The sounds of the Reformation
We will tellĀ the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.Ā Psalm 78:4Ā
Joel C. SeifertĀ Ā
Bam! Bam! Bam!Ā The sounds came from the hammer driving the nails through the paper. A Catholic professor posted hisĀ 95Ā theses to the door of the university church.Ā Ā Ā
Fwoosh!Ā Three years later, Martin Luther held a copy of a letter from the Pope. In it, the Pope condemned many of Lutherās ideas. Knowing he was at risk of excommunication, Luther stood in front of a crowd and dropped the letter into a fire, watching the flames consume it.Ā Ā
āHere I stand, I can do no other, so help me God!āĀ Six months later, Luther refused to recant his teachings at the Diet of Worms. He would stand with Godās Word, no matter what it cost him.Ā
Those were the sounds of the Reformation. But open up your catechism, and youāll find words written by Luther that call to mind some of the most dramatic and powerful Reformation sounds of all. Over each chief article of faith, Luther wrote this:Ā āAs the head of the family should teach it in the simplest way to those in his household.āĀ Ā
Let Reformation truths sound loudly in our homesĀ
God gave theĀ apostle Paul a helper, Timothy, a āson in the faith,ā to help carry out the gospel ministry.Ā Timothy had learned Godās truth at home. Paul wrote:Ā āI am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you alsoāĀ (2 Timothy 1:5).Ā
Even though the visible church of their day had lost a clear view of Jesus and preached work-righteousness, Timothyās grandmother and mother passed on the truthĀ of Scripture at home. Luther reminds us:Ā Most certainly father and mother are apostles, bishops, and priests to their children, for it is they who make them acquainted with the gospel.Ā Ā
They say that good character and values are āmore caught than taught.ā Our children are always watching us and learning from our examples. But faith isĀ onlyĀ taught,Ā neverĀ caught. Our children donāt learn of Jesus by watching us speak honestly and act fairly. They learn as we sit down with them, open the Bible,Ā and let God tell them of hisĀ wonderful works.Ā āWe will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.āĀ Ā
We speak Godās Word, and faith lives in them!Ā
From Christian homes to the worldĀ
It happens in seemingly humble and gradual ways. A nightly devotion. Morning prayers. Asking questions about SundayĀ school lessons and sermons.Ā Every day,Ā as countless Christians read their Bible, God pours out his Spirit. Soul by soul, believers learn to love Godās truth and take their stand on it.Ā Ā
What does a Reformation sound like? As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, youāll hear preachers proclaim grace from pulpits. Youāll hear churches resounding with powerful cantatas and echoing withĀ āA Mighty Fortress.āĀ Youāll go to Bible studies about holding onto Godās Word in truth and purity. Those are wonderful sounds!Ā
And,Ā LordĀ willing, behind all of those sounds youāll hear some of the most beautiful and influential sounds of the Reformation as families gather to read and listen to the Bible, theĀ catechism, or devotions.Ā Those are the sounds of the Reformation. And when they ring out, Godās truth echoes again in the next generation.Ā
Contributing editor Joel Seifert is pastor at Shining Mountains, Bozeman, Montana.Ā Ā
SUBMIT YOUR STORY
Do you have a manuscript, idea, or story from your own life you’d like to share for use in Forward in Christ or on wels.net? Use our online form to share it to our editorial office for consideration.
SUBSCRIBE TO FORWARD IN CHRIST
Get inspirational stories, spiritual help, and synod news fromĀ Forward in Christ every month. Print and digital subscriptions are available from Northwestern Publishing House.
Author: Joel C. Seifert
Volume 104, Number 10
Issue: October 2017
Copyrighted by WELS Forward in Christ Ā© 2021
Forward in Christ grants permission for any original article (not a reprint) to be printed for use in a WELS church, school, or organization, provided that it is distributed free and indicate Forward in Christ as the source. Images may not be reproduced except in the context of its article.Ā Contact us