Make-Up:
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
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Saint & Sinner and "the solas" were the theme for the 2-part series of Martin Luther and the Reformation.
Bible Text:
Romans 5:1–11; Matthew 22:34–40
Lesson Focus:
We are always both sinner and saint and we need both law and gospel.
Big Question:
Am I good enough to be a Christian?
Key Words:
LAW, GOSPEL, SIMUL IUSTUS ET PECCATOR, SINNER, SAINT
Definitions of Key Words
LAW: what we should and should not do to be safe and live peacefully in community. God's law is designed to be impossible to keep perfectly.
GOSPEL: because we cannot keep the law, God gives us the gospel. Gospel means "good news" and it is the good news that, through Christ, we are freely saved, loved, and forgiven.
SIMUL IUSTUS ET PECCATOR: Latin phrase meaning justified (saint) and sinner at the same time.
SAINT: all baptized Christians are saints, regardless of how good or bad they are.
SINNER: all baptized Christians are sinners, regardless of how good or bad they are. It is an inescapable part of being human.
Going Deep
We all are bound to our sinful nature. We are indeed "captive to sin and cannot free ourselves" (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, pages 95, 117). It is part of our human condition. We are born into it.
Being a sinner means that we often are tempted to play God in how we live and in how we deal with other people. We judge others. We look upon them with envy. We neglect the needs of those who are poor because we are more concerned with ourselves and our needs. We cannot escape this innate nature.
It's necessary for us to recognize our sinfulness in order to see our need for Christ and his saving act of dying on the cross for us. That's one of the main purposes, or "use" of God's law.
An old Lutheran line says, "The law shows us our sin. The gospel shows us our Savior." If we do not see and believe that we fall short of God's vision for us and our world, then we won't see a need for salvation. At the same time, if we see only the ways we fall short, and not God's promise of redemption, we may find ourselves keeping score in an attempt to measure our worthiness. We will spend our spiritual energy striving to work our way to God, trying to be good or at least better than our neighbor.
When law and gospel are held in tension, this dialectic produces energy and movement. We glimpse God's intent for us in the law but see also our sinful short-sightedness. Because the gospel assures us that we are already welcomed into the communion of saints, we don't need to scramble to earn God's favor in spite of our flaws. Instead, we can find energy in God's love to try again and again, with our hearts focused on the well-being of ourselves, our communities, and the whole creation. When salvation is a given, we can engage our lives with generosity and hope in spite of, and even because of, our apparent failings.
Similarly, the fact that we are each both sinner and saint could lead us to develop an identity crisis as we engage in a daily tug-of-war within ourselves. But a sinner who recognizes his or her need for Christ and the saint who lives in faith in the promises of God is living a balanced human life. Each of us is 100 percent sinner and 100 percent saint. We are saint and sinner at the same time—simul iustus et peccator.
Scripture uses the word holy, not as it is commonly used in ecclesiastical terminology to denote the blessed, the perfected ones, but specifically to describe the living. Saints are to be found not only in heaven but here among us on earth throughout the community. Thus we no longer distinguish between saints and ordinary Christians but only between the saints who have died and those who are still alive" (Paul Althaus, The Theology of Martin Luther [Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1966], 298).
When Paul writes to the early church communities, he frequently refers to them as saints. In 1 Corinthians 1:2, Paul addresses the Corinthian church by saying, "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Saints live acknowledging their sin and their need for Christ. Saints celebrate the forgiveness that they receive through baptism and look forward to the promise of eternal life in Christ. Saints strive to grow in faith and knowledge of God's presence and work in the world.
Romans 3:23–26 tells us that all of us saints have "fallen short" and are in need of God's grace, which is given to us as a gift. There is nothing that we can do to earn it. We can only receive this gift of God's love given for us. "God died for us while we were still sinners" is the gospel: a powerful message of love for all of humanity.
Showing posts with label martin luther. Show all posts
Showing posts with label martin luther. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Make-Up: December 5th – Martin Luther and the Reformation
Make-Up:
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
On December 5th, we begin a two-week series on Martin Luther and the Reformation. This week, we focused on that aspect and on the 12th, we will take a look at one of the big theological views from Martin Luther: Saint & Sinner.
