Still Reforming?

By Travis Scott, September 7, 2021

Semper Reformanda, “always reforming.” It’s a phrase that’s been thrown around for various purposes, some clear and others... not so clear. As a website employing it for our name it’s probably important that we clarify what we mean by it.  

On the one hand, we must acknowledge that the call to be always reforming has been used for less than orthodox purposes. Indeed, in modern and contemporary church history some have used it as a mantra to excuse the jettisoning of Christian orthodoxy itself. This has been done in the name of the Church advancing, remaining relevant, keeping up with the times, and other similar motivations. In this sense Semper Reformanda has in times past been seen as the marching orders for theological liberalism and progressivism.   

We reject that use. The call to be always reforming has nothing to do with keeping up with the times. It’s not about conforming to the spirit of the age in order to remain relevant. The full phrase in its most original use makes that clear: ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda secundum verbi Dei – “The church Reformed and always being reformed according to the Word of God.”

This means that the right pursuit of semper reformanda should never be a call to move beyond Scripture, but back to it. It should never be seeking conformity to the spirit of the age, but always seeking deeper conformity to the Spirit of Christ.  

Others have ably defended this meaning of the phrase. Michael Horton, Robert Godfrey, and Kevin DeYoung are three conservative voices that have written on the historic meaning of this call. I commend them on their contributions and have benefited personally from their perspectives on the subject.  

In particular, Horton offers this helpful summary: 

“It is not because the culture is always changing and we need to be up with the times, but because we are always in need of being re-oriented to the Word that stands over us, individually and collectively, that the church can never stand still. It must always be a listening church.

“When we invoke the whole phrase — “the church Reformed and always being reformed according to the Word of God” — we confess that we belong to the church and not simply to ourselves and that this church is always created and renewed by the Word of God rather than by the spirit of the age.”. [1]

However, if it’s true that some on the “Left” side of the theological spectrum have attempted to say too much on this subject; it’s also true that many on the “Right” side of that same spectrum have at times considered themselves exempt from it. At times it seems the explanation of what semper reformanda means can be an attempt to explain it away. I’ve had conversations with brothers where it’s clear they perceive the call of semper reformanda as only being about avoiding liberal/progressive errors. Within this mindset the idea seems to be that others need to continue to reform until they come to my already perfected position on things. But what about the errors of conservatism? What about the dangers of the Right? What about the deficiencies of faith and life masked by theological acumen? 

By all accounts Jodocus van Lodenstein, the originator of these words, did not have liberalism or progressivism in his sights when he coined the phrase. Rather, he was concerned with that particular form of dead orthodoxy most prevalent in places of pristine doctrinal articulation. As Robert Godfrey writes: 

“The great concern of ministers like van Lodenstein was not the externals of religion—as absolutely important as they are—but rather the internal side of religion… The part of religion that always needs reforming is the human heart. It is vital religion and true faith that must be constantly cultivated. Formalism, indifferentism, and conformism must all be vigorously opposed by a faithful ministry.” [2]

Certainly these dangers are present in any tradition or expression of the Faith - Left or Right, in individual expressivism or confessional conformity. However, van Lodenstein was particularly concerned with the formalism, indifferentism, and conformism found in his own Reformed body. His concern was with what he saw developing in his doctrinally correct brothers and sisters. 

At Semper Ref we share this concern for the need to be always reforming. Indeed, as confessional Presbyterians we must! Our very doctrine of sanctification states that while we have had a new heart and a new spirit created in us; while the Word and Spirit dwell in us, weakening and mortifying the lusts of the body of sin – nevertheless, the process is “imperfect in this life there abiding still some remnants of corruption in every part: whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” (WCF 13:1, 2) [3] This continual and irreconcilable war between Spirit and flesh encompasses the whole of our lives, including our apprehension of Scripture itself. And this war has fleshly saboteurs of both liberal and conservative flavors. Hence, the need for each believer to be always reforming according to the word of God. 

However, this doesn’t mean the need for ongoing reformation and sanctification stops at the individual heart. Again, as confessional Presbyterians we affirm the understanding that the “purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error” (WCF 25:5) and that all “synods or councils, since the Apostles' times, whether general or particular, may err; and many have erred.” (WCF 31:3) This is true because as humans interpreting Scripture, whether individually and personally, or corporately and ecclesiastically, we will always have blind spots. We will always have sin we don’t see and issues we misapprehend due to cultural and fleshly commitments. 

As confessional Presbyterians we realize we must learn from the saints of old that they might critique and correct us, but also that by God’s Spirit at work in us by his word we may have to offer critique and correction to them as well. Our hope in this endeavor is not that a golden age of the past or an enlightened age of the present or future can guide us more accurately – but that the word of God is living and active and by it he continues to perfect us in faithfulness in every generation. Our hope is that the timeless and transcultural God continues to work in every age leading his children in truth, conforming us to Christ. 

As we pursue this calling of semper reformanda, God’s word is a sure foundation which allows us to hold with confidence the Faith passed down through the ages. His word also provides us the confidence of grace which enables us to honestly admit and address the errors and blind spots in our own handling of that Faith, as well as the errors and blind spots of those who have handed the faith down to us, particularly those we consider spiritual fathers and heroes. 

With all of this in mind our particular hope for this website is that God will use it in some small way as a part of his work of continually reforming the church according to his word. Our goal of Semper Ref is to provide a platform for articles that guide and encourage us to those ends. May God grant it. 

[1] Michael Horton, “Semper Reformanda”, https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/semper-reformanda.

[2] Robert Godfrey, “What Does Semper Reformanda Mean?” https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/what-does-semper-reformanda-mean.

[3] Westminster Confession of Faith.