Is There
Not a Cause:
The
Urgency in Taking the Spirit of Reformation Forward
Introduction
The
year 2017 is the 500th anniversary of the great Reformation movement
of the Sixteenth Century. It was on October 31, 1517, that the Roman Catholic
monk, Martin Luther, questioning the power and efficacy of Indulgences, nailed
the 95 theses on the door of the All Saints’ Church, Wittenberg, Saxony,
sparking the flame of the Reformation movement. This movement, by the
providential guidance of the Lord, became an instrument in God’s hand to
re-form the Church, making the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ again the
message of the Church. God, through this movement, raised men in different
parts of the world, empowered them with extraordinary courage and ability in
order to question and challenge the unholy authorities and systems that
dominated the matters of the Church for a long period. Through their relentless
effort that the Church of God could be liberated.
As
the Christian Church enters into the 500th anniversary of the
Sixteenth Century Protestant Reformation movement, the question we want to ask
is this: Is there not a cause for us? In
other words, “Is there not a necessity for the Church today to talk about
Reformation?” Before we consider this question, let us also ask: “Was there not
a cause for the Sixteenth Century Reformation?”
The Sixteenth Century
Reformation and Its Necessity
The
Protestant Reformation of Sixteenth Century was not a fight against any church
denomination. It was rather a fight against a very corrupt religious system
prevailed in those days, known as the Dark Age in the History of the Church. Martin
Luther, the man who spearheaded the movement in the Sixteenth Century, never
intended to form a separate denomination in the established church of those
days. His plan was to re-form the Church, taking the Church back to her
original roots.
De-formation
had happened in the Church, and it was in need of a Re-formation. First of all,
the Historic Gospel was under attack. When the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches
that salvation of a man’s soul is by grace through faith alone (Ephesians
2:8-10), the religious system of those days taught that man’s works also play a
role for his salvation from sin. In other words, the system taught faith plus
work is equal to salvation, rather than faith is equal to salvation. The Bible
teaches that man has to prove his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through his
good works; not good deeds requiring for salvation (James 2:14-22). Therefore,
the Reformers’ slogan was “Sola Fide,” Faith Alone.
Secondly,
the Historic Truth was under attack. During the dark period of the history of
the Church, the Bible was misused, misrepresented, and misinterpreted by the
clergy. The Bible, which was the sole monopoly of the clergy, was allegorized
rather than understood literally. The demand was that the Bible needed to be
interpreted according to the traditions of the established corrupt Church of
those days. Luther contested this by saying that the Bible was not necessarily
linked to the traditional interpretation of the corrupt Church. The principle
of “Sola Scriptura,” Scripture Alone, which the Reformers asserted, meant that
the historical or literal sense of the text was important.
Thirdly,
the Historic Christian Practices were under attack. The corrupt priestly system
of the Church monopolized the religious practices, and manipulated them for
their own personal benefits. The sale of Indulgences by Johann Tetzel was one
of the many examples for this. Indulgence was a prominent Catholic practice, by
which any devoted Catholic parishioner could pay money to the church in
exchange for the forgiveness of sins. Around 1505, Pope Julius II began the
project of constructing the massive St Peter’s Basilica, and was in need of
money. The construction was underway when Leo X became the Pope in 1513. Since
the Pope was in great need of money in order to complete the construction, he
promoted the sale of Indulgences. Tetzel was given the task of raising the
money by selling the Indulgences, and he was exceptionally good at it. His
famous claim was this, “as soon as the gold in the casket rings, the rescued
soul to heaven springs.”
Re-forming the Church
the Need of the Hour
Consequently,
the Lord providentially prepared the scene for the task of re-forming the
Church, and when the right hour came, raised Luther, together with many others
in different parts of Europe, for the re-formation cause. For them,
re-formation meant bringing the Church back to the historic, biblical gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ. The true gospel is Christ centered, Bible centered, and
its purpose is the glory of God. Therefore, the reformers propagated and
asserted ‘Sola Scriptura’ (Scripture Alone), ‘Sola Fide’ (Faith Alone), ‘Sola
Gratia’ (Grace Alone), ‘Solus Chritus, (Christ Alone), and ‘Soli Deo Gloria’
(Glory to God Alone). These were commonly known as the Five Solas of Reformation.