Bible Text:
Matthew 16:13–20; Luke 4:18–19; Romans 3:21–26; Ephesians 2:8–9
Lesson Focus:
Christians continually reform the church to spread the good news to every generation and culture.
Big Question:
Who is Martin Luther and what does it mean to be a Lutheran?
Key Words:
MARTIN LUTHER, REFORMATION, CATHOLIC, THESIS, RECANT
Definitions of Key Words
MARTIN LUTHER: a German monk and priest who worked to make changes in the church during the 16th century. He became known (not by his choice) as the founder of a new movement that became the Lutheran Church.
REFORMATION: time period in the 16th century when church leaders attempted to change the way the Roman Catholic Church functioned.
CATHOLIC: with a capital C, refers to the Roman Catholic Church, or the traditions of the Western European church before the Reformation. With a lowercase c, refers to all Christians in the universal Christian church; this is the "catholic" we speak of in the Christian creeds.
THESIS: a statement made to provoke an argument or discussion. Luther posted "95 Theses" (plural) on the door of Wittenberg Church in hopes of engaging church leaders in a conversation about his concerns.
RECANT: To withdraw a statement or belief. Luther was asked to recant what he stated at the Diet of Worms in 1521. He did not recant.
Going Deep
A View of Reformation History
Europe had seen some devastating events during the medieval era. Life in the 15th century included some startling realities—the average life expectancy was about 40 years. Childbirth often resulted in the death of the baby or the mother or both. A simple infection or virus often caused death; the bubonic plague killed more than one-third of Europe's population. There was no public education. Democracy as we know it did not exist anywhere. Most people lived in absolute poverty and had no means to work their way out of their miserable situation.
During this time, people could not even choose their own faith. The religion of the ruler determined the religion of the region where he ruled. The Latin phrase cujus regio, jus religio is used to refer to this fact of life. Anyone who rejected the power and authority of the ruler in this matter suffered terribly at the hands of that ruler. For those who lived in territory ruled by a Christian, there was only one Christian church—the Roman Catholic Church. Political leaders were in many ways religious leaders, because they determined what would and would not be taught in their territories. The Bible existed in its original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek versions and had only been translated once—into Latin. This meant only the priests could read it. Because manuscripts had to be copied by hand, there were not a lot of copies to go around, either. The people had to depend on their priests to tell them what the Bible said. Worship was the same. It was conducted in Latin, so most believers could not fully understand what was being said—and many did not understand it at all!
In the midst of these conditions, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. For the first time in history, manuscripts did not need to be copied by hand. This made it possible for information to be reproduced quickly and to spread widely for a relatively small cost. It also opened the door for ordinary people to acquire printed materials, which in turn increased the need for education for all people so that they could read these printed materials.
Martin Luther was born on the heels of the medieval era. As a young man, he planned to be a lawyer and began to study toward that goal. In the midst of a nasty storm, as he dodged lightning bolts, he bargained with God. He promised that if God would save him, he would become a monk. He survived the storm and began studying to become a priest. He spent part of his life as a monk—living in a community with others who had the sole purpose of worshipping and praising God with their lives.
Throughout Luther's ministry, he struggled with what it meant for someone to be "right with God." His main question was, "What does it take to please God and attain righteousness in God's eyes?" While studying the Letter to the Romans, he was smacked over the head with the realization that no one can do enough to be right with God AND that God has already solved the problem by making us righteous through Jesus Christ. This idea led to other new insights and the recognition that the Roman Catholic Church needed to change. Luther began to point out practices that he felt went against what the Bible said about God, and he called on the church leaders to make changes. Making use of the newly invented printing press, he circulated pamphlets featuring his ideas and eventually posted "95 Theses" for debate on the door of the church in Wittenberg.
