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The 450th Anniversary of the Reformation in Scotland
2010 marks the 450th Anniversary of The Reformation in Scotland. On 17th
August 1560 the Reformation Parliament approved the Scots Confession (of Christian Faith) and on 24th August Roman
Catholicism was legally repudiated. This was a reformation and revival of Christianity. The Confession began with the words,
“The Estates of Scotland, with the inhabitants of the same, professing Christ
Jesus' holy evangel: to their natural countrymen, and unto all other realms and nations, professing the same Lord Jesus
with them, wish grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Far from being triumphalistic or imperialist the Scots Confession invited reasoned discourse, “…if any man will note in this our confession any article or sentence repugning to God's holy word,
that it would please him of his gentleness, and for Christian charity's sake, to admonish us of the same in writing; and
we, of our honour and fidelity, do promise unto him satisfaction from the mouth of God (that is, from his holy scriptures),
or else reformation of that which he shall prove to be amiss”.
The Scottish Reformation was egalitarian in character and it has influenced the Scots outlook on life ever since.
Its protesting nature also gave great confidence to Scots in a myriad of enterprises. From a population of about 800,000 in
1600, around 1,600,000 in 1800 and nearly 4,500,000 in the early years of the 20th century, Scotland’s influence
has been disproportionately successful over the Protestant centuries. The Reformation gave access to the central tenets of
Christianity for everyone. This humane dynamic spread out across the globe and continues to do so. Spiritual liberation leads
to other forms of liberation.
John Napier
(logarithms), James Hutton (geology), James Watt (steam), James Young (chemistry), James Simpson (chloroform), Alexander Graham
Bell (telephone), James Clerk Maxwell (physics), Charles Wilson (cloud chamber), Alexander Fleming (penicillin), John Logie
Baird (television) and James Black (beta blockers) are just a few of the scientific luminaries that Scotland’s Reform
Christian culture has produced. Similar lists of other exceptional achievers can be made exemplifying an inspiring and successful
context for reflection on the human condition and practical application towards the bettering of life. Thomas Reid and David
Hume (philosophy), James Boswell (authorship), Henry Raeburn (art), Robert Burns (poetry and song), Walter Scott (historical
novels), Thomas Carlyle (history), David Livingstone (Christian mission and exploration in Africa), Mary Slessor (Christian
mission and humanity in Africa), Elsie Inglis (medicine and female suffrage), Charles Rennie McIntosh (architecture and arts),
Eric Liddell (Olympic athletics), Jim Clark (motor racing), Gordon Brown and Alex Salmond (politics) represent a very few
of many whose talents flowered from the creative base of Reform Christianity in Scotland. The Church of Scotland itself has
produced many great Christian leaders, including Alexander Henderson (Organiser of the National Covenant 1638), John Witherspoon
(Signatory to the American Declaration of Independence 1776), Henry Duncan (Founder of the Trustee Savings Bank 1810), Thomas
Chalmers (Evangelical leader of the Free Church of Scotland 1843), William Smith (Founder of the Boys Brigade 1883), George
MacLeod (Founder of the modern Iona Community 1938) and Thomas Torrance (academic pioneer in the interaction of Theology
and Science 1969 ).
The Scottish Government
has singularly failed to give sufficient recognition and credit to this definitive event in Scottish history and its subsequent
identity, culture and achievements. Little doubt that this is to ingratiate itself with the Roman Catholic vote. The Church
of Scotland’s liberal establishment is keeping a low profile on the pretext of not causing offence and indeed has invited
leading Roman Catholics to share anniversary events. That may be commended but no positive message about The Reformation is
being publicly articulated. 19th and 20th century Irish migration to Scotland resulted in a ‘cuckoo in the nest’ ethos as it brought Roman Catholic
imperialist theology, ecclesiology and sacramentalism to a nation and people who had chosen to be Christian and Reformed centuries
before. In recent years Roman Catholic media promotion has manipulated common perception so that it attributes bigotry to
the very nature of Scottish Reformed Christian history and contemporary society. Scottish historian and Roman Catholic Tom
Devine has encouraged this peculiar view as editor of Scotland’s Shame published in 2000 and former Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell perhaps influenced by his Roman Catholic born
wife Bridget politicised it with his contrived Summit on Sectarianism held on 14 February 2005. Cardinal Keith O’Brien
is Scotland’s leading Roman Catholic. His recent public complaining about the Act of Settlement of 1701 which ensures
Protestant accession to the British throne does not equally recognise the right and free choice of England and Scotland to
have chosen to be Protestant Christian nations in the same way that some European countries have presented themselves as Roman
Catholic nations. Worldwide Protestant Christianity is a legitimate and successful expression of Christianity. In existing
it is not itself an expression of bigotry.
