INWARD REFORMATION

Lately I have heard a lot of preaching about reformation from many different platforms; reformation of our country, reformation of our school systems, reformation of our churches, reformation of just about every facet of society. This makes me stop and question, what does it take to be a reformer? What did the reformers of the past have in common?

America , as well as other countries, has seen reformers rise up and hold the fort for their particular cause. Some were good causes and others were not. One of my grandpa's favorite quotes was, “It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.” This doesn't mean that their cause was right. In some cases it simply means that they were the only one standing up to the accepted ways of operating. Take a look at the abortion issue. One voice was all it took. No doubt we will see more and more things that use to sound absurd become accepted and even put into law, all because one voice will rise up with a cause.

To answer my own question, what past reformers had in common was their willingness to make their voice heard. It is clear that not everyone will agree with everything that is presented.

One winter morning, as I was writing this, I realized that the temperature was colder inside my house than it was outside. So I opened up a few windows in an attempt to reform the cold air into something more desirable. This also made me stop and question, while so many people are calling for reform in the church and in society, where do we start?

It's always easy to identify and point our fingers at the outward things that need changing in our world. But what about the things on the inside of each of us that God cannot use? Cold air that needs to be removed.

Once again, to answer my own question, I believe that we must start with an inward reformation. We have enough self seeking voices, enough of those with the agenda of making themselves known. Take a look at Christian TV today. Just because you can get excited and make other people excited doesn't mean that you are a voice from God or even that your life is right with God. There has been plenty of preaching and yelling but how much reformation has truly taken place? I suppose only God knows the answer to that.

Don't get me wrong, I love some of the Christian programming, but I have been around a long time and have seen abuse as well as those who were truly voices from God. We have to know the difference. Pride has no place in God's platform. The Bible says that pride goes before a fall. Have you seen some of that? That is why I know that not everyone who has pushed their way to what we consider the top has had an inward reformation. Pride has many forms and tentacles that reach deep and eventually tear down what we have tried to build up. It has no place in God's platform.

We need more God fearing, Bible believing voices to rise up; voices that only have an agenda to make God's name known and uphold what is right in His eyes; voices who will listen to His voice before they raise their own; voices who will keep themselves in check; voices who believe that what they have heard from God is worth living and dying for.

When this type of people will stand up and be heard, then reformation will come. Even if they feel like one crying out in the wilderness, they will be heard and they will be preparing the way of the Lord.

If I am not one of these, then I need to sit down and shut up.

Sandra