I do wonder how prevalant the prosperity gospel is these days. Maybe as our economic condition worsens, more people will flock. But frankly, I think it had its peak some time ago.

More so today is the 'me-worship', finding churches, listening to sermons, reading books that are what I want...rather than what God wants.

that's what needs reforming
David, http://www.redletterbelievers.com
Red Letter Believers, "Salt and Light"

Re: "New Reformation" - A Christian since the mid '70's, I've heard many a "serious call" for a new reformation. So much so that it has become tiresome - and cliche - to hear it once again. What's wrong with just plain old repentance and a return to the Lord in the manner of Hos. 6:1-3 "1Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."

I feel uneasy with the expression 'New Reformation' as it it's used today. I have no objection to change in the church but I don't think that many of the users of the term realize how radical the reformation really was. In addition to this the reformation was out to reform one church (Roman Catholic) while the present day call is to reform over a hundred denominations and well over a thousand independent churches.

I think we all need to "reflect deeply on their lack of humility, integrity and simplicity", and on our failure to follow Christ daily.

I love Mr. Wright's question:"What is the greatest obstacle to God's mission in the world?"
I also think that his short statement that "Our idolatry is the single biggest obstacle to world mission." is powerful. Idolatry can be many things, but ultimately it's putting ourselves before God. This could even be in our overzealous service in God's name for the sake of evangelism.
As you (Tim) succinctly summed up Saturday as a day of repentance and prayer, I think that this combination of spiritual disciplines is missing and not instilled in many Christians today, including myself.

Therefore it follows that, "We are a scandal, a stumbling block to the mission of God. Reformation is the desperate need of our day, and it must start with us." However, we don't need to change the world. God will do this, and is already doing so. Likewise, God is transforming our individual lives, as long as we humbly go to him in repentance and prayer. I confess that for me, to do this daily is hard. But I must try with all my heart, mind, body and soul for God. Maybe instead of "reformation", the word could "refocus" or "reorient" could be used as buzz words for the 21st century (and beyond) Church of Christ.

I agree, we need a new reformation. Although we have the Bible these days and Believers today have so many possibilities to grow spiritually, most Christians have not been released to go "do the stuff". On the contrary, we have trained them to just "come to church" and be good listeners and pay tides.

It is time the church is getting reformed and every believer is encouraged to rise up and go and disciple the nations. It is not so easy if you try to release the people in church. First of all they are not used to that and the leaders might loose an income. A tricky situation.

Fact is that there is too much work out there and the structure of the visible church of today looks quite a bit similar to when a reformation was needed in old times... I work with lots of churches in countries that have no religious freedom and are often under persecution. Seems no question there that reformation is needed on a daily basis and the only thing that is not changing is the Lord himself.

We can call it reformation, change, reorientation or refocussing... What ever we call it, but I think Wright is right when he says... "Reformation is the desperate need of our day, and it must start with us. If we want to change the world, we must first change our world."

The first Reformation was an anarchic rebellion against God's law, the fruit of which is 30,000 Protestant denominations today, promoting a cornucopia of different theologies. What is needed is a radical Con-formation- a movement to "conform" to God's will and the spiritual authorities He placed over the Churc He founded. In other words, what is needed is for the lost sheep of Protestantism to come back to the Catholic Church and be part of Christ's community again.

The beautiful peace and joy found in a believer is the work of Christ working in us daily, as we grow spiriitually mature we see what He is putting on the body of Christ's heart in the gifts that He has profided in love, loving each other and Him as we walk herein with Life, eternally. There is His spirit moving in many for the stirring up of a 'new reformation' revealed in this wittnessing of it growing among believers, even with-out knowledge of others' knowledge of Him doing so! It is not of man, or religion, it is of God Himself.

His Grace is sufficiant for us; and we over the last 2000 years as the body of Christ, growing from a "BABE" with-out the relationship as Adam and Eve had at birth; have been given our own time of Grace, free will has a nature to grow mature, reformed by God working in us. He is the judge, He has perfect will to do with us as He will, when we are born, when we knew Him before we were born, and why we don't remember us, before we were born. IT IS OUR CHOICE.

Like infants, the body of Christ ..as one and growing, has had its dissabilities. Such as His work when the WORD became flesh as He put away the old covenant, fought with the Jewish systems, and watched thw apostles try to overcome the LAW! The true reformation, Christ's Revelation of Himself, for the New Covenant to be set free in those of faith! He forgave everyone; But the unpardonable sin; to never come to Him as He predestined to everyone to hear His Kingdom in us, for He did conquer, over the world, the old testament, tears of being cut-off from Him; bringing eternal Life to us all. He reigns! He put away His and our adversaries, the myths of the scribes and Pharasies! But like a babe in their terrible twos, we've reached only now OUR TWENTIES. WE CAN'T MIX LAW AND GRACE! And the END OF THE WORLD, THE SECOND COMING, CAME IN 70.A.D.! SO TO ADD TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION, TAKES AWAY OF THE TRUTH THAT CHRIST'S PROPHECY revealed Himself, and said if you do add, take away from Him, it, then the calamities the plagues, and being taken out of the book of life, you will be cut off! We have been living with these natural side effects for 2000 years! It hasn't come as the End of Time! It comes as a warning that has never been fully seen or heard, or, willingly egnorant, they have been teacing a false prophesy! The myth has been handed up! Still, even today! The "New Reformation" is getting back to Christs original intent! His original intent isn't a fatalistic doctrine! It never has been! That is Man's doctrines!!! The futuristic-fundamentalism, is a lie; attached to Christ's prophesy, like the Islamists have attached their evil to the Jewish lie, the Catholic lie, all myths! That is why the Protestant's reformation is old, done, and why the Protestants of today are going to have to becom a WHOLE LOT MORE HUMBLED, to survive! To be patted on the back, by Christ, saying, well done! AMEN!

May our Lord bless us to save our culture, our freedoms, even the world! Until then, now, for-ever after, our faith conquers the world! GOD SPEED YOU DEAR FRIENDS... THE NEW REFORMATION" IS ON!