Commemoration, communion and courage, not celebration: Public prophetic theology 500 years after the Reformation

Manitza Kotzé

doi:10.17570/stj.2017.v3n2.a07

Abstract

Five hundred years after the Reformation, it is tempting to celebrate this influential and significant event. The Reformation, however, as an incident which also tore apart the Church, should be commemorated, but not celebrated. What can be commended, however, is the courage shown by those involved in the Reformation, especially as seen in the figure of Martin Luther. In this contribution, I will examine the courageous voices of the Reformers, who confronted the status quo of their day in order to also draw some guidelines for a similarly courageous and prophetic theology in the present day. The concept of community and Holy Communion will especially be stressed in this regard.

Highlights

What can be commended is the courage shown by those involved in the Reformation, especially as seen in the figure of Martin Luther
I will examine the courageous voices of the Reformers, who confronted the status quo of their day in order to draw some guidelines for a courageous and prophetic theology in the present day
The concept of community and Holy Communion will especially be stressed in this regard

Summary

Introduction

The year 2017 marks 500 years since the event commonly held as the beginning of the Reformation, symbolised in the anecdote of Martin Luther’s nailing of the 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg. Five hundred years after the Reformation, it is tempting to celebrate this influential and significant event, and this is happening worldwide. I will examine the courageous voices of the Reformers, focusing especially on the person of Martin Luther for the purposes of this contribution. How the person of Luther has been utilised and misused in the past can serve as a note of caution when it comes how Reformation celebrations have been appropriated to serve other agendas. The concept of community and Holy Communion will especially be stressed in this regard

Reformed courage

Martin Luther and the Reformation

Historical claims to the person of Luther

Prophetic theology as public theology

Conclusion