Geneva, 30 June 2010

DAY 10 – TUE 29 JUN

ZURICH – BERNE – GRUYERE – GENEVA

Travel along an excellent highway through some of the country’s best farmlands to its stately capital, Berne. Sightseeing with a Local Guide starts at the popular BEAR PIT and then focuses on the monumental Federal Palace and the beautifully preserved medieval Old Town. Witness the hourly parade of painted figures at the Clock Tower and take your pictures of ornate, flower-adorned fountains. Afterwards, continue to the Gruyere area, where you will visit the picturesque town of GRUYERE. Overnight in Geneva. (B)
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Today, was a bit of a filler, as we journeyed from Zurich to Geneva, stopping in Berne and Geneva (some 300 km). The main significance of Berne is that it became a reformed city as early as Zurich.

Gruyere is a beautiful, picturesque small town. The town has been preserved as an 18th century village with no power-lines in the main parts, original streets and shop-fronts, etc. We purchased some nice cheese in Gruyere as well as other goodies as well as having an embarrassing experience with 5 Gruyere-Cafes (in Australia we’d call these Irish Coffees).

I will let the pictures tell the story:

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DAY 11 – WED 30 JUN

GENEVA.
Your orientation tour of Geneva, the city where John Calvin and John Knox preached, includes the United Nations Headquarters, Red Cross Headquarters, the World Council of Churches Headquarters, and a stop at the REFORMATION MONUMENT. Also visit ST. PETER’S CATHEDRAL, where John Calvin served. Balance of the day is at leisure. Farewell Dinner included. Overnight in Geneva. (B, D)

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The old adage that all good things must come to an end was realised today as we had our final day of tours, museums, coffees, beers, a farewell dinner and speeches! Fortunately, though the tour has come to an end, many including ourselves, are continuing to other exciting destinations before returning to the great south land!

The official part of today's proceedings concerned Calvin and the impact of the reformation in Geneva. After countless Luther-Houses, monuments and associated superstitions (the irony!), it was interesting to see Calvin's wishes respected. There are very few genuine Calvin-attractions to see. Apparently Calvin, in true style, said that he didn't want a special burial place (there are various myths about where he is buried), nor did he want attention drawn to him but to the movement. Geneva has been true to this by erecting a "Reformation Wall." Wikipedia offers a full listing of those depicted on the Reformation Wall, click here for details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_Wall. The reformers pictured here (the central part of the wall) are from left to right: Theodore Beza (1519 – 1605), John Calvin (1509 – 1564), William Farel (1489 – 1565) and John Knox (c.1513 – 1572).

Like many important figures of history, Calvin did not only reform the Church in Switzerland but brought about social and cultural reforms. From our Guided tour we learnt that in response to the Roman Catholic viewpoint that people were illiterate and in need of statues, frescoes and mosaics to understand the Bible, Calvin began schools that were accessible to all people. Therefore he contributed substantially to literacy and education in Geneva. Calvin also believed that people should be at Church on time. Again the Catholic Mass was in a language that was foreign to most people, therefore the time of arrival seemed to have little significance. Calvin’s passion for punctuality is (at least in part) responsible for the Swiss’ reputation for time-keeping and watches. We also learned from Rhys that Calvin taught that Sermons should be dated and adjusted to the congregation that they are being preached to. This seems consistent with the Swiss; love of organization.

He reformed the Church too, and this is perhaps what he is best known for. Luther’s reforms were about individual justification by grace, he was excommunicated before he could really influence reforms of the Church. Calvin was the great-organiser. He rejected the traditional three-fold order and introduced four-fold order: pastor-teacher-deacon-elder which involves lay people and is a more collaborative and democratic model. His theology is contained in his four Institutes which are structured around the four big themes of the Creeds. There is of course much more to say about Calvin and his influence on Geneva, Strasbourg and to the Reformation movement (I’ll save that for the essay), suffice to say that what I experienced in Geneva was a city that was in debt to the legacy of Calvin, not only theologically but socially and politically as well. When we think of all the things that Switzerland is famous for, it is not too far of a stretch, in my opinion, to see the influence of Calvin’s pasturing, teaching and theology.

Following the city tour, Heather and I stole some time for relaxing, catching up with work and planning the next leg of our trip. Later that evening, the tour group made its way to a local Italian restaurant for a final farewell dinner. It was joyful and sad as we finished what had been an informative, enriching and community-building experience, albeit an exhausting one. Heather and I gained great insights into the reformation and the culture of the places we visited but we also made some good friends and enjoyed the community aspect of the tour.

