You’ve probably heard the term “reformed” used in Christian circles. Maybe someone mentioned they attend a Reformed church, or you’ve seen books about Reformed theology. But what does reformed actually mean?
The word gets thrown around in different ways, and that can create confusion. Some use it narrowly to describe a specific set of beliefs about predestination. Others use it broadly to describe any church that came out of the Protestant Reformation. Understanding what “reformed” means requires looking at history, theology, and practice.
The Historical Roots
The term “reformed” traces back to the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, when church leaders like Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Knox challenged the Roman Catholic Church’s teachings and practices.
Why “Reformed”?
These reformers didn’t want to create new churches. They wanted to reform the existing church by returning to biblical teaching. The Roman Catholic Church had drifted from Scripture in several significant ways:
Corruption and Abuse: Church leaders used their positions for personal gain. Clergy positions were bought and sold. The church accumulated massive wealth while many believers lived in poverty.
Selling Salvation: The church sold indulgences, essentially charging people money with the promise that their sins or their deceased relatives’ sins would be forgiven. One salesman famously proclaimed, “The minute your money drops in the box, the soul of your relative jumps out of purgatory into heaven.”
Adding to Scripture: Church tradition was elevated to the same level as the Bible. Leaders claimed authority to add teachings not found in Scripture.
Limiting Access: The Bible was kept in Latin, which most people couldn’t read. Church services were conducted in Latin. Common believers had no direct access to God’s Word.
The reformers saw these practices as departures from biblical Christianity. They wanted to re-form the church according to Scripture, not create something new. When the Roman Catholic Church refused to change and began persecuting reformers, these leaders had no choice but to establish separate churches.
The Protestant Split
The Protestant movement initially divided into two main branches: Lutheran and Reformed. Both affirmed core Reformation principles, but they disagreed on significant points, particularly regarding communion.
Lutheranism: Followed Martin Luther’s teachings, primarily in Germany and Scandinavia. Lutherans believed Christ’s body and blood were physically present in the bread and wine during communion.
Reformed Christianity: Followed the teachings of John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and other Swiss and French reformers. Reformed believers rejected the physical presence of Christ in communion, viewing it as a spiritual reality rather than a physical one.
This distinction might seem minor, but theological differences about how Christ is present with His people had major implications for worship, church structure, and understanding the sacraments.
Core Reformed Beliefs
Reformed theology centers on several foundational convictions summarized in the “Five Solas,” five statements using the Latin word for “alone.”
The Five Solas
Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone: The Bible is the final authority for Christian faith and practice. Tradition and church leaders have value, but Scripture alone stands as the ultimate judge of truth.
Sola Fide – Faith Alone: Salvation comes through faith in Christ, not through good works, rituals, or religious performance. Faith is the sole instrument by which we receive God’s grace.
Sola Gratia – Grace Alone: Salvation is entirely God’s work, not something humans can earn or achieve. From start to finish, salvation is by God’s grace, not human merit.
Solus Christus – Christ Alone: Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and humanity. No saints, priests, or other intermediaries are necessary. We have direct access to God through Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria – Glory to God Alone: Everything exists for God’s glory, not human glory. The purpose of life, salvation, and the church is to glorify God.
These five solas capture the heart of what it means to be Reformed, though there’s more to Reformed theology than these statements alone.
The Five Points of Calvinism
Many people associate Reformed theology with the “five points of Calvinism,” often remembered by the acronym TULIP. These points came from the Synod of Dort in 1618-1619, where Reformed theologians responded to challenges to their teaching on salvation.
Total Depravity: Sin has affected every part of human nature. People are incapable of saving themselves or even choosing God without His intervention.
Unconditional Election: God chooses to save people based on His sovereign will, not because of anything good in them or any choice they make.
Limited Atonement: Christ’s death actually accomplished salvation for those God chose to save. His death had infinite value but was specifically applied to secure salvation for the elect.
Irresistible Grace: When God calls someone to salvation, His grace overcomes their resistance. God’s grace will not fail to accomplish its purpose.
Perseverance of the Saints: Those truly saved by God will continue in faith until the end. God protects His people from falling away permanently.
These five points represent important Reformed distinctives, but they don’t capture everything about Reformed theology. Focusing only on TULIP misses significant aspects of what it means to be Reformed.
Covenant Theology
A central feature of Reformed theology is covenant theology, the understanding that God works through covenants throughout history. Reformed believers see the Bible as fundamentally a book about God’s covenants with His people.
God made covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and ultimately through Jesus Christ. These covenants aren’t random or disconnected but part of God’s unified plan of redemption. Understanding Scripture through this covenantal framework helps show how the Old and New Testaments fit together.
Covenant theology shapes how Reformed Christians understand baptism, communion, church membership, and Christian living. It provides a framework for seeing God’s consistent character and purposes throughout all of Scripture.
God’s Sovereignty
Reformed theology strongly emphasizes God’s sovereignty over all things. This doesn’t mean God forces people to sin or removes human responsibility. Rather, it means nothing happens outside God’s control and purpose.
