Christians who are eager for change need to be careful not to supplant the gospel with whatever issue has captivated their zeal. “If you make Christianity begin…with giving up” of particular errors, “you will nullify rather than implant your teaching.” We don’t become Christians by changing bad habits. We change bad habits because Christ becomes precious to us. When change is demanded, God’s people must be taught to repent of their sin so that they will find God a “gentle father.”

The reformation anniversary confetti has all been swept up. Some of us have heard a lot lately about the reformers and how God used them to help move the church toward greater faithfulness in their day. But what will it look like to be a reformer today? Perhaps we can learn from Swiss reformer Ulrich Zwingli’s (1584—1531) advice to his contemporaries.1

1. True Reformers Willingly Evaluate their Movement

Reforming churches must be able to objectively assess their faithfulness. This is how the reformation started. The reformers had the rare courage and fortitude to be self-critical of the only church they and generations of their ancestors had ever known.

Self-critical leaders will learn to ask important questions like “What are we doing well?

Where do we need improvement? Where should we go from here?” A willingness to answer these question frankly and constructively can produce an increased unity of purpose within any leadership team.

2. True Reformers Keep the Gospel Central

Christians who are eager for change need to be careful not to supplant the gospel with whatever issue has captivated their zeal. “If you make Christianity begin…with giving up” of particular errors, “you will nullify rather than implant your teaching.” We don’t become Christians by changing bad habits. We change bad habits because Christ becomes precious to us. When change is demanded, God’s people must be taught to repent of their sin so that they will find God a “gentle father.” “When you have well taught the knowledge of God, man, and Christ, and the Lord has given the increase, all the…errors that had risen up…will fall away.” Zwingli might sound overly optimistic, but such confidence in the gospel is necessary for deep and lasting change.

3. True Reformers Guard against Unnecessary Offence

Zwingli was convinced of these two realities: changes must come and unnecessary offence is sin. The church must always be reforming. It must never think it has already attained, or is already perfected; it must press on (Phil. 3:12). But we must be careful to avoid unnecessary offence in our pursuit of biblical excellence.

Zwingli defines “offence,” (per Matt. 18:6), as insulting or contemptible treatment of others. Some church members rashly make changes that offend more timid believers. Others are too easily offended; they seem to “always [want] special consideration.” The goal of reformation is to so grow as a congregation that God is not offended by our lack of growth and the weak are not hurt by reckless change.

Read More