imagine living in a society that’s enjoying sustained calm and consensus a
enjoying sustained calm and consensus a
enjoying sustained calm and consensus a general sense that our institutions are
general sense that our institutions are
general sense that our institutions are just an efficient and serving the common
just an efficient and serving the common
just an efficient and serving the common good okay now come back to reality
good okay now come back to reality
good okay now come back to reality because that is not the society that we
because that is not the society that we
because that is not the society that we live in here in now America 2018 we’re
live in here in now America 2018 we’re
live in here in now America 2018 we’re actually pretty angry about a lot of our
actually pretty angry about a lot of our
actually pretty angry about a lot of our institutions so think about the criminal
institutions so think about the criminal
institutions so think about the criminal justice system do we celebrate it as a
justice system do we celebrate it as a
justice system do we celebrate it as a stable pillar of our just society hardly
stable pillar of our just society hardly
stable pillar of our just society hardly we’re pretty worried about things like
we’re pretty worried about things like
we’re pretty worried about things like police violence and mass incarceration
police violence and mass incarceration
police violence and mass incarceration and racial disparities and sentencing so
and racial disparities and sentencing so
and racial disparities and sentencing so forth right or how about our election
forth right or how about our election
forth right or how about our election system do we think of this as a
system do we think of this as a
system do we think of this as a well-oiled mechanism of democracy that
well-oiled mechanism of democracy that
well-oiled mechanism of democracy that it’s supposed to be
it’s supposed to be
it’s supposed to be we’re troubled Frank we’re troubled over
we’re troubled Frank we’re troubled over
we’re troubled Frank we’re troubled over things like the way that campaigns are
things like the way that campaigns are
things like the way that campaigns are funded by corporate interests and by
funded by corporate interests and by
funded by corporate interests and by gerrymandered district and by trench
gerrymandered district and by trench
gerrymandered district and by trench Mynt of party loyalty and so on right
Mynt of party loyalty and so on right
Mynt of party loyalty and so on right and how about the the news media so
and how about the the news media so
and how about the the news media so everybody seems to think that everybody
everybody seems to think that everybody
everybody seems to think that everybody else is getting fed fake news but we
else is getting fed fake news but we
else is getting fed fake news but we don’t know we can’t agree on who the
don’t know we can’t agree on who the
don’t know we can’t agree on who the arbiter is right so we we feel really
arbiter is right so we we feel really
arbiter is right so we we feel really ambivalent about our institutions you
ambivalent about our institutions you
ambivalent about our institutions you could probably add to that list of those
could probably add to that list of those
could probably add to that list of those I’d mentioned some institution that you
I’d mentioned some institution that you
I’d mentioned some institution that you feel personally distressed by right what
feel personally distressed by right what
feel personally distressed by right what do we do with our distress well what
do we do with our distress well what
do we do with our distress well what most people do is complain about
most people do is complain about
most people do is complain about institutions on social media right which
institutions on social media right which
institutions on social media right which hardly ever leads to anything good but
hardly ever leads to anything good but
hardly ever leads to anything good but what we need are not complainers but
what we need are not complainers but
what we need are not complainers but reformers we need those who love their
reformers we need those who love their
reformers we need those who love their institutions enough in order to work
institutions enough in order to work
institutions enough in order to work toward making them healthier
toward making them healthier
toward making them healthier but how do we reform our institutions
but how do we reform our institutions
but how do we reform our institutions how’s that how’s that possible
how’s that how’s that possible
how’s that how’s that possible is it even possible where do we begin
is it even possible where do we begin
is it even possible where do we begin and and and and where can we find some
and and and and where can we find some
and and and and where can we find some sort of guide or template to show us how
sort of guide or template to show us how
sort of guide or template to show us how to do it well I’m here to deliver some
to do it well I’m here to deliver some
to do it well I’m here to deliver some good news
good news
good news reform is possible and the reason I know
reform is possible and the reason I know
reform is possible and the reason I know it’s possible is that it’s been done
it’s possible is that it’s been done
it’s possible is that it’s been done before five hundred years ago last
before five hundred years ago last
before five hundred years ago last October marked it was the 500th
October marked it was the 500th
October marked it was the 500th anniversary of a monumentally successful
