Semper Reformanda Taught by the Pilgrim Pastor

Many Reformed churches today hold dearly to the principle of Semper Reformanda, or Always Reforming. This principle teaches that Christians are always to be comparing their beliefs and practices with the scriptures, and reforming those they find to be unbiblical – never stopping because they have “arrived,” but always moving more towards scripture. Some have argued that this term is modern, and does not reflect the views of the Protestant Reformers.

Whatever the origin of the term may be, the idea of Semper Reformanda is quite old. You will find this theology in this quote by John Robinson, pastor of the Mayflower Pilgrims, on the occasion of the Pilgrims’ departure from Holland. (I have edited this account for ease of reading)

I miserably to bewail the state and condition of the reformed churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will go no further than the instruments of their reformation. As, for example, the Lutherans, they could not be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; for whatever part of God’s will he had further imparted and revealed to Calvin, they will rather die than embrace it. And so also you see the Calvinists, they stick where he left them; a misery much to be lamented; for though they were precious shining lights in their times, yet God had not revealed his whole will to them; and were they now living, they would be as ready and willing to embrace further light, as that they had received. Remember our church covenant, whereby we promise and covenant with God and one with another, to receive whatsoever light or truth shall be made known to us from his written Word; but take heed what we received for truth, and well examine and compare it and weigh it with other scriptures of truth before you receive it. For it is not possible the Christian world should come so lately out of such thick antichristian darkness, and that full perfection of knowledge should break forth at once.

Edward Winslow, Hypocrisie Unmasked: A True Relation of the Proceedings of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Against Samuel Gorton of Rhode Island (Providence, RI: The Club for Colonial Reprints, 1916) Originally published in 1646. p. 97-98.