Free indeed (Jn. 8:31–36)
The occasion
The Reformation is an event that occurred just over 500 years ago. On All Hallows’ Eve in 1517, Dr Martin Luther, who was a monk and university lecturer in Germany, nailed a list of ninety-five theses (or critiques) on the door of his local Catholic church. There were really only two Christian “denominations” in those days—East and West. The Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches were the big two.
Luther’s aim was to reform the church that he was already a part of—the Catholic church. Worship services and even the Bible itself were only offered in Latin, which the average peasant had no chance of understanding. His main motivation came from his reading of Paul’s letters in the New Testament, especially the book of Romans, which speak about the grace of God being made available to all people through Jesus.
His criticisms of the Catholic church led to fierce debate and a lot of writing. In the end, he failed to achieve his aim of reforming the church and keeping it unified. Instead, Luther gained a following and began the so-called Lutheran church.
In 1866, the Lutheran church in Mount Gambier was registered “on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation at Mount Gambier now worshipping in the Church built thereon and dedicated to St. Martin” (Seeds of Blessings, 25). Our church and College are named after Martin Luther, the founder of the Lutheran church.
Over a century later, in the 1980’s, St Martin’s sought to establish a school much like many other Lutheran churches were doing around the country at the time.
When the Catholic School on Pick Avenue became vacant, negotiations began with the Catholic Diocese, and they agreed to lease their Pick Avenue School to St Martin’s at a rate of $200 per month... The lease was very valuable in that it allowed the school to operate for five years to prove its viability without any major capital outlay.
Seeds of Blessings: History of the Lutheran Church in Mount Gambier, 104
I find it somewhat ironic that a church named after a man who fought against the Catholic church ended up leasing their vacant school building and took full advantage in proving its viability, allowing it to move to the land it occupies today and grow to almost 800 students and remains the main competitor to the Catholic school in town to this day. The Lutheran– Catholic relationship is a very interesting one.
Today, as we celebrate 40 years of St Martins Lutheran College, we also remember what it means to be Lutheran.
The foundation
If you remain in my word, you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
Jn. 8:31,32
St Martins Lutheran School, now College, was established for the purpose of not only educating children, but communicating this word, this truth, with those children and their families. The Lutheran church, from its inception in the 16th century, has been built on essentially the same foundation. St Martin’s, as a whole community, including the Kindergarten, shares this common task.
A wise friend recently reminded me of psychologist Jordan Peterson’s thoughts on the Bible. He says that the Bible is truth, but that doesn’t mean everything in it is true. Take Jesus’ parables, for example. These are not true stories, but fictional ones that Jesus made up as a teaching tool. We don’t claim that parables are true stories, but we say that they contain the truth.
What is “truth”? This is Pilate’s rather cynical question when he has Jesus standing before him (Jn. 18:38). John uses this word over 20 times in his gospel. Most of them refer either to Jesus himself (e.g. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” in 14:6) or the Holy Spirit (e.g. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth...” in 16:13).
In the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prays, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (17:17). There you have it: God’s word is truth. Truth is God’s word. What else does John say about God’s word?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made...
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jn. 1:1–3,14
The Word was there in the beginning. The Word is with God. The Word is God. The Word became flesh. The Word is Jesus. Jesus is the Word. Jesus is full of grace and truth. Jesus is truth.
You simply cannot separate the Word from the person of Jesus Christ. You can’t separate the person of Jesus from the truth. You can’t separate truth from grace. You can’t separate grace from forgiveness. You can’t separate forgiveness from sin. You can’t separate sin from humanity, except through the forgiveness of sins which is only possible through the Word incarnate, Jesus Christ.
This is only a fraction of the thought process of Martin Luther. He simply could not stand for a Christian faith that didn’t communicate grace in a way that people could understand and receive. Once he discovered this truth, he could not bear to watch it being withheld from the world.
Neither should we.
The Lutheran church, this Lutheran church, and this Lutheran college were all established for that reason. We exist to make this truth known to as many people as possible.
The salvation
Without the truth that sets us free, we are slaves to sin. We cannot help but sin. We fall into sinful actions because our hearts are in bondage to sin.
So often, we think about sin only as the bad stuff we think, say, and do. Sins are just the symptoms of the disease that lies beneath. Our best cure for the disease of sin is avoidance or ignorance. That’s what these Jews were doing.
“We’re sons of Abraham, who was a free man. We’ve never been slaves to anyone! How can you say, ‘You will be free’?” They say this while they are under Roman oppression and rule. In their arrogance and blindness, they believe that they are free when they are slaves.
We should be careful that we don’t fall into the same problem. We’re not slaves to anyone, are we? We all have the disease—the first step towards being healed and freed is recognising that.
We begin every single worship service with Confession and Absolution. We are upfront about the fact that we need Jesus to heal us of our disease. We are in bondage to sin and we can’t free ourselves. Only the truth can free us. Only Jesus can free us. When those words of absolution are spoken, that’s exactly what he does.
Jesus didn’t die on the cross to make a statement. He didn’t suffer just to show us how much he loves us. “This is my blood... shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” He did that to free you from sin and death. That is the truth.
So, he has freed us from sin. Great! We know what we’re free from. What are we free for?
Paul says in his letter to the Romans: “...having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” (Ro. 6:18)
As mortal human beings, we stand under a higher authority. We try our best to be in control of our own lives, but anyone that has experienced unexpected sickness or sudden tragedy knows how unrealistic that is. We are not in control. The question is not whether we are slaves, then, but what we are enslaved by.
Jesus, who is truth, sets us free from sin and we are free indeed. We are free for a purpose. Baptised Christians are free to hear, accept, and live by God’s word. Living in this way is not a requirement. It is not a condition. It is a joy and a privilege. If we are truly his disciples, we will remain, abide, stay in Christ.
To remain in Christ means that every aspect of our lives is lived under him and his grace.
We gather in Christ. We grow in Christ. We go in Christ. May this inform our vision, our mission, and our action as the whole St Martin’s community as it has been for 40 years in this College, almost 60 years in our Kindergarten, 160 years in this congregation, and over 500 years as Lutherans.
We are just a speck in the long line of Lutheran and Christian history and heritage. But what a joy it is to be a speck that is treasured and loved by our creating, redeeming, and sanctifying God.
