Author	Thread: Reformed Doctrine ?
Admin	Reformed Doctrine ? Posted : 25 Feb, 2011 09:41 PM Reformed Doctrine, what does this title mean? The word Doctrine means teachings. The word Reform would mean to shape differently? Are these teachings definitive of a re-formed or re-shaped church? Or does re-formed, mean re-shaped teachings of Scripture? The tile implies a teaching already formed being "reformed". Post Reply
View Profile History	Reformed Doctrine ? Posted : 26 Feb, 2011 07:16 AM Definition of REFORM [from Merriam-Webster] transitive verb 1 a : to put or change into an improved form or condition b : to amend or improve by change of form or removal of faults or abuses 2 : to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action 3 : to induce or cause to abandon evil ways 4 a : to subject (hydrocarbons) to cracking b : to produce (as gasoline or gas) by cracking When applying this definition [1] to Scripture or teachings found in Scripture, I would say that "reformed" or "reform" would take existing Scripture and attempt to change it into an "improved form" as if there were faults with what is already written in Scripture, in order to make it fit or apply it to ones belief or doctrine that differs from that which is already written or taught. For example... the simplicity of John 3:16 is 'reformed' to mean something other than "God so loved the world", where the "world" does not include all of mankind, even though in context, the "world" means "the inhabitants of the earth, men, [and] the human family", so that this supposed 'reformed truth' can align with the doctrine that the Cross and God's love is not extended to all of humankind, but only a 'select' amount. Post Reply
View Profile History	Reformed Doctrine ? Posted : 26 Feb, 2011 07:56 AM The Word "Reformed" in Christianity, is to take something and form it back into what is was in the beginning. For many Christians, the center of Christian history is a period called THE REFORMATION. This Formally started with Martin Luther, nailing his complaints about what the church (the Roman Catholic church) had been teaching. This, and at the very same moment in time, the invention of the printing press, had Luther's complaints printed up and circulated widely among the people. The Bible was literally chained to the lecturn in church, and ordinary Christians had not been allowed to read the Bible for over a thousand years. Luther then had the Bible printed in the common language of the people, and when Christians could suddenly read the Bible for themselves, they found that Rome had been contradicting the Bible in many areas. The main thing they found was that man could only be saved by faith alone. Rome taught justification by faith plus works. Anyways, Christians read the Bible for themselves, and broke away from Roman Catholicism, and RE-formed the church. At this time, Christians became known as "Protestants" because they protested against the Roman Catholic church. This period of church history is known as the Reformation. To this day, many of the churches that believe just as the early protestant churches believed, are known as "Reformed churches". The Reformation is a period of church history that EVERY Christian should know about. There are many good books on this subject, and several internet sites devoted to this subject. http://www.ask.com/wiki/Protestant_Reformation In Christ, James Post Reply
View Profile History	Reformed Doctrine ? Posted : 26 Feb, 2011 09:52 AM James, You are "kinda" right, but not really, just enough to mislead. Yes, the protestants protestested the Catholic church, but they didn't reform the Catholic church, they protested it and started anew. There were many who disagreed with the Catholic church and attempted to reform it, these stayed Catholic. Protestants now point to Scripture as authoritative and not the Catholic church. Luther was instrumental in the shift away from the Catholic church, however he is not venerated as authoritative, people after reading the Bible for themselves agreed with him. Now enter Calvin, whose "interpretation" of Scripture was made into a doctrine by his followers, doctrine that Scripture is interpreted by. This doctrine has taken precedence over Scripture, because Scripture is interpreted in light of the doctrine, when according to Luther, doctrine should be interpreted in light of Scripture! I submit that this doctrine/theology is a "re-formed" protestant theology which places the doctrine of Calvin over Scripture. The very thing that caused the protest against the Catholic church! In a sense, what you have is a reformed Catholic church within Protestantism. Post Reply