Reformata Semper Reformanda

 I like to joke that the reason for the protestant reformation was that Luther translated the dirty words of Scripture too literally and offended the stuffed suits. It's not true, but there are plenty of phrases that would offend the sensibilities of many church folks in Scripture. The reality of the reformation was that the church had lost its way and had detached itself from the tenets of Scripture in favor of human corruption and traditions that were not biblical, much less faithful to the missional calling of the Church. Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and other reformers pushed to see a biblically faithful church rise from the broken version of the church that existed. Their chief tenets, sola gratia, sola fide, sola Scriptura, solus Christus, soli Deo gloria define the needed reforms. The church needed to be anchored to salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, as defined by Scripture alone, through Christ alone, solely for God's glory. Nothing has changed today, but the truth remains- the church is called to be reformed, and always reforming. Or to pull out the Latin and sound all smarty pants and all, "ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda."

Just as in the 1500's, the church still needs reforming. Whenever human tradition or ideas supersede the biblical anchors of the church, we need to call it back. That's the entire point of the phrase, to be always reforming means pulling back to the essentials of the church as defined by the Scriptures. It's not a departure from or reinterpretation thereof, but a look at what matters most. So what does the bible say the church is and what does it say the church is to be about?

First and foremost, Jesus gave the marching orders:

All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

So, everything the church does has to be done with this in mind. If there is anything that doesn't fall in line with these marching orders, we're not following Jesus, but human tradition and it has to be called out the same as Luther had to call out the issues before. So here's the question, what does it mean to make disciples?

At it's core, disciple making is teaching people to be like Jesus. To walk like, talk like, love like, and live like Jesus. As the only son of God who completely and perfectly fulfilled the entirety of the Law, that's a tall order! The theological concept involved herein is sanctification, or becoming more holy (which is the goal as expressed in Leviticus: "Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy."). It is definitively a process- at least, I haven't met anyone who became perfect the day they found salvation by faith in Jesus! In fact, if Jesus is the second Adam who came to return us to the perfect image of God we were created as, discipleship is being reformed into the image of God.

So the practice, or art, of becoming like Jesus is literally the path of discipleship- thus the "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" part of the Great Commission. Thus, being a disciple means being about the work Jesus has given to us. Stepped out further, to be about the work of Jesus is to be about the work of the Father who sent Him.

The church then literally exists to see people becoming disciples who make disciples. It's not just a suggestion, y'all, it's a command. Are you about the work Jesus gave you or do you need reforming to look, talk, walk, love, and live more like Jesus? Never settle for a faith that doesn't impact all of your life because that's not the call of discipleship and it is not being reformed into the fullness of the image of God...

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