Lately I have seen influencers using more and more emotion, more straw-man fallacies, more red herring fallacies, more emotionally driven maxims.
In His Word, we are instructed to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, gentleness, humility, and patience (Colossians 3:12). We are to let our gentleness and reasonableness be known to all (Philippians 4). What do we hear in the rants and reels of those who are ‘influencing’ their followers that should cause us to walk away? Snark. Pride. Sarcasm. One liners intended to zing, mic drop moments.
The Bereans
Those who search the Scriptures in the Spirit will be taught, built up, filled with Light, motivated to walk in the Light, rooted in His Love, steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD. Like the Bereans, they will be active participants in their local gathering of His Body, the Church, of which Christ is the Head; and they will study the doctrines of the faith, holding fast to that which is good.
The Reformation did not free believers from the need to be a part of His Church. It did not free us to reinterpret Scriptures. We are always reforming–semper reformanda–to purify the Church from any outside influence that has pushed us away from Christ alone, Grace alone, Scripture alone, Faith alone, to the Glory of God alone. We are Reformed; we are reforming when the purity of the Church is compromised, when unscriptural doctrines creep in, when the sufficiency of Scripture has been usurped by ‘up to date’ cultural ideas, when we are not being to God’s glory alone.
Run away from those seeking their own glory. Run away from those tugging at your emotions to drive you towards a ‘new understanding.’ We must stand firm, contend for the faith, seek His face continually, study to show ourselves approved unto God, abide in Him. In His love, in His words.
We must remember, and live life together under His Word. He formed a people for His own possession; we are His community. We do not rightly seek reformation alone.
Had a lovely time reading this with my children this morning:
I encourage you to read this, it will take only a few minutes, but will help clear up a lot of confusion about what it means to be Reformed, and reforming.
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/always-abusing-semper-reformanda
We finished our time with 2 Peter 3:14-end, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, and Jude.
Cheers to the Ecclesia reformata! The Church Reformed! Cheers to being people of Sola Scriptura!