Mission
Today's church is increasingly dominated by the spirit of this age rather than by the Spirit of Christ. We call ourselves to repent of this sin and to recover the historic Christian faith.
The mission of a Reformation Society is to encourage, embolden and equip pastors, lay leaders and others for the work of biblical reformation in today’s churches. This mission exists so the “whole counsel of God” may be preached to, and be “lived” by individual believers; also to provide opportunity for church leaders and others to learn together about the “Five Solas” as found in the Cambridge Declaration while addressing contemporary issues and challenges to the evangelical church. A second foundational document of the Reformation Societies is the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.
A Reformation Society relies fully upon the Gospel, the scriptural teachings necessary for salvation, as the means given by the Triune God for the building of Christ’s Church. These are the same teachings that gave birth to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th Century. Strengthening those already committed to the Gospel of God in its content, authority and sufficiency is central to each Society’s purpose, as is encouraging others not yet acquainted with the Gospel or the Reformed faith. Reformation Societies are not intended to circumvent or in any way to replace the work of the church.
How Does God Bring Reformation to the Church?
Both Scripture and Church history show God's readiness to aid His Church in humble repentance and reformation. God brings reformation through the recovery of his Word in the church. King Josiah "read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant.... then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant" (2 Kings 23:3).
In the time of Ezra's reformation, "They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand" (Neh. 8:8).
Our duty, therefore, is that of Jude 1:3, "To contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints." He adds, "Build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit... Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others, show mercy, mixed with fear" (Jude 1:20,22).
- Confess, before God, our worldliness;
- Humbly ask God for the wisdom and grace necessary for reformation in His Church;
- Seek guidance given to us in God's infallible and all-sufficient Word;
- Establish the Bible as our churches' only rule of faith and practice, employing means and seeking ends that are biblical in principle.
Our Convictions
We believe that Gods infallible Word is the source and norm for all faith and practice in Christ's Church. We hold that Word to be effective and sufficient for our needs in His service.
Furthermore, we affirm the following Reformation principles as vital summaries of Biblical teaching.
Scripture Alone: The inerrant Scripture is the sole source of written divine revelation, which alone can bind the conscience.
Christ Alone: Our salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone.
Grace Alone: In salvation we are rescued from God's wrath by His grace alone. Salvation is of his unmerited love and not of man's works.
Faith Alone: The knowledge of Scripture alone and the believing of and commitment to such knowledge shows forth that Christ alone is the object of saving faith through which we are justified by his atonement for our sins.
To God Alone Be the Glory: Because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is for God's glory. Therefore, we must glorify Him always.
What Will A Reformation Society Do?
Generally, a Reformation Society is characterized by:
- Small-groups
- Local and/or regional membership
- Commitment to the Cambridge Declaration and Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy
- Not affiliated with a single denomination
- Leadership originating from within local churches
- Financial support provided by local members, individual donors and/or occasional congregational contributions
- Periodic meetings (usually monthly or quarterly)
- Focused on non-denominational issues relating Reformation theology to the challenges to the local church
- Emphasis and organizational structure unique to local needs
- Topical focus that can change as a Society progresses
- Opportunity for individual participant interaction during meetings
- Assisted as needed by the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals