You're right. A reformation is a movement toward the truths of the Bible and away from the doctrines of men. That FIRST TRUTH is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Jesus, himself, said, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE ... The "First" doctrine of man (that is, the singular doctrine that moved people AWAY from the TRUTH {Jesus}) was created not by a church but by the Emperor Constantine who saw other religions with beautiful temples and decided the "church" needed temples, too. Are we ready to BECOME the church rather than "Attending" a church? Having family-like agape love between the brothers and sisters in our area? Actually KNOWING them outside of a building? Spending time DAILY with other Christians? With worshiping together flowing naturally from our knowledge & love of each other as well as our love of Jesus? That guy that sits next to you in the pew ... what's his name? What does he do for a living? Does he struggle to support his family? Is he secretly addicted to something he needs to find freedom from? What's his favorite color? What's his youngest child's name? Would his child speak to you or would you be one of the "strangers" he's warned not to talk to? Think about it. Are you thinking, "sounds like this gal's gone off the deep end! She's a fanatical 'house churcher'!" (First and foremost I attend the Salvation Army and play for them every Sunday) Is there something inside of you that's saying, "But I need my privacy ... I'm a really private person!"? Be honest and ask yourself what your REAL motivation is for NOT doing things God's way. The anonymity of a large church crowd can be a safe place where your failings are never observed, never brought to light and never corrected ... that is EXACTLY WHY Satan loves "the church" ... and HATES The Church! WE all need correction at times, we all need to grow ... and we all fail Jesus at one time or another ... in answer to that, we also ALL need to learn to love, forgive, support and pray for our brothers & sisters who fail instead of "finishing them off"!
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
It is change, but change doesn't always mean new - the first reformers sought to change the church back to the doctrines of the apostles and our Lord from where they had added man's tradition to them, and when they could not, they separated.
Are there changes that could be made in the church now that would take away the traditions of men and adhere to the doctrines of God?
Yes, but first we must agree (be of one mind) with what the doctrines of God are.
Does God want His church to move from the traditions of men to His truth?
Yes, but first we have to determine what His truth is in agreement - in one accord.
I do not see this as an eschatological matter, but a practical one, for the church - to get back to the main and meat teachings of God in the word and away from the superficial teaching that some would call expository, but is an example of what that is not.
By the way, there has been a "modern reformation" going on quietly for some years now - God keeps His own.
Unfortunatley there will be no reformation, the next one will be the millenium. It would put a huge obstacle in the way the world is moving to now. The one system and the cry for world peace. As the prophet Isiah spoke to the children of israel. They cried peace and there was none. It will be the same!
Yes it is, here is the problem though. more people are going to church than ever before. I see the biggest problem stemming from this is most either cannot accept or see that there an evil sinner. Always remember the prostitutes will enter before the self-righteous. As there sin will be more apparent to them. The church I was going to last year moved to a bigger building and really all you can do is shake your head, as it looks something like Cedar Point. They built a slide where the kids can skid on down to there sunday school class. After going to this church about 8 or 9 times I heard enough! The sad thing is it's the biggest church in the city.
Author Ken Ham's article by the same name is an interesting piece urging Christians to stop being "wishy washy" and stand up for their beliefs. I agree with him. Unfortunately, he leaves the impression that one of the greatest lies of our time is the truth. The so-called "Scopes Monkey Trial" was actually a triumph for the Church against evolution ... but because of the Broadway play, "Inherit the Wind" (which later became a movie), people are under the impression that William Jennings Bryant lost this trial. Nothing could be further from the truth. Scopes was found guilty of teaching evolution and suffered the consequences. However, the writer of the stage play decided it would be just fine to use the Scopes trial as a chance to voice a polemic against creationism and twisted the trial and its conclusion so that all those who viewed the play/movie would conclude that Scopes (evolution) won and Bryant (Christianity) lost! What other examples are there where a Christian victory has been twisted into a loss by writers, politicians, whoever?
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
