Reformation changes “form” (behavior, structure, appearance, and/or organization). Transformation goes beyond “form” to presence (“with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord”). It changes the heart–the inner essence.

500 years ago, the Reformation made some changes in the “form” of how church was led by human leaders, but it didn’t go beyond form and transform church into the Spirit-controlled body of Christ with the living Jesus as the Head, the Senior Pastor (“that Great Shepherd of the sheep”). The Greek word used in the New Testament to describe Spirit-directed gatherings of the body of Christ is “ekklesia” (which was the name of the participatory town meeting in Greek cities). Reformation reshapes church a bit. Transformation makes it Spirit-led ekklesia again.

Let Christian worship follow the presence of the risen Jesus, not a program. Because Jesus speaks directly to each member of His body, He needs no chain of command. Let no person or thing distract a gathering of the body of Christ from His presence and glory.