Excerpts from messages being presented at area places of worship this weekend.
The Rev. Mark Fry, Bethany Lutheran Church, Elkhorn
The Reformation was launched in 1517 by a Roman Catholic monk named Martin Luther when he nailed 95 points of discussion on the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther wanted to talk about some things he discovered in the scriptures that seemed inconsistent with what was happening in the church in Europe. We are enjoying a Martin Luther worship series at Bethany this season as we consider our roots as Lutherans.
A quote from a book entitled “The European Reformations” by Carter Lindberg: The late medieval time of Martin Luther was a time in history of “rapid social changes that called into question the values and traditional truths by which people lived. The church exacerbated these insecurities by promoting a type of pastoral care designed to make people uncertain about their salvation and thus more dependent upon the intercessions of the church. The Christian pilgrimage toward the heavenly city was a balancing act between fear and hope.”
I believe we are living in similar times these days. These are anxious times globally, nationally, regionally and locally. These are times that call for three magnificent things: love, hope and faith. As the Apostle Paul wrote: “The greatest of these is love.” The Beatles wrote, “All you need is love.” The Bible would also add the other two: hope and faith. Our salvation is secure in Christ. We need not fear.
I believe God is urging each of us to be reformed into his loving image, renewed in his compassionate son’s character, and revived in his amazing grace.
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