We later returned to the lovely outdoor atrium of our hotel for thank-yous, prayer, hymn-singing and farewells. George and Anthea announced Heather and I as the winners of the Scavenger Hunt (hence some of the more obscure photos), touching thanks and farewell to our tour guide, Frau Hertzberg and Robert our driver and also to Rhys for all his work in making it happen. Though tired, Heather and I managed to find the energy to go out for some further drinking at the end of the night!

Thanks everyone for this truly special experience. More Geneva and Farwell photos below:

Zurich, 29 June 2010

DAY 8 – SUN 27 JUN

ZURICH. EXCURSION TO KONSTANZ – BAPTIST CAVES.
Journey to Konstanz, situated on Lake Constance, which became a Protestant city during the Reformation in the 1520’s. Wander around to view the old city walls. Next, make a stop at the BAPTIST CAVE (Täuferhöhle). This cave became famous and named in the 16th century, when Täufer (Anabaptists) used the cave as a hiding place. The Anabaptists were a group of Christians that separated from the church in 1524 to follow their own beliefs. Return to Zurich in the afternoon for overnight. (B)

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This morning’s leg of the tour began at the Anabaptist Caves which I found particularly breath-taking. We journeyed to a small town and then climbed up a cliff to see one of these caves, I have opted today for a bit of video footage to show how beautiful the cave and surrounding area was. Once again, we sang in the cave and I have included this in the video also. Regrettably, I was standing too close to the recorder, so perhaps keep the volume low. Sadly the history associated with these caves is not pleasant. The Anabaptists (ana meaning again), rejected infant baptism and believed that the reforms needed to be far more radical and immediate. The caves provided safety and protection, the water falls and altitude cut out the noise, so they would not have been heard and the water provided and excellent place for adult baptisms. The response of the more moderate reformers was to drown many Anabaptists as heretics.

We then journeyed over the German border, once again, to Konstanz. This was a free afternoon, an absolutely gorgeous day, as well as the qualifying game for Germany in the World Cup – so there was great atmosphere all around. The significance for Konstanz to the reformation was the Council of Konstanz in 1415. This council invited reformer, Johann Hus, to come and address the council on how Reformation of the Church might be achieved, granting him safe passage to Konstanz. This is very significant, because like all great movements, the Reformation had its origins long before its official beginnings. Recall that Luther posted his 95 theses in Wittenberg in 1517. However, the council rejected Hus’ reforms and did not grant him safe passage home. He was burned to death by a group of people led by Johannes Zacharias.

Johannes Zacharias has an interesting link to Luther. He was the abbot of the Augustinian Monastery at Erfurt. When Luther had arrived at Erfurt, he had prostrated himself upon the tomb of Zacharias. Hus’ name means Goose and Luther later took the image of a Swan (from the Monastery windows at Erfurt) as his family crest. Legend has it that when Hus was executed he said: “Today you are burning a goose, but after a hundred years they will hear a swan sing, and him they will endure.”

Today’s focus question is: What is the true Church? and Where does one find the true Church? The traditional medieval view was that the Church was the Pope. And that clergy and lay people participate with the Pope. Zwingli’s view was that the Church was the Pope and the Clergy. And the lay people participate with them. Whilst the Anabaptists believed the Church to be all people and that there was to be no distinction between clergy and laity. Perhaps surprisingly, the Anabaptist view seems to have more consistency with the model of Church we derive from the New Testament. The Acts of the Apostles gives testament to the believers sharing all things together, seeing that no one went without, breaking the bread in one another’s homes (Acts 2).

From Paul’s conversion in Acts 9, his subsequent epistles espouse a theology of the ‘Body of Christ’ and promoting our membership to the body as being multi-faceted, differently gifted, but nonetheless all of vital importance if the body is to function effectively. Where does one find such a Church? It seems that these reformed times began to open up new ways of experiencing Church. Church had been homogenous and unquestionable in its ways for such a long time. Zwingli and Calvin were especially interested in reforming the Church, whilst Luther was primarily concerned with the justification by faith of each individual believer. The Swiss reforms seemed to be going in the right direction, however the Anabaptists, possibly understood that there was still quite a way to go.

For more Zurich and Konstanz photos, see below:

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DAY 9 – MON 28 JUN
ZURICH. EXCURSION TO WILDHAUS – EINSIEDELN.