There Is a Cause
1
Samuel 17 has something to teach us on this. For the topic before us, David,
the son of Jesse, who later became the King of Israel, stands as an example for
us. A similar situation prevailed in Israel with the nation Israel in apostasy,
and her king, king Saul, in disloyalty toward God. Saul had been presumptuous
and rebellious; he went to the extent of usurping the priestly office by
performing the sacrifice which only a priest was supposed to perform (1 Samuel
13:8-14; 15:10-35). There was so much confusion and pandemonium in the whole
system of Israel when Saul was at the helm. And the Spirit of God had departed
from the monarch (16:14). Accordingly, God allowed the heathen Philistines to
rise against the nation Israel, and they were at Israel’s doorstep (17:1). King
Saul had no other option, but had to put together the army for more of a
defensive mechanism. They were at the Valley of Elah, some fourteen or fifteen
miles, southwest of Bethlehem. The army was terrified as the Philistines were
mighty in strength and battle. Israel was clueless and in disarray in facing
the threat of the Philistines.
That
was the time the young lad David coming to the fore. He was ridiculed and
discouraged by his own brethren (17:28). But David replied, “Is there not a
cause?” (17:29). Yes, there was a cause. Goliath was a terror for Israel and
for God’s cause. Verses 4-7 explains him, “And there went out a champion out of
the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six
cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was
armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels
of brass. And he had greaves of brass
upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a
weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and
one bearing a shield went before him.” This giant raised a massive challenge
against Israel, saying, “And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and
said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a
Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come
down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be
your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our
servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel
this day; give me a man, that we may fight together” (verses 8-10).
Goliath’s
challenge was, “give me a man, that we may fight together.” David was the man
whom God raised to take the battle with the giant. He was the man prepared by
the LORD, and he was different. His difference was because the Spirit of the
LORD was upon him (1 Samuel 16:13, 18). His method was very simple, “And he
took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook,
and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling
was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine” (17:40). And he prevailed
against the mighty Goliath, “And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence
a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone
sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth” (17:49). David
took the challenge of Goliath upon himself by trusting in the power of God.
With that, the victory was easy for him. His mission was just for the glory of
God, as he himself mentioned, “that all the earth may know that there is a God
in Israel” (17:46), and he was able to accomplish the same.
The Condition of the Church Today
The
case and situation for us in the Twenty-first Century is not very different
from the case of the Reformers of the Sixteenth Century or of David of the Old
Testament. Today, the Church is battling for the same cause—preserving the
purity of the gospel and the glory of God. First of all, the Church is
bombarded with a perverted gospel or no gospel at all. In many churches today,
the gospel preached is not the biblical gospel, but ‘the health and wealth
gospel’ or a ‘compromised gospel.’ The mantra in churches today is that “God
has His blessings for you.” According to this mantra, if you follow the Lord
Jesus Christ, all your problems will be solved, sicknesses will be healed, and
you will be prosperous. In other words, the focus has been ‘prosperous living’
rather than ‘holy living.’ You hardly hear sermons preached from church
pulpits, exposing sin and calling for repentance. The importance of true
regeneration and true sanctification are not adequately emphasized. The
consequence of sin is not sufficiently exposed from the pulpits. You hardly
hear any message on hell and eternal punishment for sinners who willfully
indulge in the lustfulness of their flesh.
Secondly,
the Word of God has a very little place in Church worships and practices today.
Satan has subtly attacked the Church that the Pastors and church leaders today
feel that the Bible is a very familiar book and therefore expository biblical
preaching is no longer required. ‘Power evangelism’ with signs and wonders has
become the centre stage of church ministry and missions, rather than continuing
with the old time biblical and apostolic method of preaching the Word of God.
People are fascinated with the external feelings and experience, created by the
gimmicks of the so called ‘Prophets’ and ‘Apostles’ of modern day churches,
rather than experiencing the internal transformation of their lives by the
power of the faithful preaching and teaching of the Word of God.
Thirdly,
the liturgy has lost its purity in the Church today. In many churches today the
worship service is like a concert or a performance. Sunday worship services are
led by unregenerated youths with so much worldly music and noise, without the
fear of the Lord. As a result, worship services become man centered, egoistic,
performance by worldly standards, rather than God honoring, reverential
worship, led by godly men for the glory and honor of His name.
Consequently,
the Church has lost its original focus. A true church supposed to be “the
church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
Today, the truth of God finds little place in the Church. The gospel of God
lost its power in the church. Transforming the lives of the people through the
power and truth of the gospel is no longer the focus of the Church. The focus
has shifted from being a biblical Church to being a worldly Church. Today
people can find so much of the world in the Church. Many churches have become
social forums where people’s community needs are met rather than spiritual
needs. People come to church to show off their financial might or to meet with
their friends and chitchat with them. This is the de-formation of the Church
today.
