Reformation Historical Reflections: Luther and Music
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- Written by Pastor Rick Miller, 2017 District Outreach Coordinator Pastor Rick Miller, 2017 District Outreach Coordinator
- Created: August 15 2017 August 15 2017
Luther was no stranger to music. At the early age of 14, Luther was in a children’s choir. Luther had a beautiful tenor voice. During his school years, Luther preferred the study of music over other school subjects and became a skilled performer and, eventually, a skilled composer. Luther’s most productive hymn writing began in December of 1523. By late 1525 Luther had written 24 of his 36 hymns.
In 1526 Luther and other reformers were confronted with a chaotic situation in the Saxony churches. Church visitations by Luther revealed “deplorable conditions” emphasizing the need to improve worship services. A significant need in the church was met by Luther’s emphasis on hymnody. Luther wrote twelve of his hymns from 1526 to 1543, some with the assistance of associates.
“A Mighty Fortress is Our God” (“Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott”) is one of the best known and loved hymns by Luther. He wrote the words and composed the melody sometime between 1527 and 1529, based on Psalm 46. It is frequently called the “Battle Hymn of the Reformation“.
Luther had a lot to say about music. He regarded music and hymns important for the development of faith. “I place music next to theology and give it the highest praise.” “Music is an outstanding gift of God … and youth should be taught this art; for it makes fine, skillful people.” He believed that music is an endowment and a gift of God, not a gift of men, and that music drives away the devil and makes people cheerful. “Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us. The Devil hates music because he cannot stand gaiety. My heart, which is so full to over flowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary.”
Luther’s hymns are not meant to create a mood; they are meant to convey a message. They are a confession of faith, not of personal feelings. They were written not to be read, but to be sung by the whole congregation.
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod does not have a definitive doctrinal statement on music, but the synod’s Commission on Worship has criteria for the evaluation of hymns and songs. The Commission bases its approval primarily on the text of the hymn. For example, does the text present Jesus as the Savior? Does it speak of the triune God? Does it express the revealing gracious will of the Father? How Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod churches conduct the Divine Services reflects what we believe, teach and confess. Our synod seeks to ensure, through the evaluation of hymns and songs, that our faith is strengthened and continually based on the Word of God.
As we gather for worship to sing of the Word in hymn and song, remember that we join our song with angels, archangels and all the company of heaven together before Christ, who has come to His people to bless and to save them through faith.
This year, 2017, is a year precious to all Lutherans: the 500th anniversary of Luther’s blessed discovery of the Gospel and his rebellion related to the beliefs and celebrations of the Roman Catholic Church. This article is part of a monthly series covering topics and historical events leading up to October 31, 1517, the date of the posting of the 95 Theses on the Castle Church doors in Wittenberg, Germany. It is republished, with permission, from the Rocky Mountain District, LCMS.
Saint John’s Library Update
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- Written by Joyce Hart Joyce Hart
- Created: August 02 2017 August 02 2017
If you have a chance to visit the library at Saint John’s you will find several new books on the shelves! They include:
Genesis for Everyone, Part 2 by John Goldingay, Church and Ministry by Dr. C.F.W. Walther, The Life You Crave: It’s All about Grace by Michael W. Newman and Children in Crisis: A New Commitment, a compilation of articles edited by Phyllis Kilbourn.
Also added to the library are nineteen titles in the People’s Bible Commentary series published by Concordia Publishing House: 1 Chronicles, Ezekiel, 1 and 2 Samuel, Judges/Ruth, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Exodus, Daniel, Luke, Hosea/Joel/Amos, 1 and 2 Kings, Leviticus, Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs, 2 Chronicles, Proverbs and Philippians/Colossians/Philemon. There are also three new titles from the Tyndale Old Testament Commentary series: Obadiah/Jonah/Micah, Job and Leviticus.
Thanks to Pastor Nettleton for getting these books added to our library. We now have a solid lay-focused commentary for each book of the Bible in the library’s ’Bible Study” section.
Joyce Hart volunteers every Wednesday in the church office and has been cataloging and managing the church library.
Reformation Celebration: Forgiveness is Free—But Not Cheap
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- Written by Joan Crouse Joan Crouse
- Created: July 16 2017 July 16 2017
Reformation Celebration: Crux Sola est Nostra Theologica
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- Written by Joan Crouse Joan Crouse
- Created: July 01 2017 July 01 2017
Reformation Historical Reflections: The Sacrament of Holy Communion
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- Written by Pastor Rick Miller, 2017 District Outreach Coordinator Pastor Rick Miller, 2017 District Outreach Coordinator
- Created: June 23 2017 June 23 2017
Luther defines the Sacrament of the Altar in the Catechism “as the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by Christ Himself.” This theology comes from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke and also from St. Paul: “1 Corinthians 10:16 forces us to the conclusion that all who break, eat and receive this bread receive the body of Christ and partake of it.” Luther was passionate about receiving communion, saying “I certainly love it with all my heart, the precious, blessed Supper of my Lord Jesus Christ, in which He gives me His body and blood to eat and to drink orally, with the mouth of my body, accompanied by the exceedingly sweet and gracious words: Given for you, Shed for you.”
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod believes that the true body and blood of Jesus Christ are present under the bread and wine for Christians to eat and to drink. Our Lord Jesus Christ is present in this sacred meal and gives us the forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation. We do not try to explain how Jesus is present under the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper; rather, we believe, teach, confess and rejoice that He is present. As Luther says, “We maintain that the bread and wine in the Supper are the true body and blood of Christ.”
We believe that Holy Communion is a very personal way God works in our lives to save us. All believers are welcome to the table, but Lutherans “qualify” the unprepared by first teaching them their need for Christ and the forgiveness and life that He gives in the Sacrament. Though there is no LCMS rule about how often an individual should or must receive the Lord’s Supper, we believe that we should celebrate communion often because of how much we need what the Lord gives in His Supper. The Synod encourages congregations to provide the opportunity, to those who desire, to receive the Lord’s Supper every Lord’s Day.
This year, 2017, is a year precious to all Lutherans: the 500th anniversary of Luther’s blessed discovery of the Gospel and his rebellion related to the beliefs and celebrations of the Roman Catholic Church. This article is part of a monthly series covering topics and historical events leading up to October 31, 1517, the date of the posting of the 95 Theses on the Castle Church doors in Wittenberg, Germany. It is republished, with permission, from the Rocky Mountain District, LCMS.