Semper Reformandawhata?

Semper Reformanda – it’s a latin phrase that gets thrown around a lot in the reformed community of churches. It’s origins are debatable, but largely held to be from the 1600′s, at the height of the Protestant Reformation. The phrase translates to “always reforming” or “always reformed.” But what does it mean? And what’s a simple, practical application of it in our lives as disciples?

In as few words as possible, it means conform to a standard; going a little deeper, it means to get (or to be put) in your proper place, presumably by something or someone. In the case of the Church, and us disciples, that something or someone is what A.W. Tozer often referred to as a “fixed point” or God. Tozer on more than one occasion remarked that “everyone and everything else measures from a fixed point” (God). This is what it means to be reformed; to be measured from and held to the standards of that fixed point. “I am that I am. I change not” says God.

Sadly semper reformanda is often used, out of context, as a one-liner to back-up errant philosophies or new methods for doing ministry that are downright scandalous and contradicting Scripture. Reshaping Scripture to fit their philosophies and methods, rather than the other way around. “Reformed, always reforming” they will say, as if to say God has changed and they have inside knowledge that nearly two-thousand years worth of scholarship somehow missed. The problem with this is God hasn’t changed, and the phrase is an abbreviation. When taken out of it’s full context, the translation can be incredibly harmful because we lose sight of the standard intended, the Word of God, and we become vulnerable towards reshaping God to fit in our philosophies and methods.

Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them (Isaiah 11:16, ESV)

The unabbreviated version of the Latin is Ecclesia reformata et semper reformanda secundum verbum Dei (“The Church Reformed and always reforming according to the Word of God.”)

According to my friend and colleague John Stuart, reform is a military term/command that literally means re-form the ranks back into a basic unit in the midst of battle, which brings me to the simple and practical application of today’s lesson; we’re in the midst of a battle. A spiritual battle. And we’ve been given a fixed point – God. Our faith will be tested and measured against that fixed point, and the standards from which we are taught – the Word of God. Authentic reformation occurs as we align our beliefs, our behavior, and our worship with the Word of God. We can’t do that if we don’t read it. So the simple, practical application is this: read the Word of God on a regular basis, and God will take care of the rest.

Blessings,
Dan