As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation this year, perhaps the worst thing we could do is just celebrate. I know, I know: At parties I’m sometimes the sober guy in a corner who is pondering the meaning of life.

But I’m not wrong. In reading an essay about the Lutheran church’s celebration of the Reformation, most of what I read about the gospel could be defined as social justice. One Lutheran leader commented that it’s nearly impossible to define the Lutheran identity. If what Martin Luther stood for was keeping the message of the true gospel clear, then that leader’s statement is tragic. Yet Presbyterians should be grieving their own lack of consistency in proclaiming the true gospel message.

There is a reformation needed today, a return to the true and unadulterated good news. As with Luther, we shouldn’t expect any applause when we speak and live toward that end. But the gospel has retained its power, and every alternative is fatally flawed.

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When I look back at 2016, I don’t think primarily of political figures. I think primarily of those I love and those who have been such a blessing to us in our work and church and home. I also think of the testimony of the lives of some saints who went to be with the Lord. This includes several RP elders who died in late December, people I treasured, as did many of you.

One of those servants, Dr. Bruce C. Stewart (1924–2016), is best known as a past president of the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He served in a myriad of other ways, many of them aptly chronicled. For a time he was effectively the landlord for the RP Witness, as our two offices and stockroom were hosted in the seminary building.

From my experience, everything that has been said about Dr. Stewart’s winsome and wise disposition is true. Lesser known is what a great representative of the RPCNA he was to other denominations. I scarcely knew what an executive secretary was prior to serving on the Interchurch Committee, but for me Dr. Stewart will forever set the standard. He was the face of the RPCNA to other denominations between interchurch meetings, and he took great care to be sure that leaders heard from us and knew they were valued by us. At meetings, he was an encyclopedia of people and practices. He also showed me how important relationships are to interchurch work, as he cultivated friendships with our brothers in different denominations over a period of decades.

Dr. Stewart retired from interchurch work several years ago, but his influence is still felt. As we hear about so many NAPARC denominations adopting psalters or psalter-hymnals, and as we hear about more serious work being done to foster unity among bibilical Reformed and Presbyterian denominations, one has to tip the hat to Dr. Stewart and to praise God for His foundational work through saints like this.