This Sunday (Reformation Sunday), Gloria Dei held a "Healing Service." Below is a synopsis of the sermon preached on the Biblical word about healing.This Sunday's message brought the popular American beliefs about Healing into conversation with the 16th century controversy concerning Indulgences (the controversy which sparked Martin Luther's attempt to reform the Catholic church, which gave birth to the Lutheran church).
On Indulgences:
- What were they?
- Indulgences were objects that were supposedly actual pieces of historical significance to the Christian faith. (So, for example, they might be splinters from "Christ's Cross," or a vial of "Paul's Tears." It was all poppycock, of course.)
- Authorities from the Church would sell these objects (or, Indulgences) to the people.
- What did they do?
- If you bought an indulgence, it was supposedly a "Demonstration of your Faith."
- So, as a reward, the Pope would set one of your relatives free from Purgatory.
- Martin Luther's Simple Question:
- If the Pope can do this for the people, why wouldn't he do it out of simple Love and Mercy?
- Why would he make them live in fear, and pay huge sums for the gift of Forgiveness?
- Wasn't God's forgiveness part of the Free Gift known as Jesus Christ?
On Healing:
- The Popular Belief in America:
- If you pray HARD enough, and have ENOUGH faith, God will heal you.
- What does this turn God into?
- An emotionless judge
- A distant button pusher
- A God who will do something good for you, IF you give enough or do enough
- In other words, the corrupt Pope from the Indulgences controversy
- The Biblical View:
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