Advanced Copy- August Newsletter Pastor's Letter
“Why I am Presbyterian” Part II
Dear Friends,
This month I wish to continue to answer the question of, “Why am I a Presbyterian.” Last month I discussed our connectionalism. In this letter, I wish to give the second part of my three part answer which is, “I am Presbyterian because of our reformed faith.”
“What is reformed faith?” you ask. In a nutshell, reformed faith traces its roots to Augustine (345-430) through the theological work of John Calvin (1509-1564). It was developed during the time that the protestant church was being formed as it spilt away from the catholic church during a period of time that history now has titled The Protestant Reformation. The battle cry of the Reformation was a motto that I believe is still very important today: Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda, which means, “The church reformed and always reforming.” With this motto, the protestant and Presbyterian church was created with the understanding that “re-formation,” is necessary and in fact, desirable in the church. With this motto our founding fathers admitted, although probably not intentionally, that their theology was incomplete. It certainly was reformed, but the possibility for continued reformation would always be there. So, from its very inception, reformed faith was created to deal with and accept change. It is who we are as Presbyterians and as modern day subscribers to reformed faith and theology.
Now, let me shed light as to why this is very important and let me be as direct as possible. “OUR THEOLOGY IS IN NEED OF REFORMING!” Our theology is too small and our world has out grown it. This is the reason for mainline church decline. It is not because we play the organ or do not have contemporary worship. These things are mere surface level issues and do not come close to the depth of the real issue. Let me try to explain.
Have you ever had the opportunity to go back to your childhood home? I did, and I was shocked. My room was too small. I remembered it extremely large and was literally speechless as I walked into the 10’ x 12’ room thinking, “Who cut my room in half?” I was a teenager at the time and had we moved back into the house, there would be no way my stuff would fit into my old room. As much as I loved my childhood home and as many fond memories as I had of it, I would never want to live there again. My room, and in fact, the entire 1400 sq. foot house was too small.
I believe it is the same way in our world today. In a metaphorical way, our world has grown up. Many people of the world return to their home (the church), and they stand there speechless. The church’s theology is too small and makes no sense in a global world. They stand there shocked as they see religion being used to divide us up into the sheep and the goats, the haves and the have nots, the truly good people and the bad people. It is clear to me that they are no longer willing to buy into the kind of Creator we have created!
What’s the answer? This may shock you, but I don’t have it. I do know that it is time for our theology to grow up. What will this theology look like? I believe it should have these characteristics:
- Honors our Reformed Heritage
- Understands God as Perfectly Un-conditional Love
- Honors the fact that God created all of creation and
- Is used to bind all of creation together rather than drive us apart
Today, we are a long way away from those simple four statements above. Today, good and well intentioned church leaders are using theology and religion to divide. We label it conservative v/s liberals or evangelical v/s progressives, but the reality is if anyone in the church is using theology or the church to divide the body of Christ, their actions are simply not of God! It is time to grow up!
That is why I am Presbyterian! Because our motto, Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda, equips us best of any other denomination to re-form into the church that God has called us to be. We can lead the way to Peace. But, we have to do it together and we have to grow up!
Peace,
Dennis