The Battle Goes On and
We are in the Fray
Therefore,
the battle before us today is the gospel battle. The Apostle Paul explains this
battle in Galatians 1:6-12, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that
called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another;
but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But
though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that
which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say
I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek
to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not
after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by
the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Here
Paul is saying that Galatians are turning away from the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ into a different gospel, but that gospel is not really a second
gospel to be put alongside of the gospel that has been already preached by the
Apostle (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This gospel is not really a gospel at all.
There is only one gospel which proclaims that by grace through faith we are
saved, and that is the gospel already preached to them. The different gospel by
which they have been influenced was faith
plus law-works as the way to salvation. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the Apostles is explained by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:16, “that a
man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus
Christ.” This gospel concerns the eternal Son of God who became incarnate in
order to become the propitiation for the sin of the whole world (1 John 2:2).
His finished work at Calvary enables God to be just and the justifier of him
who believes in Christ (Romans 3:26). This is the true gospel that brings
salvation to a condemned sinner (Romans 3:23-24; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:4-7). This
gospel is not a man centered gospel, but Christ centered. The effect of this
gospel is not so much of external experience, but internal, that is, the
transformation of the heart.
The
Apostle Paul further explains this gospel in Romans 1:14-17, “I am debtor both
to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So,
as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome
also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God
unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the
Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as
it is written, The just shall live by faith.” The Apostle very clearly states
here that the gospel of Christ is “the power of God unto salvation.” The gospel
is so powerful that it takes people all the way to heaven. It is possible
because in the gospel is the righteousness of God revealed, and through faith
one can be a recipient of this.
It
is sad that today the Church has rejected this glorious gospel of Christ and
has gone after the “signs and wonders” and other gimmicks of the puny men.
Therefore, there is a great need for a Twenty-first Century re-formation in the
Church. The sounds of the Five Solas of the Sixteenth Century Reformation need
to be re-echoed in the Church today. Every Christian must be re-formed in this
line; every Christian home must be re-formed in the Reformers’ way; and every
Christian church must be re-formed according the pattern the Reformers showed.
When
the true gospel of Christ is truly at work in the church, people will forsake
their old sinful ways, and come to the Lord Jesus Christ with a repentant
heart; there will be true regeneration of the heart, and there will be true
worship and service in the Church. As a result, there will be a great love for
God’s Word, not only to be heard, but also to be practiced in the lives of men.
This will lead to Christian witnessing, and new missions doors will be opened
to the Church. This is the true Re-formation!
Conclusion
When
situations seem very grim, God always has His way to take the things forward.
This was the promise and assurance God gave to the nation of Judah through His
prophet Isaiah, saying, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit
of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19). The nation of
Judah was about to face the onslaught by the Babylonians as God’s judgment
toward the people of God for forsaking His ways for them. When Judah was in a
hopeless situation, God assured the faithful ones that He is in-charge of the
situation and there will be a restoration for the nation. During the days of
Judah’s Babylonian exile, God raised a standard to protect His interest through
people like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and many others. Later the restoration
of God’s people happened through men like Zerubbabel, Joshua, Ezra, Nehemiah,
Haggai, and many others, who spearheaded the return from the Babylonian
captivity and the rebuilding of the physical and spiritual concerns of God’s
people.
Today,
the Church is in the state of de-formation, and God’s standard for the Church
is re-formation. The re-formation has to happen by the Gospel as the Reformers
did in the Sixteenth Century. This has to happen through every faithful
Christian who wants to honor God through the fear of God and a committed and a
sincere life for the Lord’s glory. We need to be thankful to the Lord that He
has preserved His Gospel in all its purity and power all through the Centuries,
and passed on to the Church today. Although the Church has been divided into so
many Denominations today, the purity and the power of the Gospel can still be
preserved if faithful men stand up, knowing the reality and urgency of the
cause for the Gospel, and take the battle forward.
At
Covenant, Bangalore, we stand for re-echoing the old-time Gospel, following the
path of the Apostles and the Reformers. We are committed, through the various
ministries of the church, to take the Gospel battle forward. The Reformation Now publication is one of
such ministries we undertake together with the fellow likeminded brethren in
the City. We, as a church, desire to play a crucial role in proclaiming,
safeguarding, and passing on the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. On this 500th
Anniversary of the Sixteenth Century Protestant Reformation movement we want to
encourage all the faithful Christians to be united for this cause of the Church
of God. We, therefore, dedicate the next four special issues of the Reformation
Now magazine to highlight the importance of the Reformation so that we
would be aware of our responsibilities today to take the spirit of Reformation
forward. This was the call the Apostle Paul gave to the young pastor Timothy as
he entrusted with him the Gospel, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the
grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among
many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to
teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:1-2). May the Lord help us that we would be
true to this call!
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