Re-Form-Ation

It is important to understand how the Reformation began and what the original intent of the reformers was, as we look back on the history of the Reformation. When Martin Luther wrote his 95 Theses, his intention was not to create a new church, but to re-form the one and only church — the Roman church. As history unfolded, this is not what happened. The resistance to change in the church (an eternal problem) was much stronger than Luther had anticipated.

As we look back on 500 years of re-forming the church, it is important to understand that reformation is to be the ongoing practice of the church. All churches, including the one and only church (in 1517) the Roman church has changed throughout the centuries. New technology (like the printing press in Luther’s day and cell phones today), changes in culture (the inclusion of people of color and women in the leadership of the church), and new interpretations of theology (the theology of the cross had new and powerful meaning in light of the Holocaust), have made their impact on the church. These changes have created the church universal we know today. But the church we see today is not the church we will see in the years to come. Why? Because re-formation is an ongoing process.

“Re” means “again.” “Form” means, according to Merriam Webster, “to create or develop (something) over a period of time.” In the church, we are called to create or develop the church again and again over a period of time. We do this not simply for the sake of change but in order for the church to be faithful to its mission to share the good news of Jesus Christ to all the ends of the earth. Our great-grandparents would not recognize most churches today. But our children and grandchildren would not recognize the church of our great-grandparents. If we are to continue in our mission, we must re-form regularly with humility and with compassion for those whom change is painful.

Re-Form-ation: It is never ending!