SUGGESTIONS FOR REFORMERS
Edward Fudge

Reformers are accused of many things but rarely of being dull. They challenge others to question their traditional thinking and overcome their mental lethargy. I recently spent a day with such a group of reformers, those among us who are concerned about institutionalism in the church. It was anything but dull. My part in the meeting was to discuss “What is the gospel?”

Since reformers are prone to overdo a good thing, I set forth some “Suggestions for Reformers” to these brothers and sisters. Leroy Garrett was present and thought the four suggestions I made would apply to us all, and that his readers would profit from them. You may judge for yourself. Here they are for what they are worth:

1. Drive out the demons but don’t leave an empty house. Jesus tells a parable of a man who made that mistake. He drove out the demons but left his house empty, only to find himself the landlord of a full house of demons. History is replete with examples of reformers who so stressed one truth that they neglected other and more important truths, such as the centrality of Jesus Christ. When we give Jesus his proper place all other truths tend to fall in place. We should seek balance and avoid extremes, for they tend to neglect the core gospel itself, even when the extremist in his heart really believes the gospel.

2. To stand up for what you believe you do not have to withdraw from the established church. Jesus, who worked within the Jewish church, teaches us this. The reformers throughout 2,000 years of history, who worked within the religious’ structures of their time, teach us this. Some scholars think that when Jesus said, “If they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out” (Mt. 24:26), that he was telling them they did not have to join the desert sect of Essenes at Qumran, even if that sect could make a case for rejecting the Jerusalem establishment and starting over.

The problem in starting over is that what you start will also soon need to be reformed. An effort to reform Roman Catholicism resulted in the Church of England. An effort to reform the Church of England resulted in the Methodists. Out of the Methodists came the Holiness movement. Out of it came the Pentecostals. Out of the Pentecostals came the charismatics. On and on it goes. Even in our own Movement one “sound” church leads to another, and it to still another. And wherever we are we all have our sin and error.

3. Remember that God does not save individuals in isolation but in a covenant community. He saved Israel from their Egyptian slavery as a group, as a covenant people. The Lord “added together” those that made up the church on Pentecost (Acts 2:47). There is strength in numbers and solace in companionship (Eccl. 4:9-12). Spiritual fruit is enhancing when it is in fellowship one with another (Gal. 5:22-23), but it has little value when one is apart from others. The Lone Ranger might fit the old West but not the New Testament concept of community.

4. Beware that overstatements and hasty generalizations may be forms of lying. If a Christian is anything he is one that tells the truth. Reformers may at times need to overstate their case to make a point, but this does not justify lying. We must realize that others respect the Bible as much as we do, and they are as honest and intelligent as we are. Because they disagree with us doesn’t mean that they are either ignorant or dishonest. And even when they are in error they probably hold some truth.

In summary, let us make Jesus central in all things, keep doctrine in balance, and make godly living the goal of all our teaching, with sincere faith and brotherly love.—Box 218026, Houston, Tx. 77218

There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one’s self. —Benjamin Franklin