It is the celebration of
502 years of church reform since 31 October 1517 when Martin Luther nailed 95
thesis as criticism to Catholic authority at the church gate in Wittenberg. It means
that the church congregation has been 502 times be reminded about the changes
that occur in the body of church gaining better church's order. This
revolutionary vision and critical attitude is needed to be instilled among
church members at that time when the church sold indulgence letters to cover
debts and increase money to construct Basilica.
The history of church
reformation must be understood by considering the meaning of church. Ekklesia (church) means to be called
from darkness, it should respond as the savior of souls, be saved from the
world through the fulfillment of church’s duty to serve God and human beings as
the meaning of the cross.
How does the present
church apply the teachings of Calvin-Luther reform and its development
especially in Bengkulu? This is the topic of discussion held by Multiplication
of Stube-HEMAT in Bengkulu and students with Jonny Simamora, a lecturer in
State University of Bengkulu and elder of Lutheran Church, Huria Christian
Batak Protestant (HKBP) Jitra, Bengkulu. In addition, he also pioneered the
birth of BKSAG (Inter-Church Cooperation Agency) Bengkulu.
Located at Jonny
Simamora's residence on Sunday (10/27/19) the discussion started with the
introduction of Stube-HEMAT by Yohanes Dian Alpasa, S.Si, as the Multiplicator
of Stube-HEMAT in Bengkulu. As an institution supported by Lutheran churches in
Germany, it is important for the activists of Stube-HEMAT to understand church
reform. Then, Jonny Simamora opened the discussion conversation by explain that
he has been living in Bengkulu for 36 years, and serve as the elder in HKBP
church for 16 years since 2013. The history of churches in Bengkulu began in
1956 with Ecumenical Church. According to Jonny, the growth of church in
Bengkulu was fast enough, proved by the fact that many churches had been
established specifically in North Bengkulu and Seluma. Discussing about church
reform, the rapid growth of churches was not followed by the development of
faith among church leaders and the congregation themselves.
There are two main points
that support the statement, namely: 1) the church is still struggling with
mammons and 2) the church is still doing pragmatic works with power relation.
These two points become the hardest challenges for church. It is proven by a church
which broke up and boast about the church organization even split off because
of money. The practice of money in church which was opposed by Martin Luther at
that time still happen nowadays, even the relation among churches in Bengkulu
is considered not harmonious.
As the reflection of 502
years of church reform, the church must always be reformed, Ecclesia reformata
semper reformanda est, the church must continue to evaluate itself by focusing
on the purity of doctrines and its practices. The church must be salt and light
(Matthew 5: 13-14). A living church is a church that serves, abandons its egos,
and presents the peace of God, that is the true church.
Kiffli Simanulang, one of
the participants revealed, "I feel grateful, being able to learn and be
refreshed about church reform, a new thing for me. I also learn about the
growth and relation of churches in Bengkulu.” He also appreciated the existence
of Stube-HEMAT in Bengkulu because Stube really did provide assistance in the
development of youth and students. He has participated in discussions at Stube
three times and always got new quality discourse, not just a ceremony. May
young people become critical and dynamic young ecclesia bring the shalom of
God. (YM).
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