News of these Theses reached the highest leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, resulting in debates and hearings and even trials. These trials, or diets as they were called at the time, pitted Luther against other leaders. At a diet that took place in Worms in 1521, Luther was asked to recant—to take back what he had been saying. Luther refused. His famous words, "Unless therefore I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture or by the clearest reasoning, unless I am persuaded by means of the passages I have quoted, and unless they thus render my conscience bound by the word of God, I cannot and I will not retract, for it is unsafe for a Christian to speak against his conscience. Here I stand, I can do no other; may God help me. Amen," were spoken at this trial. The church/political leaders responded to Luther's continued refusal to change his words and his ways by excommunicating him and putting a price on his head. Once labeled a criminal, Luther went into hiding, where he spent much of his time translating the Bible into German.
reformation theology
Central Theological Points of the Reformation
1. God's love is unconditional. Luther taught that God loves and forgives us because of Jesus Christ, NOT because of anything we do. The righteousness of God is what God gives to us for the sake of Christ, not something that we do in order to be right with God. The Roman Catholic Church had many teachings about what people needed to DO in order for their sins to be forgiven and for them to be right with God—the purchasing of indulgences was the most notorious of those teachings.
2. Sin is VERY real. Luther taught that we are simultaneously saint and sinner (simul iustis et peccator). Our sinful self needs daily drowning, in the context of God's love and forgiveness given through our baptism. There is not an immediate and total transformation of a person from sinful to sinless, godless to godly, etc. Luther spoke about "both/and" situations. We are both forgiven by God, made right in God's eyes, totally saints—AND sinners, to be judged by God, worthy only of condemnation. It is a paradox, and we struggle against the power of sin in our lives every day. It is only through God's grace that we can trust in God's promise that we have been saved.
3. The three solas—sola scriptura (scripture alone), sola fidei (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone)—are central to Luther's teaching and the Reformation. These are often quoted as "the key" to Luther's teaching. Scripture alone and the plain meaning of scripture attained through clear reasoning constitute the only base that is acceptable for creating doctrine and other teachings of the church. Faith alone, and not works, is what is needed to be forgiven and to receive eternal life. Grace alone is how God gives the gift of faith that results in forgiveness and eternal life.
4. We are saved by grace through faith. Faith means "trust"—that we trust what Jesus said, that we trust God's love, that we trust God's grace, etc. Faith is not something we "do"; it is something we act upon. Luther taught that good works do not bring us into favor with God, nor do they bring us into eternal life. God gives eternal life as a gift because of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. God gives people the Holy Spirit through baptism and the Holy Spirit brings people to have faith in God—to trust God and the promises God has made. Faith is not something we DO. Faith is a gift.
5. We are saved by grace, not works. No amount of good works will earn someone a place in God's house for eternity. That place is a gift. Good works are the result of being saved by grace. Once God has given the gift of eternal life, we respond by doing good works, because we desire to please God, who has been so generous and loving and merciful toward us.
6. All people have the duty to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, not just pastors. This is called the "priesthood of all believers." All useful work serves God, not just what pastors do. All vocations are honored by God. A vocation is a "calling" or something that God has called a believer to do. Luther taught that a person did not need to become a priest in order to do God's work. All believers in all walks of life can, and should, tell others about God's grace. And all believers in all walks of life are serving God with the work they do. Being a priest or a monk does not make a person more blessed than other people in other vocations.
7. The imperfect church continues to be imperfect. Luther taught that the church is a human institution. It makes mistakes and it needs to be continually learning and reforming. When the Christian church is faithful to God, it is continually changing—evaluating what has been done in the past and learning to adapt to new times and cultures.
Blessing
May you, like Martin Luther, boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to a world in need of grace and peace.
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
On December 5th, we begin a two-week series on Martin Luther and the Reformation. This week, we focused on that aspect and on the 12th, we will take a look at one of the big theological views from Martin Luther: Saint & Sinner.
Bible Text:
Matthew 16:13–20; Luke 4:18–19; Romans 3:21–26; Ephesians 2:8–9
Lesson Focus:
Christians continually reform the church to spread the good news to every generation and culture.
Big Question:
Who is Martin Luther and what does it mean to be a Lutheran?
