The Justification of the Reformation- The Biblical Idea of Unity and Separation

 There are many who are saying right now, as we witness the silly self-destruction of the Protestant Church in America and the West, that the Reformation was only a great hurt to the church.  These same (mostly Roman Catholic or Orthodox brothers and sisters and apologists) say that the church was greatly harmed and that the Protestants should repent and come back to the "mother" church.  
      Such statements gloss over the biblical basis for unity and separation, and even the historical events that led to the Protestant Reformation.  The other side are those who split over every wrong doctrine of the church, and who do not value true unity over their own pride.  One of the historical dangers of the modern day schismatics is that they have bought into the Enlightenment idea that we can all be judges of the Church.  Just as the Anabaptist with their polygamy, communism, and anarchy took to the extreme of Lutheranism, so schismatics have become extremists.  I contend that most schismatics view themselves as consumers of the church and can pick and choose or even create their own church without any fear of judgment from God who loves His bride- the Church. 
      So let us look at three things: 1) The continued reason for the Reformation churches- until unity is made; 2) The reason to not continue to split churches;  and 3) The reason to fear and respect the judgment of God on the Church and the basis for that judgment. 

First- What were the real causes of the Reformation?  There were secondary causes of the Reformation- from a purely secular viewpoint kings wanted more power and included in that was the wealth and power of the church.  But why did the church become so wealthy to begin with?  When you play chess it is a reminder that the bishop is more powerful than the knight or even castle/rook/pawn.  This is a far cry from Jesus who had no home of his own (Mt. 8:20), no savings accounts, and whose only possession- a robe was taken from him at his crucifixion.  The church can give into greed and think it is justified in doing so by thinking the church with gold, silver, ivory, ornate paintings and statues point to God.  Really, simplicity itself is a reminder of God in the flesh- Jesus.  
    But one hidden reason for the Protestant Reformation is found in the 40-217 antipopes (people who claim to be pope- or set up by a secular authority as a pope).  The greatest example is the Western Schism (1378-1417) when there were as many as 3 popes at once- all clearly for secular, political and financial power.  This was a sign that the church had become truly corrupt.  The schism between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic church (East-west of Great schism) in 1054 opened the door for more schisms in the trinitarian church.  The theological points were from heaven's point of view trivial and not worth the disunity of the church.  But there were other more immediate reasons for the Reformation besides any of these.  But I contend Sacerdotalism as perhaps the major cause- (excessive and unwarranted dependence on the clergy).  Thus no confession should be made without going to a priest; no one should die without a priest to give last rites; the priest withholding part of the eucharist from the participants; the priest withholding the Bible from the people (lest they misinterpret it- which the priests clearly already had done).  Thus the idea of the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9).  In the end, this was the primary reason.  When Luther, Zwingli and Calvin threatened this priestly hold- each was threatened with death (as Hus, Tyndale, and Wycliffe before them).   Indulgences- to buy souls out of hell by donating to the church were another way to sustain the sacerdotalism of the church.  Absenteeism- the idea that a person could pay to obtain churchly rule over a parish, or area without even visiting, or seeing, much less serving these people is another form of sacerdotal entitlement.  Nepotism- so many clerics appointed family members to clerical positions (De Medici were a prime example- Leo X set up cousin Clement VII).  The sexual immorality of the clergy was an issue then and it has risen its head again in our day.  So Pope Alexander Vi (Borja 1492-1503) had 9 children by 3 mistresses, and homosexuality was so prevalent Henry VIII established the Buggery Acts of 1533 mainly against corrupt monks and priests.  On the one hand marriage was declared a sacrament but celibacy was declared a higher calling and unbiblically demanded of the priesthood.  Thus the church was following into all these "pharisaical" rules- adding rules to scripture and then finding they were hard to keep.  Justification by works and grace- instead of by grace alone is another byproduct of sacerdotalism.  In making up penance requirements a priest had power over others.  Not only could belief of being saved by works bring boasting (Eph. 2:8,9), it could also bring the ability of church authorities to declare which works were necessary for salvation or to escape hell or purgatory. 
