The Five Solas: The Power of Conviction

As we approach the 500^th Anniversary of the Reformation, I am reminded of the power of conviction to create energy for transformation. One may suggest the genius of Martin Luther was his conviction. One sees in Luther there exists a link between the ability to state clearly one’s convictions and the effects on self, others and society those convictions have to impact the good.

            Or ill.

If it is true that the stating of convictions has power, the dunamis unleashed impacts in all directions; Ghandi and Hitler are a kind of photographic negative of one another, the good Kirk and his evil twin both had influence (for those of us who are Star Trek fans). Thus, in today’s church and in today’s world, it is not only that we have opinions but the values and principles expressed by these opinions matter. Are our opinions worthy of Jesus?

The genius of Luther was the genius of conviction in a particular direction. Simply put, Luther had a grace obsession. Luther’s “five solas” – that salvation is through the work of Christ alone, offered by grace alone, received through faith alone, as communicated in Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone – are infused throughout by the transforming reality of grace.

For Luther, the power of the Gospel is found in the free gift of God, the Divine Initiative to love, keep loving, and persevere in love even at the ultimate cost. This love which will not let us go is the good news that, in Jesus, God is reconciling the world to restore the creation’s original shalom. It is to this good news that Luther’s convictions spoke, and these convictions still have power.

We do not need more people speaking with conviction in today’s polarized world but rather more people speaking good news with conviction. In our churches, over tea or coffee, on our Facebook pages, and on walks around our neighborhoods, the Church – written with a capital C to include all of us – is God’s chosen instrument to speak good news. Is there a way to speak of the call for justice as good news? Is there a way to speak of deeply held values as good news? Is there a way to speak the life-giving, culture-transforming, hope-offering, suffering-sharing work of Jesus Christ within our world today and speak it as good news? If we cannot answer the above questions in the affirmative, then may God have mercy upon us all.

Now that’s a prayer to which Luther would say yes.

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

P.S. Don’t forget the 500^th Anniversary Reformation Celebration in Douglas / Agua Prieta on November 10-11! Register by emailing office@fronteradecristo.org.