Chapter 4  CONCERNING THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCHES  (With the last paragraph Kuyper has finished his discussion of how the church here on earth goes through a process of deterioration. He now turns his attention to the reformation of the churches.) 

(In the last article Kuyper began a discussion concerning reformation by means of separation from the denomination. He suggested, in this connection, two possibilities: one possibility is that the consistory of a local congregation is in conflict with the church federation; the other is that an individual is in conflict with the church federation. Kuyper now proposes to discuss these two possibilities separately.) 

. (In the last paragraph Kuyper has explained that the deformation of the church is due to three causes: the destructive work of Satan, the sins of individual members, and the sins of the fellowship of the church as a whole. He continues this discussion in the following paragraph.)

(Kuyper has begun his discussion of how a church which has deteriorated must be reformed. In the last paragraph which appeared he strongly emphasized that all reformation must be the work of God alone.)   

(Dr. Kuyper has finished his discussion of the special offices in the church: minister, professor, elder, and deacon. In this paragraph he turns to a discussion of the office of believer.)

(In discussing the positive side of the question, i.e., the renewal or reformation of the church, Kuyper has discussed the need for spiritual awakening in the hearts and in the lives of the individual members. In the last paragraph he insisted that this was essential to all church reformation. He proceeds now in the following paragraphs to the discussion of church renewal. This is a lengthy paragraph and we will divide it into separate articles.) 

(In this entire section of the pamphlet Kuyper has been talking about the causes of deterioration in the church and has discussed how this deterioration develops in the church as the church undergoes a change from a condition of spiritual strength to one of grave weakness.)

(In the first part of this paragraph Kuyper has been discussing the question of reformation by gradual church renewal. He has compared the deterioration of the church with a sickness which strikes a body and he has compared the work of reformation to the work of a doctor who attempts to cure the diseases of the body. Particularly, he has emphasized the need for personal repentance and conversion which comes from a deep and profound conviction of sin as being absolutely essential to all church renewal.

(Kuyper has discussed the unity of the church as that unity is expressed in broader ecclesiastical assemblies and in relationship with other denominations worldwide. He now concludes chapter 2 of his book with the following paragraph.)  33. Whether the Churches Ought to Interfere in What Does Not Belong to the Church 

(In the last part of the last article Dr. Kuyper began a discussion of the deformation of the churches. He defined what he meant by deformation, i.e., the deterioration of a church which had once held a correct form according to the Scriptures and was now in need of church reformation. This idea of the deformed church Kuyper continues to discuss in the following paragraphs.)  36. Concerning Imperfect Church Formation.