American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 87
Last Sunday the American Reformation Church covered the three main dilemmas that arose during the Historic Reformation. First, what is the hierarchy and order of God’s authority in the earth when it comes to the Bible, the Church and Tradition. All three exist, but what is the divine order? What is the Biblical truth about Christ, the Scripture, and the Gospel?
What is fallible and infallible when it comes to the Church and the Bible?
The Reformation sorted through traditions. What are the traditions of God that we need to still honor and obey and what are the traditions of men that need to be discarded as Jesus warned the religious leaders of His day. They made void the Word of God by their traditions (Mark 7:13).
The Reformers were very much concerned of the church’s treatment of the Bible and the people entrusted to the care of the church. They exposed the corruption, denounced the exploitation of the poor, rejected the selling of indulgences, and believed the Bible and not the pope was the ultimate authority in the earth. They also saw the need for the Bible to be written in the mother tongue to fulfill Tyndale’s ultimate purpose, so the plow boy would know the Scriptures better than the religious elite.
The Bible has much to say about corruption and dissipation. The Apostle Peter admonished Christian converts, “In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:4).
The word dissipation in the biblical context refers to the act of squandering resources, whether they be time, energy, or material possessions. It often denotes a lack of self-control and an indulgence in excess, leading to eventual ruin. The Greek term for dissipation, "asotia," is often used in the New Testament, indicating a state of moral decay and recklessness.
In ancient times, particularly within Jewish and early Christian communities, the idea of stewardship was paramount. Resources—be they financial, spiritual, or personal—were seen as gifts from God, meant to be used wisely and responsibly. The context of the Bible emphasizes the importance of moderation, discipline, and the wise allocation of one’s time and resources. Dissipation, therefore, stands in stark contrast to these values, illustrating a life lived without restraint and no filters.
The Reformers of the church saw the dissipation of the church and prayed and stood against its descent into moral decay and theological recklessness that endangered eternal souls. We must do the same today when it comes to our own souls, families, the church, our nation, and the world.
Luke 15:11–24 reveals the Prodigal Son’s prayer of return. “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” This was a profound example of a prayer of repentance from a life of dissipation and waste.
Ephesians 5:15–18 are good passages for prayerful wise living, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”
Psalm 119:37 provides a prayerful focus on purity. “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” This is a short, direct prayer for freedom from vanity, distraction, and wasteful debauched living.
