The Continuing Reformation
By Dr. O.L. Johnson (published November 1981)
At the time we are entering our second century as the Church of God Reformation Movement, I was asked by
a friend, “What the Church of God Reformation Movement should strive to become? What significant contribution can it
yet make?”
The
following is my response to those questions.
I would suggest we give diligent effort to retaining our identity as a reformation movement in Christendom.
If this is done with conviction and excitement there is no limit to the contribution it can yet make. In order to accomplish
this it will be necessary to re-emphasize the essentials of a reformation and implement, with sincere convictions, those principles
in the Church of God Reformation Movement. In order to retain our identity, we must know what our identity is, and how we
acquired it.
As I see it, there are three requirements for a reformation. First: there must be revelation. Divine revelation
of a truth or truths that have been lost by lack of emphasis or that has not heretofore been taught. Secondly: There must
be proclamation. Those truths that have come by Divine revelation must be proclaimed with clarity and conviction. Finally:
The response of people to those divinely revealed and proclaimed truths is reformation.
When we evaluate past reformations along with the Church of God Reformation, we can see how these principles
were employed.
In the 16th Century Reformation, the revelation was – “The Just Shall Live By Faith.”
The proclaimer of this revelation was Martin Luther and his supporters. The response was a mass exodus of persons from the
Roman Catholic Church. These same essentials are applicable to the Holiness Reformation. The revelation was, “The Experience
And Life Of Holiness Made Possible By An Infilling Of God’s Holy Spirit Subsequent To the Experience Of Conversion.”
The proclaimers of this revelation were John and Charles Wesley. The response of the Christians who embraced this experience
resulted in The Holiness Movement.
In regards to the Church of God Reformation Movement, the revelation was “The Oneness Of God’s
People, The Universality of God’s Church, and the Spiritual Reality of God’s Kingdom In the Heart Of Christians.”
The proclaimers of these revelations were D.S. Warner and others of like convictions. The result was many Christians left
denominationalism and embraced these truths and the Church of God Reformation Movement was born.
In each of these reformations, the reformers accepted the revelations of past reformers, and then added their
revelations in a contribution of truth being revealed. They were careful to claim the experience of former revelations before
adding their own. We should strive to proclaim these glorious revelations with such clarity and conviction that reformation
will continue both numerically and in spiritual depth. These truths must become personal revelations and not just traditional
teachings if reformation is to continue. There must be the Divine urgency, that the revelations are from God and “Woe
is me if I proclaim them not.”
If each ministerial student graduating from the church's institutions of learning could be contagiously exposed
to these revelations, and experience them personally and proclaim them with conviction and commitment, it is yet to be seen
what contributions the Church of God Reformation Movement will make toward Christian unity and the visible identity of God’s
people as one.
This, I believe, is the primary reason for our existence as a movement. If we cease to provide a spiritual
atmosphere, where these great truths will continue to be exciting revelations to our children, and those yet unborn, we could
well forfeit our reason for existence.
If we are to continue to be a “Reformation Movement” we must continue to raise up reformers who
will commit themselves to revelations past, as well as revelations yet to come, with conviction and dedication. This and this
only, will assure the Church of God Reformation Movement as a continuing viable force in the quest for Biblical Christian
unity in the century ahead.
If we will continue to be the Reformation influence God has called us to be, there should be every reason
for optimism, that the contribution we will make will be indeed significant in bringing God’s people to the Biblical
unity and oneness practiced by the early church.
It is my prayer that each of us will make the necessary commitment to assure continuing reformation.
