October 29, 2023 – Reformation Text: Matthew 28:11-20
Dear Friends in Christ,
We like to spout off about “follow the science” or “fake news” or “it’s a fact” because I heard it on Fox News or CNN or MSNBC. We want others to adopt the reality we have decided upon. Online profiles are distorted. We have a penchant for replacing substance with shadows.
There was plenty of “fake news” in Martin Luther’s day. His very first hymn was written and sung to cast light on the shadows of a lie being spread about the martyrdom of two young men for believing the Gospel, the first Lutheran martyrs.
Five hundred years ago, on July 1, 2023, Heinrich Voes and Johann Esch were burned at the stake in Brussels, Belgium for refusing to deny the Gospel of the Reformation that we are saved from our sins by grace, through faith, for Christ’s sake alone.
Shortly after their murder, the fake news began that they had denied their faith in their last moments. In response, Luther turned to the most powerful media platform of the day. He wrote a ballad praising these martyrs and upholding their confession of faith. By late summer the song had gone viral, and it showed Luther the power of song to overcome the shadows of deception. We just sang the verses as our sermon hymn. They were printed in the TLH Red Hymnal of 1941 as Hymn #259.
“SONGS AND SHADOWS”
Fake news is dispelled easily as Luther shows in “A Mighty Fortress.” He says of the devil that “one little word can fell him.” And still we cling to his lies.
What drives our dishonesty? Why do we spin our sins like some Washington DC lobbyist? Little white lies are ok. Lust isn’t hurting anybody. My self-centeredness is just self-care. Does God really care what I am saying in a world boiling over with violence and hatred and rampant inhumanity? I might be dismissive toward my family members, but I have a low carbon footprint. I might neglect my spouse, but I volunteer a lot. I have friends heading for hell and I am not sharing the Gospel with them, but I voted the right way in the last election.
These shadows leave us in the dark and we spin sins as virtues. We are okay because we are doing pretty good in most areas of life. Our shadows leave us in desperation.
God wants us to have life and have it to the full. Those who burnt Heinrich and Johann were afraid of the Gospel. They were fearful it would change their little world of lies. They didn’t understand that the Gospel doesn’t change the world. It changes the people in the world. The world remains the same fallen place, even after Jesus’ resurrection.
Jesus lets us know that our sins are real, and they must be atoned for. They deserve death, and someone must die for them. Christ takes the mantle, and He pays for them with his innocent life. We remain sinners, but because Christ has redeemed us, we are also saints. This is no made-up fantasy, it is our reality. For this truth Heinrich and Johann were burned. This is the truth that Luther wants us singing about. This is the truth that sets of free from our spin doctoring. In the long run, we are set free from damnation and eternal separation from God and His people. Being set free puts us on a path to live new lives.
We don’t have to pretend to be someone else to be at peace. Christ allows us to be set free from the shackles and chains. He gives us His forgiveness in the Word and Sacraments.
God’s grace changes us. We were dressed in this grace at our Baptism. We hear this grace in the Pastor’s Absolution. We taste this grace at Christ’s altar. This is the faith that gives us hope and offers hope to the rest of the world. We can’t help but sing when the news is this good. We can’t help but tell the truth when it is so liberating. One of the ways we can do this is by telling of the saints who have gone before us. Men like Heinrich and Johann.
The Psalms tell us of this truth and beauty. They encourage our new song. Here are just a few references: Psalm 96, verse 1 – “Oh sing to the Lord a new song.” Psalm 40, verse 3 – “He put a new song in my mouth.” Psalm 144, verse 9 – “I will sing a new song to you, O God.” The new song begun by Luther, sung forever by the saints in glory.
Sinners, yes. Saints, most certainly. Everyone who has lived and died in the confession of the faith, made the same confession as Heinrich and Johann made unto death. We are justified by grace through faith for Christ’s sake alone. This strengthens our faith and trusts no fake news. The love of Christ that replaces shadows with song.
Amen.