Book Review: A Heart for Reformation

Book review
A Heart for Reformation

Full description of book:
C. Matthew McMahon, A Heart for Reformation (Elgin, IL, USA: Puritan Publications 2007). ISBN 0-9765336-9-3.

Review:

This book by C. Matthew McMahon aims to "set forth the nature of true biblical reformation, and how that reformation permeate and extend to every sphere of the Christian's life." (p. 9) Instead of being merely concerned with historical books on the Reformation, this book is "designed to take the biblical principles of reformation, which were the practical out workings of the theology behind the Word of God, and apply them to the contemporary church". As McMahon writes, "it is unfortunate that the church must look back in history to find those great old-aged redwood theologians. Why is it that they cannot look in their own churches?" (p. 15).

This book is thus written with an eye towards preparing people towards a new reformation that is similar to the first Reformation and being founded on the Word. It does not take a genius to know that the Church world is in a big mess and desperately in need of a reformation back to the Word of God. Heresies flourish as the level of theological illiteracy reaches new lows. Today's churches and Christians are as theologically illiterate and spiritually bankrupt as the Church during the Medieval [Dark] Ages before the Reformation. As McMahon states with regards to the "evangelical" best-seller list of books (which includes Rick Warren, Max Lucado, Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer AND Benny Hinn), 'with "top sellers" like these books written by theological morons and false teachers, one does not have to wonder too long why the American church [and other churches too] are dying!' (p. 15). I would add heretics such as Richard Foster, Brian McLaren et al, but I digress.

In order to prepare us the readers for true biblical reformation, McMahon splits the topic into various chapters. First, the notion and manner of Reformation has to be defined according to Scripture. Reformation is only accomplished through the Word of God (p. 32) and is always joined to a solemn resolve to continue to follow God's Word (p. 37), is always a thorough reform (p. 41) and it is not gradual (p. 245-264).

Chapter 2: Careless Living

Following this, we come to the practical impacts such reformation should have on our individual and corporate walks before God. We are told with regards to our living that we ought not to be careless and not listen to "what we want to hear, instead of what we need to hear". (p. 47) and not to trust in our outward religiosity instead of truly trusting in God. Merely going through the forms of religion (whether they be liturgy or prayer or whatever) would not save at all. Neither can we be saved even if we are sincere in our religious practices if they do not conform with the Word of God. As McMahon says,

No one wants to hear that they way they "do" religion is wrong, and people certainly believe that their individual experiences with God should be just that — an individual experience. However, individual experience does not and cannot determine the manner in which sinners should approach Him. Let the record be set straight — God determines the manner in which sinners are to approach Him, and the Bible was given to His people that they might know the truth on the matter. Only the truth will set men free to worship God rightly, and live before Him in integrity. It is not enough for people to simply hear what they want to hear, rather, they must conform to what God commands. (p. 48)

In other words, Reformation and true biblical living MUST begin by people willing to live their lives according to God's Word, not people refusing correction by using reasons such as "This is just your interpretation". Unless they can prove that the interpretation given is unbiblical and theirs correct, all Christians are duty-bound to obey the Word of God even as it is given by any ordinary Christian. The Bible has one word to describe the action of those who refuse to correct their doctrine and practice according to the Word of God — rebellion. If any Christian truly wants to live the Christian life, the first thing they must do is be willing to submit themselves to the commands of Scripture, and not to ignore them or pick and choose the parts they wish to obey as if Christianity is a buffet religion. No Christian is allowed to live as he/she pleases according to his/her interpretation of Scripture, at least if he/she desires to follow Christ. When one follows Christ, he/she is now a slave of righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18) and has no liberty to live as he/she pleases. Any Christian who dares to throw such skubalon as "this is just your interpretation of Scripture" has a rebellious attitude against God and His Word, and as such stands in need of repentance for his sin!

Along the same line, serving God out of duty is another form of careless living. We are to love God and serve Him out of our love for Him, not merely because it is our duty to do so (although it IS technically a duty)

McMahon at the end of this chapter on careless living tackles the question as to why today's Reformed Christians are not spiritual giants. Part of the reason of course is that Christians do not take the time to immerse themselves in the Word with the limited time that we have, thus neglecting the Word (p. 69). Even worse is the sad situation altogether common in so-called Reformed churches (who are as reformed as diamonds — perfect but lifeless) which McMahon attacks here. In his own words,

Second, with the neglect comes the sin, because Reformed Christians, who hold the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its purest expression, have this tendency to shout out, "I'm Reformed... so I am okay." Why is it that many people see the Reformed Christians as the frozen chosen? They have knowledge, but they do not seem to have a tendency to share it openly, or be as excited and evangelistic as the Arminian or Socinian or Liberal heretic who doesn't have the truth and yet ‘ holds to a zeal without knowledge. The greatest abuse of the means of grace are by those who know those means best — the Reformed Christian. It cannot be argued that the Gospel is most carelessly believed by those who know it the best. Reformation theology can cause Christians to become like the Jews of old. "I'm a Calvinist," and "I'm Reformed..." That is good, but that does not ensure a Christian's growth in Christ. It will not maintain or advance their growth in Christ. Sanctification is only effectual by the operation of the Holy Spirit upon them while partaking of the means of grace with a whole heart. Reformed Christians, then, arguably more than others, should be told to "Amend your ways and doings..."

