Had a fun talk with a close friend today. Actually it was just a last minute mention at the end of the conversation, but I found it interesting. I was leaving and we were talking about church,reformation, etc.
Something was alluded to and I said, "Yes, you wouldn't because you're not reformers."
And he said, "That's right, we're not!"
But the truth is, we ALL are reformers. He is as well as I am. We are all reformers if we are Christian, as we become more conformed to the image of Christ.
Now, I do not know what he had in his head when he made that statement...almost THANKFUL that he "wasn't" a reformer, lol, but I do know that deep down if you are a born again Christian, you actually are. Or more aptly, you're headed to be. You're "reforming to conforming." (~S.C.)
You cannot NOT be reforming if you are a Christian. Maybe you will be at a different place than other reformers when you take your last breath. Maybe you won't have embraced patriarchy yet, or submission to authority yet, or maybe your daughters still wear bikinis or go off to war. Maybe they work out under the authority of another man still or perhaps they watch rated R movies. Maybe your sons are allowed to be disrespectful to your wives, and you spend more time on the computer than with your family. Maybe you spend too long on the phone, or spend too much money or....sound like a typical Christian? Did something make you mad? Or did you relate to something?
Maybe it did not sound like a typical Christian at first...but it led into sounding like it. A mainstream one! Because they are all just reforming STEPS in a Christian's walk. I myself still do things not in line with a reforming nature of a Christian. ALL THE TIME. And things you all would think were terrible sins. Some of which are! As a matter of fact, more often than my own kids because I was NOT raised as a reformer. (not even really churched)
It is called SIN. That we are reforming from to conforming to. Most of which I do and you do, knowingly. Some that you do unknowingly. But all of which is still sin. And that eventually, if and when God wills it, you will come to the knowledge of.
The basic theology of a reformer is a belief in the doctrines of Grace. I am still studying these and it is a brainful let me tell you.
THere are no rules in CHristianity it is true. But there are commandments and biblical models and biblical mandates. Call yourself free but I call myself a wonderful slave of Christ, bound by His protective measures and free in the Truth that I am forgiven when I stray from following His protective measures.
