LUTHERANS TO OBSERVE REFORMATION SUNDAY

More than 400 years ago, Martin Luther started the world talking about God and the church, with the posting of his 95 Theses on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

And area churches are still talking about Luther. Many will mark Reformation Sunday with special services or mention of Luther's actions. Hanover Lutheran Church will hold a service at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Old Hanover Church. The Rev. Carl Rockrohr, a former missionary to Guiana, West Africa, will be the guest speaker.

When Luther posted his collection of religious arguments, they questioned the unbiblical and hurtful practices of the church at that time. "It was no accident that he chose October 31 (all hallows eve)," said the Rev. Jeffrey Sippy, pastor of Hanover Lutheran Church. "The church door, however, was the public address system," Sippy said. Everyone would pass by and his message would be read.

As people began to read the scriptures for themselves, they saw God in a new light -- as a loving and forgiving God whose gifts to the people were faith and love. The Reformers, as they came to be known, were opposed to the cloister, or monastic life, and were thoroughly committed to life in the world. They were guided by early Christian authority, but denounced what they saw as abuses of the church. The abuse of the spiritual office of the pope rested on claims that became the focus of the intellectual and theological grievances of the Reformers. A high level of death-consciousness provided fertile soil for the Reformation. Martin Luther's brush with death drove him to the monastery. His constant obsession with death prodded him to continue his search for an answer. He felt confession of particular sins were not an adequate measure to redeem oneself.

Luther began to focus his attention on the agony of Christ who had taken on man's sins. Luther began to see that man could accept himself, however worthless he might be, and rejoice in the fact that his faith was made possible through Christ's sacrifice.

Luther had implied an unorthodox way to salvation and begun the Reformation.

Each year, Reformation Sunday is a day of celebration of that faith -- the renewing of a commitment to study the Scripture and reaffirm involvement in the church.