Key Words:
MARTIN LUTHER, REFORMATION, CATHOLIC, THESIS, RECANT
Definitions of Key Words
MARTIN LUTHER: a German monk and priest who worked to make changes in the church during the 16th century. He became known (not by his choice) as the founder of a new movement that became the Lutheran Church.
REFORMATION: time period in the 16th century when church leaders attempted to change the way the Roman Catholic Church functioned.
CATHOLIC: with a capital C, refers to the Roman Catholic Church, or the traditions of the Western European church before the Reformation. With a lowercase c, refers to all Christians in the universal Christian church; this is the "catholic" we speak of in the Christian creeds.
THESIS: a statement made to provoke an argument or discussion. Luther posted "95 Theses" (plural) on the door of Wittenberg Church in hopes of engaging church leaders in a conversation about his concerns.
RECANT: To withdraw a statement or belief. Luther was asked to recant what he stated at the Diet of Worms in 1521. He did not recant.
Going Deep
A View of Reformation History
Europe had seen some devastating events during the medieval era. Life in the 15th century included some startling realities—the average life expectancy was about 40 years. Childbirth often resulted in the death of the baby or the mother or both. A simple infection or virus often caused death; the bubonic plague killed more than one-third of Europe's population. There was no public education. Democracy as we know it did not exist anywhere. Most people lived in absolute poverty and had no means to work their way out of their miserable situation.
During this time, people could not even choose their own faith. The religion of the ruler determined the religion of the region where he ruled. The Latin phrase cujus regio, jus religio is used to refer to this fact of life. Anyone who rejected the power and authority of the ruler in this matter suffered terribly at the hands of that ruler. For those who lived in territory ruled by a Christian, there was only one Christian church—the Roman Catholic Church. Political leaders were in many ways religious leaders, because they determined what would and would not be taught in their territories. The Bible existed in its original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek versions and had only been translated once—into Latin. This meant only the priests could read it. Because manuscripts had to be copied by hand, there were not a lot of copies to go around, either. The people had to depend on their priests to tell them what the Bible said. Worship was the same. It was conducted in Latin, so most believers could not fully understand what was being said—and many did not understand it at all!
In the midst of these conditions, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. For the first time in history, manuscripts did not need to be copied by hand. This made it possible for information to be reproduced quickly and to spread widely for a relatively small cost. It also opened the door for ordinary people to acquire printed materials, which in turn increased the need for education for all people so that they could read these printed materials.
Martin Luther was born on the heels of the medieval era. As a young man, he planned to be a lawyer and began to study toward that goal. In the midst of a nasty storm, as he dodged lightning bolts, he bargained with God. He promised that if God would save him, he would become a monk. He survived the storm and began studying to become a priest. He spent part of his life as a monk—living in a community with others who had the sole purpose of worshipping and praising God with their lives.
Throughout Luther's ministry, he struggled with what it meant for someone to be "right with God." His main question was, "What does it take to please God and attain righteousness in God's eyes?" While studying the Letter to the Romans, he was smacked over the head with the realization that no one can do enough to be right with God AND that God has already solved the problem by making us righteous through Jesus Christ. This idea led to other new insights and the recognition that the Roman Catholic Church needed to change. Luther began to point out practices that he felt went against what the Bible said about God, and he called on the church leaders to make changes. Making use of the newly invented printing press, he circulated pamphlets featuring his ideas and eventually posted "95 Theses" for debate on the door of the church in Wittenberg.
News of these Theses reached the highest leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, resulting in debates and hearings and even trials. These trials, or diets as they were called at the time, pitted Luther against other leaders. At a diet that took place in Worms in 1521, Luther was asked to recant—to take back what he had been saying. Luther refused. His famous words, "Unless therefore I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture or by the clearest reasoning, unless I am persuaded by means of the passages I have quoted, and unless they thus render my conscience bound by the word of God, I cannot and I will not retract, for it is unsafe for a Christian to speak against his conscience. Here I stand, I can do no other; may God help me. Amen," were spoken at this trial. The church/political leaders responded to Luther's continued refusal to change his words and his ways by excommunicating him and putting a price on his head. Once labeled a criminal, Luther went into hiding, where he spent much of his time translating the Bible into German.
reformation theology
Central Theological Points of the Reformation
1. God's love is unconditional. Luther taught that God loves and forgives us because of Jesus Christ, NOT because of anything we do. The righteousness of God is what God gives to us for the sake of Christ, not something that we do in order to be right with God. The Roman Catholic Church had many teachings about what people needed to DO in order for their sins to be forgiven and for them to be right with God—the purchasing of indulgences was the most notorious of those teachings.