Roman Catholic leaders have struggled to deal with the scandal of the abuse of children in Roman Catholic homes,
orphanages, schools and churches. Cardinal O’Brien has talked about
‘the humiliation of the Church’.
This should more accurately be described as ‘the humiliation of spiritual pride’. The Church of Jesus Christ is much more than the injured pride of some Roman Catholics. The identification
is misleading. For decades Roman Catholic leaders in Scotland have spoken on issues without any reference to the Church of
Scotland or other Christians - as if we and our history simply did not exist. Pope Benedict XVI is to visit Scotland on 11th
September 2010. On July 11th 2007, the Vatican published a document with his authority which described
Protestant and Orthodox faiths as “not proper Churches”. This indefensible negation of Christian
people continues with exclusion from shared Holy Communion and manifests itself in separate Roman Catholic schools. Indeed,
where joint school campuses were being planned in North Lanarkshire in 2003 and 2004, Roman Catholics demanded separate toilets.
Some Roman Catholics think that the child abuse scandal is the largest issue to face the Roman Catholic Church since The Reformation
and others speak about “the wounded sinning Church”. May
it be that the dogmas of “the perfect Church, “the
one true Church” and “Papal infallibility”
will be mitigated. Welcome, brothers and sisters in Christ to humanity. For these claims were never actually true. Spiritual
liberation can be found in this new, more penitent, more realistic circumstance.
Reform Christianity does have an inherited flaw. It leads logically to secularism
by valuing and multiplying each and every opinion. This was called ‘The
Democratic Intellect’ by George Elder Davie in his 1961 publication. The Enlightenment was
the grand-child of The Reformation. Today’s atheist influenced
secularised society is its great-grand-child. That is why evangelical revivals have taken place in Britain throughout the
last 450 years. Reform Christianity always requires to be re-invested with its core message and purpose. Going forward in time, what does Reform Christianity have to offer the people of Scotland
and beyond? Its large message is that the universe is personal. This is worth thinking about as we reflect on its wonders.
Existential consciousness can apprehend and relate to personal spiritual intimations. In Christianity these are rational and
consistent. Life at its invisible level such as the mind, the soul, consciousness, feeling and knowing is more important to
us than life at the visible material level. There is a moral and spiritual framework underpinning our human existence. Truth
outs. Justice even if often delayed does arrive. Humans need an over-arching understanding of purpose and Christianity offers
it. This is not mere consolation or comfort for if it is not actually true then Christianity provides neither. The Reform
tradition balances personal freedom, social identity and collective responsibility. It is the benchmark of personal and political
values.
Reform Christianity is effectively a spiritual freedom
movement. It offers a paradox. Such freedom is not found in being able to do anything we might want, but in following and
serving Jesus Christ. The spiritual progression is outward from introverted and limited conscience towards Christ-like understanding
and neighbourly action. Reform Christianity enjoys continuing global application and is most dynamic in Asia, Africa and South
America. However the Church of Scotland’s liberal establishment has become identified with the Scottish political consensus.
In recent decades it has failed to stand up for its historic Christian Faith and heritage and has caved in to political correctness
and the dominance of secular politics and law. The Church of Scotland has drifted away from catholic Christianity
in a way that would have met the disapproval of those who founded it 450 years ago. Institutional churches may atrophy but
Reform Protestant Christianity will continue to contribute to the understanding and welfare of humanity for millennia to come.
Rev Dr Robert Anderson
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