Reformation

The theology of Christianity has needed fine tuning on numerous occasions. The Thessalonians, for example, believed that they had missed the Second Coming, resulting in a correction from Paul. The early churches dealt with fine-tuning issues such as whether or not Jesus was divine, who the Holy Spirit was, and even which documents were to biblical canon and which were not.

Perhaps most famous, though, is the period of history which is itself called the Reformation, during which a variety of men stood against the Roman Catholic Church by declaring such things as salvation by grace through faith alone.

This process has not ceased.

Churches today are just as they have always been: Filled with generally well-intentioned folks who, rather than applying the time-tested, God-blessed activity of the Bereans, accept what their church leaders tell them without much questioning at all.

Yet all the while, anyone from without their gathering is fair game for criticism & rebuke, especially if such a person’s home church bears a label even slightly different than theirs.

We need to start testing things. We need to stoke the fires of reformation, purging what is wrong from the church so that what is right may shine ever brighter.

Are you saying you know how to make a church perfect?

No, but I wish I could say that. I wish I knew what it would look like to live in true orthodoxy & orthopraxis. But I don’t.

What I intend to offer here are different areas of reformation which I believe need to occur. Some of them may not apply to your church; perhaps you’ve already embraced the right beliefs or practices, and if that’s the case, keep it up!

There’s always room for reformation toward biblical correctness, and I trust that together we can progress toward that goal.