Reformed and Ever Reforming

Sometimes it's hard as a Christian to fall into the trap of labelling yourself (see this post as a poetic satire) and whilst I often guiltily feel that I shouldn't, I can't help but label myself as perhaps different from someone else. As a result I suppose that I would simply refer to myself as a Reformed Christian- holding to the truths and attitudes of the great reformers. But whilst I still struggle with this and attempt to understand the rights and wrongs of classification I thought it would be helpful to pass on a message from my Pastor, David Finnie, at Ebenezer Evangelical church in Bangor. This comes from the introductory message in the monthly magazine:

As indicated in the churches constitution, Ebenezer's doctrinal position is expressed in the great reformed Confessions of church history and particularly so in the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646). Like those previous generations in the history of the church, we have formulated our doctrine and practise in a way that we think best reflects the teachings of Holy Scriptures. In this sense, Ebenezer can accurately be described as a Reformed church.

There is, however, a danger in classifying ourselves as a reformed church and thinking that we have arrived in terms of doctrine and practise. It is the danger of thinking that we have got it ALL right, that all the reforming has already been done and there is nothing more to do. Such a conclusion would be naive and dangerous.

If we claim to have the Word of God as "our supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct" (as in the SoF) then surely there is a need to be continually examining our position and practise in the light of God's word. There is an ongoing need to bring our inherited convictions to the bar of Holy Scripture and, if necessary, adjusting them so that they conform to the teachings of God's Word. If done in a proper spirit and with the correct motives, then examination and evaluation of this nature is not dangerous but healthy. After all it was examination and evaluation of this nature, which characterised the early Christians. Speaking about the believers from 1st Century Berea, Luke says they "examined the Scripture every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11)

And so, in addition to being a Reformed church, we ought to be a reforming church, a church which is willing to reform in its desire to conform more to the teachings of God's Word. As the Reformers of a bygone era used to say: "ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda"- "the church reformed and always to be reformed."

Many thanks to David for this helpful message may it be every believers attitude.