Rediscovering the Roots of Presbyterianism — A Question for Today’s Reformed Faith
When we think of Reformed theology and orthodox faith, the denomination that most readily comes to mind is undoubtedly Presbyterianism. Among the many branches within Evangelicalism, it is the Presbyterian tradition that has most faithfully upheld the authority of Scripture, the sovereignty of God, and the legacy of Reformed theology.
And yet, the reality today is different. The roots of orthodoxy and Reformed conviction have weakened, and the purity of faith has grown dim. Before this sobering reality, we cannot help but ask: “How firmly are we holding to the spirit of the Reformation?”
Returning to the Highlands — The Reformation in Scotland
To answer that question, we must turn our eyes to the Reformation in Scotland. Scotland stands as the land where Presbyterianism took its deepest roots, and where Calvin’s theology was most thoroughly embodied in the structure of the church.
Even so, few Korean works explore the Scottish Reformation in depth. Even during my seminary years at Chong-shin University, it was rare to encounter lectures or studies that examined Scotland’s Reformed history beyond brief mentions in church history or Puritan theology courses. That is why the book The Reformation in Scotland feels like a hidden gem — a rare and invaluable work that offers both historical and theological insight into the Reformers of Scotland and their arduous journey.
Guarding the Purity of the Gospel — The Fruit of Westminster
This book reveals both the historical context and theological depth of the Scottish Reformation. It traces how the movement, influenced by the English Reformation, developed its own distinct identity and highlights the key figures who stood at its center.
Through its pages, one discovers that the great names—Luther and Calvin—were not alone. Countless lesser-known Reformers stood with them, enduring hardship and persecution to preserve the truth. Most importantly, it reminds us that the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Shorter and Larger Catechisms, the Directory for Public Worship, and the Form of Presbyterian Church Government—the very standards that define our faith—are the fruits of the Scottish Reformation.
These documents are not mere theological agreements; they are the products of blood, tears, and conviction—born from the struggle to guard the purity of the gospel.
The Covenanters — A History Written in Blood
The book also gives voice to the stories of the martyrs of the Scottish Reformation. These were not missionaries in pagan lands but believers who, in the very heart of so-called “Christian Europe,” stood against the corruption and compromise of the institutional church.
They did not fight secular persecution alone but resisted the decay within the Church itself—where truth was bartered for comfort, and doctrine for influence. The freedom of faith we now enjoy stands upon their blood. To remember this is to awaken to the weight of what it means to believe rightly.
A Forgotten Lineage — The Church That Lost Its Struggle
We often remember Luther and Calvin, yet forget the others—the Reformers who, amid suffering, labored to keep the gospel pure. Even Luther and Calvin themselves lived under the shadow of death for their faithfulness.
When we forget that our worship, our Scriptures, and our confessions were fought for, not granted, we easily drift into a comfortable evangelicalism detached from conviction. Our faith becomes casual, our theology light, our reverence thin. We must remember that everything we now call “orthodox” was preserved through struggle and sacrifice.
More Than History — A Call to Spiritual Awakening
The Reformation in Scotland does not merely inform; it awakens. The author does not command, “You must live like this.” Rather, he simply unveils the testimony of those who wrote faith with their lives, allowing readers to reflect: “Where do I stand in my faith?”
As I read, I found myself repenting of how easily small compromises in ministry and life can erode the purity of the gospel. Even the smallest matters, before God’s Word, are never trivial. To return to the Word is not merely to remember—it is to begin reform anew.
The Spirit of Reformation — A Calling for Today
As Reformation Day approaches on October 31, we are called to look again at our roots. Presbyterianism is not merely a denominational name; it is a confession built on the faith of those who risked their lives for the purity of the gospel.
The Reformation in Scotland is a mirror that helps us rediscover those roots. Even readers without formal theological training can feel the pulse of Scotland’s Reformed spirit through its pages. It helps us see what the church and believers of our time must recover.
The Reformation is not a story of the past — it is the calling of today. To keep that calling alive, we must return once again to the hills of Scotland, and to the Word of God itself.
Ecclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda est - The Reformed Church must always be reforming.
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