Monday, October 10, 2022

*** This is a rough transcript of today’s show ***

It is the 10th of October 2022. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

We head to the mailbag to answer a question from John in New Ulm- John very helpfully told me that New Ulm is famous for “Terry Steinbach (MLB, Oakland A's), Velveeta Cheese, and Schell's brewery. I'll let you decide the ranking of that list.’

Number one is Steinbach- solid catcher, three-time all-star, on the famous championship A’s in 1989 with the voided-out Bash Brothers and one of 133 MLB players to hit a home run in their first at-bat.

Two is Schell’s Brewery for the mere fact that they have a deer pasture on site.

And number 1 million is Velveeta- the pasteurized processed cheese spread people put on chips and call nachos.

Also- I’ve been to New Ulm- I gave a lecture at Martin Luther college a few years back.

To the question: “[could you] trace the ideas and the people that preceded Luther in the reformation? My very rough timeline is: Jesus --> Paul --> Augustine --> Hus --> Luther”

Ok- it just so happens that this Friday at 1517’s Here We Still Stand conference at 2:45, I am giving one of the main talks, and it is on this very subject. The conference is sold out, but you can live-stream it at 1517.org

OK- so I understand that timeline- a few notes. I’ll put Jesus and Paul in the denominational public domain. But Augustine and Luther do emphasize the Pauline books more than others. Jan Hus- the Bohemian put to death in 1415, does not share much in common with Luther but wanted the Bible in the vernacular and challenged what he perceived as a church and Pope that had been corrupted. The fact that Luther was not burned at the stake like Hus is part of my coming talk- the political situation in the Holy Roman Empire and Luther’s popularity with the German people and the Elector of Saxony (that is, one of 7 powerful people enough to receive a vote to decide who would be the Emperor) spared his life.

But let me run through a few other things- first, how about the Mongols? Their expansion westward pushed the Islamic Empire westward as well- the fear of Muslims invading the West (remember they took Constantinople in 1453) was one reason that the Holy Roman Empire was hesitant to aggravate the German population on account of their geography and ability to supply mercenaries if needed. Also, it was Mongol traders that brought the Black Death to the West. That tragedy would transform how Europeans thought about death and the afterlife and made fertile ground from which theories about purgatory, penance, and indulgences would come and infuriate Luther and others.

The Renaissance is important, too. It focused on looking backward- Ad Fontes or Back to the Sources! They cried. This finds a parallel with Scripture Alone! We don’t need our modern trappings to understand what is true and good! Add to that the fascination with textual criticism from both the Renaissance and Reformation.

And let me add another, perhaps unlikely group: the Medieval mystics. And especially Bernard of Clairvaux, who was a favorite of Luther’s. The mystics eschewed the trappings of the church for a direct relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit. For the mystics, it wasn’t about systematic theology, and neither was Luther (later Reformers, yes, but not Luther.) For Luther, it was the experiential, emotional understanding that the grace of God in Christ was so good, so deep and unimaginable that questions about how we then live as Christians came naturally- as one acts towards their beloved when they know they are loved.

So- John- it’s a great question, and maybe you can check out the HWSS this weekend for my talk and others.

The Last Word for today comes from the lectionary for today from Acts 26:

24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 10th of October 2022, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man in Wisconsin who knows what real cheese is and why Velvet is an abomination unto the Lord. He is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who remembers the 1989 World Series was called the BART series, as Oakland and San Francisco played and were connected by the BART transit. Still, also it came right after the death of commissioner and historian Bart Giamatti (Paul’s Dad). I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.