LUTHER AND THE POPE

        Whether you agreed with what he said or not, Pope Francis made a huge impression on America during his visit. It was refreshing to "hear the silence" of so many critics who normally try to decry and destroy the message and work of Christianity. But enough of his message was politically correct that the media was rather amazed at what the man in white had to say, no matter what the setting.
        Jesus had that kind of reception for a brief part of his ministry. The people loved Him and the critics at first weren't sure how to deal with Him. Eventually He got under their skin and they found a way to get rid of Him. His "incorrect" message was His undoing, but mankind's eternal blessing.
        We heard the term "gospel" used in a number of ways during the past week. The "gospel of the Golden Rule" and the "gospel of helping the needy" were interesting uses I'd not heard. But "gospel" in the church refers to what Jesus did for us, not what we should be doing for him. "Service" and "ministry" are better terms, more accurate of what we should do for Him. Gospel is what He did for us.
            I wonder what Martin Luther would have thought of this Pope. Gone are the damning indulgences and the political purchasing of power. Gone is the hypocrisy of "nephews and nieces" suddenly appearing in papal family trees. I am sure Luther would still have rejected some of Francis' theology, but perhaps not as vehemently as he did around 1517.
            Two years from now in 2017 will be the 500th anniversary of the posting of Luther's 95 Theses in Wittenberg. In the coming years hundreds of thousands of visitors will visit Old Town Wittenberg and file in and out of the newly refurbished Castle Church and see the doors where the Theses were posted. They will also visit St. Mary's, the City Church where Luther was pastor 22 years. Thousands more will walk the cobblestone streets on "College Street" past the Black Cloister where Luther and Katie raised and taught children of all ages. And all will see the memorials to Luther, Melanchthon and other giants of the Reformation standing as sentinels in front of City Hall. 
            It would be interesting if Pope Francis decided to take a side trip to little Wittenberg. There he'd see a part of history always overlooked by the Church of Rome. Meanwhile, however, there are all kinds of "gospels" to proclaim and homilies to share about how to make earth a better place. But only one true Gospel saves our souls.

But it was a nice break from political news, don't you think?