Reformed, Always Must Be Reformed Related to Scripture
6/9
One of the cornerstones upon which my faith in Christ rests is a maxim of my tradition: “Reformed, Always Must Be Reformed.” I have spoken before on what it means to me. Recently, in a comment on a blog post, the question of this phrase’s meaning was posed and it prompted me to delve deeper into its meaning.
Frank wrote on May 24:
“Janet, I think I understand what it means to be Reformed. But somehow I don’t think our definitions match up. I have heard a hundred times how “Reformed and always reforming” means that as time goes on we will gain new insights as to our understanding of scripture and to what God is doing now. This is not my understanding. “Reformed and always reforming” was never a license for on-going, continual doctrinal innovation or upgrading. Rather it is a persistent call to come back to the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, and to be continually reformed by them because the temptation to move away from them and towards the dominant culture would always be present. If we are counseled to keep coming back to God’s Word and to be reformed by it, surely it must be because there is something solid there. Something to which we may anchor our lives however tentatively and fearfully.”
So what does “Reformed, Always Must Be Reformed” mean, especially in connection with Scripture?
Upon reflection, I do not think that Frank and I are that far apart. I certainly do not see reformation as “license” for “continual doctrinal innovation or upgrading.” I, like Frank, see reformation happening through return to the Word of God, both written in the Bible and on the heart through the Holy Spirit, and, as Frank says, “to be continually reformed by them.” Frank and I agree that there is “something solid there” in Scripture “to which we may anchor our lives.”
Perhaps where Frank and I diverge in our understanding is in this concept of “reform” and “return.” Holy Scripture is very like the proverb I cherish which says, “You can not step into the same river twice.”
While I agree that the Bible is a solid rock upon which we can lay our faith, it is also true that our perception of Scripture is re-formed by God as we return to it over and over.
One example of this can be seen by examining passages which have been used, historically, to do such things as justify slavery or the silencing of women. When we look at the Bible’s clear messages of love and inclusion, it seems incredible that the Bible was used to justify these acts considered reprehensible to us today.
The main reason it seems incredible to us is that today we have knowledge which previous generations did not. Our forbearers made the effort to get to know their neighbors (as instructed to do so by Jesus in Scripture) and over time realized that our neighbors are not our enemies. Our neighbors are not inferiors to be enslaved or silenced. Our neighbors are actually representative of the great and good diversity that God has created in the world. And we are instructed to love them! In this way, our forbearers returned to the Bible and were reformed in their understanding of Scripture and then, following that, they reformed their actions in the world.
Through the ages, as we return to the Bible, the Holy Spirit inspires us to see freshly the meaning and then to apply that meaning to our own time and place. In our time, through our return to the Bible, we have come to see the wonderful lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Presbyterians whose lives exemplify love. Right now — in our place — we have been reformed.
And the process will continue, for we must always be reformed.
As a Reformed Christian, this gives me such delight!
Respond to this video with a video.
Peace,
Reverend Janet Edwards
7 Responses
Here here!
Donna
Dear Donna,
THANKS for the affirmation!
Is there any point in particular that jumped out at you or any further thought you want to add?
Peace, Janet
Hi Janet,
I’m somewhat reluctant because if anything it has become apparent to me that I tread the borderland between “conservate” and “liberal,” and that I am obviously hated by both.
But I believe in this statement: “…today we have knowledge which previous generations did not. Our forbearers made the effort to get to know their neighbors (as instructed to do so by Jesus in Scripture) and over time realized that our neighbors are not our enemies. Our neighbors are not inferiors to be enslaved or silenced. Our neighbors are actually representative of the great and good diversity that God has created in the world. And we are instructed to love them!”
What is on my mind is the hymn by Dan Shutte “Here I Am.” In it is the line, from God’s perspective:
“I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?”
May we all presents our hearts of stone willingly to be broken and restored with God’s love.
Donna
here, here, donna! may it be so, with humility and contrition for those we have offended.
much love and hope. pj
I come to this late I know. I also know that when walking amongst all the trained theologians who read Janet’s Blogs, I cannot stand long in a deep theological debate however I feel called to lend my two cents here. For me the statement Reformed always being reformed is more along the idea of the scriptures being the Living word of God. AS the living word of God I believe the intention of the Word stays the same, after all God remains unchanging over the years, but I also see it that as a living word it continues to be revealed (through the work of the holy spirit) in a deeper and deeper understanding. As said earlier we have used scriptures in the past to oppress women, blacks and others. As we gain more knowledge; as our culture becomes more and more advanced at all levels we are able to see new truths or rather old truths in a new way. That process will continue till the ends of times. I believe when we claim to have the final definitive answers then we are actually “killing” off the scriptures and declaring that the word of God is no longer the living word.
Dear Donna, pj and Mary,
Thanks for offering your voice here–you all have wisdom to contribute!
Donna, Don Shutte’s poetry captures very well a solid understanding of “reformed, always must be reformed.” And it is good reminder that God’s purpose for reforming our hearts is loving service in the world.
Mary, you remind me that culture and human knowledge are in God’s hands along with everything else in God’s good creation. God often uses these non-church aspects of life to teach us or to prod us to be re-formed in accord with God’s will.
And, pj, you remind me of the attitudes that I need to bring to all I encounter: humility, love and contrition. These will help me sort through all the possibilities to find and hold on to the living Word among us that will re-form me as God desires.
I like the distinction between the written Word, the Bible, and the living Word, Jesus Christ present in the Holy Spirit which you point to, Mary. How do we attend to and honor both?
Peace be with you all, Janet
hi mary.
i am no theologan either, by no stretch, i’m a high school drop out retired soldier who lives in the middle of it all.
but, to my ears, i have never heard it put more beautifully or truthfully.
them minute we come to believe that we have it all figured out, we have arrived at “the truth” we are lost. as you say, we kill off scripture and have it no more to lead us.
thank you for this lovely post.
much love and hope. pj