    Hus, Wycliffe, and Tyndale were pre-reformers killed for their beliefs.  Luther was threatened with death at Worms, Calvin escaped from his house as an exile in France.  Hunted, robbed, and penniless he went to Geneva.  Zurich was killed in a Roman Catholic attack on Zurich.  Luther, Calvin and even Zwingli did not intend at first to split from the church.  They wanted reformation until they were forced out of the church by both excommunication and the threat of death.  
2) In contrast to this, many today split over almost anything, without any justification for love or unity.  There are some who lecture on valuing love over doctrine.  I believe you should be able to hold both- until you are kicked out or threatened with death.  But taking schism into our own hands is not something the early reformers encouraged or envisioned.  Calvin writes much about the unity of the church because the fear is that the church would just divide infinitesimally.  So until 1054 there was 1 denomination; then in the Reformation there were maybe 15.  Today there are 47,000 denominations.  Today there are people who complain about denominations- then they go out and form their church then another then another- and then they have their own denomination!  There is an unwillingness to work with other churches for the glory of God- and a sad blindness that one day all those who believe will be in heaven together worshiping God.  
Jesus prayed (Jn. 17) that the believers would be one.  He told his disciples not to "lord it over" one another- but that the one great in his kingdom must learn to be the servant of all.  Paul decried divisions in the Corinthian church and said, "There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism- calling us to be one.  Those who claim to live by scripture alone must also live by the fact that scripture never encourages separation.  When the prophets of Baal were so numerous Elijah didn't form his own nation- though he was the "only one left."  Gideon did not start a new nation but reformed it.  We forget the power of a remnant a bit of salt to effect the whole body.  Too many times proud leaders- also hungry for praise, likes, or power (another form of sacerdotalism) split the church to have others follow them.  I think of Gresham Machen or Carl McIntyre.  In the 1920s the Presbyterian Church in the USA split because they rejected fundamentalism and rejected a separate mission board (power/control AGAIN).  But then after the group split off- they split again one because they were pre-millenialists and the others were post-millenialists. Such doctrinal pride and disunity is silly, schismatic, anti-evangelism.  In my past church we had two splits before I got there (and another split is going on after I left).  For every person who left for a more conservative church, another 1.5 dropped out altogether over all the lack of love and strong bickering.  So, if you cause one of these little ones to stumble...
But then there is 3) Those in denominational control who have rejected scripture alone as their guide.  We should be "reformed and ever reforming according to the Word of God" but instead some just believe in "reform and ever reforming" because they simply embrace change/fad/and a we-know-better attitude.  The Reformation also was a rebellion against the "experts" who could tell them how to live and a going back to the roots- the scriptures themselves to find out how to believe and live.  The Scriptures were seen as our anchor, our eternal Word from God that pointed to  THE Eternal Word in the Christ.  Those who think they can ignore the core of the Gospel to make up their own worship and on church, do indeed drive others away.  Such callousness cannot be ignored.  So I hear many in the mainline churches today say, "Let them leave... we'll be happier- they'll be happier- the church will be more united."  That is a lie and it flies against the idea of love and unity.  
So, today I suggest three things.  1) Be faithful right where you are.  In Thyatira where there was only a remnant opposing sexual immorality the advice (red letter) from God was: "To the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets, I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come."  Hold on- He's coming.  2) Pray- Jesus prayed for unity and we should too.  3) Love- Love those who differ from you and those who agree with you.  You may be accused by both sides, but love any way.  

To Know, Glorify, and Enjoy God"

 “To Know, Glorify and Enjoy God”  6/2/24  Isa. 43:6-13; Mark 9:2b-27  Ben Sloan at Eastminster  (Creed:WSC 1 & 2)    [For video: https://vimeo.com/953197300 https://vimeo.com/953197300]

The ushers, greeters, and staff are given these name tags so that you and guests will be able to see who we are.  Often I am running in here pinning my name tag on as I go, and a fair amount of time, I have carelessly  put it on upside down.  Often someone will be helpful and tell me that I have done so, and sometimes I say sheepishly, “That’s so I can read it, and remember who I am.”  Knowing who you are and whose you are is so important. Knowing who you are, whose you are, and a third question- where you are going in life- are so important.   If you don’t know where you are going, it doesn’t matter if you are in a hurry or not; it doesn’t matter if you go left or right or in the middle;  If you don’t have an end point to head toward- a final destination- a purpose.  Plankton are tiny organisms that float in the ocean- and the first building block of the food chain.  They have no eyes or other senses- and they just literally go with the flow- moved about by the waves.  Don’t be like the plankton- just floating or hanging onto any cause that comes along.  Be like a hummingbird.  Ruby-throated hummingbirds, by contrast have very poor eyesight, but they rely on smell- and they have an uncanny ability to migrate from southern Mexico to South and North Carolina about 2,500 miles going up to 600 miles without stopping.  Why do they migrate?  Other than God wants to spread their beauty, they also follow their food sources- the blooming cycles of flowers and nectar.  Don’t float with the tide and wind of life, but go with God.  Going is not the most important thing- a goal- a direction and a reason is.  As a boy years ago I borrowed my uncle’s rowboat in the sound off of Maine.  The first time I tried I was fairly unsuccessful- going around basically in circles.  But then my uncle told me to not look at the oars or the sea, but to fix my eyes on something on land and row toward it.  That is when I discovered the joy of rowing.  So let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith. 
        So the very first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism is “What is the chief end of man?”  Or in modern English- “What is the main purpose of human beings?”  Or another way of putting it- “why are we alive?” These are similar questions to who are you, whose are you, and where are you ultimately going in life. The answer is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  In other words, Your life is not about you.  The world does not hold its breath waiting for you to make a decision.  You did not create yourself.  You did not make yourself.  You are not here by accident.  You are made for a purpose.  The scriptures have some directions for your life.  We are part of a grand design- one puzzle piece in the puzzle- designed to make it happen. 
     At first, when I studied this, I thought- surely glorifying God is not what it is about.  Surely we are made to be saved- to go to heaven.  But that is not it.  God wants all to join Him in heaven.  But we do not just exist to exist on into eternity.  The Bible says, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (Col. 3:23).  Thirty times in scripture it speaks of the glory or glorifying God.  It is an important idea.
Different books on theology start at different places.  Lutheranism and Melanchthon began his theology talking about sin.  Pentecostal and some fundamentalist theological works (eg. Duffield) often begin with the Bible.  Loyola of the catholic Jesuits begins his work with saying we should examine ourselves. Calvin, The Shorter Catechism and most Reformed theologies start with knowing God.  If you know God- you will know yourself.   People spend a lot of time these days trying to find themselves- trying to find who they are.  But, As Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless til they find their rest in thee.”  If you know God- not just know about God then you will know who you are and whose you are.  The focus on our worship is not on our feelings, what it does for us, how it inspires us- those are wonderful things that should not be downplayed.  But the focus of worship, and the focus of our lives should be on the One who made all- gives us life- sustains us in this life- and redeems us- that is God.  In fact, to focus on what God can do for us instead of focusing on God seems to be a half worship of ourselves. 
     Let the main thing be the main thing.  God is the main thing.  Jesus said apart from Him we are nothing- so let’s be something by plugging into God.  Jesus said, “Not my will but thine be done.”  He said that as an example for us- it is not what we want in the flesh that is the important thing- but what God wants.  You know there are neat yard decorations out there at Christmas and now Easter, Halloween, other times.  I’m talking about these blow up figurines.  When I walk my dog in the late afternoon I see them in the yards- my dog often barks at them.  But when I walk my dog in the morning- they are just flat, lying on the ground pretty pitiful- you can’t even tell what they are Santa or reindeer.  That is how we are without the Spirit dwelling in us- the wind filling us up- we exist but we are flat, pretty meaningless.  The Presbyterian and Reformed creeds and catechisms do not argue for or about the existence of God.  These confessions assume if you are reading them you are a person of faith.  Almost everyone was in the whole history of the world.  It is only as human pride rises and morals decline (both in the world and in the church) that we have the audacity to think we do not need to believe in God.  I truly believe that even for the staunchest atheist, sometime in their lives a spark of belief comes- though they may snuff it out.  But God is our first cause and our reason for existence as individuals, as a church, and as a world.  The church especially, does not exist well without God.  There are many who try to turn the church into simply a social club doing good in the world.  But belief in God is our motive for being and staying together, and also our motive to be generous to the poor, and belief I God is our motive to get up- leave our comfortable lives- and do something outside of ourselves for not only a greater good- but THE greatest good.  In fact, God and good are synonymous.  We think we can define good- but God is the ultimate goodness in the universe.  We are used to saying, “Goodbye.”  But before the mid 1500s in the old English language that is an abbreviation of “God be with ye.”  Similarly- Good Friday used to be called “God-Friday.”  In our culture we value God as a God of love, but we forget and are more and more blind that God is also good, righteous and holy.
       We are called to Glorify God.  “Glorify” is also a word we don’t use much anymore.  It really means to reflect- like a mirror.  2 Cor. 3:18 says, “all of us contemplate the glory of the Lord as though reflected In a mirror and we are transformed into that image.” So the moon’s light is not its own, it reflects or glorifies- even magnifies in the dark of night- the sun’s light.  Our lives are to be lived not simply for ourselves and our selfishness.  Rather our lives are to be lived to the glory of God- reflecting Him, imitating Him, pointing to Him.  In that sense, all of us are lights shining in the darkness (as the Bible says).  Ideally, when people look at us they do not see us- they see Jesus shining in us.  We are the light of the world only as we reflect THE light of the world- God Himself.  Jesus was the one who said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:16).  When we are good, it reflects the goodness of God- who not only loved us first but also was good first- setting the standard for goodness.  In that sense, we are all created and called by our faith in God to be missionaries for Him.  Jesus said, “And you will be my witnesses.”  So let us glorify Him- pointing to Him.  Romans 11;36 says, “For from him and through him and for him are all things.  To him be the glory forever!”  
      But the most neglected part of this Shorter Catechism answer about our main purpose or chief end is the last phrase- “Our main purpose is to glorify God AND ENJOY HIM FOREVER.”  Some have this mistaken idea that Christians cannot enjoy anything.  But to the contrary, Christians can enjoy everything in a way- and enjoy a relationship forever.  Everything we experience- even the evils and sorrows and sadness of life- will one day be redeemed.  There is a great song written by Thomas Moore that has a stunning line: “earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.“    The alternative is that without God there is no healing or hope in the face of evil.  We also have one who will be with us forever.  So Paul could sing in prison; So Joseph could trust God In the midst of injustice;  So Christian martyrs face death boldly.  Even in death believers triumph. But right now- We enjoy the love of God, the hope of God, the strength of God, the blessings of God, the peace of God, the grace of God, the answered prayers of God- not just for a moment but forever.  Every human relationship that we may enjoy will not last forever.  Everything, every gift will not last forever.  But there is One whom we can enjoy forever, and ever.   As one devotional I read this week said, we can move from merely believing in God to experiencing a friendship with Him. 
        It is one thing to say, “Oh yes, I guess there is a God up there somewhere.”  It is another to say we can trust God as our friend, and depend on Him.  John Paton was a Presbyterian missionary to the New Hebrides islands.  He was trying to translate the Bible for them in their own language, but they did not have an equivalent word for “faith.”  The right word came to him when he was going to sleep in his hammock.  He asked them what was the word for putting your full weight down.  That word for “resting” in something was the word he used for faith in God. So a little bit like our passage says, we believe- but we need help to believe more- and so we pray, “Help my unbelief.”   C.S. Lewis, the great Christian writer said he didn’t know what true faith was until after his wife died.  He said, “You never know how much you really believe anything until it becomes a matter of life and death to you.  It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong when you are just wrapping it around a box.  But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a cliff.  Only a real risk tests the reality of belief.”  So I invite you not simple to believe in God, but to glorify Him and enjoy Him.