This is Reformation Sunday, which is historically the celebration of Martin Luther nailing the 95 Thesis to the Church door.
In my experience, Reformation sermons have emphasized either the John text that “the truth will set you free”, Reformation history, or basking in Lutheran victory.
Yet, basking in Lutheran victory might be rooted in a fairytale of our imagination. Yes, the Lutheran faith has survived nearly 500 years, yet vast populations have little to no knowledge of Lutheranism. Further, the harsh reality is that the Evangelical Lutheran Church is America (ELCA) is dwindling and the average age of practitioners is on the rise. Unfortunately, these realities have struck essentially all Mainline Protestant Churches.
