Our family recently moved to Franklin and we began attending Christ Community a few months back.  We keep on hearing the word “Reformed” and are curious to know what that really means.  Can you give us some insight?

Being “Reformed” is not a type of religion or a “quasi-Christianity”, but a historical foundation of truth and understanding of what we believe as a fellowship of believers.  The name “Reformed” comes from the movement that arose out of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500’s, initiated by a German priest named Martin Luther, when the Protestant Church separated from the Roman-catholic Church.

Luther and the original reformers never wanted the church to split into Protestants and Catholics, but instead they wanted the teachings of the Church to move back (or reformed back) to the Scriptures.  They wanted the Church to be called to stand on Scriptures alone and under Christ alone, upon whom the foundation of the church is built. 

One reformer who stands out as the most notable theologian of the Reformation period as well as the expositor of Presbyterianism is John Calvin.  Calvin was a French theologian and pastor during the Reformation who broke away from the Catholic church in 1530.  He was influential in developing his theology (Calvinism) through his numerous writings and dissertations.  His Institutes of the Christian Religion is one of the most extensive collections of writings and commentaries on the knowledge of God and us, sin, justification by faith alone, and the ministry, true moral authority and sacraments of the church. 

While the fundamentals of the Reformed faith can be found in numerous books, papers and articles written by Luther, Calvin and others the basic elements of being “Reformed” can be best explained as follows:

1.   The embracement of the Great “5 Solas” of the Reformation:

·         Sola Fide, faith alone. Justification comes only by way of our faith in God and not through any of our good works.  Many feel this was the primary cause of the Reformation as it was the center of what Martin Luther was trying to convince the church.

·         Sola Scriptura, Scripture alone.  The Bible is the only inspired and authoritative Word of God and is accessible to all.

·         Solus Christus, Christ alone.  Jesus Christ is the exclusive mediator between God and man.

·         Sola Gratia, grace alone.  Salvation comes by grace only and not through any meritorious work by man.

·         Soli Deo Gloria, glory to God alone. All the glory is due to God alone – since He has done all the work including the atonement on the cross and the faith allowing us to be saved by that atonement.  The first question of the Shorter Catechism asks “What is the chief end of man? – To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. 

2.  God is sovereign over everyone and everything.  “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,…” Ephesians 1:11

3.  The affirmation of the doctrines of Grace.  God is the author of Salvation from beginning to end.

4.  The creeds of the Reformation (ex: The Apostles’ Creed) affirm what we believe. 

5.  We are confessional – we affirm our confessions such as The Westminster Confession of Faith. 

6.  We are covenantal – we affirm the great covenants of Scripture and see those covenants as the means by which God interacts with and accomplishes His purposes in His creation, with mankind.

7.  We take seriously the Great Commission (Matthew28:19-20)

8.  We have a distinctively worldview that permeates all of life.

The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) has made a firm commitment to the doctrinal standards which have been significant in Presbyterianism since 1645, namely the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms.  These theological principles express the characteristics of the Reformed tradition and are a vital part of our church theological framework.   All pastors (teaching elders) and officers (ruling elders and deacons) of Christ Community Church and the PCA must take a subscriptive oath to the WCF as part of their vows at ordination.  This means they are in agreement with the view and teachings of Scripture as well as how we understand what Scripture teaches as expressed through the confession.  (Visit www.pcanet.org where a copy of the WCF can be found.)

So, there it is…my quick, five-minute answer to what it means to be “Reformed.” Do not hesitate to ask one of our pastors, elders or deacons if you have any questions.  They will be more than happy to answer any question you might have and guide you in the right direction to learn more about our theology.

Additional information on the Protestant Reformation and Reformed Theology is available on our website at www.christcommunity.org and at www.reformed.org (Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics.)

Grace and peace. 

JMG