2. Sin is VERY real. Luther taught that we are simultaneously saint and sinner (simul iustis et peccator). Our sinful self needs daily drowning, in the context of God's love and forgiveness given through our baptism. There is not an immediate and total transformation of a person from sinful to sinless, godless to godly, etc. Luther spoke about "both/and" situations. We are both forgiven by God, made right in God's eyes, totally saints—AND sinners, to be judged by God, worthy only of condemnation. It is a paradox, and we struggle against the power of sin in our lives every day. It is only through God's grace that we can trust in God's promise that we have been saved.
3. The three solas—sola scriptura (scripture alone), sola fidei (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone)—are central to Luther's teaching and the Reformation. These are often quoted as "the key" to Luther's teaching. Scripture alone and the plain meaning of scripture attained through clear reasoning constitute the only base that is acceptable for creating doctrine and other teachings of the church. Faith alone, and not works, is what is needed to be forgiven and to receive eternal life. Grace alone is how God gives the gift of faith that results in forgiveness and eternal life.
4. We are saved by grace through faith. Faith means "trust"—that we trust what Jesus said, that we trust God's love, that we trust God's grace, etc. Faith is not something we "do"; it is something we act upon. Luther taught that good works do not bring us into favor with God, nor do they bring us into eternal life. God gives eternal life as a gift because of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. God gives people the Holy Spirit through baptism and the Holy Spirit brings people to have faith in God—to trust God and the promises God has made. Faith is not something we DO. Faith is a gift.
5. We are saved by grace, not works. No amount of good works will earn someone a place in God's house for eternity. That place is a gift. Good works are the result of being saved by grace. Once God has given the gift of eternal life, we respond by doing good works, because we desire to please God, who has been so generous and loving and merciful toward us.
6. All people have the duty to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, not just pastors. This is called the "priesthood of all believers." All useful work serves God, not just what pastors do. All vocations are honored by God. A vocation is a "calling" or something that God has called a believer to do. Luther taught that a person did not need to become a priest in order to do God's work. All believers in all walks of life can, and should, tell others about God's grace. And all believers in all walks of life are serving God with the work they do. Being a priest or a monk does not make a person more blessed than other people in other vocations.
7. The imperfect church continues to be imperfect. Luther taught that the church is a human institution. It makes mistakes and it needs to be continually learning and reforming. When the Christian church is faithful to God, it is continually changing—evaluating what has been done in the past and learning to adapt to new times and cultures.
Blessing
May you, like Martin Luther, boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to a world in need of grace and peace.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Martin Luther & Reformation
On December 5th, we began a two-week series on
Bible Text:
Matthew 16:13–20; Luke 4:18–19; Romans 3:21–26; Ephesians 2:8–9
Lesson Focus:
Christians continually reform the church to spread the good news to every generation and culture.
Big Question:
Who is Martin Luther and what does it mean to be a Lutheran?
Key Words:
MARTIN LUTHER, REFORMATION, CATHOLIC, THESIS, RECANT
Key Word Definitions
MARTIN LUTHER: a German monk and priest who worked to make changes in the church during the 16th century. He became known (not by his choice) as the founder of a new movement that became the Lutheran Church.
REFORMATION: time period in the 16th century when church leaders attempted to change the way the Roman Catholic Church functioned.
CATHOLIC: with a capital C, refers to the Roman Catholic Church, or the traditions of the Western European church before the Reformation. With a lowercase c, refers to all Christians in the universal Christian church; this is the "catholic" we speak of in the Christian creeds.
