Reformers are leaders who exercise leadership of the highest caliber influencing many thousands

With everything that is happening in our world right now, we need what used to be and still can be called ‘reformers’. Living in Scotland and knowing a bit about the ‘reformers’ and having studied Reformation History at University in some detail, is there not a shrill cry and prayer for the ‘reformers’ in these present days?

Having recently been revisiting the ‘reformers’ and studying one aspect of the Reformation and observing the deplorable state of various nations, isn’t the Reformation almost essential?

A reformer is a leader and exercises leadership of the highest caliber that influences virtually every area of ​​life.

We hear little about the reformers. We hear of pastors, church planters, worship leaders, youth ministries, but rarely of reformers. Why?

We are told that the literature is little known.

The British Museum bought William Tyndale’s New Testament for over £1 million.

The title Reformer has been used with suspicion, as they may be seen as headstrong who could divide or confuse a congregation or even destroy congregations. That might or might not be the case depending on what is required and needed.

Zeal is certainly a mark of a reformer, but not the only one, and zeal without wisdom and love can be a very destructive thing.

A ‘reformer’ is one who challenges the status quo. It is the act of re-forming, or a second or new formation, and perhaps you are engaged in new starts or new games.

We have been taught in the church to maintain the model we have received and to maintain the institutions, but the reformer can cause shocks, especially if the New Testament model is almost lost.

It was William Tyndale’s New Testament in 1526 that brought the Word of God from the Continent to the east coast of Scotland, and it was some of these early Reformers who led John Knox into the evangelical ministry.

We are informed that William Tyndale was not only interested in translation, but also in the Reformation. Tyndale was born around 1494 and earned his BA and MA at Oxford.

These days you had to do 8 or 9 years at University before studying Theology, and the theology he encountered was described as ‘almost silly, poor and tattered’.

Tyndale discovered and wrote in these terms, that the grace of God sought me and found me, and showed me the truth, so that I bent the knees of my heart before God that He should show the truth to all other men.

William Tyndale soon had to flee the UK and most of his important work was done on the European mainland and ultimately based in Antwerp.

A reformer is a man who lives by faith in the word of God.

The churches were so dark before the Reformation because the Word of God was not there, and the faith that overcomes the world was not known. Worldliness reigns, and isn’t that true today throughout the Western world and even in many churches?

The only answer is the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ and the preaching and teaching of the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.

sand shaw