anniversary of a monumentally successful
anniversary of a monumentally successful reform movement and I mean the one that
reform movement and I mean the one that
reform movement and I mean the one that Martin Luther spearheaded so my claim
Martin Luther spearheaded so my claim
Martin Luther spearheaded so my claim today is that a little bit of
today is that a little bit of
today is that a little bit of familiarity with the way that Luther
familiarity with the way that Luther
familiarity with the way that Luther went about reforming can go a long way
went about reforming can go a long way
went about reforming can go a long way in helping guide us as we try to reform
in helping guide us as we try to reform
in helping guide us as we try to reform our institutions today so what I’m gonna
our institutions today so what I’m gonna
our institutions today so what I’m gonna do i I’m going to talk through what I
do i I’m going to talk through what I
do i I’m going to talk through what I take to be the four stages of Luther’s
take to be the four stages of Luther’s
take to be the four stages of Luther’s reform movement do we do we have the
reform movement do we do we have the
reform movement do we do we have the slides we have the slides I would have
slides we have the slides I would have
slides we have the slides I would have them up there okay great
them up there okay great
them up there okay great okay so the first stage is protesting a
okay so the first stage is protesting a
okay so the first stage is protesting a harm
Martin Luther there is great okay so so
Martin Luther there is great okay so so it’s 1517 and Luther is a monk and a
it’s 1517 and Luther is a monk and a
it’s 1517 and Luther is a monk and a theologian the little German town of
theologian the little German town of
theologian the little German town of Vinton burg and he hears that Johann
Vinton burg and he hears that Johann
Vinton burg and he hears that Johann Tetzel a traveling indulgent salesman is
Tetzel a traveling indulgent salesman is
Tetzel a traveling indulgent salesman is coming to the area indulgences have long
coming to the area indulgences have long
coming to the area indulgences have long been a part of medieval Catholic piety
been a part of medieval Catholic piety
been a part of medieval Catholic piety so the idea is in exchange for some act
so the idea is in exchange for some act
so the idea is in exchange for some act of penitence like giving alms or going
of penitence like giving alms or going
of penitence like giving alms or going on a pilgrimage you would be given by
on a pilgrimage you would be given by
on a pilgrimage you would be given by your father confessor this document
your father confessor this document
your father confessor this document called an indulgence there’s one that
called an indulgence there’s one that
called an indulgence there’s one that confirmed that your act of penitence was
confirmed that your act of penitence was
confirmed that your act of penitence was meritorious that the punishment for your
meritorious that the punishment for your
meritorious that the punishment for your sin had been lifted now this practice
sin had been lifted now this practice
sin had been lifted now this practice had degenerated to the point where
had degenerated to the point where
had degenerated to the point where European peasants were simply being told
European peasants were simply being told
European peasants were simply being told give us money and your relatives will be
give us money and your relatives will be
give us money and your relatives will be ushered through purgatory to paradise so
ushered through purgatory to paradise so
ushered through purgatory to paradise so we’ve become just a way of making money
we’ve become just a way of making money
we’ve become just a way of making money by exploiting the faithful basically and
by exploiting the faithful basically and
by exploiting the faithful basically and this made Luther furious so what he did
this made Luther furious so what he did
this made Luther furious so what he did was he protested and he did this by
was he protested and he did this by
was he protested and he did this by nailing his famous 95 theses to the
nailing his famous 95 theses to the
nailing his famous 95 theses to the Vidhan burg church door this is a
Vidhan burg church door this is a
Vidhan burg church door this is a professor’s protest a way of stating
professor’s protest a way of stating
professor’s protest a way of stating grievances declaring that this practice
grievances declaring that this practice
grievances declaring that this practice was degenerate and his protest was
was degenerate and his protest was
was degenerate and his protest was really successful so Johann Tetzel
really successful so Johann Tetzel
really successful so Johann Tetzel campaign failed and Luther got all of
campaign failed and Luther got all of
campaign failed and Luther got all of Europe talking about indulgences and
Europe talking about indulgences and
Europe talking about indulgences and whether they were appropriate
whether they were appropriate
whether they were appropriate so so what is Luther do next the next
so so what is Luther do next the next
so so what is Luther do next the next stage is rediscovering the foundations
stage is rediscovering the foundations
stage is rediscovering the foundations Luther digs into the theological
Luther digs into the theological
Luther digs into the theological foundations of the institutional church
foundations of the institutional church
foundations of the institutional church he’s trying to reform he wants to