A short drive brings you to the small town of Wildhaus am Toggenburg. Huldrych Zwingli, the leader of the Reformation in Switzerland, was born here in 1484 and you can visit his HOUSE which still stands. Continue to Einsiedeln and visit the ABBEY CHURCH for Vespers and Salve Regina. Overnight in Zurich. (B)
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For two completely contrasting experiences today we journeyed to the birth place of Zwingli (very understated and protestant) to the counter-Reformation Swiss city of Einsedeln. Zwingli’s house took us to Wildhaus am Toggenburg to a very Swiss looking village with alps and mountains all around. Pictured right is our Tour Group out the front of Zwingli’s birth house. We were not able to enter the house. It has been maintained as a place of historical significance but there are no tours or opportunities to enter the house. We reflected on how Luther’s birth house was quite wealthy as his father had been both a miner and owner of the mines. Zwingli’s house instead was quite modest and certainly if we had entered the house it would have been a short tour.

We then bussed to Einsideln to the Abbey Church which subsequently generated great discussion among the group. Even as a Catholic I can say that this Church is as Catholic as Catholic as Catholic as they come… but perhaps to use more historical/theological terminology, this Church is baroque in style and is a counter-reformation Church. In practice this means that the key things that the reformers rejected are prominent in this Church: scripture translated as imagery, Marian devotion, devotion to Saints, multiple altars, gates in front of altars, Gregorian chant, etc. A group of 71 men (brothers and priests) live monastic life in the Abby and pray daily devotions several times a day as well as having oversight over a school and various other duties. The patron of this Church is Mary as particular reflected in the Black Madonna. We stayed for afternoon Vespers. The first part of the Vespers are chanted/celebrated in the main sanctuary by the Monks (these can be heard but not seen), at the conclusion of Vespers, the Monks process to the Altar of the Black Madonna and chant the Salve Regina.

It is interesting that Protestant Churches of the 16th Century have Octagonal Fonts at the front door of the Church. The front of the Abbey Churchn is Octagonal but instead has the Altar of the Black Madonna. I believe that part of the intention of bringing the tour group to Einsideln and the Abbey Church was to get a sense of what Zwingli was reacting to. Whilst Luther believed that anything that was not expressly forbidden in the bible was permissible, Zwingli and the Swiss reformers believed that anything that was not expressly commanded in scripture was forbidden. We see a good example of this at the Abbey Church.

The Abbey Church was also part of the route of the famous pilgrimage of Compostella in Spain (which pilgrims still make today). Pilgrims would visit the Black Madonna on their way to Spain. Zwingli would have observed this in his time and would had rejected it. The reaction of our tour group participants to the Abbey Church expresses something of the distance between Protestant and Catholic expressions of faith. The two do not bear much resemblance to each other. Reactions ranged from tolerance of difference, to interpreting the experience as demonic. To Zwingli, this devotion to the Black Madonna was both expressly forbidden (by Scripture) and therefore against the new experience of Church which had developed in Switzerland. It was therefore necessary for him to rail against it and does provide a helpful context for protestant reform in sixteenth-century Switzerland.

This day was also our seventh Wedding Anniversary, so we respectively ditched the group and headed down to a restaurant that had been recommended to us, Aqua, and had a big decadent expensive meal to mark the occasion. Earlier in the day, Heather had led Morning Prayer and then expressed some very touching sentiments of love in honour of the day. Thanks Adam L for the restaurant recommendation, it was enjoyed thoroughly!

For more Wildhaus and Einsideln photos, see below:

(Short-lived) Strasbourg, France, 26 June, 2010

DAY 7 – SAT 26 JUN

STRASBOURG – ZURICH
On the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg is influenced by both countries and is the capital of the Alsace region. A noteworthy site is the GOTHIC CATHEDRAL. On to Zurich where you join your Tour Director for a walk through the Old Town and visit GROSSMUNSTER CHURCH, the mother church of the Reformation in Switzerland under Ulrich Zwingli. Also see the Helferei where Zwingli lived. Then, visit FRAUMUNSTER CHURCH, known for Chagall’s stained-glass windows. Overnight in Zurich. (B)

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After five days of sausage and schnitzel (as it good as it was), I think the entire tour-group fell in love with Strasbourg. The small french border-city between Germany and France had been a Protestant hub and imperial city in the sixteenth century.

