Semper Reformanda, Isn’t Simple - David Lauten
Today, October 31, 2020, we remember 503 years ago when German monk, Martin Luther, nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg which sparked the Reformation. It was a time of the rediscovery of the gospel of Christ, the authority of the Word of God and the centrality of preaching and teaching the Scriptures. The gospel of salvation in Christ alone through faith alone transformed the lives of many as God’s Word spread across Europe. The newly recovered gospel not only impacted individuals but brought about renovation of worship according to Scripture. And this resulted in an eventual over-haul of gospel ministry and church structures.
But today is not just a day to look back on what God did through the Reformation. It is a time to examine our own priorities and carefully consider our need for continual reformation, renewal and revival.
Recently, a friend and I were discussing one of the slogans of the Reformation that were developed over 100 years after Luther, semper reformanda - always reforming. Overhearing our conversation, his 6-year-old son told a sibling, “that sounds simple.” My friend responded, “semper reformanda, isn’t simple.”
The church and those who make it up are called to continual reform. A later Reformer, John Calvinspells out our constant need for continual gospel re-tooling describing “the human heart is a perpetual idol factory.” Revamping our lives and Christ’s church according to God’s Word is never easy. While it is not simple, the Reformation begun by that German monk those many years ago continues.
The history of Christ’s Church is marked both by the need for renewal and God’s gracious provision of semper reformanda. The history of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is no exception. The establishment of the Associate Presbytery in 1733 with an emphasis on Christians selecting their Pastors and the free offer of the gospel brought needed corrective to the Church of Scotland at that time. Ten years later, members of the Reformed Presbytery emphasizing the crown rights of Jesus as the head of his Church sought biblical reform from Church of Scotland government tangled with the monarchy.
In more recent years, efforts to reform Christ’s Church continue. At last week’s ARP Synod Meeting, Elders and Ministers present made a commitment to study restructuring and reorganizing the ARP Synod for gospel effectiveness and ministry optimization.
We yearn for God to change us that our lives may continually be altered by his Word and gospel that we may live for his glory. We also pray and labor for the re-ordering of our Church and congregations for continual reform according to the Scriptures.
But none of this is simple. Reformation in our individual lives and in our life together as God’s people is not easy. Our tendency individually and corporately is to resist change. The present, even lived less stellar than desired, is often more comfortable than living life devoted to God. While gospel renovation is not simple, it is what is needed.
The first question of our Shorter Catechism gets to the heart of the matter. When God brings renewal, our minds and hearts are re-oriented for living for his glory and finding our enjoyment in him.
May God return us to our first love of Christ and the gospel privilege of living life based upon our union with Christ. Our enjoyment of fellowship and communion with our Triune God is among the highest of gospel privileges.
On this day of Reformation, may the upshot of semper reformanda in our lives be Christ our heart-treasure and the gospel our true pearl of great price.
While the arm of the flesh and trusting in princes or horses will fail us, we know God is able to bring spiritual refreshment. So there is much about which we are hopeful. God brought reformation, renewal, and revival of his church to yester-year. May God do it again!