Richness of Reformed Tradition - Shawn Eng

After this week of learning about the rich theological depth Presbyterianism has inherited from John Calvin, I have a greater sense of appreciation of the history and implications of being part of the Presbyterian arm of the Church. It is enlightening to discover the logic and reason behind the traditions we hold on to and many that we have already left behind. 

Having a better understanding of what it means to be 'Reformed' helps me to view the role of the Presbyterian part of the Church Body in a more holistic light. Often I wondered what was distinctive about being Presbyterian, how we were different from other denominations, whether those differences matter and why couldn't we all just 'get along' and work together.

Now I realise that the view I held onto was a bit too simplistic, that the differences are so significant and complex that much work would be needed to attain unity and not uniformity, which seems to be the general mode used in the Roman Catholic church at the time of the Reformation. It would be easier to have one authority giving instructions to the masses, an elite group holding on to power and facilitating Christian living for the public. There would be reduced variety and participation for the sake of order and control.

But according to Rev. Tan Tiong Ann, that was exactly why the Reformation happened, to make what was privy only to an elite few in the monastic lifestyle accessible to the majority congregation. And in allowing the masses to take responsibility for their 'Christian living', this ultimately leads to a variety of understandings/interpretations of 'biblical Christian living' due to the varying cultural settings of the people, depending on their social, economic, political, geographical and historical context.

So I guess Jesus really hit the nail on the head when He prayed for unity among the believers in John 17, that is a great need for the Church of today, that in our diversity we may be one,  just as the Father is in Jesus and Jesus is in the Father. That we may be in Them so that the world may believe that Jesus is the Messiah. May this be our prayer as future leaders of the Church, that we may come to unity so that the world may know that Jesus is Lord and head of the Church and that the Father's love is for all.

Shawn Eng