The Evangelical Church in Constant Reform for a Healthy Christian Life
The Evangelical Reformation Sunday, what Does it Symbolize?
This report is also available in Arabic.
Report by Elia Nasrallah
Translation by Mary Yahchouchy
It is an invitation to openness, to adhere to an open mind and accept others regardless of their belief, religion, or sect. It is the Evangelical Reformation, a call to achieve the best of each one of us, live God’s love with others, and change everything that hinders or contradicts this love: “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
The anniversary of the Evangelical Reformation is celebrated by Evangelical churches on the last Sunday of October of every year. This year it falls on Sunday 31. On this day Evangelical churches share a united service to contemplate the rich legacy and self-accountability in terms of fidelity to Christ's message and the original fundamentals of reformation.
To what date does this anniversary go back? What does it symbolize? What are the fundamentals of the Evangelical Reformation? Questions we need to answer to be able to delve deeper into the meanings of this historic Evangelical feast.
The Augustinian monk Martin Luther
The Bible: The Only Reference for Life and Faith
Historically, the German city of Wittenberg witnessed on the evening of October 31, 1517, a historic event that led to a change in the Church and the world. How? It all began on All Saints’ Day when the Augustinian monk Martin Luther hung 95 theses on the door of the city Church. These theses stand for 95 questions and invitations to discussion, as was the custom at the time.
The goal was not to provoke anyone or separate from the Church. However, the political, social, and economic conditions back then helped establish a reformation movement in the Church. Members joined the Church under the name of Protestants, meaning protesters, also known as Evangelists today, making the Bible their only reference for life and faith.
The Reformation Movement: Towards a Healthy Christian Life
The most prominent theses Martin Luther wanted to discuss with Church leaders were those about selling indulgences. A “get out of hell” card that one would buy with money to obtain forgiveness for their sins and the sins of their deceased. The salvation of Man is the focus of the Evangelical Reformation, which interprets salvation to be the authority of the word of God and stresses the need to adhere to the teachings of the Bible for a healthy and righteous Christian life.
The Evangelical Reformation movement is based on four primary principles of the Evangelical faith. What are they? First, the Reformation movement considers Christ to be the only head of the Church, and secondly, it believes that justification before God lies in grace only and in one’s faith in Jesus Christ alone. The third principle stresses that the final authority rests with the word of God, in other words, the Bible in its Old and New Testaments. The fourth principle lies in the priesthood of every believer, which means that every believer, like every priest, has a role in preaching, reading, and studying the word of God.
God’s Word in Preaching and Education
Evangelists were keen to spread the Christian ideology throughout the world. They set out to the world carrying the word of God and were interested in education as a cornerstone in their service because their goal was to motivate people to read the Bible and learn about the love of Christ. They built schools and universities and contributed to the cultural and civilizational renaissance in societies.
In 1823, missionaries came to Lebanon and the region. They established Evangelical churches and schools in Beirut, the North, the South, and Bekaa, in addition to many universities such as the American University of Beirut (AUB), the Lebanese American University (LAU), the Haigazian University in Hamra, Beirut, and the M.E.U. Middle East University, Lebanon.
Evangelical Testimonies and Teachings
On the Evangelical Reformation Sunday in 2019, presidents of Evangelical churches in Lebanon and Syria spoke about the importance of reformation in the renewal and spread of hope in a video posted on the occasion on the "Reformation Sunday in Lebanon" page on Facebook. Thoughts and teachings of great importance to build a better society based on peace and love.
President of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Lebanon and Syria Reverend Joseph Kassab gave in his intervention a definition of true reformation, pointing to the need for a spiritual revival movement based on the Bible in Church. He said: “We must deepen our identity and define ourselves as Evangelical Christians without our identity contradicting with others’. The diversity history has given us should not lead us into despair, for the Spirit will unite us.”
Pastor and ministry leader of the Free Evangelical Association in Lebanon and Syria Reverend Joseph Najem considered: “the Holy Spirit works in Church to renew it as an entity in general, but also as a local Church. The Evangelical Church is considered to be in continuous reformation...”. President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lebanon Reverend Levon Maksoudian, pointed out: “The reform pushes us to take firm steps... and build society on roots and foundations based on the teachings of Jesus Christ."
Leader of the Evangelical Alliance Church in Lebanon and Syria Reverend Edward Awabdeh stressed the role of the Church of Christ in this era, in a time when frustration and despair are widespread, people are looking for real hope, one that does not exist except in the Church of Christ.” He called for the use of social media coverage to “reach as many people as possible... in order to deliver the message of Christ.”
Pastor of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Rabieh, Lebanon, Reverend George Mrad said: “The first reformer was Jesus Christ. When we are filled with the fruits of the Spirit and return to Jesus Christ, we can change society for the better.”
Pastor of the Evangelical Baptist Church in Badaro, Lebanon, Reverend Tony Skaff added: “Christ is the head of the Church, the more the Church is connected to Christ the more it is influential like Christ...The influential Church depends on its different talents. Each one, depending on the talent, achieves and completes the mission effectively.”
Standing Together in Prayer
On the Evangelical Reformation Sunday and with the Evangelical Church, we unite with one heart and one voice to say: “O God, we pray for the Church in the world, and in particular for the Evangelical Churches in Lebanon and the Middle East. We thank you, Lord, for its rich history and effective mission, and for its work to spread the Bible and serve Man in this region. We praise you, Lord, for you have preserved it amid difficulties, since its foundation till this day. You called servants to lead it and qualify it to testify in your name with its diversity. Today, our Father, we ask you to bless your churches and grant them your Holy Spirit, so they may continue to serve, refresh their worship, and remain faithful to you until the end of time” (From the Prayer Service of the Reformation Sunday at the Evangelical Church).
Communication and Public Relations Department
Resource: “Reformation Sunday Lebanon” Facebook page - https://bit.ly/3jMeOSv