What Ails You, O Church?

This morning was a fantastic discussion with fellow member of DOW, Isaac Ferrell. As we dialogged about the purpose of our group we fell into a discussion about the main threat to Christianity today. We both agreed that the threats from without were small in comparison to the threats within Protestantism. We isolated two main threats which occupied much of our discussion: Not holding to Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone), and not seeking Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone).

Sola Scriptura is an essential Biblical and Reformational doctrine which speaks to Scripture as being the foundation for what we believe. We are not supposed to supplement it with feel good lectures, liberal methods, or our own ideas about what will be successful. As the Protestant church has moved away from this doctrine, the church has adopted worldly methods of "doing church". Our goal is to make the congregates feel warm and loved and leave with a spring in their step and a good feeling in their soul. That will surely make them come back for more. Rather, we must preach what scripture says. Sometimes that message is, "Repent, O wicked sinner, for you are nothing apart from Christ." I need to be reminded of that more than once a week for me to keep my humility and reverence of the Father. There is room for joy of course, but that joy comes from a knowledge of redemption and freedom from the law. It's not about how I can change my life by living better, it is about how Christ has already changed my life. The difference can be subtle at times, but is it ever important.

Soli Deo Gloria is also being missed as people seem to be more interested in what they can get out of a church rather than what they can do to honor God through a church. When God is not placed as supreme in everything, we tend to place ourselves pretty high.

As these issues were discussed we decided to approach reform of the church in the same way as our predecessors, Calvin and Luther. Calvin, in the introduction to The Institutes, writes a letter to the King of France. This is not a letter of condemnation, but a letter of encouragement and partnership. There are rebukes and exhortations, but Calvin is not trying to alienate himself from the establishment. Rather, he is trying to reform using the establishment. We know from history that this didn't work, forming the Protestant church, but I think the model is still a good one to follow. As this group grows, we will be sending letters, encouraging church leaders to follow the example of the reformers to stay close to the Solas as they run their churches.

We will be reading and discussion Chapters 1-4 of the institutes (Book 1) for next time. Feel free to read along with us and join the discussion online. Keep hammering brothers. There is much work to be done.