Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig, Renewer of the Church

"Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig (1783-1872), a Danish pastor, led a reform movement beginning in 1830 that would leave a permanent imprint on Lutheranism. He was Denmark's most influential educator, poet and theologian, weaving ancient Nordic traditions into Danish religious life. Grundtvig saw the free ecumenical spirit of Lutheranism grounded in the ancient apostolic tradition as the force to unite Christianity and culture through education. He contended that the Apostle's Creed was the baptismal creed for all churches, the living word that Jesus communicated to his apostles. Accordingly, baptism and the Lord's Supper are the living words, the fundamental elements of the church. Grundtvig taught that biblical confessional formulations, especially John 3:16, were forerunners of the Apostle's Creed and should interpret the Bible, not vice versa. Though involved in some controversies, Grudtvig and Grundtvigism shaped all of Danish culture through preaching, hymns (1500 from Grundtvig!) and tracts in adult eduction."

From A History of Lutheranism by Eric W. Gritsch, Emeritus Professor of Church History at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary, Pennsylvania

Augustine, Bishop of Hippo (and a Book Review)

Today we commemorate Augustine, Bishop of Hippo. Augustine's contributions to Christianity and Western philosophy are innumerable -- theologically he advanced the ideas of Divine Grace, the Invisible Church, Original Sin, Just War, etc., etc. Augustine also taught that the Bible was not to be interpreted as strictly literal, but could also be interpreted metaphorically -- particularly when it contradicts what we know from reason and science.

Last week I downloaded a copy of Ritva William's The Bible's Importance for the Church Today, one of the Augsburg Fortress Press "Lutheran Voices" books (for Kindle). The purpose of the book is to help readers re-discover and re-claim the distinctively Lutheran method of interpreting scripture -- and how this method can be an antidote to the either/or, conservative/liberal dichotomy that is all too common in contemporary Christian discourse. Williams discusses the interpretive methods of Judaism, The Early Christian Church, Paul, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Augustine, Luther, etc. in building her case, as well as how reactions to scientific, archeological and technological discoveries/advances  took the Lutheran Church away from its traditional roots and led to misguided interpretations of scripture.

Here's a sample of what Williams says about Augustine:
"The vital element in any interpretation of scripture, Augustine declared, is its effect:

So if it seems to you that you have understood the scriptures, or any part of them, in such a way that by this understanding you do not build up the twin love of God and neighbor, then you have not yet understood them.

According to Augustine, the goal of reading, teaching or preaching the scriptures was to build up the love of God and neighbor. Any interpretation that did not aim for and achieve this demonstrated a lack of understanding. Failure to promote the twin love of God and neighbor was in Augustine's estimate, more pernicious than failing to explain accurately what a biblical author meant."

Birgitta of Sweden, Renewer of the Church

Birgitta of Sweden was born in the province of Upland in 1303. As a child, she was frequented by visions of the suffering Christ. She was married at age thirteen and had four daughters. She was well known for her generosity and kindness. In 1335 she became chief lady in waiting to the Queen of Sweden. Following the death of her husband in 1341, she gave away all she owned and devoted her life to the poor and needy. In 1351 she founded the Order of the Holy Savior (the Birgittines), an order of monks and nuns led by an abbess. Her charitable work is carried on today by the Society of St. Birgitta. She died in Rome on July 23, 1373