I have to disagree with your statement that reform is the essence of Christianity. Instead, I affirm that the church must navigate the challenges of staying true to the church's Great Tradition while also seeking reform. When reform is seen as the church's essence, then the church runs the risk of becoming captive to every passing wind of doctrine, some of which has only a very tenuous connection with the catholic and apostolic faith.
A profound and illuminating reflection. My own thinking about freedom wants to emphasise the priority of covenant over autonomy and the individual. Which is to say that as our God is essentially in triune relationship in God-self, so creation is originally and essentially in covenantal relationship with the creator, and so in turn our relationships with one another and with all of creation are essentially, originally covenantal. We are not autonomous individuals called to enter into loving relationship with 'the other'. We are already, originally, and always in relationship. 'We' is in every sense prior to 'I'. Our redeemer has set us free to hear and enact his call to 'love one another', even our 'enemies', by becoming what, as God's creatures, we already are.
I have to disagree with your statement that reform is the essence of Christianity. Instead, I affirm that the church must navigate the challenges of staying true to the church's Great Tradition while also seeking reform. When reform is seen as the church's essence, then the church runs the risk of becoming captive to every passing wind of doctrine, some of which has only a very tenuous connection with the catholic and apostolic faith.
A profound and illuminating reflection. My own thinking about freedom wants to emphasise the priority of covenant over autonomy and the individual. Which is to say that as our God is essentially in triune relationship in God-self, so creation is originally and essentially in covenantal relationship with the creator, and so in turn our relationships with one another and with all of creation are essentially, originally covenantal. We are not autonomous individuals called to enter into loving relationship with 'the other'. We are already, originally, and always in relationship. 'We' is in every sense prior to 'I'. Our redeemer has set us free to hear and enact his call to 'love one another', even our 'enemies', by becoming what, as God's creatures, we already are.