Did the Reformation Stop?

So here we are, two congregations trying to become one, trying to become something new, trying to be faithful to our understanding of God’s call for us as individuals, as communities, as “the church”. We’ve had our ups and downs, and we still do. We are still trying to figure out how to be God’s church in this place, and at this time. It isn’t easy as there are things that we don’t even know are issues until they come up, and when they do come up it is generally because our expectations haven’t been met in some way. The hardest part being, they may have been unvoiced expectations — the type that are expressed after the fact with: “Well, we always do this in this way.” Most of the time we don’t even talk about how things are done, as we all know how it is to be done because we’ve had years of living together to figure it out.

A friend of mine used to say that the process of picking a new priest for a congregation involved courting. You know, you’d put on your Sunday best, the priest and committee would meet. You’d omit the things you didn’t want to share at first. You’d think of the things that you could change in the other, given enough time. Evenutally you’d try a date — maybe the committee travels to hear the cleric preach. By this time you’re certain you’re in love, and you decide to get married. Then one day the inevitable happens. The cleric and the committee members both wake up wondering who they’ve agreed to live with for the rest of their days (because the things that weren’t shared are now apparent, and you realize the changes you hoped for might never come.)

If I were to describe our process of merging our two communities into one congregation, I wouldn’t describe it as “courting”. I’d describe it as trying to merge two extended families into one large blended family — one where all of the inlaws and outlaws are trying to live together on both sides of the merger — each with our own crazy Uncle Ed who adds in just enough craziness at times that we wonder if this merger is going to work or not.

And while that has certainly been our work over the last couple of years (and continues to be) we also know that it isn’t our real goal. Merger isn’t our goal. It is a tool that we can use to help us get to our goal. So what then is our goal? What is it that we are really trying to be? I’d say that Jesus talks about it at the beginning of today’s gospel:

John 8:31 NRSVue

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples,

We are disciples of Jesus — of the Way — and because of that, we are to continue in His word.

But (to paraphrase Luther) “What does this mean?” What does it mean to continue in the word of Jesus? Does it mean to live according to his teachings, his words spoken through the scriptures, his word as it comes alive to us now through the Holy Spirit, his word as it was explained in 1517 as 95 Theses were posted for debate, his word as explained in 1571 as the Thrity-Nine Articles were published in the Book of Common Prayer … what exactly does is mean to continue in the word of Jesus?

As society has progressed from the time of Jesus, through 1517, and 1571, we’ve become a society where we can describe truth as “personal”. I don’t remember this as a kid — what was true was true, and if it wasn’t true, then it was false. Now however, my “truth” and your “truth” may not be the same, however we’ve accepted a notion that both might be true.

So who gets to decide then what is true when we’re trying to figure out how to continue in “the word of Jesus”?

This is one of the areas where our two traditions differ.

In Wittenburg, the congregaation decides what is a true understanding of the word of God. Luther wrote a letter to the small town of Leisnig called “That a Christian Assembly or Congregation has the Right and Power to Judge All Teaching and to Call, Appoint, and Dismiss Teachers, Established and Proven by Scripture”. That letter was sent in 1523 in response to the community’s letter to Luther in 1522 because the local abbott wouldn’t let them have the priest they wanted.

In Canterbury, the bishop decides what is a true understanding of the word of God. And while I couldn’t find an article in the 39 Articles that would clearly articulate this — we know it to be true as candidates for Confirmation are examined in front of the bishop (look at the Confirmation rite in the BAS — you’ll see it), and as the Bishop of a diocese gives assent to the motions passed by a synod meeting (and withholds assent from time to time for matters of grave impact to the unity of the church.)

But what does this mean for us today? Can we be Lutheran if we let a bishop make decisions for us? Can we Anglican if we have congregational and not episcopal authority? Can we be Christian, and a community of Christians, if we each decide for ourselves what our own truth is in discerning God’s word?

I’d like to suggest this part of Article 34 (Of the Traditions of the Church) from the 39 Articles is helpful to remember:

The Faith We Confess: An Exposition of the Thirty-Nine Articles Article 34. Of the Traditions of the Church

It is not necessary that traditions and ceremonies be in all places one or utterly like, for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times and men’s manners, so that nothing be ordained against God’s Word.

In 1571, at the birth of what will eventually lead to us being here, in this building today, we hear that “It is not necessary that traditions and ceremonies be in all places one or utterly like”.

If we can’t rely on tradition, and uniformity, to help define who we are, to help determine how to continue in His word, then what can we rely on?

I’d suggest this:

Romans 3:24 NRSVue

they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

By the gift of God’s grace, not only will we be justified — or sinless in the sight of God — but by the gift of God’s grace, and by that grace alone, we will be faithful in continuing in His word, not as individuals, but as an understading of community that involves not just us — not just our bishops — but involviing the community of all those and the Holy Trinity — for once we fully rely on God — fully rely on God’s grace, the church will be reformed again, and again to speak in new ways to the new world we live in. And for that we give thanks. Amen.