There are several popular Latin mottos associated with the Protestant Reformation, one of which is “ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda.” Translated into English this Latin phrase reads, “the church reformed and always reforming.” This phrase first appeared in a 1674 devotional by Jodocus van Lodenstein, who was involved in the Dutch Second Reformation. According to van Lodenstein and other reformers who used the phrase, the church was reformed under the Protestant Reformation, but it was always in need of further reformation, that is according to the Word of God.
Almost five hundred years after the Protestant Reformation began, this is certainly still true of the church today. Consider two critical examples of how the church should always be reforming:
1. Culture.
The church needs to always be reforming because of the influence of the culture. The culture is always changing (especially these days) and a danger the church faces is conforming to the culture in order to be relevant and popular. To the degree that the church has conformed to the culture it needs to be reformed according to the Scripture.
2. Tradition.
The church needs to always be reforming because of the influence of tradition. One danger the church faces is for tradition to become more authoritative than Scripture and to do certain things because they’ve always been done a certain way. To be sure certain traditions can be good, but they become harmful to the church when they conflict with biblical teaching. Traditions must always be tested according to the Scriptures and if they fail the test, the church should be reformed.
A great Scriptural summary of “the church reformed and always reforming” is Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
May the Lord continue the great work of reformation in His glorious church.
Throwin’ down the Latin…nice!
My only response is that I was caught up for a moment with ecstatic tongues.
Perhaps another reason for “always reforming” (and maybe assumed in your two observations) would be that as our understanding of God and His Word changes, we are then in need to tweak/reform what we do and how/why we do things.
Thanks for the post.
This is true. Thanks my brother for your comment.