WHY THE REFORMATION STILL MATTERS
By Michael Reeves and Tim Chester
IVP. 175 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 1 783 594 078
This is probably the standout book for the celebrations of the Reformation this year, the 500th anniversary of Luther’s publishing his 95 theses.
It covers the major doctrinal rediscoveries which occurred in the Reformation period. Obviously the dominant Roman Catholic Church had taught about such things as grace, sin, justification and the cross throughout medieval times. But they had not been teaching what the Word of God taught. Reeves and Chester's approach is to show how the Reformers exposed the errors of medieval theology, as the thrilling truths of free grace emerged from their studies. That this exercise is undertaken in a way which shows how the Reformation addressed the big questions of human existence – Who am I? What is wrong with us? Can we truly know God? How do we know what is true? – gives the book both a very interesting and perti-nently contemporary feel.
For example, it does a great job of connecting Christian faith right into the workplace as it discusses the priesthood of all believers. How this has been neglected in recent times, not least because of a narrow focus on evangelism as the be-all and end-all of a Christian’s life. The Reformation brought a new vision that the gospel touches on and enhances every part of human life – even our industry.
The cross and glory
I particularly liked the authors’ discussion of the ‘Theology of the Cross’ over against the erroneous ‘Theology of Glory’. Here a number of idols which tend to infest modern evangelicalism are exposed and slain. Hold on to your hats – here’s a quote that’s dynamite: ‘The temptation is to think that what we need most are national evangelistic campaigns or megachurches with slick multimedia presentations or access to the global media or charismatic personalities or influence in the halls of power… But the theology of the cross calls us to place our confidence in what Jesus calls his ‘little flock’ (Luke 12.32). At the heart of Jesus’ future are not globalised ecclesiastical structures – whether that is the Roman Catholic Magisterium or pan-evangelical networks. Instead the future belongs to small unassuming churches – Christ’s little flock. It is to Christ’s little flock that the kingdom has been given – the all-powerful, life-giving rule of God. So we need not only a theology of the cross, but also a church of the cross. The understanding of the church consistent with the gospel of Christ crucified is a church of the cross. That means power in weakness, wisdom in folly and glory in shame.’
How our churches need to recapture such an outlook.
