God uses ordinary people to expand His Kingdom
Photo Canva.com, AFP, Hendrik Schmidt
Christian Life
Children at a young age don't have to know all historical details about Martin Luther to celebrate Reformation Day. Here are a few lessons that they should take away from Luther. And adults will learn with them.
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This year, our network of churches organised a children's programme to celebrate Reformation Day. Despite the children's young age, it was a wonderful blessing.
Teaching children about the Reformation isn't about overwhelming them with historical or theological details. Nor is it about turning Luther into a mythical hero deserving of special celebrations — or worse, sanctifying him.
Yet, it was simply heartwarming to see my daughter joyfully learning some concepts that, I hope, will take root within her.
Shape
Living in a minority context, she realised that we're far from the only, or even the first, evangelicals in history, despite what she might assume from her school environment!
She also learned that the story of the Church has continued beyond the servants of God we read about in the Bible. It links a vast community throughout history. We are part of a much larger family called by God.
And she discovered that God has always called people to love His Word and to defend it — even when many tried to hide it or drift away from it. She learned that "Reformation" means to "re-form", in other words "to give a new shape". Away from God's Word, the original form of our hearts becomes corrupted, the Church deteriorates, and its testimony falters. In simple terms, she came to understand that everything improves when we follow Christ's example rather than human traditions.
Hero
It was also encouraging to learn that Luther was an ordinary young man, someone who had been afraid of thunderstorms and uncertain about many things. He wasn't superhero. Yet his love for God's Word brought tremendous benefit to the Church.
His story encourages children to understand early on that God doesn't need superheroes to do great things, only faithful servants. Anyone can bless the Church in big or small ways if they remain committed to God's Word.
As a family, we're grateful to have been part of this small yet meaningful celebration. I pray that more children can be inspired by the incredible things God can accomplish in history through ordinary but faithful men and women.
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