In the ongoing struggle to re-claim a biblically legitimate definition of a “successful church,” we do well to consider the example of the small churches in rural Germany in the years following the Reformation.
Prior to 1520, church life consisted of rules and regulations, of legalistic manipulations encouraging a piety of monasticism, pilgrimages, masses, Mary worship, indulgences and relic collection. Pastors were well paid and lazy. Large cathedrals were built on the backs of Christians who gave money for the purchase of indulgences (not the first, and certainly not the last, of ill-conceived church fund-raisers) There was no lack of bustling religious activity, but the average Christian under the Roman Catholic papacy had little understanding of the Gospel. Instead of trusting the Lord Jesus, they feared him. Instead of confessing their sins and receiving absolution, they paid for their sins with penance and “Hail Marys.” Instead of the comfort of the Gospel, they were flogged with the Law.
Nevertheless, conduct a demographic study of the Germans under the Roman papacy, and you would find a multiplicity of engaging and effective church programs, strong worship attendance and effective stewardship campaigns. But, all of it was driven by the Law. Despite externals, the church had never been weaker. The Gospel, after all, had fallen silent.
In the decades following the Reformation, historians and theologians report a reversal. The living voice of the Gospel sounded first in Wittenburg and spread from there throughout Germany and surrounding lands. The Bible was translated. Compelling Christian treatises were published. The Catechism made its way into the hands of children. Finally, the poor people of Germany were free of the theological oppression of the pope and his suppression of the Gospel. The Word of God made the Reformation a tremendous success.
But, sadly, at the same time, Luther and his fellow Reformers learned quickly that most of the Germans would use their newly won freedom to indulge a life of a sin. Pastors complained of poor church attendance, and poor attendance at catechism instruction. One visitor reported, “You’ll find more of them out fishing than at service.” Reports flooded Luther’s study that blasphemy, fornication, adultery, drunkenness, and gambling abounded unchecked. Churches were virtually empty while taverns were full. The laity, no longer compelled by the pope to support the church, largely stopped paying their offerings, so that pastors often lived at poverty level. Religious indifference became an epidemic. “The peasants learned nothing, knew nothing, prayed not at all, did nothing except to abuse religious freedom, and did not go to confession or commune.” One pastor complained that the people didn’t care about his warnings and admonitions. “They answer ‘why pray? The Turk and the Pope are not after us’!”
Of course, the Catholic papacy loved to point to this “failure” of Luther’s Reformation. They concluded that Luther’s Gospel of free grace was too dangerous, that it was too easy for common people to abuse. On the whole, they were right. Here is the reality. In this sinful world, if you tell people that their sins are forgiven and they are free, they will likely abuse that freedom and use it as a license to live against God. The Reformation represents but one example. Our Lord Jesus represents another. He rode meekly into Jerusalem, without pomp or presumption. And, they killed Him. The Gospel suffers abuse.
The same is true today. That church is “healthiest” which maintains the purity of the Word of God and the “alone” of the “by grace alone.” We could always resort to the law, to subtle pressure and guilt tactics in order to grow the church. We could manufacture the appearance of health. But, a truly healthy church grows only by the Gospel. And, the Gospel is not the Gospel unless it risks the possibility of abuse.
Who would have thought that, in the midst of so many “failures,” the German Lutheran churches were, in fact, getting better? But that is precisely what was happening! We should remember this today. As we continue the work of the Reformation, we remember that true health is rarely reflected externally.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Melius
