Nebraska Synod ELCA

For God alone I wait in silence; truly, my hope is in God.

God alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, so that I shall never be shaken.
In God is my deliverance and my honor; God is my strong rock and my refuge.

Put your trust in God always, O people,
pour out your hearts before the one who is our refuge.

— Psalm 62.5-8 —

Dear Nebraska Synod, beloved of God,

If you’ve been around this Lutheran way of faith for more than a few minutes, you’ve likely heard this Latin phrase at least once: ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda. I don’t remember where or when I first encountered the phrase, but it’s been part of my theological vocabulary for quite some time. It can be translated, “[a] reformed church must always be reforming.”

As we Lutherans look ahead to the month of October, this idea of reformation naturally rises since we celebrate Reformation Day on October 31 or, more usually, the last Sunday in October. Historically, this date was chosen because it was believed this was the day Dr. Martin Luther posted a list of discussion points for a public debate about the sale of indulgences. Popular my thology describes a scene of Luther boldly striding through the town center of Wittenberg and rebelliously nailing his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church. What probably happened is this: a pastor and professor of Old Testament announced a public debate by putting up his piece
of paper on what served as the community bulletin board. Defiance of church authorities did come about eventually for Luther and the reformers, but in the beginning he just wanted to have a conversation about a church practice that was troubling him and the people he served as pastor.

Take a look at that Latin phrase again, though: ecclesiastical reformata, semper reformanda. “[A] reformed church must always be reforming.” Historians speak of the Reformation as a distinct era in the life and history of the church, which is most certainly true. What’s also most certainly true is this: reformation means change, and all human beings grow weary of constant change. I’ve always found it amusing that we Lutherans celebrate the Reformation (i.e. The Big Change) every year by preaching the same lectionary scriptures and singing a hymn that is almost 500 years old.

The simple fact of the matter is this: God’s people have always been called to faithful reformation, from the earliest days of our faith to modern times. Abram & Sarai left their parents’ land for a different future; Moses led the people through the wilderness; Joshua brought the people into the time of the judges; the prophets called a divided kingdom back into faithfulness. All of these moments are reformations in and of themselves, and today we are also called to the ongoing work of reformation, to grow and move and change as a church that lives firmly in its own time and follows faithfully where God is leading us.

In these days of reformation, I encourage you to join the psalmist and look to God as this journey of faith continues. Our ultimate destination is where God wants us to be found, and we know that all of us are being reformed, together, as we journey along God’s way.

Yours in Christ,
Bishop Scott Johnson

Questions to Ponder

1. Who would you name as an agent of reformation besides Martin Luther (in the church or in
   another area of human life), and what about their story is inspiring to you?
2. If you could ask Luther, Melanchthon, or any of the people who led the Protestant Reformation one question, what would it be

A Prayer Based on a Saying of Martin Luther

Holy and gracious God, continue to reform us. Let your Holy Spirit live and move and breathe in us, that we may be transformed. Help us to see that this life is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness; not health, but healing; not being, but becoming; not rest, but exercise. Remind us that we are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it. Show us that the process is not yet finished, but it is going on; that this is not the end, but it is the road. In a life where all does not yet gleam in glory, give us eyes to see that all is being purified in your holy, steadfast love. Amen.