Always Reforming

Several years ago, as I was participating in an online forum, I ran into the phrase, “once reformed, always reforming.” Looking back, I see that what was meant was simply, “always changing.” Since then, I’ve heard and seen this phrase used a number of other times. It was mostly being used to support some kind of “change” in the church or in theology. Those changes weren’t always for the better though, nor were they always more Biblical. I also ran into a definition used by a 3rd-party HR organization which stated that “reform” was any change for the positive. I found the best definition and a good Christian application in a lecture at a conference titled, “Semper Reformanda” (see here.

Since then, I began hearing a number of other “re” terms used among Christians. These often sounded nice, but didn’t always reflect a change in the right direction. Here’s a quick list and explanation of these, and I’ll circle back around to “reforming” at the end to properly understand reformation. Change is a good thing, if it’s the right kind of change and if it’s not done just for the sake of change. Let’s take a look at a couple of these.

Renewal: Many look at church and worship as just needing some renewal or to refresh it so it comes alive for those who participate. The CRCNA has taken this approach by establishing the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and focusing on worship renewal. This seems to assume that people have just become bored and need a constant barrage of newness in order to keep us interested. It assumes people need to be attracted to church through what we, as humans, do in our programs, music, etc… rather than being attracted by “the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God” that has been preached since the time of the apostles. (1 Timothy 1:3-11) Even if the words are not used, this is the underlying theme behind many purpose-driven or seeker-sensitive churches. The one thing that does need renewing is our minds. (Romans 12:2)

Reinvent: The Emergent Church started use of this terminology with the statement that Jesus is fine, but we need to reinvent church. They say rather than being Christians, we need to be Christ-followers or followers of Jesus. However, Christians worship God through the church; the church was formed based on Scripture through the writings in the New Testament and the teaching of Jesus. Yes, some have strayed from that and need to be restored. But if you’re in a church that understands and follows the regulative principle of worship and worship in the way Scripture teaches, then reinventing church is essentially reinventing Jesus because the church was established by Christ himself. Reinventing worship takes the wrong assumption that we invented it in the first place. People didn’t invent worship, God did, and He instructed us how we should worship Him in his Word.

Reforming: Unlike the way I heard it defined, simply as change, or positive change. Reforming that is meant by this phrase is, re-forming our thoughts and actions to a standard. In the Christian’s case, that standard is scripture. Not just any type of change, but specifically, changing to conform to God’s Law.

So, reinventing church is best done by reforming it to what is taught in scripture as we have drifted (or run) away from God’s plan. We also don’t need to keep “making it fresh” as Marty does in Madagascar, but instead need to renew our commitment to God’s Word and his gospel.