SILENCE IS ASSENT
The Dr. Verhey Case centers on the statement that the serpent did not speak as reported in the third chapter of Genesis and that there was no earthquake as recorded in Matthew 27:51: “And the earth did quake and the rocks rent.”
These are the teachings and assertions of Prof. Verhey.
Silence is assent. These ASSERTIONS of Verhey are all well known. ESPECIALLY THE MINISTERS and CONSISTORY of the Neland Ave. Christian Reformed Church and the Professors of Calvin Seminary and College, who are members of the Neland Avenue C.R.C., for they are involved by token of their membership and in agreement by their silence.
Assent in my dictionary means to admit as true, concede, agree to, consent, acquiescence, approval. You don’t have to say ANYTHING. But when you belong to the same church and classis, you are involved
and your silence is assent. In the Verhey case any person involved would either speak against Verhey’s false assertions. or by his silence show agreement, his assent.
Have any of the consistory members of Neland Ave. C.R.C. protested? They claim to have considered the case. By their silence they assent. What about several Seminary Professors (and maybe College tool who ARE MEMBERS of the Neland Avenue Church? Several of them attended Synod. Not one voice of protest. Their silence must be considered agreement and assent with Verhey’s statements. What about the Classis and Synod? One professor openly agreed with Verhey’s statements, as was reported.
Some stood up and protested when this case was before Synod in 1979, but the rest either by their silence, orvote, agreed with Verhey –NO serpent as stated in Gene· sis 3 spoke, and the Lord did NOT speak to the serpent. –NO ear thquake as recorded in Matthew 27:51. I guess the veil was not rent either. Only a few at Synod stood up for the truth, the Bible, the validity, the in· errancy of the Bible. Thanks to God for these Gideonites. I stand here with them.
Where are the voices of protest from Churches, Classis or members? What has become of our Seminary? The Seminary professors used to be the defenders of the faith.
If Verhey is right that we need not accept as really true what has happened, namely, no serpent, no earthquake, then what about other passages of Scripture. –Salaam’s ass did not really speak. –The lost hatchet did not come up from the deep water in Elis ha‘s day. -The whale of Jonah did not exist. –Christ had no miraculous birth. -The Bible is not reliable. –Salvation is not sure. –God’s promises not reliable. The believer is then the most miserable of all people. Is the Christian Reformed Church just accepting Verhey’s assertions by its silence? This is a censurable sin.
SILENCE IS ASSENT.
Rev. E. Kooistra