Every October we Lutherans find ourselves turning our minds to the event of I517 which changed the course of history of the Church, and indeed of the world. The event to which I refer is, of course, the Reformation. Perhaps this is inevitable since the Lutheran Church finds its genesis in the events of the Reformation. Martin Luther, though not the only Reformer of the Church by any means, stood out as the Reformer of Reformers.  It was his history-making and history-shaping act of nailing his ninety-five theses on the door of the church in Wittenburg on October 31, 1517 that set in motion the events that led to the Reformation of the church and commonly called the Protestant Reformation by some.  The result of the Reformation is that it brought the Church back to what is central to the faith.

Distracted by the trappings of worldly power and preoccupied with material wealth the Church had lost sight of the true faith in its apostolic teaching and beliefs and practices. The Reformation corrected this defect. The Reformation bought to the centre of the Church’s life what can be called the FIVE SOLAS of the faith.  They are Sola Scriptura (scriptura alone) Sola Fide (faith alone) Sola Gratia (grace alone) Sola Christus (Christ alone) and Soli Deo Gloria(to God alone is the glory). These SOLAS speak to the essence of what the Church teaches, believes and are at the core of its life and practices. Christians should seek to have more than just a passing knowledge of these important teachings and beliefs of the Church.

This October as we Lutherans reflect on the Reformation we could derive much benefits to our understanding of the faith and to our walk with God by reflecting on the five solas of the Reformation. They are, in a real way the sola power of our personal faith. This is not about Lutheranism or being a good Lutheran. It is about centering our lives in what are at the core of the faith and practice of Christianity.