Yesterday I read a very interesting article by Dr. Timothy J. Wengert of Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia called "Martin Luther's Movement toward an Apostolic Self-Awareness as Reflected in His Early Letters." In it, Dr. Wengert makes the case that Luther moved in his own self understanding from "obedient servant" of Christ to "Apostle." Luther thought of himself as a preacher and teacher to be sure, but noted that he became a reformer of the church quite by accident. God was behind that one.
After the Diet of Worms (1521) where the Church Leaders demanded that he recant (which we know he did not) his self understanding begins to change. With the struggles in Wittenberg that followed the Diet, Luther's call as a reformer of the church begins to grow and change as he has to respond to "false brethren" around him, such as Karlstadt, Muntzer, and Agricola to name a few. The greetings in his letters become more and more Pauline as he begins them with "Grace and peace" rather than the name "Jesus" that usually marked the top of his writings. He added a Thanksgiving to his letters in the way that Paul did as he wrote to (most) the churches in his ministry. Rather than signing his letters with the title "Augustinian" as he had before, Luther closes his letters with a Paul-like blessing. His growing awareness that he is an "Apostle" for Christ and that through the gospel he has been given apostolic authority is evidenced by growing self identification as an evangelist.
So back to YOUR self-identification. . . do you see yourself as a Disciple? One who is a follower, a student, a worker for Christ in the world? To be a disciple is to be obedient to Christ. It is not a casual thing, something to say for the sake of conversation. There has been put a call on your life; at your baptism you were adopted by God and now you are being trained for work in God's kingdom. Each week in worship you are sent out to do God's will-- at your job, in your family, with your neighbors, at the school where your children attend, in the community. You can do that however you like, the possibilities are unlimited! But it all boils down to how you see yourself. Do you simply "go to church?" Or are you a "disciple" of Jesus Christ? There is a qualitative, spirit-filled difference.
Peace be with you as you go out into the world with Jesus and for Jesus! Amen.
Image Credit: http://www.luther.de/en/worms.html
I'll comment on this! Well written. And an interesting take on Luther's own journey. The church of today is filled with more unused discipleship capital than the port of Haiti is filled with unused staples. We've got to do work here...and it boils down to not only creating congregational cultures of discipleship...but the sort of coaching that allows people to reimagine themselves in relationship to Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThanks for getting this reimagining under way. I need the reminder today...
Nathan SR
Thanks, Amy, for challenging us. Your words cut through the charade of "going to church" with the attitude that we know everything we need to know about Christ's call upon our life. Every time we cross the holy threshold into the presence of Word and Sacrament we are presenting ourselves, our lives and our all to the Lord of Life. Every time we leave that gathering, we are sent out to serve others in some way. It is not up to us to decide for ourselves how all of the "goods" given to us in Christ are to be distributed.
ReplyDeleteOpen the hand, open the heart, the mind, and follow Christ to the people and the places where He knows you can tell others the great news.... using words if necessary!
Honest reflections from the pew: Great article, you are challenging comfort zones. This morning in Sunday school we just talked about how difficult it is to transition oneself from ideas and desire to serve/be Christ in the world and actually doing it. I have been going to church my whole life and never thought of myself as a disciple. I think Nathan hit the nail on the head when he said, "creating congregational cultures of discipleship...but the sort of coaching that allows people to reimagine themselves in relationship to Jesus." Coach me into action...that I might fully live out Christ's call on my life.
ReplyDeleteSusan, perhaps for you it is a matter of reframing what you know about yourself. . . you are a committed Christian who understands that your vocation is about what God has called you to do and be in the world. For Luther something qualitative changed with his excommunication- he had a message to proclaim, he thought the gospel was at stake and so he moved from thinking of himself as professor/theologian/teacher to apostle, prophet even. A question to ponder for you might be, "What does a disciple look like?" Now that the question is before you I imagine your awareness being opened up to new possibilities. Sometimes we don't even know what we don't know. . . a fresh awareness that God is calling us even deeper into the life of Christ can bring about a stronger "discipleship" identity in us. It is a process to be sure. Blessings on the journey my friend!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post. Good teachers never give an easy answer...they make you think. I always hate that at the time but appreciate it later.
ReplyDelete