(please read these Reformation articles in numbered order)

I had an embarrassment and an enlightenment several decades ago, talking with a friend who was in the same name-brand church.

I was looking for a Bible verse, and I couldn’t find it.

After much searching, I found it in the church liturgy.

That was a dead give-away to the deadly danger of what the church creates continually.

You can’t tell the difference between man’s words and the Bible, and I knew both well.

Not long after Jesus went back to heaven, the church started this practice of creating statements of what they believe, which developed into prominence rivaling the Bible.

Reciting creeds and liturgy and following forms of worship end up taking more priority time than sharing Bible verses.

And recently, individual churches and organizations are pressured to write “mission statements,” to somehow make them distinct from others.

Local churches, and groups of churches, would do far better to simply be known for Bible verses that they stand on instead of elaborate man-made wording, both old and new.

If you want a sure test of any church, note the prominence of Bible verses shared in church, then get out your own Bible and study it yourself until you find out if the church matches what you read.

After all, that’s what Martin Luther did.

We need to do that, plus be willing to let go of all the distracting and dangerous church stuff that serves to keep the show going, rather than “the one thing needful”—just listening to Jesus.

Luther was used mightily by God, and we are thankful, and we rightly celebrate 500 years after his boldness was broadcast to the world (thanks to Gutenberg, also inspired by God with the printing press).

But Luther did not finish the job—so there is much for us to do.

The church needs reformation.

The church needs revival.

The church needs repentance.

Christians in America will soon learn the sweet renewal of authenticity brought on by persecution—historic, guaranteed, welcomed by the remnant.

Whether the church can officially change is uncertain, just like the Catholic church couldn’t change, but they can’t stop true repentance, revival, and reformation outside the walls.