When we celebrate the Reformation, we would be wise to take the bad with the good. Or at least we ought to be on our guard. We rejoice in the recovery of sola Scriptura. We rejoice as well in the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. But we ought to be able to see the danger rearing its ugly head. When we put the two together, as we should, we tiptoe close to what my friend Keith Mathison calls “solo Scriptura.” Here a body believes that they alone, with the Bible in their hands, are the ultimate authority. “What need have I,” the solo Scripturist affirms, “of the church, or of the gifts to the church, like teachers? Me and my Bible can go it alone.” The danger is real, and we are to this day reaping the whirlwind of every wind of doctrine.
The Scripture is, of course, our only final authority. And we are all a part of the royal priesthood. The fruit of this, however, ought not to be an army of little popes, but a family working together. Some are called to serve as pastors/shepherds/elders. Some are called to serve as butchers, bakers and candlestick makers. It is all too common, and a sad holdout of Rome that we think the former are engaged in spiritual matters while the latter are working for themselves. No one, however, when they have no water, forgets that the plumber is a servant and a blessing. It has been said that there is no such thing as Christian plumbing. Perhaps not. There is, however, plumbing like a Christian. There are plumbers who exercise dominion to the glory of Jesus.
We are all about the business of Reformation. The priesthood of all believers doesn’t make ministers out of cobblers. Instead it affirms the ministry of cobblers. We all have work to do, and all our work, if it is honest work, is kingdom building work. The Bible commends diligence, honesty, integrity not because there are natural graces but because they are the work of the Spirit of the living God.
The Reformation reminded us of our calling. And so we are called to remember the Reformation, and give thanks to the One who gave it to us. We, all of us, labor in the Lord’s vineyard, because every square inch of the created order is His vineyard. Every day. Every labor. Every place. Every believer. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and work hard in it.