THE REFORMED TRADITION

MAJOR CHURCH TRADITIONS: The worldwide family of the church is divided into three major traditions; these are known as Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant. Orthodox, who are to be found mostly in Greece, the Middle East, India, Ethiopia and Eastern Europe, differ within their traditions mainly on the basis of nationality and culture. Roman Catholics tend to be the same all over the world, with expressions of faith,

forms of worship and government dictated by the doctrinal experts who speak from the Vatican in Rome through the personage of the Pope.

Protestants claim that final truth is to be found only in the Bible - the Word of God. However, they also insist on the freedom to interpret aspects of the faith as they are led by the Spirit and in keeping with the Word of God. In Protestantism believers or members of the congregation have much responsibility in deciding how they are governed and how they worship.

Among the major Protestant families are Anglicans, Lutherans, Moravians, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals and Reformed Churches. Among those who belong to the Reformed sector of the Protestant family are: Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Churches of Christ (Disciples). It is worthy of note that many of the United Churches throughout the world, including those affiliated with the Council for World Mission, consist of members of Churches of the Reformed family.

Because there are so many traditions, there is the possibility of confusion with regard to where to turn to find the authority for what one believes, how one ought to worship and how one should behave from day to day in relation to the systems, structures or standards of this world. Knowing what one is expected to believe as a member of a Church tradition, gives one both a better understanding of one's spiritual identity and a greater sense of inner security when one is challenged to explain the reason for taking the stand one takes- on issues of morality and doctrine.

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THE REFORMED AND OTHER CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS:

In common with Christians of all traditions, Churches of the Reformed family accept the basic tenets of the Faith as these are summarised in the Historic Creeds - the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed. These are often incorporated into hymnaries and manuals of worship.

The Creeds affirm belief in:

A) God as Creator and Sovereign Ruler of the universe whom we, like Jesus, address as 'Father or Parent'.

B) Jesus Christ, who is the unique revelation of God in human form. Jesus Christ is God's means of restoring the relationship between Himself and human beings through His death on the cross. The relationship had been broken by human sinfulness and the sin of each individual person.

C) The Holy Spirit, who is the third person of the Godhead, the Spirit's presence in the life of a person, is evidence of the reality of his or her salvation from sin through the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Christ.

D) The Holy Spirit is God's means of "keeping in touch" with the church as a whole and with each believer. The Spirit also works through the Church to continue the work began by Christ during His earthy life.

E) The Christian life, brought about by the atoning work of Christ, which makes possible the forgiveness of sins and, through the Holy Spirit, growth in grace.

F) The eternal destiny of those who accept what God has done for human-kind through Christ. This is commonly referred to as the life to come or 'life everlasting'.

G) The return, (Second Coming) of Christ to judge both the living and the dead.

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WHAT DOES THE REFORMED TRADITION HAVE IN COMMON WITH OTHER PROTESTANT TRADITIONS?

At the time of the Reformation, during the Sixteenth (I 6th) Century, its leaders, Luther, Calvin and Zwingli in Europe, Cranmner and Latimer in England and Knox in Scotland, came out in protest against what they saw as distortions of the faith through the misuse of authority by the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. These Protestants agreed with the following:

• The Sovereignty of God or total control of the world by God, in relation to the authority of earthly leaders in both Church and State.

• The Primacy or Sufficiency of the Word of God as it is contained in the Bible. This is the reference point for all personal beliefs and approaches to worship, as against human reason and dictates of the rulers of the Church on earth.

The Priesthood of all Believers. This means that every believer has direct access to God without undue dependence upon anyone approved by the rules of the Church.
Justification by Faith alone. This means that the idea that our relationship with God can be set right by our performance of certain religious duties or by our good deeds (works), is fundamentally wrong.
Equality among all Believers. This is based on the fact that all have sinned against God and all who exercise faith in God's atoning work in Christ become children of God. Each of us owes no less and no more to God than others. All of us have the same obligation to witness as that which God has done in Christ for all, without distinction.

Whilst there are different roles and functions for individuals and groups within the body of believers, there is no difference of status between one Christian and another. Ordination and Commissioning, for instance have reference to functions within the body of Christ, not status or superior authority. Any authority exercised is the authority of the whole Church and never that of any individual who is elected or appointed to any office in the Congregation or denomination.

In respect of the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper, we in the Reformed Tradition hold that God is present through the Holy Spirit at the celebration of the Sacrament. We do not believe to help the church clarify her beliefs and make them more understandable to her members. They should not be seen as occasions for controversy.

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