On page 590 of the Agenda for Synod 1973 Overture 11 states: “Classis Lake Erie overtures Synod to provide a clear biblical-theological understanding on the matter of war in a manner that will provide the church’s membership with an ethical framework for decision-making about war and peace.”
Rev. Clarence C. Werkema who addresses himself to this matter is pastor of the Walker Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In Overture 11 Classis Lake Erie seeks from the coming Christian Reformed Synod a “clear biblical-theological understanding on the matter of war.”
One wonders what more can be said or even needs to be said on the subject of war, especially in the light of what the Word has so clearly set before us. Past Synods of the Christian Reformed Church have faced the problem as early as 1939. The Synod of 1969 meeting thirty years later found the report of ’39 so well written and so thoroughly comprehensive it could hardly find more to say. The Synod of 1969 went so far as to say, “the stand of 1939 is relevant to current needs.”
The Synod of 1973 meeting just four years after ’69 and meeting after the United States has largely pulled out of the Indochina War is being asked to make a pronouncement. The Church has spoken she has provided guide lines -she can hardly be asked to do more—can she? There is grave danger that should Synod decide to go in the direction of this request that she will be asked to make judgments and give specific directions to everyone of her individual members in every sort of little predicament that rises.
Think of all those who have found the decisions of the Synod of 1939 compatible with the Word of God. The sons of the Christian Reformed Church went off to World War II and to the Korean Conflict and they served nobly and well. Suddenly halfway through the Indochina fracas a great hue and cry goes up in the land, and we are told this is “an unjust war.” Who is capable of judging whether a war is unjust or not? Given the complexity of present political and international relations it is difficult to visualize anyone outside the war rooms of the Pentagon or the Kremlin being able to make any valid judgment on so complex a matter, let alone a Synod of the Christian Reformed Church so far removed from pertinent data.
John the Baptist found himself in a situation like that of our generation—far from the center of government in Rome and faced with puzzled soldiers who evidently had been listening intently to John’s preaching. The soldiers asked, “what shall we do?”
John doesn’t tell them to resign or plead conscientious objections—he leaves the clear implication that serving the military is compatible with a Christian confession in a truly pagan army fighting most cruel wars and in most ruthless manners. John makes no reference to any war. He tens the soldiers further, “do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; be content with your wages.” Simplistic? Not at all: this too was written for us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is currently valid.
The Lord Jesus Himself gives some explicit directives in the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus. The Rich man cries out from the fires of hell to Father Abraham. His plea is to send Lazarus to his brothers. The patent reply is, “They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.” “If they hear not Moses and the prophets [and Jesus and Paul and John the Baptist], neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.”
Rev. Clarence C. Werkema who addresses himself to this matter is pastor of the Walker Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In Overture 11 Classis Lake Erie seeks from the coming Christian Reformed Synod a “clear biblical-theological understanding on the matter of war.”
One wonders what more can be said or even needs to be said on the subject of war, especially in the light of what the Word has so clearly set before us. Past Synods of the Christian Reformed Church have faced the problem as early as 1939. The Synod of 1969 meeting thirty years later found the report of ’39 so well written and so thoroughly comprehensive it could hardly find more to say. The Synod of 1969 went so far as to say, “the stand of 1939 is relevant to current needs.”
The Synod of 1973 meeting just four years after ’69 and meeting after the United States has largely pulled out of the Indochina War is being asked to make a pronouncement. The Church has spoken she has provided guide lines -she can hardly be asked to do more—can she? There is grave danger that should Synod decide to go in the direction of this request that she will be asked to make judgments and give specific directions to everyone of her individual members in every sort of little predicament that rises.
Think of all those who have found the decisions of the Synod of 1939 compatible with the Word of God. The sons of the Christian Reformed Church went off to World War II and to the Korean Conflict and they served nobly and well. Suddenly halfway through the Indochina fracas a great hue and cry goes up in the land, and we are told this is “an unjust war.” Who is capable of judging whether a war is unjust or not? Given the complexity of present political and international relations it is difficult to visualize anyone outside the war rooms of the Pentagon or the Kremlin being able to make any valid judgment on so complex a matter, let alone a Synod of the Christian Reformed Church so far removed from pertinent data.
John the Baptist found himself in a situation like that of our generation—far from the center of government in Rome and faced with puzzled soldiers who evidently had been listening intently to John’s preaching. The soldiers asked, “what shall we do?”
John doesn’t tell them to resign or plead conscientious objections—he leaves the clear implication that serving the military is compatible with a Christian confession in a truly pagan army fighting most cruel wars and in most ruthless manners. John makes no reference to any war. He tens the soldiers further, “do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; be content with your wages.” Simplistic? Not at all: this too was written for us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is currently valid.
The Lord Jesus Himself gives some explicit directives in the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus. The Rich man cries out from the fires of hell to Father Abraham. His plea is to send Lazarus to his brothers. The patent reply is, “They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.” “If they hear not Moses and the prophets [and Jesus and Paul and John the Baptist], neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.”