he’s trying to reform he wants to
he’s trying to reform he wants to identify the theological beating heart
identify the theological beating heart
identify the theological beating heart that that’s underneath all of the
that that’s underneath all of the
that that’s underneath all of the corruption and he succeeds in finding
corruption and he succeeds in finding
corruption and he succeeds in finding its grace okay so the idea is salvation
its grace okay so the idea is salvation
its grace okay so the idea is salvation is not a matter of doing good works to
is not a matter of doing good works to
is not a matter of doing good works to to meet God’s approval rather it’s a
to meet God’s approval rather it’s a
to meet God’s approval rather it’s a matter of receiving while we’re sinners
matter of receiving while we’re sinners
matter of receiving while we’re sinners God’s gift of salvation so this core
God’s gift of salvation so this core
God’s gift of salvation so this core insight about grace is the thing that
insight about grace is the thing that
insight about grace is the thing that animates everything that follows for
animates everything that follows for
animates everything that follows for Luther and this is really important
Luther and this is really important
Luther and this is really important because it allows Luther to move beyond
because it allows Luther to move beyond
because it allows Luther to move beyond a negative vision and a sense for what’s
a negative vision and a sense for what’s
a negative vision and a sense for what’s wrong with the church to a positive
wrong with the church to a positive
wrong with the church to a positive vision a sense for what’s possible for
vision a sense for what’s possible for
vision a sense for what’s possible for the church and and this with this
the church and and this with this
the church and and this with this positive vision as his Polestar he is
positive vision as his Polestar he is
positive vision as his Polestar he is able to navigate between two errors one
able to navigate between two errors one
able to navigate between two errors one error would be not going far enough with
error would be not going far enough with
error would be not going far enough with his reform for example just declaring
his reform for example just declaring
his reform for example just declaring indulgences
indulgences
indulgences not permitting indulgences but not then
not permitting indulgences but not then
not permitting indulgences but not then dealing with any of the underlying
dealing with any of the underlying
dealing with any of the underlying corruption the other error would be
corruption the other error would be
corruption the other error would be going too far
going too far
going too far say rejecting the Christian tradition
say rejecting the Christian tradition
say rejecting the Christian tradition altogether as Luther articulates his
altogether as Luther articulates his
altogether as Luther articulates his central insight about grace and the
central insight about grace and the
central insight about grace and the positive vision that follows from it
positive vision that follows from it
positive vision that follows from it conflict with Rome increases until by
conflict with Rome increases until by
conflict with Rome increases until by 1521 four years later it becomes clear
1521 four years later it becomes clear
1521 four years later it becomes clear that no reconciliation with Rome is
that no reconciliation with Rome is
that no reconciliation with Rome is going to be possible and this takes us
going to be possible and this takes us
going to be possible and this takes us to the third stage implementing local
to the third stage implementing local
to the third stage implementing local changes so Luther gets together with the
changes so Luther gets together with the
changes so Luther gets together with the some other leaders in Vidhan burg to try
some other leaders in Vidhan burg to try
some other leaders in Vidhan burg to try out some new ways of doing Church so he
out some new ways of doing Church so he
out some new ways of doing Church so he the the mass is conducted in German
the the mass is conducted in German
the the mass is conducted in German rather than in land and both the bread
rather than in land and both the bread
rather than in land and both the bread and the wine are given to parishioners
and the wine are given to parishioners
and the wine are given to parishioners Luther translates the Bible into German
Luther translates the Bible into German
Luther translates the Bible into German confession is not required for for the
confession is not required for for the
confession is not required for for the forgiveness of sins the the number of
forgiveness of sins the the number of
forgiveness of sins the the number of sacraments is reduced from seven to two
sacraments is reduced from seven to two
sacraments is reduced from seven to two and so on what all these things have in
and so on what all these things have in
and so on what all these things have in common is that they’re out workings of
common is that they’re out workings of
common is that they’re out workings of Luther’s core insight about grace but
Luther’s core insight about grace but
Luther’s core insight about grace but they’re implemented locally on a small
they’re implemented locally on a small
they’re implemented locally on a small scale as a sort of pilot program in
scale as a sort of pilot program in
scale as a sort of pilot program in Vinton burg and Luther oversees their
Vinton burg and Luther oversees their
