Reformation Monday: Does the priest absolve sins?

In spite of what many, many Lutherans believe, Martin Luther did not eliminate confession from the life of the faithful or the practice of the Church.  Certainly there was a movement towards a corporate (as a whole group) confession as a part of worship, but Luther continued to value individual, private confession.

However, Luther wanted it to be perfectly clear that it is Christ who absolves, not the 'man behind the curtain.'  The faithful do not need an intermediary in order to confess and receive absolution, but the priest/pastor in speaking the absolution speaks for Christ.

"This ought especially to be taught, that confession's not made to man (minister) but to Christ.  Likewise it isn't man who absolves but Christ.  But few understand this.

"Today I replied to the Bohemians, who insist that God alone remits sins and are offended by my little book on the keys [the Office of the Keys or the pastoral office which includes granting absolution].

"Wherefore one should teach that men make confession to Christ, and Christ absolves through the mouth of the minister, for the minister's mouth is the mouth of Christ and the  minister's ear is the ear of Christ.  It's to the Word and the command that one should pay attention, not to the person.  Christ sits there, Christ listens, Christ answers, not a man."

Table Talk, LW 54, P. 394

Reformation Monday: I am the LORD your God

I am the LORD your God.

That is where it all begins.  It is the foundation stone for all that follows, and what follows are 10 commandments that draw a broad picture of what it means to be a covenant people, a people who live in community, who are God's people and worship this God known as YHWH. (Exodus6.7)

The story began with creation, and then Abraham, and down through Joseph who welcomes his people into Egypt only to have them become enslaved.  Then we get Moses, the episode with the Red Sea, and the beginning of a wandering in the wilderness that would continue until an entire generation passed away.  God clearly had the power to get the people out of Egypt; it took 40 years to get Egypt out of the people. (but that's another story for another time).

Moses goes up the mountain to talk with God (truly I think he just listened).  God thundered, spoke the commandments and, apparently, engraved them on stone tablets.  (I say apparently because the story doesn't mention tablets at this point.  Later, the text tells us Moses was to make tablets like the ones from before.)  But all of that is back story.  See Exodus 20

This is how those commandments begin: 

I am the LORD your God

 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 

out of the house of slavery; 

you shall have no other gods before me. 

Our relationship with God is founded on this primary profession of faith:  The LORD is God, and the LORD alone.  In case you are unsure of which LORD, it's the one who got you out of Dodge when the slavery got to be too much.

All the other commandments flow from this one.  There are many good reasons to abstain from killing your neighbor or sleeping around with another's spouse, or stealing their new electronic devices.  Almost every civilization has some version of these same basic rules for living peacefully in community.

But the Ten Commandments of the book of Exodus are predicated on knowing who God is and pledging allegiance to this God alone.  This involves honoring God's name and setting aside time dedicated solely to giving thanks and worshipping this God. 

Little of this explanation is specific to Reformation theology.  In his Small Catechism, Luther explains this first commandment this way "We are to fear, love and trust God above all things."  In his Large Catechism Luther notes that everyone worships a god, just not this God, the Creating and Redeeming God.  Idolatry is rampant, for 'that in which you put your trust, is your god' according to Luther. 

Acknowledging that God is God......and its corollary, that we are not.........is the first step, and we stumble over it all the time.  It is our North Star: guiding our way, leading us home, establishing particular values, granting us light in the darkness.  This God.  No other God.  

Reformation Monday: Luther's morning prayer

In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the sign of the holy cross and say "God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen."

Many of us know the Small Catechism of Martin Luther from years gone by in confirmation class.  For most of us, it was about the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and the Apostle's Creed and their explanations.

The Small Catechism was written by Luther for use in the home, where the head of the household would instruct his/her children and servants in the faith.  It is written in a question and answer format so the student would first recite, for example, the First Commandment and then the household head would ask  "What does this mean?"  Remember that?

Also included in the Small Catechism was an outline for morning and evening devotions, many of which were held as a family around the family table.  At the very least, Luther wanted all to begin their day reminded of their baptism and renewing their relationship with God through prayer.  Here is Luther's morning prayer:

"I give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected me through the night from all harm and danger.  I ask that you would also protect me today from sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you.  Into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine.  Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me.  Amen"  ELW p1166

Starting your day with prayer is always a good idea, and the advantage to having memorized a prayer is that it will fall easily from your lips.  There are many within our 60+ age group who know this morning prayer from memory.

From my time at seminary, where we as a community worshipped daily and the order of Matins was the form every Tuesday and Thursday, I learned the morning prayer from the matins service.  It is my 'go-to' prayer in the morning and so I share it here with you

"Almighty and everlasting God, you  have brought us in safety to this new day.  Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor be overcome in adversity.  In all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen  ELW p304

Prayer is not a reformation thing.  Prayer is a transformation thing.  It is a lifeline between the Divine and its Creation.  It is a conversation between the Lover and the Beloved.  If only for a few seconds each morning, it centers our day on God before the crush of the world's demands.

Perhaps memorizing one of these prayers will prove especially transformational for you.

Luther and the Devil

To Martin Luther the devil was real.  He was present in the Garden of Eden and he is present in your backyard as well, although Luther would have said that Satan prefers the bathroom.  Apparently the devil is closely linked to bathroom functions.  Vulgar language is useful in defeating the devil. Always, always, always be on your guard.

Now this may explain two phenomena I've observed.  First, Martin Luther should not be taken at face value.  There is much in Martin Luther's prodigious writing that 21st century people of faith should ignore.  Second, now I know the reason there is so much vulgar language during football games.  Apparently the devil occasionally takes the form of an official.

Happy Reformation Day.