Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/76

Contributor - Peter J. Yff

Title - Affirmation and Witness

Topic - Reformation

Ask any youngster (in Canada or the United States, and elsewhere too) what October 31 represents, and you will almost certainly get the reply, "Why, Hallowe'en, of course".

October 31 has a great " deal more meaning than trick or treat, however harmless this may be. October 31 is Reformation Day. Some 450 years ago an event (or was it a movement?) took place in the life of the Church. Ignorance and superstition had produced an age properly called "dark", particularly in the realm of religion and faith. Fear ruled men's hearts, and faith came to mean agreeing with the Church, on the pain of loss of liberty or even life. The Bible was an unknown, chained book.

Then in the church world rediscovery took place. Please note that it was a recovery, a rediscovery. The faith we share as Reformed Churches, or churches of the Reformation, did not originate with Luther or Calvin. On the contrary, these men of God recovered what had become covered over with a mass of superstition and ignorance.

In the providence of God, Martin Luther posed some questions for debate, questions dealing with the way by which one becomes right with God, questions concerning true penitence. The immediate occasion was the sale of forgiveness by indulgence. Luther asked whether forgiveness was not spiritual instead, suggesting that when one went penitently to God and confessed his sin that this was worth far more than any indulgence, even though it had been obtained from the hand of the Pope himself. The issue raised by these theses spread like wildfire, and the Reformation was born. People realized anew that "since we are justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5 : 1). Principles essential to faith were realized afresh, such as the priesthood of all believers - not just of a select few, the authority of scripture for faith and conduct, not tradition however hallowed and encrusted, and the truth that the Bible is an open book which can be understood by everyone who is able . to read. Faith was seen to be not just agreeing that the church was right, but is knowing in one's heart that God is his Father in Christ, that God loves him, that therefore God sent his Son to be our Saviour. The basis for our relationship with God was never our performance nor our earning or (God forbid!) our buying.

As this wind of change blew across Europe the Reformation was born. The very name of our church bears witness to it, and affirms this truth: THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, REFORMED ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD.

October 31 falls on a Sunday, so that this year we witness to, and affirm these truths in worship services on the very day of the Reformation's anniversary. Reformation, however, is not just an event that occurred some 459 years ago. Did the day we commemorate mean no more than an anniversary, we would be just as guilty of worshipping tradition as was the Church of the Middle Ages. On the contrary, Reformation is a process, continuing, flowing from a relationship with God which his people realize for themselves in every age and generation.

People ask about the meaning of our church name sometimes. "Reformed? from what?" The question provides an opportunity for a short, on the spot lesson in church history. It gives also the chance to point out that "Reformation" means to recover, to bring back to the original true standard.

As a church of the Reformation we witness to the historic faith that one is justified by faith and saved by grace. We are challenged as well to live this faith, to demonstrate that the divine force which brought the Reformation into being is at work still ... that this is a living, reforming faith. We need to live as though these truths matter today; that they do indeed make a difference in our lives.

October 31 must be a witness to it, as well as an affirmation that it's real for more than one day or season. Make the Reformation a reforming movement today, and perhaps you won't have to explain it so often.

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