Skip to Main Content

The Conserving Reformation

June 13, 2017 - 1 minute read


Man holding Bible

When Luther posted his 95 theses for debate, he was addressing challenges in his church, seeking discussion and correction. He certainly did not intend to give rise to a separate branch of the Christian Church—much less one that would come to be called by his name. Nevertheless, when his call to reform was rejected, this is exactly what occurred.

While this was a notable development, it was not as radical as some people think. This was not a revolution but a restoration or reformation. Luther and his colleagues did not start a new church. They reformed the church. They did not throw everything out and start over again. That would not have been an appropriate response. For while reformation was certainly needed, there were many good and commendable things in the church. Things worth maintaining and celebrating.

This was not a revolution but a restoration or reformation.

So while some later branches of Christianity made more radical cuts and changes, Luther’s principle was to retain anything that was not contrary to the word of God. Therefore, the Lutheran Confessions say things like:

"...private absolution should be retained and not abolished (AC XI:1)."

"[We retain] many ceremonies and traditions such as the order of the Mass and other singing, festivals and the like, which serve to preserve order in the church (AC XXVI:40)."

"[We desire to] retain the order of the church and the various ranks of the church – even though they were established by human authority (Ap XIV:24)."

In contrast, things that the reformers thought were in conflict with biblical teaching had to be changed. For as good as it is to preserve many things, above all, “…It is necessary to retain in the church the pure teaching concerning the righteousness of faith” (Ap IV:iii, 237)

It strives to retain the best practices of the historic church, integrating them in a contemporary context.

This approach is sometimes called the conservative reformation, but perhaps a more helpful way to understand it would be to call it a conserving reformation. It strives to retain the best practices of the historic church, integrating them in a contemporary context. It is always to be guided by the teachings of Scripture and the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The church today—always reforming—can learn from this approach. The best practices of our Christian forbearers can be very helpful in our context. And all of our practice is to be guided by Scripture and focused on the Gospel.

-sm

Always Reforming

Reflections on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation

by Steven P. Mueller

The brief essays in this volume explore various aspects of Reformation theology and its implications. They were written by faculty of Concordia University Irvine in commemoration of the Reformation's 500th anniversary.

Available on Amazon
Back to top