Word from Wiese

Once and Never Again?

Once and Never Again?

30 October 2024

 

How many tasks in your life would you love to do once and never again?

  • I wish I could eat one plate of broccoli to magically ingest all the vita
    Martin Luther’s 95 Theses by Ferdinand Pauwels, 1872, Martin Luther did not guide Christians for a once and never again act of repentance.

    As depicted in Ferdinand Pauwels work, Martin Luther’s 95 Theses did not guide Christians for a once and never again act of repentance.

    mins my body will require for the rest of my life and never eat broccoli again.

  • I wish I could floss my teeth well once and never have to arrange the little elusive stringy floss justright on my fingers ever again.
  • I wish I could dust my house just once and all the surfaces would somehow be impervious forevermore to dusty accumulation.

Easy Button

A few years back, a captivating commercial enthralled us with a red “easy button.” To fast forward through complex problems, just hit the easy button.

Back in Martin Luther’s day, as many of you know, the church hierarchy’s selling of indulgences misguided people into a false “easy button” approach to repentance. Instead of doing the hard but ultimately growth-producing work of reflecting daily on one’s thoughts and actions, asking forgiveness of others, and asking God’s help in bearing more fruits of the Holy Spirit, Jesus followers were enticed to simply buy indulgences.

Regardless of any positive intent held by some Roman Catholic theologians in Luther’s Day, the reality was that indulgences were used and seen by many as a “once and done” approach to “sin management” and maybe moral and spiritual reflection. If I could simply buy an indulgence to reduce or even eliminate altogether punishment of my sin, sign me up! Here’s my money! I love the easy answer!

But Martin Luther, informed by both Scripture and common sense, knew human life doesn’t work like that. Quality relationships with God and important people in our lives are ongoing, give-and-take, evolving interchanges of time, love, and complex growth.

So, that’s why Luther’s FIRST thesis out of his 95 argues for the life-long process of repentance, not a once-and-done indulgence payment plan.

Here is the first thesis Luther posted 507 years ago, tomorrow, Reformation Day!

When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent” (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.

Yes, the new life that Jesus won for us through his crucifixion and resurrection stands forever. We are forever held in God’s grace alone through our faith in Jesus Christ. That is justification. But the opportunity of sanctification, or the joyful journey of seeing the world and behaving more like Christ, is a life-long calling.

Here is how Martin Luther puts it, in a quote that is framed in our Wiese home as a gift from LuAnne’s parents years ago:

This life, therefore, is not righteousness but growth in righteousness. Not health but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished but it is going on. This is not the end but it is the road. All does not yet gleam and glory but all is being purified.

No Tricks

So, friends, don’t let anyone sell you any tricks tomorrow. There is no one indulgence, no one candidate, no one diet plan, no one activity, no one vacation plan, no one generosity series, no one letter that forever locks in health for a person, relationship, country, or congregation.

No. No tricks. But our heavenly Father does offer us the treat of following his son, Jesus. Every day.  For the rest of our lives. Following Jesus, the best we can, as we work, serve, vote, steward, behave, forgive, enjoy, sabbath, repent, encourage, observe, breathe and trust in him each and every day.

May the ongoing Reformation movement continue to unfold by the Spirit’s guidance in each of our lives and in that of Christ Our Shepherd!

In Christ’s hope,

Pastor Fritz

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-10

Let us pray.

Prayer of the Day for Reformation Day in Evangelical Lutheran Worship: “Gracious Father, we pray for your holy catholic church. Fill it with all truth and peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in need, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen