Reformation: The Outgrowth of Revival
Stephen Terry
Commentary for the August 31, 2013
Sabbath School Lesson
“You, however, are not in the realm
of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God
lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not
belong to Christ. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children
of God.” Romans 8:9, 14 NIV
Reformation
is sometimes seen through the lenses of the actions and events surrounding the
Protestant Reformation and the corresponding Catholic Counter Reformation of
the Middle Ages. Harsh and angry men who believed they were enacting the wrath
of God on Earth fought repeated wars in attempts to force their opponents to obey
God as they perceived Him. In reality, this often meant little more than
obeying their earthly conquerors who arrogantly claimed to be God’s voice and
will.
Many people
lost their lives in these conflicts and in some countries, they continue to do
so. As I write this commentary, the country of Egypt is in turmoil as some
Muslims, who claim to be God’s voice, are burning Christian churches and
murdering their Christian brothers who dissent from the Muslim view. While such
medieval extremism continues to occur, in many countries, churches and mosques are
not being burnt and believers are not being martyred over religious
differences. This does not necessarily mean that the attitudes that produce
such behavior have changed. It may only mean that a strong central government
is able to restrain these behaviors that are so destructive to civil order.
When this is the case, the conflict changes arenas as it moves from open
warfare to the somewhat more refined warfare of politics and intrigue. If, as
in the case of Egypt with the Muslim Brotherhood, a religious party can obtain
power through such means, then open warfare may once again resume as the
religious viewpoint in power seeks to monopolize belief.
I do not
mean to pick on the Muslims. They are only currently more obvious as they tend
to be more powerful where modern governments are weak or corrupt as is the case
in some countries with Muslim majorities. However, Christendom has had its
share of coups and resulting persecutions as well. Examples can be sound in the
seesaw persecutions between the Catholics and Anglicans in England that hinged on
the faith of the monarch sitting on the throne in London.[i]
The Thirty Years’ War of the early seventeenth century devastated much of
central Europe for similar reasons.[ii]
Paradoxically, those countries with strong Nordic populations, descended from
the Vikings, who so mercilessly pillaged and murdered the Christians of Britain
and Europe as well as burning their monasteries, convents and churches, became
the champions of the Protestant cause against the Holy Roman (and Catholic)
Empire. Christian IV of Denmark lost several battles against the Emperor’s
Catholic army under Albrecht von Wallenstein, but eventually Gustavus Adolphus
of Sweden entered the fray and although he died in battle, he brought victories
that allowed the Protestant Union to continue its resistance. Probably more
lost their lives to famine, disease and persecution than in battle as the
continuing conflict devastated much of Central Europe, leaving little support
for the starving populace. What little might be left was often taken by the
marauding armies.
These
conflicts tend to be based on three simple beliefs. First, God is wrathful and
wants to sweep the disobedient into destruction. Second, I am God’s true
servant who alone understands His will for both you and me. Third, better you
suffer my wrath than God’s in order to purge your soul of that which is unclean
so you might be saved. As might be seen from their generalized simplicity,
these beliefs might be held by those of disparate belief systems. A Muslim, a
Christian, a Hindu or any number of other sects and faiths might easily accept
these principles and use them as justification for conflict with other faiths.
Perhaps we
do not realize when we engage in this behavior that we actually portray God as
very weak and unable to accomplish His will on Earth unless His followers
engage in open warfare on His behalf. However, irrespective of the writings of
other faiths, God is not characterized thus in the New Testament of the Bible.
It is the submission and surrender of His people that allows God’s will to
prevail for the Christian. While those who believe they are the instruments of
God’s wrath on Earth may see this as weakness, it is the way of Christ.[iii]
Those who rely on assertion of will, conflict, political power or any aggressive
means to accomplish supposed reformation of others can never muster the force
that Christ might have mustered.[iv]
Yet, even though the opposition Jesus faced resulted in His death, He declined
to summon those forces at His disposal, preferring to demonstrate His power
through submission rather than laying low His opponents.
Jesus knew
that only the spirit of forgiveness and grace could overcome the evil in the
world. Reform that originates in anything else is really only oppression and
persecution. Some justify this behavior by stating they must “Cry aloud and
spare not.”[v]
They overlook that this was God’s instruction to the prophet Isaiah and not to
them. They also overlook that the statement was made in the context of calling
God’s people to be merciful and compassionate not judgmental and condemnatory.
Perhaps we would do well to give more credence to the life of Jesus than to the
words of a prophet in this instance anyway. Jesus’ life was all about grace
rather than condemnation.[vi]
Sadly, when
we start to see ourselves as God’s voice on Earth and set standards for
ourselves and others, we tend to see our interpretations as rules that must be
obeyed at pain of loss of salvation. Jesus expressed concern about these rules
based on our perspectives becoming onerous burdens for ourselves and others.[vii]
He wanted us to bear a lighter burden than this.[viii]
Paul also
expanded on these burdensome regulations that originate with men rather than
God in his letter to the Colossian church.[ix]
Here and in Romans he related it directly to things touched and tasted.[x]
Of course, through the centuries, apologists have added many interpretive
glosses to these words, avowing that they cannot be understood in their
simplicity but must instead be seen through many paragraphs of cultural
applications which are speculative at best.
Perhaps an
egregious example of this sort of apologetic manipulation can be found in the
efforts that some make to support the idea that a modern vegetarian diet is
biblical. They overlook that Jesus was not vegetarian; some even going so far
as to assert that He would be if He were with us, today. How they can make such
a statement with a straight face is beyond me.
Sometimes as
justification for a vegetarian lifestyle these individuals will point out that
the diet given to mankind at Creation was strictly vegan.[xi]
Some even go so far as to claim that since fungi were not mentioned in this
account, mushrooms cannot be consumed, much to the chagrin of all those who
bring delicious mushroom soup based casseroles to church potluck. However, while
some will push for these extreme diets and even insinuate that our salvation is
dependent on what we eat or drink, they overlook that per the Bible, mankind
did not wear clothing until the fall into sin. Strangely, they do not advocate
for a return to biblical nudity like we had in the beginning as they do for the
veganism they feel is so important.
Reformation
is not about how we eat or dress. It is not about the things we do. It is about
what God does in us. Instead of comparing our experience to that of those
around us, we need to repent of such behavior and begin focusing on Jesus. The only
way we can examine the behavior of others is to take our eyes away from Jesus. Peter
knew what this was like. When he stopped focusing on Jesus and instead began
worrying about what was going on around him, he began to sink. When he realized
his peril, he did not pray for Jesus to fix what was going on around him.
Instead, he prayed “Save me!”[xii]
Perhaps this
is true reformation. Maybe we need to focus on Jesus, who loves us supremely
and has no greater desire than to dwell in love with us forever. While it is
true that we must live on this earth until the end of our lives or until the
Parousia, whichever comes first, we cannot afford to let what is going on
around us take our focus off of Jesus. To quote C. S. Lewis: “Aim at heaven and
you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”[xiii]
