October 31 in Germany

Not everyone thinks of Halloween on October 31. The date reminds some of us of October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther posted 95 theses he proposed for debate on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.

It is our privilege to be in Germany for Reformation Sunday this year. On October 31 we will worship and Bill will preach in a new mission church near Heidelberg, Germany.

Heidelberg occupies a noted place in Reformation history. Elector Frederick III commissioned the theologians of the University of Heidelberg to compose a Catechism for the people of his territory. Frederick’s goal was to draw on the best of Lutheran and Reformed thinking in Europe at that time to compose a doctrinal statement for instructing ordinary people in the basics of this new Protestant expression of the Christian faith. This catechism was officially adopted in 1563 and Zacharius Ursinus is commonly regarded as the principal author.

The first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism are quite well known, and we’ll reproduce them here for those who may not be familiar with them:

Question: "What is your only comfort in life and death?"

Answer: "That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.”

This is a summary of and an introduction to the Gospel, the message of God’s grace for which we are thankful and which we seek to share.

On Reformation Sunday, would you pray with us for the re-evangelization of Europe and for the faithfulness of Christians living on this continent?

I’m happy to add that Diane has rejoined me after 8 days of ministry in Gabon (Africa). She will give some details on her time there in a future message.

Bill Jerdan

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