Arriving the night before, staying in a boutique French Hotel, Heather and I wandered the streets (minus the tour group), enjoying the sights and sounds of this picturesque French town. Early the next morning (Saturday) after having been woken up by a false (fire) alarm, we took a short walk around the corner to the Church that Calvin had pastored while being mentored by Bucer (pronounced Butzer - German sounding).

A quick hike up the road leads to Bucer's Church, St Thomas, which was once a Luthern Church, it is now a Protestant Church and still remains significant as the centre of the Reformation in Strasbourg.

Sadly, both of these Churches were closed when we visited.

Here in Strasbourg we part company with Martin Luther and begin to reflect on the events of the sixteenth and subsequent centuries as REFORMATIONS (plural) as opposed to singular, Reformation. This was the topic we were invited to explore today. A helpful way of getting started is to explore the key differences between the reformation that ensued as a result of the work of Luther in comparison to the Strasbourg-Zurich-Geneva reformation movements. Whist, as we have seen, Luther was an academic, ordained minister and preacher, his reformation developed from a deep inner conversion. In Rhys' words, Luther's message was "Jesus is Saviour" whilst in Strasbourg, Zurich and Geneva the message was "Jesus is Lord." The Wittenberg movement did not perceive of a relationship between Church and State, nor did it place a great emphasis on reforming the community. It was about righteousnes through God's grace expressed personally to and for each believer. The subsequent reformers in Switzerland and France were preoccupied with influencing reformation in the Church and the State. Zwingli saw Church and State as being very connected (he preached openly and strongly against Swiss youths being sent to mercenery service) whereas Luther would not have been able to conceive of such a notion. Luther’s reformation was born out of personal struggle, whereas the Swiss reformation was about a corporate struggle to reform the Church in a pertinent time and context.

I'll save Zurich for my next post.

More photos of Strasbourg below:

Germany Wrap-Up, 26 June, 2010

DAY 4 – WED 23 JUN

EXCURSION TO ERFURT – EISENACH AND WARTBURG.

Visit the AUGUSTINIAN MONASTERY, where Luther lived as a monk, and the MERCHANTS’ BRIDGE. Then on to Eisenach for a visit to WARTBURG CASTLE, where Luther translated the Bible. Also visit the LUTHER and JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH memorials as well as the LUTHER HOUSE, where he lived during grammar school. Then, visit ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH, where he sang in the church’s boy choir. Overnight in Erfurt. (B)
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Certainly one of the highlights of the tour was today’s visit to the Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt. Again, a great sense of peace and prayer abounds particularly in the Chapel where Rhys invited us to sing together, first, Amazing Grace to warm us up and then the Luther Hymn. The Chapel has beautiful acoustics and this was a very sweet and prayerful experience. The courtyard was equally beautiful and the contents of the museum gave a great insight to life at the Monastery.

We later visited the Wartburg Castle which was stunning. A very capable and amusing tour guide led us through the Wartburg Castle which was still very original in many parts.

For a little under a year in 1521-1522, Luther stayed at Wartburg Castle at the request of Frederick the Wise for his own safety following his excommunication. During this time, Luther is most renown for translating the New Testament into German. It is interesting that Germans attribute Luther as giving Germany a uniform language. His aim with his translation of the bible was to use a dialect of German that would be best understood by all people. His form of German became the standardised German language for the nation.

Subsequently we traveled to the town of Eisenach. Eisenach is the town that Luther went to school. Eisenach is also the town that Bach was born in and so we joked about Luther playing ‘second-fiddle’ to Bach in Eisenach.

The theological theme for today is: “The Priesthood of all Believers.” Classical Theology was that grace was mediated through a priest. Today’s theological theme gives new breadth and depth to this classical theological principal. For if all are priests, then all can access the grace of God (without a third-party mediator). Typically Roman Catholicism has given much emphasis to St Peter, seeing the Pope as a direct descendent of St Peter. Paradoxically, it is in the second chapter of the first book of Peter that we are explicitly introduced to this theology of priesthood:

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,
in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him
who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.


Here, God is the initiator, the one who acts; God called humanity out of darkness, out of "non-belo0nging" and has made humanity into his own people and a royal priesthood. This does not discount that some are called to public ministry, nor is it an individualist statement, rather it honours a corporate Christianity where all people can access God's grace, to reflect God's grace in the world and, importantly, to be God's people who share the Christian story and support and love one another in living it out every day of their lives.


