augsburg Confession, article IV)
It was a relatively novel idea: by grace (alone), through Christ (alone), by faith (alone). And where did they get such an idea? From the Bible. Alone. In the Latin language, ‘alone’ was ‘sola’. And from this arose the testimony of three ‘solas’ of the Reformation: Salvation and eternal life are obtained by grace alone (sola gratia), by faith alone (sola fide), informed by Scripture alone (sola Scriptura). And the focus of this confession was the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection to save sinners from death, hell, and condemnation and give them eternal life with God. This testimony was what the Reformers, along with Luther, were willing to risk their lives to make plain.

The Reformation changed countless things about European life and society, ushering in a great explosion of scientific inquiry and much other study that greatly shaped what we call ‘Western Civilization.’
One of the chief things the Reformation changed was how a Christian served God in his or her everyday vocation. One scholar called it a ‘Copernican revolution’ the way Luther’s preaching and writing brought clarity and dignity to every kind of work. Prior to this, only churchly ‘vocations’ (Latin for ‘callings’, as in a churchly calling and service) were highly honored. All other forms of work and service were considered inferior. But the teaching of the Scripture (the Bible, the Word of God) made it clear that all persons were created by God and given various gifts and abilities to be employed in the common good. Thus, both a butcher and a barber served God by serving their fellow man by their work. Same with a farrier and a furrier. Likewise a carpenter or courier. Each served God and their fellow man in their work, their vocation.
In the same way, other vocations are laid upon us to fulfill in our service to God. For this writer, the vocations of husband, father, and grandfather loom large, as does my Calling as a Pastor. Whatever your vocation (and there might be ‘layers’ to the vocations God allots you), there is dignity in performing it (them). But all matter to God, and all our vocations call you and me to “do our work heartily as to the Lord, rather than merely for men.” (Colossians 3:23) And best is when we do it under the favor and forgiveness of God as Christians, trusting in the mercy of God through His Son, Jesus Christ alone.
Rev. Dr. Paul R. Winningham is pastor of Grace Lutheran and Zion Lutheran Churches in Uniontown and Longtown.