Today we remember that day in 1517 when Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses. We Lutherans take this as something akin to publishing the Declaration of Independence, but it really wasn’t like that. The 1953 film Martin Luther portrays it rightly. Luther is shown posting his theses. A peasant looks at them, shrugs, and tells another peasant, “Just something in Latin.” Yep, that would have been most people’s reaction.

The Ninety-Five Theses set off a storm that caused a division within the church. Today the Theses leave people wondering what the fuss was about. Here’s a one of the theses: “If remission of all penalties whatsoever could be granted to anyone at all, certainly it would be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to very few.” That’s probably of interest to theologians and church historians, but I’m not sure it’s very helpful to the average Lutheran.

On this Reformation Day, I’d encourage people to read Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Yes, I know most little Lutheran boys and girls had to memorize it, but I also suspect most of them promptly forgot it the day after the dread Public Examination. It’s worth reading agin and again. Here’s Luther’s explanation to the third article of the Creed. “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.” That’s worth meditating on.

Read Psalm 46 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne