With everything that is happening in our world right now, we need what used to be called and still can be called “reformers.” Living in Scotland and knowing a little about the ‘reformers’ and having studied Reformation History at University in some detail, isn’t there a shrill cry and prayer for the’ reformers these days?

Having recently been visiting the ‘reformers’ and studying one aspect of the Reformation and looking around at the sorry state of various nations, isn’t the Reformation almost essential?

A reformer is a leader and exercises leadership of the highest caliber that influences virtually every area of ​​life.

We hear little about the reformers. We hear about pastors, church planters, worship leaders, youth ministries, but rarely reformers. Why?

We are told that the literature is little known.

The British Museum bought William Tyndale’s New Testament for over £ 1 million.

The title Reformer has been used with suspicion, as they can be viewed as headstrong individuals who could divide or cause confusion in a congregation or even destroy congregations. That may or may not be the case depending on what is required and necessary.

Jealousy is certainly a mark of a reformer, but not the only one, and zeal without wisdom and love can be very destructive.

A ‘reformer’ is one who challenges the status quo. It is the act of retraining, or a second or new formation, and perhaps you are engaged in new beginnings or new outings.

We have been taught in the church to maintain the model we have received and to maintain the institutions, but the reformer can cause shocks, especially if the New Testament model is almost lost.

It was William Tyndale’s New Testament in 1526 that brought the Word of God from the mainland to the east coast of Scotland, and it was some of these early Reformers who brought John Knox into the gospel ministry.

William Tyndale, we are informed, was interested not only in translation, but also in the Reformation. Tyndale was born around 1494 and earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Oxford.

These days you had to do 8 or 9 years at the University before studying theology, and the theology he found was described as ‘almost dumb, poor and tattered’.

Tyndale discovered and wrote in these terms, that the grace of God sought and found me, and showed me the truth, so that I bowed the knees of my heart before God that He would show the truth to all other men!

William Tyndale soon had to flee the UK and most of his significant work was done on the continent of Europe and later based in Antwerp.

A reformer is a man who lives by faith in the word of God.

The churches were so dark before the Reformation because the Word of God was not there and the faith that conquers the world was not known. Worldliness reigns, and isn’t that true throughout the Western world today and even in many churches?

The only answer is the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ and the preaching and teaching of the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sandy shaw