Martin Luther VS The Easter Bunny
Martin Luther ... Who is he? The short answer is that he was the spark that set off the Protestant Reformation in Europe in the 16th century. He was a Catholic monk who, upon reading the Bible, discovering the great gospel of Justification by Faith Alone and proceeding to teach this, entered into direct conflict with the Church and Emperor Charles V.
At TEAM (Training in Evangelism and Ministry) this semester we have been studying the Turning Points of church history and as I investigated Martin Luther’s life and teachings I was surprised at some of his thoughts on traditions and holy days. As we approach the Easter Weekend it would be worth rethinking exactly what it is that we are celebrating, and why now?
The Roman Catholic church and Protestant churches are coming up to celebrate Easter this weekend. But the Eastern Orthodox churches will celebrate Easter the following weekend. The difference comes about from obscure historical reasons involving different calendars and calculations. Is it important to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection at one time of the year over another?
(We have an even greater problem with Christmas, of course, having no concrete date for the birth of Jesus, though it certainly wasn’t in December and the current date comes from a pagan celebration of the winter solistice.)
Luther’s protégé Melanchthon wrote the Augsburg Confession as an expression of Luther’s doctrine. This is what he taught about fastings, traditions and holy days:
“Therefore, we do not condemn fasting in itself, but the traditions which prescribe certain days and certain meats, with peril of conscience, as though such works were a necessary service. Nevertheless, very many traditions are kept on our part, which conduce to good order in the Church, as the Order of Lessons in the Mass and the chief holy-days. But, at the same time, men are warned that such observances do not justify before God, and that in such things it should not be made sin if they be omitted without offense. Such liberty in human rites was not unknown to the Fathers. For in the East they kept Easter at another time than at Rome, and when, on account of this diversity, the Romans accused the Eastern Church of schism, they were admonished by others that such usages need not be alike everywhere.”Augsburg Confession, Article XXVI.
Should Christians only eat fish (not meat) on Good Friday? It is up to conscience, says Luther. We are under no obligation except not to cause offense. Keeping holy days or not keeping holy days is similar, a decision to be made in accordance with what is conducive to good order in the Church.
According to Luther, even the early church’s decision to meet regularly on Sunday came about merely as a pragmatic decision rather than a theological conviction that Sunday was somehow more sacred as a result of the resurrection of Jesus!
So there is no particular significance to the date of Easter. Nor any significance to the rituals associated with the weekend. What good is Easter? Well, it is a time to reflect on the death and resurrection of Christ. As is every other non-Easter day!
A yearly Easter (complete with public holidays) is an incredibly helpful way of being reminded of why Jesus came and an incredible opportunity to tell others. We have people coming into our churches that only come twice a year. Let’s encourage them to continue reflecting on Jesus’ death and resurrection!
[Stephen Bell]
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