I'm sorry. I can't help

myself.

Forgive me. OK? Consider

the source.

I just can't write an

article on Oct. 31 without writing about this. (And it's

NOT Halloween!)

It's "The

Reformation". If you're a brave soul, please have a

little fun with the following quiz. (Answers are at the

end.)

1. About how many years ago

did Martin Luther live?

a. 500

b. 100

c. 30

2. In what country did

Martin Luther live?

a. England

b. Germany

c. U.S.A.

3. What church was Martin

Luther originally in?

a. Baptist

b. Always had his own

church

c. Roman Catholic

4. What occupation was

Martin Luther?

a. Lawyer

b. Pastor

c. Professor

5. Martin Luther disagreed

with authorities about what?

a. Civil Rights

b. Taxes

c. Indulgences

d. Marriage Restrictions

6. Martin Luther is

associated with what emphases?

a. Grace, Faith, Scripture

Alone

b. Justification by faith

c. Priesthood of all

believers

7. Martin Luther's most

famous writing is what?

a. Free-at-Last Speech

b. 95 Theses

c. Bible

8. One of Luther's greatest

concerns was what?

a. Being famous

b. Getting married

c. Using the "Language

of the people"

9. The collection of

writings representing the Lutheran Perspective of the

Christian Faith is called what?

a. Luther's Works

b. The Lutheran Confessions

c. The Lutheran Bible

10. Today the emphasis of

"Reformation" is upon what?

a. History

b. Current Events

c. The Future of the Church

Answers:

1. a, Watch out, Martin

Luther KING Jr. was named after this historical figure.

2. b

3. c

4. b & c, Luther began

studying Law, but changed to the priesthood. He was

actually both a Pastor and Professor of Theology at the

University of Wittenberg.

5. c,

"Indulgences" were a custom of the time to sell

forgiveness of sins. That practice ceased not long after.

6. a, b, & c! a. In

Latin: Sola Gratia! Sola Fide! Sola

Scriptura! b. Justification by faith NOT

"works." c. "Priesthood of all

believers" declares that any believer can pray and

talk directly with God for forgiveness.

7. b, "Theses"

were statements or questions for debate. It was "The

95 Theses" that Luther nailed on the church door at

Wittenberg Oct. 31, 1517, which retrospectively

"began" the Protestant Reformation.

8. c, Luther never wanted

to be famous or "start a new church." He

married Katherine von Bora, a former nun, but this was

not why he left the Roman Church. "The language of

the people" was his thing. Don't you think he would

start a "Christian alternative rock band" for

young people of our day?

9. b,

"Confessions" means "statements of

faith", not "I'm sorry for..." Many of

Luther's writings are collected in Luther's Works. And

there is no such thing as a Lutheran Bible. However,

Luther was the first to translate the Bible into German

for the people of his homeland!

10. a, b, & c The study

of history never only looks back! In fact, studying and

understanding Reformation history comes to a huge current

event when today, Oct. 31, 1999, in Augsburg, Germany,

both Roman Catholics and Lutherans sign "The Joint

Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification," which

affirms agreement on the main theological difference

which started "The Reformation"! And who knows

what positive impact may yet come in the future!

Finally, on a personal

note: Never do I teach that "Luther was all right

and the Catholics were all wrong." Never! My

emphasis is to recognize the positive influence Luther

and his teachings had for the whole Church.

Thanks for listening. Happy

Reformation Day!

Kollmeyer is Sr.

Pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in

Fayetteville.

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