Living out the Reformation faith is simple. It isn’t easy, but it is not complicated. Before I came to this faith, I found myself frequently tied into knots over the question of whether I was living out God’s plan for my life. Had God planned for me to be in my chosen profession, or had I strayed from His will? Did He want me involved in this ministry or that one? I even wondered whether it was His will that I marry my beloved fiancé! Continually I strained to see signs that my path was God’s chosen one for me. Forget about the peace that passes understanding, I didn’t even have ordinary peace.
I became Lutheran 11 years ago, and it didn’t take long for me to find new peace—or rather, for peace to find me.
To live the Reformation faith is to live at the foot of the cross of Christ.
That’s it. That always was and always will be God’s plan for my life, and for the lives of all Christians. There is no secret path or hidden sign we must discern on threat of being outside of God’s will. At the foot of the cross we love God and give Him thanks and praise. We pray to Him there. We receive all that is needful for salvation there. As Christ died there in service to us and for our benefit, so we die to ourselves in service to our neighbors and for their benefit. What sort of service? Whatever our neighbors need that we can provide. In any career, whether as spouse or as friend, serving those who know they need it, or those who do not realize that they need to be served—opportunities to serve come to us as gift. We are blessed in serving. No strings attached. No fine print. And when we serve, our service comes to our neighbors as gift.
Jesus promised us peace when we come to Him. To live in the faith of the Reformation is to dwell at the foot of the cross, loving God and serving neighbor, and receiving Christ’s peace.
-Dr. Russell Dawn, Associate Professor of History and Political Thought