Reformed Christians believe God ordains everything that comes to pass, including human choices and actions, while people remain genuinely responsible for their decisions. How divine sovereignty and human responsibility work together remains mysterious, but Reformed theology affirms both truths.
This emphasis on sovereignty gives Reformed believers confidence that God works all things for His purposes and for the good of those who love Him. Even suffering and difficulty fall under God’s sovereign hand and serve His wise plans.
Worship and Church Life
Reformed churches traditionally emphasize simplicity in worship. Rather than elaborate ceremonies, rituals, or ornate buildings, Reformed worship focuses on preaching Scripture, prayer, singing psalms and hymns, and observing the sacraments.
This approach comes from the conviction that worship should be regulated by Scripture. Reformed Christians generally believe we should worship as God commands in His Word, not according to human invention or tradition.
Church Government
Reformed churches use different forms of governance:
Presbyterian: Leadership by elected elders who oversee the congregation and connect with other churches through regional assemblies.
Congregational: Individual churches govern themselves independently, with members making major decisions together.
Episcopal: Leadership by bishops who oversee multiple churches in a region.
While Reformed churches use different structures, they share the conviction that church leadership should be accountable, biblically qualified, and focused on teaching and protecting sound doctrine.
Confessional Christianity
Reformed churches are confessional, meaning they publicly declare what they believe through written confessions of faith. Major Reformed confessions include:
The Heidelberg Catechism: A warm, pastoral explanation of Christian doctrine organized around guilt, grace, and gratitude.
The Belgic Confession: A comprehensive statement of Reformed beliefs written in response to persecution.
The Westminster Confession of Faith: A detailed theological statement covering all major areas of Christian doctrine.
The Canons of Dort: The five-point response to challenges about God’s sovereignty in salvation.
These confessions aren’t equal to Scripture, but they help churches maintain sound teaching across generations and provide clarity about what Reformed Christians believe.
Who Is Reformed Today?
Several denominations and traditions identify as Reformed:
Presbyterian Churches: Various Presbyterian denominations worldwide trace their roots to John Knox and the Scottish Reformation.
Reformed Churches: Churches with “Reformed” in their name, such as the Christian Reformed Church and Reformed Church in America.
Congregational Churches: Some congregational churches maintain Reformed theology while practicing congregational governance.
Reformed Baptists: Baptists who hold to Reformed theology while maintaining believer’s baptism rather than infant baptism.
Some Anglican Churches: Portions of the Anglican communion hold to Reformed theology while maintaining episcopal church structure.
Beyond these formal denominations, many Christians in various churches hold to Reformed theology even if their churches don’t use the label.
Common Misconceptions
“Reformed means you believe in predestination”: While predestination is an important Reformed doctrine, Reformed theology encompasses much more than this single belief.
“Reformed Christians think they’re the only real Christians”: Reformed believers recognize Christians in many traditions. Being Reformed is about particular emphases within the broader Christian faith.
“Reformed theology is cold and intellectual”: While Reformed theology values careful thinking, it equally emphasizes warm-hearted devotion to God and practical Christian living.
“Reformed means Presbyterian”: Many Reformed Christians aren’t Presbyterian. Reformed theology can exist within various church structures.
Why Reformed Theology Matters
Understanding Reformed theology matters because it represents a significant strand of Christian thought with deep biblical and historical roots. Whether or not you identify as Reformed, knowing what Reformed Christians believe helps you understand church history, theological debates, and different Christian traditions.
Reformed theology has produced some of Christianity’s greatest hymns, theological works, and missionaries. It has shaped entire nations and continues to influence millions of believers worldwide. Even if you don’t agree with all Reformed distinctives, understanding this tradition enriches your grasp of Christian theology and church history.
Is Reformed Theology Biblical?
Reformed Christians believe their theology faithfully represents biblical teaching. They point to Scripture’s emphasis on God’s sovereignty, grace as the sole basis for salvation, and Christ as the only mediator between God and humanity.
Other Christians disagree with aspects of Reformed theology while remaining thoroughly biblical in their own understanding. Faithful believers hold different views on predestination, baptism, and church governance while all submitting to Scripture’s authority.
The question isn’t whether Reformed theology is one biblical option among many valid interpretations, but whether it accurately captures what Scripture teaches. Reformed Christians believe it does. Others conclude differently. These theological debates have continued for centuries and likely will continue until Christ returns.
Moving Forward
Whether you’re exploring Reformed theology for the first time or deepening your understanding, approach these doctrines with humility. Reformed theology at its best produces Christians marked by deep reverence for God, confidence in His grace, and commitment to living for His glory.
Reformed Christianity isn’t about feeling superior to other believers or winning theological arguments. It’s about understanding God’s character, treasuring His grace, and living in light of His sovereignty over all things.
If you’re interested in learning more, read Reformed confessions like the Heidelberg Catechism or Westminster Shorter Catechism. Find churches that faithfully teach Reformed doctrine. Read books by Reformed theologians. Most importantly, study Scripture itself to see whether these things are true.
“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” – Romans 11:36