Vinton burg and Luther oversees their implementation with the eye of a realist
implementation with the eye of a realist
implementation with the eye of a realist so he knows he’s got to keep this team
so he knows he’s got to keep this team
so he knows he’s got to keep this team together he’s got to keep him from
together he’s got to keep him from
together he’s got to keep him from fighting among themselves
fighting among themselves
fighting among themselves he’s got to admonish the overzealous and
he’s got to admonish the overzealous and
he’s got to admonish the overzealous and he’s got to encourage the timid and he’s
he’s got to encourage the timid and he’s
he’s got to encourage the timid and he’s got to constantly remind them about that
got to constantly remind them about that
got to constantly remind them about that that grace is the is the the the central
that grace is the is the the the central
that grace is the is the the the central idea here and it almost doesn’t work his
idea here and it almost doesn’t work his
idea here and it almost doesn’t work his team almost falls apart it’s only
team almost falls apart it’s only
team almost falls apart it’s only because of his meticulous
because of his meticulous
because of his meticulous this patient attentive leadership that
this patient attentive leadership that
this patient attentive leadership that this that this goes gradually reform in
this that this goes gradually reform in
this that this goes gradually reform in the Vinton Berg mold spreads to other
the Vinton Berg mold spreads to other
the Vinton Berg mold spreads to other towns in Germany and a movement really
towns in Germany and a movement really
towns in Germany and a movement really begins in earnest and takes us to the
begins in earnest and takes us to the
begins in earnest and takes us to the fourth stage restructuring for a
fourth stage restructuring for a
fourth stage restructuring for a sustainable future so Luther recognizes
sustainable future so Luther recognizes
sustainable future so Luther recognizes that he’s not going to live forever so
that he’s not going to live forever so
that he’s not going to live forever so he collaborates with some civil leaders
he collaborates with some civil leaders
he collaborates with some civil leaders and some church leaders to try to make
and some church leaders to try to make
and some church leaders to try to make this a long-term thing
this a long-term thing
this a long-term thing he writes catechisms which are teaching
he writes catechisms which are teaching
he writes catechisms which are teaching manuals for both clergy and laity he
manuals for both clergy and laity he
manuals for both clergy and laity he writes the Augsburg confession which is
writes the Augsburg confession which is
writes the Augsburg confession which is a succinct statement of his doctrine and
a succinct statement of his doctrine and
a succinct statement of his doctrine and he helps establish schools and
he helps establish schools and
he helps establish schools and seminaries so that the next generation
seminaries so that the next generation
seminaries so that the next generation can be educated I think it’s here that
can be educated I think it’s here that
can be educated I think it’s here that Luther really demonstrates his wisdom
Luther really demonstrates his wisdom
Luther really demonstrates his wisdom because this is the boring and tedious
because this is the boring and tedious
because this is the boring and tedious part right this is where Luther he’s
part right this is where Luther he’s
part right this is where Luther he’s taking up the unglamorous
taking up the unglamorous
taking up the unglamorous task of establishing new institutional
task of establishing new institutional
task of establishing new institutional systems that can outlive him and they do
systems that can outlive him and they do
systems that can outlive him and they do I’ll live him the Lutheran movement is
I’ll live him the Lutheran movement is
I’ll live him the Lutheran movement is vibrant to this day okay so four stages
vibrant to this day okay so four stages
vibrant to this day okay so four stages protesting a harm rediscovering the
protesting a harm rediscovering the
protesting a harm rediscovering the foundations implementing local changes
foundations implementing local changes
foundations implementing local changes and restructuring for a sustainable
and restructuring for a sustainable
and restructuring for a sustainable future
future
future I submit that successful reform is
I submit that successful reform is
I submit that successful reform is always going to involve all four stages
always going to involve all four stages
always going to involve all four stages so let’s think about what it would be
so let’s think about what it would be
so let’s think about what it would be like to stop at an earlier stage so
like to stop at an earlier stage so
like to stop at an earlier stage so suppose you identify some problem in an
suppose you identify some problem in an
suppose you identify some problem in an institution and you vigorously protest
institution and you vigorously protest
institution and you vigorously protest it and then you stop so I call this the
it and then you stop so I call this the
it and then you stop so I call this the the lazy reformer now I’m not saying
the lazy reformer now I’m not saying
the lazy reformer now I’m not saying that protesters are lazy far from it
that protesters are lazy far from it
that protesters are lazy far from it protest requires an enormous amount of
