By Cecilia Ogezi
The Archbishop and President, Lutheran World Federation, Most Reverend Musa Panti Filibus of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria( LCCN), has said giving is an act of gratitude to God and a significant part of the life of a Christian inseparable from the journey through life.
Archbishop Filibus stated this in Abuja during the 2021 annual harvest and thanksgiving program of LCCN St Paul cathedral, Nyanya, an Abuja suburb. The harvest, marked all over the world as Reformation Day is the commemoration of the day Martin Luther, a German Catholic priest posted the 95 Thesis that gave birth to what is called the Lutheran Church.
The clergy said the event marked across the 9 dioceses of the church in Abuja is Martin Luther's legacy for Christian leadership for the ongoing reformation that has lasted now for 504 years. He added that it is important to note the reformation of the church is a continuous process to remind us that God continues to show his blessings through the church as Christians have been called to remember all they are is a gift from God.
Speaking further on the history of the church, the Bishop explained that Martin Luther disagreed with the teaching of the church in which giving was seen as a thing done to atone for sins not just for the giver but also for loved ones.
The belief further holds that when Christians die they await judgment in a certain place called purgatory. So by giving, you shorten the time for yourself and even your relatives who have died before you. It was mainly to encourage people to give but Martin Luther, a university professor, disagreed with this teaching and came up with 95 reasons countering this belief leading to his exit from the church.
He said, although, Martin Luther did not intend to break away from the Catholic church, he boldly pointed out issues that he felt were not biblically acceptable. Among those issues was the acceptance payment for souls of those who have died to be redeemed from hail to heaven.
Adding that Luther felt penitence was not biblical teaching according to him salvation was not based on works but by grace. He stated that on the 31st October 1517, the reformation started,and today, there are millions of people around the world that their confession is Lutheran.
The Bishop also called on the members of the church to donate towards the university project in Demsa, Adamawa State, where even the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, LCCN partner synod in America are working on raising 500,000 dollars to support the establishment of the University in Nigeria. NNL.
