The Despair, Hope and Holy Activism of First Reformed

Last updated on: June 4, 2018 at 2:46 pm by Paul Asay

The Despair, Hope and Holy Activism of First Reformed 2018-06-04T14:46:11-06:00 Paul Asay

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

First Reformed, image from the A24 trailer

A Soulless Church

The movie opens with a shot of the First Reformed Church itself—a white, spired building set against the stormy gray clouds and bare trees of rural New York. It’s a telling visual setup for First Reformed.

For centuries, the church has stood as a shelter in a cold, gray, indifferent world, providing shelter, solace and salvation for generations untold. It wasn’t just a sanctuary for the saved, either. We’re told that the church, built in 1767, was a waystation for the Underground Railroad. You can still see the trap door in the floor, under which runaway slaves would hide.

But First Reformed is a shadow of what it used to be. The Rev. Toller (Ethan Hawke) speaks to nearly an empty sanctuary most Sundays. It’s more tourist attraction than house of worship, visitors ogling the 19th-century architecture and peering at the trap door. Some from Abundant Life, the nearby megachurch that now owns First Reformed, call the church the “souvenir shop.”

Toller swallows the snub with good grace: Without the generosity of Abundant Life, First Reformed would’ve shuttered long ago.

Still, the contrast is striking. First Reformed, an old church with a proud history of involvement in real-world problems and led by a pastor who’s known more than his fair share of suffering and guilt (his son was killed in Iraq—a war that Toller, then a military chaplain, encouraged him to go to), stands nearly empty. Abundant Life, with its massive sanctuary and litany of programs for every member of the family, peddles a feel-good, no-cost sort of Gospel. If First Reformed suggests spiritual exercise and discipline is needed to face this bitter world, Abundant Life offers spiritual comfort food: Take a load off and feel better. Don’t make waves. Don’t worry, be happy. A fair critique on many a church today, I believe.

The contrast reminds me some of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s ideas on cheap grace:

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

Go back Continue Reading

Previous Post

May 31, 2018

What Golden State Can Teach Us About Being Christian in a Post-Christian America

Next Post

June 6, 2018 Seven Reasons Why We Need Mister Rogers More Than Ever

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category books celebrities Editor's Choice games movies music news sports superheroes television Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 December 2025 October 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 September 2023 March 2023 February 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 December 2021 October 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 October 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: David committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged for her husband Uriah to be killed.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE

Books by This Author Books by Paul Asay

See All Titles »