protest requires an enormous amount of
protest requires an enormous amount of courage and tireless perseverance
courage and tireless perseverance
courage and tireless perseverance however if you protest and then stop you
however if you protest and then stop you
however if you protest and then stop you are avoiding a hard intellectual work
are avoiding a hard intellectual work
are avoiding a hard intellectual work it’s the work of studying the history
it’s the work of studying the history
it’s the work of studying the history and the mechanics of the institution
and the mechanics of the institution
and the mechanics of the institution that you’re trying to reform to
that you’re trying to reform to
that you’re trying to reform to understand what its core values are and
understand what its core values are and
understand what its core values are and why the way it’s currently structured
why the way it’s currently structured
why the way it’s currently structured stifles rather than expressing those
stifles rather than expressing those
stifles rather than expressing those core values that’s really complicated
core values that’s really complicated
core values that’s really complicated stuff that’s hard work
stuff that’s hard work
stuff that’s hard work so let’s say you do that hard work you
so let’s say you do that hard work you
so let’s say you do that hard work you gain some insight you have some ideas
gain some insight you have some ideas
gain some insight you have some ideas and then you stop okay I call this the
and then you stop okay I call this the
and then you stop okay I call this the the timid reformer so I look reform is
the timid reformer so I look reform is
the timid reformer so I look reform is risky you might actually make the
risky you might actually make the
risky you might actually make the institution worse this does happen
institution worse this does happen
institution worse this does happen well-meaning reformers make institutions
well-meaning reformers make institutions
well-meaning reformers make institutions worse sometimes you certainly will get
worse sometimes you certainly will get
worse sometimes you certainly will get some pushback you’ll make some new
some pushback you’ll make some new
some pushback you’ll make some new enemies right but if you got an idea
enemies right but if you got an idea
enemies right but if you got an idea you’ve done your homework you’ve got an
you’ve done your homework you’ve got an
you’ve done your homework you’ve got an idea put it on the table take a risk at
idea put it on the table take a risk at
idea put it on the table take a risk at your hands dirty okay so let’s say you’d
your hands dirty okay so let’s say you’d
your hands dirty okay so let’s say you’d do that and that some of your ideas are
do that and that some of your ideas are
do that and that some of your ideas are implemented and this is going and you
implemented and this is going and you
implemented and this is going and you stop I call that the self-absorbed
stop I call that the self-absorbed
stop I call that the self-absorbed reformer so at this point the the
reformer so at this point the the
reformer so at this point the the reformer still has all of the power the
reformer still has all of the power the
reformer still has all of the power the reformer this is that the reforms are
reformer this is that the reforms are
reformer this is that the reforms are the reformers brainchild right so the
the reformers brainchild right so the
the reformers brainchild right so the process is only complete once the
process is only complete once the
process is only complete once the reformer can hand off the reins to the
reformer can hand off the reins to the
reformer can hand off the reins to the next generation and can bow out and to
next generation and can bow out and to
next generation and can bow out and to go that far
go that far
go that far is to be a responsible reformer
five hundred years ago the church needed
five hundred years ago the church needed reforming and Luther stepped up and
reforming and Luther stepped up and
reforming and Luther stepped up and today our institutions need reforming
today our institutions need reforming
today our institutions need reforming maybe you are called to be a reformer to
maybe you are called to be a reformer to
maybe you are called to be a reformer to love an institution that you’re part of
love an institution that you’re part of
love an institution that you’re part of enough to work to make it healthier but
enough to work to make it healthier but
enough to work to make it healthier but just make sure you’re in it for the long
just make sure you’re in it for the long
just make sure you’re in it for the long haul so don’t be a lazy reformer don’t
haul so don’t be a lazy reformer don’t
haul so don’t be a lazy reformer don’t be a timid reformer don’t be a
be a timid reformer don’t be a
be a timid reformer don’t be a self-absorbed performer be like Luther
self-absorbed performer be like Luther
self-absorbed performer be like Luther be studious be a risk-taker be
be studious be a risk-taker be
be studious be a risk-taker be self-transcending and who knows what’s
self-transcending and who knows what’s
self-transcending and who knows what’s possible if you see this process through
possible if you see this process through
possible if you see this process through to its end so are you ready let’s get
to its end so are you ready let’s get
to its end so are you ready let’s get reforming thank you
reforming thank you
reforming thank you [Applause]
”
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