THESIS: a statement made to provoke an argument or discussion. Luther posted "95 Theses" (plural) on the door of Wittenberg Church in hopes of engaging church leaders in a conversation about his concerns.
RECANT: To withdraw a statement or belief. Luther was asked to recant what he stated at the Diet of Worms in 1521. He did not recant.
Luther: Right With God
Throughout Luther's ministry, he struggled with what it meant for someone to be "right with God." His main question was, "What does it take to please God and attain righteousness in God's eyes?" While studying the Letter to the Romans, he was smacked over the head with the realization that no one can do enough to be right with God AND that God has already solved the problem by making us righteous through Jesus Christ. This idea led to other new insights and the recognition that the Roman Catholic Church needed to change. Luther began to point out practices that he felt went against what the Bible said about God, and he called on the church leaders to make changes. Making use of the newly invented printing press, he circulated pamphlets featuring his ideas and eventually posted "95 Theses" for debate on the door of the church in Wittenberg.
Some Central Theological Points of the Reformation
1. God's love is unconditional.
2. Sin is VERY real.
3. The three solas—sola scriptura (scripture alone), sola fidei (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone)—are central to Luther's teaching and the Reformation. These are often quoted as "the key" to Luther's teaching.
4. We are saved by grace through faith.
5. We are saved by grace, not works.
6. All people have the duty to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, not just pastors.
7. The imperfect church continues to be imperfect. Luther taught that the church is a human institution. It makes mistakes and it needs to be continually learning and reforming. When the Christian church is faithful to God, it is continually changing and evaluating what has been done in the past and learning to adapt to new times and cultures.
Bible Text:
Matthew 16:13–20; Luke 4:18–19; Romans 3:21–26; Ephesians 2:8–9
Lesson Focus:
Christians continually reform the church to spread the good news to every generation and culture.
Big Question:
Who is Martin Luther and what does it mean to be a Lutheran?
Key Words:
MARTIN LUTHER, REFORMATION, CATHOLIC, THESIS, RECANT
Key Word Definitions
MARTIN LUTHER: a German monk and priest who worked to make changes in the church during the 16th century. He became known (not by his choice) as the founder of a new movement that became the Lutheran Church.
REFORMATION: time period in the 16th century when church leaders attempted to change the way the Roman Catholic Church functioned.
CATHOLIC: with a capital C, refers to the Roman Catholic Church, or the traditions of the Western European church before the Reformation. With a lowercase c, refers to all Christians in the universal Christian church; this is the "catholic" we speak of in the Christian creeds.
THESIS: a statement made to provoke an argument or discussion. Luther posted "95 Theses" (plural) on the door of Wittenberg Church in hopes of engaging church leaders in a conversation about his concerns.
RECANT: To withdraw a statement or belief. Luther was asked to recant what he stated at the Diet of Worms in 1521. He did not recant.
Luther: Right With God
Throughout Luther's ministry, he struggled with what it meant for someone to be "right with God." His main question was, "What does it take to please God and attain righteousness in God's eyes?" While studying the Letter to the Romans, he was smacked over the head with the realization that no one can do enough to be right with God AND that God has already solved the problem by making us righteous through Jesus Christ. This idea led to other new insights and the recognition that the Roman Catholic Church needed to change. Luther began to point out practices that he felt went against what the Bible said about God, and he called on the church leaders to make changes. Making use of the newly invented printing press, he circulated pamphlets featuring his ideas and eventually posted "95 Theses" for debate on the door of the church in Wittenberg.
Some Central Theological Points of the Reformation
1. God's love is unconditional.
2. Sin is VERY real.
3. The three solas—sola scriptura (scripture alone), sola fidei (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone)—are central to Luther's teaching and the Reformation. These are often quoted as "the key" to Luther's teaching.
4. We are saved by grace through faith.
5. We are saved by grace, not works.
6. All people have the duty to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, not just pastors.
7. The imperfect church continues to be imperfect. Luther taught that the church is a human institution. It makes mistakes and it needs to be continually learning and reforming. When the Christian church is faithful to God, it is continually changing and evaluating what has been done in the past and learning to adapt to new times and cultures.
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