More pictures from Erfurt, Wartburg and Eisenbach here:

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DAY 5 – THURS 24 JUN

COBURG – MAINZ
Drive to Coburg, where Luther stayed in 1530 for the Augsburg Germany Imperial Diet. Visit COBURG FORTRESS. Next to Mainz to visit the GUTENBERG MUSEUM and to see original copies of the Bible before you continue to your hotel in Mainz for overnight. (B)
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I must say something unpopular: I was somewhat disappointed with the Coburg Fortress. The Castle building and grounds were spectacular, however it seemed that there was very little that was original in the Castle itself, largely modernised with electricity, ducted heating, etc... It just left me bit cold after having been at Wartburg the previous day. That said, Luther spent time at this Castle on his way to the Diet of Augsberg. Our guide explained to us that Luther was quite frustrated whilst at the Castle as his party had gone ahead of him to Augsberg, he had remained at Coburg for his own safety. He spent three hours a day in prayer (as per his monastic experience) and wrote psalms on the wall. This picture (right) shows Psalm 118 and the Luther crest (obviously a recreation!)

Visiting the Guttenberg museum ended up happening the following day. This was a bit of an exercusus from Luther (though not entirely) but provided the opportunity to reflect upon the theological question that Rhys put before us: At the time of the Reformation, God was doing a new thing. However, what were the old things/things of this world that he used to sponsor the reformation? The book review that we all were asked to prepare prior to the trip showed how two old things that influenced the reformation was the socio-political context of the Imperial Cities (Moeller) and the wide discontent and disillusionment with the religious practice of the day (Ozment). Further the Guttenberg Museum helped put into perspective the huge revolution (which happened alongside the Reformation) of the printing-press and how pamplets and catechesis and later bibles were produced and spread widely. This went hand-in-hand with Luther now having a bible in the language of the people. Pictures were forbidden at the Guttenberg Museum, I found this one online which shows the press Guttenberg used to produce several bibles in a shorter time that it took to produce one at that time.

More pictures from Erfurt, Coburg and Mainz here:


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DAY 6 – FRI 25 JUN

MAINZ – WORMS – SPEYER – STRASBOURG
First, stop in Worms, where the Imperial Council passed judgment on Luther in 1521. Visit the CATHEDRAL where Luther presented his case, as well as TRINITY CHURCH and the famed REFORMATION MONUMENT. Stop in Speyer and visit the CATHEDRAL. Learn about the beginnings of Protestants. End your day with overnight in Strasbourg. (B)
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Following the Guttenberg Museum, we took a long but well-worthwhile trip to Worms. The home of the famous Diet of Worms were Luther was called before the King and the Church to renounce his theological position. The question ouit before us today was: Was the Reformation a positive or negative movement?

Australian English vernacular tends to interpret the word “Protestant” as emphasising protesting which is an easy distinction to make. Its Latin origin Protostazio means putting forth a summary of beliefs. Therefore this is what we are FOR as opposed to what we are AGAINST. This word was first used in the context of the Reformation by the Lutherans at the Diet of Speyer. With this in mind, we were invited to consider today whether the Reformation was a positive or negative or negative movement.

We visited the famous city of Worms and the place where Luther refused to recant. After being asked to recant, Luther requested some time to consider his response, an excerpt of this response is included here:

'However, since I am a man and not God, I cannot provide my writings with any other defense than that which my Lord Jesus Christ provided for His teaching... And so, through the mercy of God, I ask Your Imperial Majesty, and Your Illustrious Lordships, or anyone of any degree, to defeat them by the writings of the Prophets or by the Gospels; for I shall be most ready, if I be better instructed, to recant any error, and I shall be the first in casting my writings into the fire. . . .' [for more, visit: http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~lyman/english233/Luther-Diet_of_Worms.htm]

Following this, Emperor Charles V who was the convenor of the Diet (Imperial Council), gave his verdict. Luther at this stage was already excommunicated from the Catholic Church, the Emperor’s verdict made Luther and outlaw and subsequently he would have been in great danger as it was legal for civilians to kill him without recompense.

Luther’s response to the Diet, together with his personal convictions that were previously reflected upon, affirm that his “position’ was positive. Luther’s intention was to be restorative, he wished to correct abuse and to provide necessary reforms to a system of Church that was full of monetary and spiritual abuses.

