Monday I begin a college course on Church history from the reformation to the present day. I've had an opportunity to review some of the materials before the course begins - such as the history of early reformers such as Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin. As the Catholic Church held a central role across Europe (in the 15th century), many groups of people shared a common theme for reformation. Some of their desires for reformation were due to corruption among the church leadership; morally deprived teachings; mistreatment of the poor; and the coming end of the feudalistic age.

I'm intrigued and inspired by the faith and courage of those that would call out for reformation. Many reformers spent their entire lives (up to their point of reform) learning and growing under a traditional Catholic teaching for Christian living and salvation. They were willing to discard what they were taught as the 'truth' (that was not based on biblical standards) and accept a salvation based upon faith alone - even to the point of persecution and death. (There were other articles of reform as well, but this was the major point.) As these men were arrested by the revelations found in the Scriptures, they moved from a platform of traditions built by men to the foundation of Jesus Christ...and many followed. People hungered for change.

Be arrested to the truth of God and not tradition.

I am firmly convinced that another reformation is needed today. Though a reformation in the doctrine of salvation may not need to take place as in the 15th century, there are areas that require change.

The church (as a whole) is arrested to the traditions (and false teachings) built by man rather than the Word of God. There are people around the world that hunger for reform, but may not know how it will come. They hunger for a (universal) church that will turn from its roots of false doctrines and a gospel of prosperity and materialism. These false doctrines breed people that are immature and unwilling to take up their cross to follow Christ.

Much of the universal church has been raised as a malnourished child looking to be fed and unable (and unwilling) to feed itself...

• They are looking for preachers and messages that make them feel good and not convict them of sin.
• They are looking for a place that will tell them God wants them to be rich.
• They are looking for a place that will hold their hand and never ask them to grow.
• They are looking for a place where they can hide from fulfilling any Christian service to any person on any day at any time.
• They are looking for a place that will promise blessings and miracles when they want.
• They are looking for a place that will accept them as they are and will let them stay that way.
• They are looking for a place that will never ask them to share their faith or even teach them how to speak to people about Jesus. They would rather leave that for the preachers.
• They are looking for a place that will keep them (and their family) entertained.
• They are looking for a place of status rather than a place of righteousness and prayer.
• They are looking for a place that will say it's OK not to speak about Jesus because it would offend.

What do you do when you know something is not right?!

Many of us stand on the sidelines waiting for the 'right' person to come along to bring a reform. But while we're waiting for reform, people on our block, neighborhood, city, state, country, and world are negatively impacted. As I'm reading about the reformation period, there were many people that supported the call of reform. Though some of those people may not be as noticeable as Martin Luther or John Calvin, it doesn't diminish their efforts to catapult the Christian toward a life based on the truth of God's Word.

Reform isn't about waiting for the 'big' names. We've been watching many of them grow rich and famous and not lift a figure toward true reform. Reform is about setting the 'record' straight by refocusing the church (and its people) on the entirety of Scripture and not traditions or the surrounding materialistic world. Moving off the common path may scare some because it's against the norm and status quo and may surely lead to persecution. Reform is about following the convictions and revelations of the Holy Spirit, regardless of the cost because of the call placed upon us:

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) - Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

The cost of following Jesus and preaching for reform should not be our focus. Jesus said that if the world persecuted Him, we would be persecuted also (John 15:18-21). In some parts of the world today, this is occurring, but in others (i.e. America), it's almost non-existent. Shouldn’t we be honored to be associated with Christ in such a manner (Acts 5:33-41 - read v. 17-42 for context)?!

Where will you stand today? Will you continue on the path of tradition or will you move toward reform?