Both of this week's readings were written by Martin Luther in the early 1500's during the reformation. With all the new challenges and changes to established religion, there were many thoughts running through people's heads. They were now asking, "what exactly is God calling me to do?" People were now more family-oriented than before, as is seen in Luther's concern for one's neighbor.
In the first reading, The Gospel for the Early Christmas Service, Luther described a Christian as someone who is quite dull in person. During this time period, c.1521, there was much dissent between the Lutherans and Catholics. Here, Luther described the Catholics as much too concerned with human matters such as their laws and their choice of dress. In his opinion, they were being too flashy and were essentially using material things to please God. Luther believed that a true Christian was someone who "on the outside... shines forth not at all or at most a little bit in the sight of the people, so that, indeed most people see it as error and foolishness; but on the inside, it is sheer light, joy and bliss" (p.214). In the second reading Trade and Usury, which was written only three years later, Luther now discusses not only how to be a Christian, but how to be a Christian in public. Given the time period, in this reading he spoke of merchants trading goods and the difference it would make if more merchants were Christian. In Luther's mind, the only things were sold for a high price was for neglect of the neighbor. If more merchants were Christian and lived the Christian lifestyle, trade would be about helping your neighbor rather than making a profit.
I actually just got done talking to my supervisor (an AmeriCorps VISTA worker) about the role of Christianity at the organization. Park Avenue Youth & Family Services is a non-profit which is run by and housed in Park Avenue Methodist Church. As an AmeriCorps worker, my supervisor isn't supposed do anything religious in his work. Recently, our "Volunteer Thank-You Dinner" turned out to be an opening prayer, a sermon, worship, and discussing how God has worked through us at PAYFS. After the "Dinner," my supervisor and I discussed what might have happened if any of the Muslim or Jewish volunteers had shown up. Kind of similar to Luther's first idea, I feel that being public about your faith is fine, but not really appropriate in government settings, especially a non-profit. Christian's aren't the only people helping their neighbors in a time of need, and when you're one of the only non-Christians in a setting like that, it often feels like your work just isn't quite cutting it.
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