A Second Reformation
By
Pastor Dean M. Hunneshagen
October 27, 2013
The Apostle Paul succinctly stated the case:
“So if anyone is in Christ there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see everything has
become new!” (II Cor. 5:17)
Our lectionary texts for Reformation Sunday point to this new creation.
Jeremiah promised it. (Jer. 31:31-34) The exiles were promised a return to the homeland whereupon the
Lord will plant an inner power of motivation towards obedience on the hearts of the people of God. As
a result, there will be a ‘new creation.”
Jesus promised it. (John 8:31-36) Jesus promised “if you continue in my word…you will know the
truth, and the truth will make you free.” In this freedom there will be a new creation.
Paul promised it. (Rom 3:19-28) “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now
justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…effective through faith.”
The point: “If anyone is in Christ there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; everything has
become new!” (II Cor. 5:17)
Luther re-discovered this. Luther re-discovered it in a way that would change all succeeding generations of the
Church. It was a seismic event both for Luther and for the Church.
Yet, we need to know the background to his re-discovery.
Luther re-discovered it in the context of The Renaissance (14th-17th C.) which awakened and fostered the
individualism that permeates our society today (cf. America’s self-made man, “Renaissance Man” and human
potential movement.)
Luther also re-discovered it in the context of The Scientific Revolution (16th-18th C.) which altered forever how
we understand our world and how we go about dissecting it and innovating with it.
Though a few in America today wish to ignore or deny its findings, clearly our world is dominated by a
scientific worldview and methodology, and for the better! (cf. the “science” required by the EPA to
establish the findings regarding toxic air emissions released by Tonawanda Coke Corporation that
resulted in their historic felony convictions.)
Luther was a product of both the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution as he helped usher in the Protestant
Reformation (1517-1648). 1517 marks the official starting date. Ever since, the evolving “Lutheran” church has
observed that anniversary date. St. Timothy’s observance each year falls into that tradition.
1517 resulted in a seismic event which forever changed our world. The event was the re-discovery of
individual salvation by grace through faith. Nearly 500 years later, we still resonate to the tune played back
then: “Justified by grace through faith.” “Not by works, but by grace alone.” “If you continue in the word, you
will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
“In Christ, a new creation,” they sang. “In Christ there is a new creation!” they shouted.
That was then, What about now? Nearly 500 years have passed. Is there anything different that is to be
expected… that is needed… for a faithful observance of 1517?
On the one hand, nothing has changed regarding human nature. (“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory
of God.”) Nothing has changed with how to deal with man’s condition. Still it is true and relevant to say:
 Justified by grace through faith.
 Not by works, but by faith alone.
 Scripture alone as source of authentic, verifiable authority.
 In Christ, a new creation!
On the other hand, there is something new: Individualism (born of the Ren0aissance) and science (born of the
Scientific Revolution) have collided with their limits!
Individualism… as near and dear to the American psyche as it is…individualism now has to operate in the
framework of globalism…celebrating ”The Family of Man.” No matter how strong the individual spirit was at
the time of the Reformation, never was it constrained by global individualism. Its constraints were largely local
or regional.
Today, no such boundaries exist. The individual local now competes with the individual global.
An isolationist mentality in America can never withstand the pressure of individualism elsewhere—
especially in the developing and under-developed world. The world lives next door.
Hence my individualism is constrained by the forces of individualism elsewhere…without exception!
The economic aspirations of individuals globally make it impossible for me the individual to flourish
without others flourishing also. The now almost universally accessible technology of this new
environment draws together individuals who previously could exist in veritable isolation. Not so today!
We all need each other. Therefore, my individualism must be constrained by the awareness of others
and their needs.
The new constraint, therefore, needs to be a new “globalism.” Our mindset needs to be one that embraces the
total “Family of Man.”
An America for only white Americans is impossible. Already in the 1960’s, futurists were calculating
when whites in America will become a minority. They were very close in their predictions. The time
has nearly arrived. In 1988 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America formed with the avowed goal
of making us more multi-cultural. Despite the rhetoric, we have failed miserably. Perhaps our society
will have to look outside the church for a solution to this dilemma.
Globalism of a global community is the irreversible reality for us and future generations of Americans.
In my estimation, the situation argues for a “Reformation era” seismic change of mindset to embrace the global
vs. individual alone. It needs to take place among us in general and among us in The Church in particular.
Salvation for the global community, not just for the individual, needs to be the new reformation discovery.
Science has also collided with its limits. For all the phenomenal achievements derived from the scientific
method, these same achievements have produced the capacity for us to destroy ourselves as well our
environment upon which we all depend. The capacity is no better evidenced than in the case of climate change
and in the case of the potenntially devastating effects of living in a “chemical world.”
The depleting ozone layer protecting our planet from warming up will, unless reversed, dramatically alter our
climate and shorelines and who knows what else. Human activity world-wide must change! It must change
even if it results in economic disadvantage.
The fact of our living in a “chemical world” is no better illustrated in its negative effects than in the known
consequence of toxic air releases upon Grand Island residents that has produced 50% higher incidences of
certain cancers than normal for the population in the area immediately around our church. Not only do we have
to be concerned about the release of toxic benzenes and other coke oven emissions, but we confront daily
elevated levels of automobile toxins as a result of the toll booths at the end of our nearby south Grand Island
Bridge. Add to that the normal exposures to toxins at gas pumps and other “hot spots” on the Island and from
tobacco smoke, We have ample examples to warn us of the ill effects of polluting our air.
Therefore, there are growing voices within the church for us to champion a Second Reformation for the 21st
century. A 21st century Reformation equal in impact to the transformative change in mindset brought about by
the16th century Reformation. There needs to be another seismic event that triggers another 500 years of
advance.
But—unlike the 16th century reformation that focused on producing a new creation for individuals-individualism and salvation—the new Reformation needs to bring about a new creation for global individuals
and the creation. Globalism and creation-care might be its mantra
This Second Reformation, embracing the individualism and salvation re-discovered in the 16th century, should
generate a worldview that openly embraces all individuals and their needs and embraces creation-care that
honors God’s role in bringing about a “new creation”. “In Christ a new creation” should come to mean not only
mankind’s new creation but also salvation for non-human creation.
The earth needs a break! The universe needs a break from the destructive forces of human sin. The non-human
world needs a chance to become a New Creation.
In summary, a new globalism and a new environmentalism are needed to constitute a Second Reformation for
the 21st century.