Reformation
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Jesus said: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).
The Protestant Reformation brought us some of the best in Christianity. In it, courageous men and women stepped forward on the stage of history and lived lives in the pursuit of more understanding about God and his word. They often paid the price of disenfranchisement from other Christians; the loss of social standing, personal property, freedom and even life itself. From those people, we learn the value that all Christians should place on truth over religious tradition.
Yet, in the Reformation, we also find some of the worst in Christianity. In it we saw many Christians who valued tradition more than truth. Sorrowfully, in defense of tradition, some disavowed others. Christians railed against one another – brought hardship, pain and suffering to their fellows. Often when reformers who had been oppressed found freedom for their views, they in turn oppressed others. As a result, the Protestant Reformation fell short. Ultimately it was an incomplete and fragmented revolution which failed to bring us back to the full spirit and truth of Christ and original Christianity.
This then is our legacy: We stand as the children of the reformers – we are their heirs. We inherited not only that which was good from our Protestant forefathers, but also that which was not. Christianity to this day is still permeated with a sense of division and a frequent lack of genuine love and respect toward others who trust in Christ. All of this injures the cause of Christ in our time. Perhaps in the eyes of the non-Christian world, nothing harms Christianity more than Christians themselves.
We at 21st Century Reformation say: "Let the call go forth for a new reformation." Let us complete the unfinished work of the first reformers. We must seek again the spirit and truth that Christ gave his people in the beginning. We at 21st Century Reformation invite you to join in this quest with us. The cry of a new reformation should be "Truth and Love." There is no substitute for either one.
The Reformation portion of our site brings to you resources for better understanding the Reformation that began in the 16th Century. More importantly, it brings teachings and exhortations in a call for a 21st Century Reformation.