What It Means to be Reformed

The Reformation, whether led by Luther or Calvin, was a full-fledged liturgical reformation. You didn’t just come to Geneva in the 1500’s to learn doctrine; you came to learn how to worship God. You came to be formed into a worshipping community. You were trained to sing. To sing your faith. To sing the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. To sing the Te Deum. To sing your prayers. To sing the Lord’s Prayer. Especially, to sing the inspired hymnbook of the Church, the Psalter. You were trained in a new manner of living fitting for the Gospel. You were trained to be incorporated into a Christian army of Psalm-singing worshipers. You came to Geneva or Wittenberg or Strasburg in the mid-sixteenth century and you experienced what Paul meant in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell among you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” This is what it means to be a Reformation Christian. You are a singing Christian, a participant in a congregation of singing, justified believers.

Jeff Meyers, The Lord’s Service