What is reformed?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

calibob

Sinner saved by grace
May 29, 2018
8,268
5,510
113
Anaheim, Cali.
#1
Does reformed mean? Repurposed, rebuilt, Renewed or repentant? Why didn't some Church founders go back to the first century pre RCC basics rather than attempt to modify a broken system with more rules and humanistic traditions. Is the spirit of the law so ambiguous to some they must go back to serving the letter of the law, or worse yet compound the problem's by adding more laws?

Inquiring minds want to know.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,247
25,716
113
#2
Luther asserted that the doctrine of ‘Justification by Faith Alone’ is “the article upon which the church stands or falls.” The list of Martin Luther's complaints also largely concerned the abuse of selling forgiveness, known as indulgences. He did not seem to take issue with some of the many other divergences from Scripture that the RCC took, including its Mariology :(
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
4,451
113
#3
Does reformed mean? Repurposed, rebuilt, Renewed or repentant? Why didn't some Church founders go back to the first century pre RCC basics rather than attempt to modify a broken system with more rules and humanistic traditions. Is the spirit of the law so ambiguous to some they must go back to serving the letter of the law, or worse yet compound the problem's by adding more laws?

Inquiring minds want to know.
This question causes mental constipation lol the reformation began many different theological understandings as the chains broke from a state religion.

To get the core understanding is to study the writing of the reformists and then the theological differences. But you are looking at a century or more from birth to mainline beliefs.

The Reformation spread throughout Europe beginning in 1517, reaching its peak between 1545 and 1620.

From 1620 until 1730 was a incubation time for what was to come called the Great Awakening.

The First Great Awakening (sometimes Great Awakening) or the Evangelical Revival was a series of Christian revivals that swept Britain and its Thirteen Colonies between the 1730s and 1740s.

Major leaders of the revival such as George Whitefield, John Wesley and Jonathan Edwards articulated a theology of revival and salvation that transcended denominational boundaries and helped create a common evangelical identity. Revivalists added to the doctrinal imperatives of Reformation Protestantism an emphasis on providential outpourings of the Holy Spirit.

So really when you hear reformed it can take many theological differences.
 
M

morefaithrequired

Guest
#5
You could ask the people who go to "reform" school. They might know.
 

TooFastTurtle

Active member
Apr 10, 2019
460
247
43
#6
The Reformed as it is used today largely refers to Calvinists, although technically since Luther started the reformation, it should include Lutherans. The idea of the reformers was to Reform the Church and they threw out much of the Catholic idolatry and ritual salvation and switched it to faith alone.

Faith alone and James, we know why Luther was not a fan. ;) Type in "faith alone" to a bible search and only one phrase pops up:

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Luther actually added the word ALONE to Romans 3:28. However if you decide to read the writings of Luther, you find that as the man who championed Faith alone, his faith alone included baptism for salvation and many other things today's "faith alone" crowd would be shocked by, and would be up in arms calling Luther a works salvationist. Lutherans have an interesting soteriology, they maintain baptism saves, while saying faith alone saves and works do not. It is confusing, but they get around it by saying baptism is a work of God, despite man performing it. (I am not a Lutheran, btw)

The reformation as you said calibob was not so much a return to Apostolic Christianity, but more of a return to Augustinian Christianity, since both Luther and Calvin were extremely influenced by Augustine, Calvin even admits it in his writings.
 
M

morefaithrequired

Guest
#7
I'll have a Hamburger with the works. Oh ok a little faith too please.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,181
1,177
113
#8
Does reformed mean? Repurposed, rebuilt, Renewed or repentant? Why didn't some Church founders go back to the first century pre RCC basics rather than attempt to modify a broken system with more rules and humanistic traditions. Is the spirit of the law so ambiguous to some they must go back to serving the letter of the law, or worse yet compound the problem's by adding more laws?

Inquiring minds want to know.
The reformation period took place in the 1500's. That is when men in the Catholic church began to form their own interpretation of the scriptures instead of accepting the dictatorship of the Roman Catholic church. The true church that Christ set up was never a part of the Roman Catholic church and had to go into hiding to keep the Roman Catholic church from wiping them out. The true church is neither Armenian or reformed.
 

preacher4truth

Senior Member
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
113
#9
Does reformed mean? Repurposed, rebuilt, Renewed or repentant? Why didn't some Church founders go back to the first century pre RCC basics rather than attempt to modify a broken system with more rules and humanistic traditions. Is the spirit of the law so ambiguous to some they must go back to serving the letter of the law, or worse yet compound the problem's by adding more laws?

Inquiring minds want to know.
Reformed meant returning to Scripture for doctrine, and away from apostate Rome. This all took place by God's will and determination.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,181
1,177
113
#10
The Reformed as it is used today largely refers to Calvinists, although technically since Luther started the reformation, it should include Lutherans. The idea of the reformers was to Reform the Church and they threw out much of the Catholic idolatry and ritual salvation and switched it to faith alone.

Faith alone and James, we know why Luther was not a fan. ;) Type in "faith alone" to a bible search and only one phrase pops up:

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Luther actually added the word ALONE to Romans 3:28. However if you decide to read the writings of Luther, you find that as the man who championed Faith alone, his faith alone included baptism for salvation and many other things today's "faith alone" crowd would be shocked by, and would be up in arms calling Luther a works salvationist. Lutherans have an interesting soteriology, they maintain baptism saves, while saying faith alone saves and works do not. It is confusing, but they get around it by saying baptism is a work of God, despite man performing it. (I am not a Lutheran, btw)

The reformation as you said calibob was not so much a return to Apostolic Christianity, but more of a return to Augustinian Christianity, since both Luther and Calvin were extremely influenced by Augustine, Calvin even admits it in his writings.
The true church was never a part of the Roman Catholic church. None of these brethren mentioned above were ever a part of the true church that Jesus set up.
 

calibob

Sinner saved by grace
May 29, 2018
8,268
5,510
113
Anaheim, Cali.
#11
Romans3:28 according to the Berean Study Bible 28) For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
 

calibob

Sinner saved by grace
May 29, 2018
8,268
5,510
113
Anaheim, Cali.
#12
The reformation period took place in the 1500's. That is when men in the Catholic church began to form their own interpretation of the scriptures instead of accepting the dictatorship of the Roman Catholic church. The true church that Christ set up was never a part of the Roman Catholic church and had to go into hiding to keep the Roman Catholic church from wiping them out. The true church is neither Armenian or reformed.
So why didn't they go back to the apostolic ways?
 
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
1,198
113
#13
Does reformed mean? Repurposed, rebuilt, Renewed or repentant? Why didn't some Church founders go back to the first century pre RCC basics rather than attempt to modify a broken system with more rules and humanistic traditions. Is the spirit of the law so ambiguous to some they must go back to serving the letter of the law, or worse yet compound the problem's by adding more laws?

Inquiring minds want to know.
Reformed means..

1) To be berated, belittled, besmirched by those of the opposing view
2) To be witnessed to so they can be saved, well hopefully
3) A 3rd class citizen group in local churches
4) A bunch of imbeciles who are clueless
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
4,451
113
#15
Reformed means..

1) To be berated, belittled, besmirched by those of the opposing view
2) To be witnessed to so they can be saved, well hopefully
3) A 3rd class citizen group in local churches
4) A bunch of imbeciles who are clueless
Hmm never heard this to define reform theology. Sounds misinformed.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,181
1,177
113
#16
So why didn't they go back to the apostolic ways?
If you are talking about the ways of Jesus's Apostles they have always taught from the Apostles and always will. I hope I am understanding your question right?
 

calibob

Sinner saved by grace
May 29, 2018
8,268
5,510
113
Anaheim, Cali.
#18
That's my point. Commuion was a shared common meal. Baptism was for adults not infants. There wer no idols or statues. The believers not only worshiped but shared what they had together. Not just in words but tangible items too. And the churches sent people to other churches to learn and edify each other as well. My dinners here now. Gotta go. I'll be back a lil' later.