Sunday Sermon: Thank You, Martin Luther

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Hello,

Today is Reformation Sunday in the church where most churches will sing "A Mighty Fortress is our God" as one of the primary hymns that Luther wrote over his lifetime.

Today is the day of the reform, modernization, and break away of the Christian Church from the Roman Catholic Church. Many other denominations of the Christian religions of following the way of Luther. Luther is the prime reason why we have so many "breakaway" denominations.

It all began like this:

Johann Tetzel was selling indulgences to raise money to pay for St. Peter's basilica. Luther questioned such an idea by basically saying: Uh? What? Someone has got to do something about this.

Martin Luther wrote to Albrecht, the Archbishop of Mainz, protesting the sale indulgences which was basically a payment of money for the forgiveness of sins. Luther was furious at how the Catholic Church was making people pay money for the forgiveness of sins.

Luther was angry and on all hallow's eve in 1517, he nailed the 95 theses to the church's wall. Trust me, Luther knew what he was doing and he was confident that the message would get out to the rest of the land. He made it clear that changes were coming much like the Italian Renaissance. (http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/95theses.htm)

Some of the Theses basically nail the Pope for his recklessness

Theses 35, 36, 37, and 42 basically slam the door on the Pope. 47 basically says: They don't have to buy the indulgences if they don't want to. You can't force them to do that!

Theses No. 48 basically says: The Pope wants your prayers for himself, not Jesus himself... (Ouch...)

Out of all 95: 62 is probably the best. It states that the greatest treasure is Holy Gospel and the True Church of the Lord. (You darn skippy!)

Many were impressed by the theses. Word got to the Pope. Pope Leo X was absolutely infuriated by what Martin Luther said. He issued a papal bull which condemned the actions of Luther (Exsurge Domine of 1520). Not to mention, he told Martin Luther to stop preaching.

Luther said: Seriously? You need to do better than that. I'm going to continue to preach the good word of Christ.

Leo X and H.R.E. Charles V summoned him with the Edict of Worms in 1521, along with Holy Roman Emperor Charles V by declaring him a heretic. But Luther was completely unfazed.

Charles V's argument that indulgences were profitable and forgave one of their sins... As stated here: (http://www.cresourcei.org/creededictworms.html)

But what Luther was basically saying; You can't buy god's grace, love, and salvation, you just can't.

Catholic church said to placate the crowd: YESHYACAN!

Luther was declared a heretic, was excommunicated, yet however escaped arrest and stayed in inclusion in Wittenberg.

He wrote many teachings that are still in use today and Christians alike (even catholics) should be proud of the work he did. Luther himself basically said: This is not right, how can this be right... Today we start anew and it starts with a new church and a new lease on Christianity.

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Reformation Day is basically a day where Martin Luther finally put the Catholic Church in it's place. The Church of Christ was reformed. Baptists, Anabaptist, Methodists, and many major denominations saw Luther as a savior that broke the communal stronghold on the Catholic Church. While yes, the Catholic Church does have a lot of adherents... Lutheran became the 1st "breakaway" religion of Christianity as he basically belted the Pope and said: "Really fella? Really? This is my church and you aren't going to have a hand in it. Today, we start fresh!"

Methodists have also embraced Reformation Day as a sort of day of "freedom."

In modern times, the Pope has managed to spread dialogue with the World Lutheran Federation. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and even Francis.

Francis himself has called for much more improved relations with the Lutheran church. In fact, Francis even had dialogue with the Lutheran Church and was extremely impressed with their teachings.

JP2 was a much-respected pope by the Lutheran Church because he started the talks. The head of the Lutheran Church was actually very impressed by the Pope as JP2 was a modernizer unlike some of his predecessors. JP2 basically modernized the current Catholic Church into respecting all the religions, a lot of the hardliner cardinals didn't like the idea but the Pope said: "I'm in charge, so shut up."

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Let's take a look at some famous Lutherans:

Sports:

Calle Johansson (NHL Player)

Nicklas Backstrom (NHL Player - Strict Adherent)
The Earnhardts

The Jarretts

Tom Brady (Yup, walked away from the Catholic Church)

Paul Molitor (Joined the church following his battle with drugs)

Troy Aikman

Television News:

Verne Lundquist

Gretchen Carlson

Music
Ace Frehley of Kiss (never misses a service)

Dana Carvey

Kirsten Dunst

Andy Richter

Composers:

The Bachs

George Frederich Handel

Business:

Craig Culver

Robert Cade

Ed Kruse

So there's a number of big names who are famous Lutherans. Nicklas Backstrom to me came as a shock because of the Church of Sweden.

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Do I have a problem with the Catholic Church? Of course not, it's just a different religion, we are worshipping the same god, thing is, the Catholic Church is much more restrictive.

It's just different. I'm going to be going to Saturday Masses with Joanna but I know in my mind, I'll never become a Catholic. To me, Luther made the reforms that put Christianity on the fast track and it was a complete breakaway from the common Catholic Church.

Do I have a problem with the Pope? Nope, JP2 modernized it, Benedict XVI cared for it, and Francis is cleaning it up.

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So today? The church is in the modern days and capacities. New teachings are being found and ways to spread the good word.

I say: Thank you Martin Luther.

I stay with my Lutheran ethics and Methodist teachings. I'm just that kind of guy.

~ Joshua