Reformed Christians, all Christians, should be demonstrating a theology put into right practice empowered by the Spirit — walking in the Spirit. It is then that all will see true biblical reformation in the mind and hearts as individual Christians, and as a collective unified covenanted community. Mortification of sin and new life in the new man day by day is not won simply by knowledge. It must be knowledge that has been formed into practice and is ignited by the spiritual power of the Spirit of God. (p. 69-70)

As an application of Jer. 7:4, may we be reminded of Jeremiah's rebuke. "Trust ye not in lying words saying ... I am a Calvinist, I am Reformed, I am ______"? Calling yourself any of these terms mean absolutely nothing whatsoever unless your belief is manifested as being true as we put our professed theology into practice!

Reformation of Ministry praxis

In the subsequent 3 chapters, McMahon goes through the topics of reforming the mind, our worship, and our evangelism. Against the anti-intellectualism of our time, Christian Reformation would bring the mind into captivity to Christ and is to be used in service to God instead of being wasted on the things of the world (p. 74). If we are truly born-again, the "Christian mind should be seeking Christ to set his mind on Christ" (p. 79). Anything less is disobedience towards God who calls us to worship Him with all of our mind (Mt. 22:37). Our minds should be constantly seeking and being set on Christ, and to think rightly (p. 80) according to God's TRUTH (p. 82). Instead of focusing on jobs, children, filling up their day with stuff, we should instead be "focusing on Christ's will and desire" for us "to glorify God in all things" (p. 89), otherwise we would be burned out. Christ MUST be the Christian's everything.

Our worship ought also to be reformed according to God's Word. McMahon believes in the Regulative Principle of Worship and so do I, which states that worship must be done according to the dictates of Scripture and that only. In the chapter, McMahon [rightly] attacks the marketing philosophy [seeker-sensitive] philosophy behind the so-called "worship" of the contemporary church, in which the audience is sovereign (p. 107). Instead of worshipping in spirit and truth, worship has become entertainment and the worshipping of emotions. In this, we are to return back to the Scriptures and worship God in spirit and truth.

That said, in this I have slight disagreement with McMahon who does not seem to regard cultural settings as in any way influencing the manner of worship (p. 100), contrasting the two extremities of the entertainment idolatry in Charismania with the exclusive Psalmody position (p. 105) as though these were the only two positions available. I wouldn't be talking about the issue here, except to say that I disagree with Exclusive Psalmody^[1] but I agree with McMahon against the idolatry of entertainment which passes off as worship, which is not according to the spirit^[2] and have little if any truth in it.

The last aspect of ministry praxis touched by McMahon is that of Evangelism. Evangelism is to be done according to Scripture, not according to the business mogul mentality even if it uses "christianese" (language that reflects biblical phrases and terminology), of which McMahon uses Rick Warren's book The Purpose Driven Church as one such example (p. 121). The outright marketing of the "Christian message", which is also distorted by the contemporary church, is an "abomination in the eyes of God, and an affront to Christ's biblical method of evangelism" (p. 121). Instead of marketing the Gospel, or at least trying to, Christ has ordained that the means by which he will bring in and gather His people is the Word and the sacraments; the true preaching of [God's] Word and the right administration of the sacraments (p. 122). The Church ought to stop all their foolishness if they truly want to obey Christ, and stop thinking that God will bless their work of using man-made methods to try to 'win people to Christ'.

Reformation of Interpersonal relationships

In this book, McMahon uses chapters 6-9 to take on the relationships within the family — of reforming the family and thus of the duties of husbands and wives, and of parents and children. Nothing much will be added here except to say that the reviewer is in full agreement here. [Husbands, love your wives as your own bodies. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord etc.]

Reformation of workplace

After reforming the family, Chapter 10 brings us outward to the relationships between employees and employers; the situation of the workplace. Employees are to serve their employers well as to the Lord (cf Col. 3:23-24), while employers are to treat their employees fairly as taught in Eph. 6:5-9. As opposed to the anti-biblical "marketplace transformation" advanced by heretics such as Ed Silvoso, the biblical model is to be lights shining in the workplace for Christ and not to claim authority over it based upon the heresy of Institutional Redemption.

Redeeming the time & Guarding the heart

Here we come full circle back to our attitudes towards God. With all the issues we must reform, we must constantly look at our heart attitude in that we desire to be transformed by God's truth (Rom. 12:2). We must persevere in this race, and in doing so we must guard our hearts. For

If we desire true biblical Reformation in our home, work, church and society, then guarding our heart and keeping our hearts in the orthodoxy of the Word of God is of prime importance. People say doctrine is not important. Or sometimes, "too much doctrine is too much." This is the heckling of a fallen heart at the Word of God. Becoming like Christ is only accomplished through the Word and we can never be enough in the Word or know the Word enough. If you corrupt the Word, or the proper use of the Word, then you corrupt the only means by which the Spirit sanctifies the soul. That is why Josiah tore his clothes after reading the book of the Law. He knew what they had lacked and how apostate they had become. (p. 243. Bold added)

Conclusion

In conclusion, this book by C. Matthew McMahon is an excellent book especially in preparing us Christians to move towards Reformation, if we but truly obey the Word of God in all these aspects. May it be used to further the cause of Christ and His Kingdom. Amen.

References

[1] For a brief refutation of Exclusive Psalmody, see this article by W. Gary Crampton here (http://www.trinityfoundation.org/journal.php?id=63).

[2] For an informative book evaluating music used in worship as well as other aspects such as the sartorial aspect of the leaders, see John Makujina, Measuring the Music: Another Look at the Contemporary Christian Music Debate (Old Paths Publications: PA, USA, 2002)