Whilst at Wittenberg, we saw this famous portrait of Luther's statement at the Diet of Worms. I thought it was particularly stunning:

From Worms we journeyed over the border to Strasbourg, France. We regrettably never made it to Speyer. For more pictures of Mainz and Worms, see below:

Germany Part 1, 22 June, 2010

It’s day 4 of the tour. The unofficial part of the tour began in Berlin with free-time. I devoted much of this time to visiting parts of the now-fallen Berlin wall. In certain parts there are very small sections of the wall which do not seem very threatening. However, when seeing a larger section of the wall it was quite depressing to think about how this divided a nation for so many years! At the same time, the other side of the wall had artistic works from all artists from different part of the world reflecting upon different aspects of war, peace, oppression, hope and other relevant themes.

We spent day 2 on a tour which took us to the various parts of the wall and Checkpoint-Charlie, our skilled and knowledgeable guide also took us through various areas of Berlin and spoke about how some post-war rubble had been cleared as recently as this year. He talked very frankly about Nazi Germany and the Holocaust and I sensed that Berlin is a truly repentant city. The mood is one of great grief and shame, and everywhere you go there are monuments and tributes in honour of the Jewish people. Such as the one here pictured. Embarrassingly we didn’t know what this was (we thought at first that it might be a maze), but in fact the blocks are meant to represent tombs of different sizes.

The complete collection of Berlin Photos may be found here:

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DAY 3 – TUES 22 JUN

BERLIN – WITTENBERG – EISLEBEN – LEIPZIG
Journey to Wittenberg, Luther’s home for 30-plus years and birthplace of the Reformation. Enjoy a guided walking tour including the REFORMATION MUSEUM, LUTHER HOUSE, ST. MARY’S CHURCH, where he preached, and CASTLE CHURCH, where he hung his 95 Theses. Also visit MARTIN LUTHER’S TOMB. In Eisleben, visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the HOUSE in which Luther was born and the STERBEHAUS MUSEUM, home of his last residence. Then, visit ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH, where he preached his last sermon, followed by a visit to the ST. PETER AND PAUL CHURCH, where Luther was baptised. Overnight in Erfurt. (B)
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On day 3 we began the European Reformation Tour beginning in Wittenberg (the so-called “cradle-city” of the Reformation). Wittenberg is where Luther spent much of his life as a Lecturer at the University and the home of the Cathedral where his famous 95 theses were posted. We visited the Castle Church and St Mary’s Church. Martin Luther and his closest friend and fellow reformer, Phillip Melanchthon, are both buried at the Castle Church. The Reformation Museum and Luther’s House in Wittenberg provided countless statues and images of Luther, Melenthen and Katie.

Wittenberg is a beautiful town. We reflected there on how it was in Luther’s time an academic town: how Luther came to preach at the local Churches as an academic cleric and monk and that the forum of posting theses to a Cathedral door was in fact and invitation to academic (albeit Theological) debate. It’s good to know that academics can play such an important role! A further reflection is that Luther was ‘average’ in one sense; an academic doing his job but driven by a sense of integrity for the truth: spiritual, philosophical and theological.

Many of the statues and images of Luther depict a sternness: a bible in one hand, a man with a mission! Some of the younger depictions demonstrate an anxiety: as though perhaps tortured by his own thoughts and reflections. The Luther Garden was particularly beautiful with sweet smelling flowers and beautiful greenery and an amazing sense of God’s Spirit dwelling therein.

Finally we moved to Eisleben to both the “Birth House” and “Death House” of Luther which offered further insights to Luther’s life and death.

At the beginning of this day, Rhys encouraging us to reflect on the following two big ideas of the reformation. The Matter: How do human beings receive grace? Who provides grace? How important is the Church in mediating grace. Justification by grace through faith.

Formal Principle: The authority you appeal to argue your case about how grace is received.

SPECTRUM
RC – Priesthood / Papacy
Middle – Scripture alone – final authority (Does the scripture forbid it?)
Anabaptists – Scripture important but not alone

Luther moved from an absolutist Roman Catholic perspective to an understanding of God’s grace as “love poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5.5). Some of his writings are reminiscent of the apostle, Paul, who writes in Philippians Chapter 2 about his faithfulness and adherence to the Jewish law and how he now considers it all “rubbish” in order that he “may gain Christ.” Against this background Luther came to see that Christians need no longer appeal to a priest, pope or institution for divine favour but have access directly from a loving God who crucified sin on the cross and made us all righteous-through what he did not anything that we can do.

More Witternberg and Eisleben pictures here: