"It's not fair!" We sometimes hear such complaints about Lent Madness. And..of course it's not fair. Which is why we call this little devotion Lent MADNESS and not Lent FAIRNESS. Thus, we end up with matchups such as today's that pit a well-known Reformer of the Middle Ages against a lesser known late 19th, early 20th century Native-American convert to Christianity. So while all may be fair in love and war, all is decidedly not fair in Lent Madness.
Yesterday, to further illustrate this point, was the Battle of the Augustines aka Augustine Anarchy. Going into this matchup one thing was crystal clear: Augustine would emerge victorious. In this case Augustine of Canterbury bested Augustine of Hippo 57% to 43% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen.
And if you missed yesterday's epic edition of Monday Madness, you can watch it here. Tim and Scott discuss the week ahead and answer some very pertinent viewer mail.
Martin Luther
Just before the beginning of the twenty-first century, the Arts & Entertainment Network (A&E) compiled a list of the 100 most influential people of the millennium. A sixteenth-century former monk from a small town in Germany would have been very surprised to find himself ranked number three on this list!
Born in 1483, Luther’s parents encouraged him to study law. But in 1505, he was caught in a terrible thunderstorm while returning to the university from a trip home. Fearing for his life, Luther pledged to become a monk if his life were spared. He survived the stormy night and honored his commitment.
Luther served as a monk, university professor, and parish priest. As he studied, taught, and preached, he became increasingly distressed by what he saw as pernicious failures of the Roman Catholic Church. Among the most troubling were the selling of indulgences (paying to receive pardons for sins), a focus on vocation as being under the sole purview of those called to religious life, the insistence upon clerical celibacy, and the crippling lack of faith formation among the common people.
The posting of his 95 Theses on October 31, 1517, is commonly regarded as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Five hundred years later, we can clearly see his legacy. He was intent on making worship the center of the life of the Church, including excellent preaching and music, and focused his teaching and preaching on God’s grace. He admonished priests to teach parents how to make their homes the center of childhood faith formation by using his Small Catechism. Luther called for an end to corruption in the Church, especially through the sale of indulgences, and translated the Bible into the German vernacular, allowing common, literate people to read the word of God in their mother tongue.
His marriage to former nun Katarina von Bora and the lively home they created together offered a space for Luther and other scholars to debate around the kitchen table while enjoying Katarina’s generous hospitality. Martin Luther died in 1546, but his influence continues to echo mightily across new generations, as they discover his theology of a grace-filled God.
Collect for Martin Luther
Almighty God, gracious Lord, we thank you that your Holy Spirit renews the church in every age. Pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your word, protect and comfort them in times of trial, defend them against all enemies of the gospel and bestow on the church your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
David Oakerhater
Making Medicine (O-kuh-ha-tuh), also known as David Pendleton Oakerhater, was born into the Cheyenne nation (Oklahoma Territory) around 1847. He participated in his first war party at a young age, and over time, he gained a reputation among the Cheyenne as a skilled warrior.
Making Medicine first came into conflict with the United States after a retaliatory raid on poaching settlers. The US government responded to the Cheyenne with a war of attrition to deprive the Cheyenne and other affiliated tribes of food and supplies. By 1875, Making Medicine and several fellow warriors surrendered to the United States at Fort Sill. A group of seventy-four of those who surrendered were arrested, detained without trial, and moved to Saint Augustine, Florida. Making Medicine and his fellow captives were forced to assimilate into American society. At Fort Marion, he and his fellow captives learned English, taught art and archery lessons, and had their first encounters with Christian missionaries. By 1877 Episcopal deaconness Mary Douglass Burnham made arrangements to sponsor the remaining Cheyenne prisoners for positions of service in the church.
Making Medicine was sponsored by Alice and George H. Pendleton and brought to Paris Hill, New York, where he became affiliated with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Under the guidance of the parish priest, he was educated in the scriptures and baptized in 1878, taking the name David from the Bible and Pendleton in honor of his sponsors. His theological formation continued, and in 1881 he was confirmed and ordained as a deacon.
Not long after, Oakerhater returned to Oklahoma as a missionary and took part in the founding of schools and missions, including those in Bridgeport and Whirlwind. He continued serving his people until his death in 1931. Upon his return to Oklahoma, he told the Cheyenne, “You all know me. You remember when I led you out to war I went first, and what I told you was true. Now I have been away to the East and I have learned about another captain, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he is my leader. He goes first, and all he tells me is true. I come back to my people to tell you to go with me now in this new road, a war that makes all for peace.”
Collect for David Oakerhater
O God of unsearchable wisdom and infinite mercy, you chose a captive warrior, David Oakerhater, to be your servant, and sent him to be a missionary to his own people, and to exercise the office of a deacon among them: Liberate us, who commemorate him today, from bondage to self, and empower us for service to you and to the neighbors you have given us; through Jesus Christ, the captain of our salvation; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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269 comments on “Martin Luther vs. David Oakerhater”
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry described David Oakerhater as "an apostle for our time" since he pointed the way to Jesus. The Oakerhater Honor Dance is held annually in his memory in Watonga, OK, location of the Whirlwind Mission he established. My friend and fellow deacon Pat Gonzales serves at this mission.
This is a tough one today! I like both of their thinking.
Well, Bill, the Episcopalians of the Diocese of Central NY have more than heard of David Oakerhater...we claim him as one of our own. Paris Hill church is still a summer chapel of the Diocese, it's over near Utica, and St. Paul's in Syracuse later became the Diocesean cathedral, although last year it asked to revert to an ordinary parish again. I am part Mohawk, and am proud to be a priest of the Diocese that ordained David Oakerhater to the diaconate after preparing him for holy orders.
As you say, Lent Madness is not Lent Fairness. While I admire David, Martin had such an impact on the Church that I couldn't vote for the underdog, as I sometimes do.
Sooooo not fair!
As a deacon in Oklahoma I am well aware of Oakerhater and his work. The Whirlwind congregation continues to this day, with his descendants in the fold. While I admire Luther I must vote for our favorite son who I think is the first Native American added to the calendar of saints.
Interesting comments. I find that most think Martin Luther would have been happy about all the adulation some gave him. Actually, the 95 theses were never intended as more than a discussion or writing prompts. He posted them at Wittenburg University (whether on the door of the chapel or on the bulletin board next to a notice about a missing cat is still up for debate) to get the students to think about their faith. Someone found them there and had them translated into German and disseminated among the people. Luther was mostly looking to fix what he saw as wrong in the faith and not to break away or start a movement. The Reformation rested on three solas -- sola scriptura; sola fe; sola gratia (only Scripture; only faith, only grace). The 95 theses do cover more subjects than just indulgences, although they were a big part of what was wrong. Luther never saw himself as anything but a good Catholic, although the church made it impossible for him to continue to practice that faith. As for his anti-Semitism, most Catholics held that view for most of the first 1500 years of the Church. Then came the Inquisition and enhanced the supposition that the Jewish people (along with the Muslims) were not fit human beings because they denied Christ. Some went so far as to blame the Jews for killing Jesus. Based on that, we would have to deny voting for any saint mentioned before the 1800's. I also admire David Oakerhater whom I learned about several years ago when I did a year-long exploration of the saints of the church. I admire him greatly for his change of heart and direction. It is a difficult choice.
But the particularly violent nature of Luther's attitude toward the Jews was not universal in his day. There were other Christians who were critics of anti-Semitic attitudes, policies, and actions. The fact that Luther accepted anti-Semitism as a "given" (and even intensified the anti-Semitism of his particular context) even while criticising other abuses, made his attitudes to the Jews relevant to LM.
Yeah, it's not fair. I would have liked to vote for Oakerhater and see him advance another round, but not against Martin Luther.
This is painful. Martin Luther is most certainly the MVP as he turned the focus away from so many destructive worldly concerns back to the Bible. On the other hand, Making Medicine is a noble and interesting Christian leader. I've never heard of him and am so glad he made such an impact for Christ - even though his faith story comes with such painful oppression and cultural losses. Looking into that face of Making Medicine, I grieve over our history of forcing assimilation as a requirement of coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus. I love the missionaries and am in awe of their commitment, bravery and demonstrations of love....yet the forced anglicizing of indigenous people was clunky at best and continues to scratch people's souls today.
That said, Making Medicine is a tremendous example of a man who clung to the mercy of God as he sorted out the injustices and graces he encountered throughout his eventful life.
Let's give this guy a silver halo, right?
Luther did propose some reforms that were needed. However, I cannot get over his extreme anti-Semitism and despicable reaction to the Jews that were steadfast in their faith"On Jews and their Lies" . Although many Lutherans do not seem to know this aspect of his personality, hated of our brothers and sisters in Abraham contradicts any understanding I have of personal holiness.
Although so much has to come to light about the abhorrent treatment of the Americans tribes, I do believe Oakerhater returned to his people out of love not force.
Sorry I meant hatred not hated
We do need a like button. Also a return to the top of the page button.
I voted for David. Thanks for your comments! I enjoy reading them.
This Okie had to vote for the only saint from Oklahoma: David Oakerhater.
Martin Luther in spite of the fact that I groan every time I see "A Mighty Fortress" listed as one of the hymns. Impossible to sing without exhausting the vocal chords! And my brain...
Cast my vote for Martin Luther! I could do no other.
Oh no! The Supreme Executive Committee left out the important connection St. David Pendleton Oakerhater has with Grace Church in Syracuse, NY for it was there that he was baptized and confirmed as a deacon. The church even has a beautiful stained glass window of him: http://gracesyracuse.org/saint-david-pendleton-oakerhater/ May I humbly suggest that the next time he is matched up against one of the titans of the church that his bio be updated and that his stained glass window be used as an illustration. It just might send a few more votes to this particularly unique American saint.
I voted before scanning these comments, some of which I found compelling and surely interesting, many of you know so much more than I about our church history. But that's a good Lenten benefit from this silly game we play day by day. Martin Luther is The Man.
David for the win. What a changed life!
I voted for Martin Luther, in soldarity with the faithful and courageous believers who recently voted to sell their (Lutheran) church building and move in to worship with us Episcopalians. We have an Episcopalian priest as rector, a Lutheran deacon, a vestry and a council, another book in the pew, Lutheran service on the last Sunday of the month and Episcopal services the other weeks. We taught them to eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and to follow Lent Madness (thank you SEC for including Luther. how did you know this joining was happening here in DioMass days before you announce the 2017 bracket?). they are teaching us more about outreach, and taught us about Reformation Sunday (and Reformation Day, i did not know there was a difference).
Also voted to celebrate 500th anniversary of the 95 Theses.
Would almost think 1/2 the SEC lived in DioMass or something.
And the Oregon coast has an Episcopal-Lutheran-Methodist congregation that has an ELCA-ordained rector, since the ELCA is in communion with both TEC & the UMC.
I cannot vote for David as it seems he may have freely converted but not in "his own way and time" but more under the influences of the time and places he was captive. I am grateful he went back to his people to help them.
Voted for Deacon David over Brother Martin, even if this year is the 500th anniversary of the 95 Theses. My compelling reason is Luther's attitude toward the Jews, as mentioned by other responders even if (sadly) not in the brief biographies.
I voted for Oakerhater because he was imprisoned with my great-grandfather at Fort Marion. The conditions were deplorable. That anyone survived was a miracle in itself --- Yet Oakerhater's mind and heart remained open to hear Christ's message. Now, that's "saintly".
As a physician, I have to vote for the guy called Making Medicine!
The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) exhibition, "Martin Luther: Art and the Reformation," http://new.artsmia.org/luther, "sheds new light on an explosive era and the man who ignited it." "Martin Luther: Treasures of the Reformation" catalogues 400 painting, sculpture, gold, textiles, and works on paper from Luther sites in Eisleben, Mansfeld and Wittenberg. Martin Luther was a complex man!
Not fair. You're right. Two of my favorite people. Uncle Marty got my vote today as he spoke truth to corrupt power in his day. We need more like him!
There was no doubt of the one who gets my vote. Martin Luther all the way.
As someone raised RC and a convert to the Episcopal Church for over 30 years, my vote went to Martin Luther, not only for his courage in speaking truth to power but for his emphasis on the quality of preaching and music... both of which feed my soul mightily in the Episcopal Church.
I didn't know about his anti-Semitic writings till today's comments; it would have made my choice unbearably difficult.
I had a hard time as both men had much to commend. Finally decided to go for Martin Luther. If neither had lived, what would we be like now? Hated Luther's anti-Semitism. Finally voted for Luther. I love reading the comments and have learned much. We are all flawed.
Going with David. The quote at the end did it for me.
Of course! A fellow deacon!