Martin Luther – David Lawrence

Since a previous post called, True Reformers Always Buck the System — I had some questions about what is the difference between someone who is a reformer versus someone who is in rebellion against authority. I thought it was a very good question, so I would like to try to take a stab at it.

I believe it comes down to a couple of simple questions that will determine what category one might fall under: What is your cause? and What is the motive behind it?

All forerunner’s in the Kingdom (or reformers) in any area of leadership will come up against their biggest enemy which is spiritual and social injustice. The early reformers came up against spiritual injustice. By translating the Bible into the common language of that time made them an enemy to the Roman Catholic Church. By offering the Bible to every man was not only raising the spiritual lid, it blew it up! It was breaking spiritual injustice. And, in doing so it made guys like Martin Luther an outlaw in his country and throughout Europe.

What is spiritual injustice? Spiritual injustice can be in any church and denomination anywhere. Any church or religious institution that hinders people’s growth in the context of Biblical teaching and in their organizational systems (either intentionally or unintentionally) are examples of spiritual injustice.

Because of this fact all reformers will be viewed as rebels because they are going against a system that is limited and wrong. But, sometimes people will go against authority based off their own ego’s and selfishness. When this happens they are not reformers, they are sincere rebels with no cause and no purpose except to fulfill their own ambition. You see this in the church and business world all the time. People fight to make changes in the name of “we need to change things” or “we need to do things differently” in order to give themselves a platform, cushion their pocket book, promotion, recognition, etc…

People who are in the business to serve themselves are not reformers…they are rebels that become part of the family of injustice. When you are driven with a cause that helps serve the needs of people spiritually or socially…you are a reformer.

So, in a nutshell:

Reformers =

Fight against spiritual and social injustice
Are driven to meet the needs of people
Are passionate about serving
Value personal growth from different circles
Are willing to risk everything
Give their lives away for the cause
Are willing to live a life of uncertainty and faith

Rebel’s =

Fight against established authority
Are driven by ambition
Are about serving themselves
Are unteachable
Are not willing to risk anything
Won’t give anything of themselves if its an inconvenience
Have to be in control consistently

Your Thoughts?

In the wake of a crippled economy and a culturally corrupt society that believes right is wrong and wrong is right. And, while most American churches believe that real ministry only happens within their four safe walls or on their production stage…something needs to give. Something needs to change.

Over the last couple of days, God has been drawing me back to the study of the Reformation era again. America has never experienced a reformation, it has only experienced great revivals. Europe knows reformation, but really has never experienced revival on a massive scale except maybe in some pocket areas here and there.

I believe America needs a reformation. But, how are reformers viewed and what do true reformers do? They buck the current church system. They challenge it from every angle. Today, we admire the leaders of the reformation like Martin Luther, John Wesley, John Calvin, John Knox, and others. But, if they were alive today would we invite them to speak in our churches? Probably not. Why? Because these were the kinds of men who would have no problem saying things like, “Your church helps serve the devil’s agenda more than it does God’s agenda.” Ouch! Do you think he would get a big offering or get invited back? No. Because they weren’t motivated by those luxury ministry perks. They were motivated by truth! They were burdened with the culture of a nation, not the religious feelings of a local pastor.

These guys who led the reformation were not liked people. They were hated by the current religious system of that time. And, I believe that our current system of church and ministry will begin to strike at the reformation generation that God is raising up today. Let me go on record and say I love and believe in the local church, but I don’t like safe and nice churches. Why? Because safe environments don’t challenge and encourage people to grow, serve, work, sweat, fight and send out!

If your church is more concerned about collecting people then growing, activating and releasing people to do ministry, then it’s not a church, it’s a religious club. And, if the religious club refuses to change, then the purpose of it’s existence will be challenged in the coming years, and not just from next generation leaders, but also from mainstream America! Just watch!

Your Thoughts?

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