When the Reformed Fellowship was organized just over a third of a century ago, it began as a local group who began meeting together out of their common concern to promote and maintain the Reformed faith. As through the years the organization came to include members scattered across the continent, opportunities for such “fellowship” meetings necessarily came to be limited to occasional gatherings m various localities and a general meeting once a year in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This year that general meeting was held October 10 at Kelloggsville. It featured Dr. Henry. Vander Goot, Calvin College Bible professor, as speaker at the afternoon session, and Rev. Edward J. Knott, pastor of the Forest Grove (CR) Church as speaker for the evening. We can to include Dr. Vander Goot’s illuminating and provocative address on reading the Bible, given to a sizable audience, in a future Outlook.

“The Challenge We Face”

(1) To Be Reformed

Pastor Knott’s address to the well–filled church was entitled “The Challenge We Face.” In the undeniably increasing crisis that confronts our churches, he saw a challenge to (1) be Reformed, (2) be consistent, and (3) act positively. As a Reformed Fellowship we are committed to study the Reformed Faith and develop its implications for all of life to disseminate and defend that faith against opposing errors: to encourage and promote respect for the Reformed tradition and to publish Reformed periodicals and literature. We as individuals as well as an organization, are committed to this. In our personal confessions of faith we make such a commitment. We do so in connection with baptisms and all in offices in our churches publicly commit themselves to that faith and subscribe to it.

What does it mean to be “Reformed”? Dr.Richard Gaffin of Westminster Seminary cited the famous Presbyterian, B.B. Warfield’s observation that Calvinism (or the Reformed Faith) is “resolutely God-centered,” totally “subjected to the absolute authority of Scripture.” It is “the attitude of prayer extended to the whole of life.” Again appealing to these writers, the speaker observed that this Faith is to be distinguished as the “more perfectly developed representative differs from the less perfectly developed representatives” (of Christianity). This is not a proud claim , but a humble recognition that this is the Faith God has revealed and given (1 Cor. 4:7). The Reformed tries to be true to the whole of the Scriptures in a “world and life view.” This necessarily makes him recognize (as Dr. Vander Goot earlier observed) the antithesis that exists between light and darkness the kingdom of Christ and that of the devil. This is not often recognized in our time.

(2) To Be Consistent

As Reformed we must work to be consistent. That requires consistent Bible study. In the past more such solid individual and group Bible study was done than today. While today there is much Bible study, it does not seem to produce much assured conviction and confession because of the faulty way in which it is done. It is afraid to recognize the unity of the Bible and its assured teachings (doctrines), out of a pretext of being “unbiased.” We must rediscover and learn to wield “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17), in the defense of this Biblical Faith.

Committed to recognizing the greatness of God in all His works, we may not compromise with the spirit and practice of our secular age in the interests of peace. The warning to the Laodicean church shows that God rejects such accommodation. We must not let our faith be robbed of its specific content by the false notion that all that matters is that one only continue to believe in Christ. To suggest, as some do, for example, that the issue of women in office is not very important because It does not affect our salvation, is to forget that we are called to obey the Word of the Lord and to do that consistently. In the past our church sy nods have said that our practice in this matter is not to be changed unless compelling Biblical evidence shows that we must do so. Our past two synods have reversed that position with only a passing reference to the Bible. We must take God’s Word as our starting point and basis in making decisions. That means that we must stop trying, as many do, to “get behind the Scriptures” to explain them away. We must do this regarding the matter of origins, in opposition to those who in our schools and colleges try to “brainwash” us to a contrary view.

We must, in personal and church practice, be consistent m church attendance, in voting in elections of officers and of delegates to assemblies, and in facing the responsibilities of office. The prevailing complaint that ministers “run everything” is an indictment of elders, who, heavily outnumbering the ministers, are called to rule in Christ’s name and should not fear to “speak up.” In all of these areas of activity we must insist on faithfulness to the Scriptures. When ministers treat a congregation as “personal property” to be led according to their own or popular opinions, or seem to enter the ministry with an arrogant notion of their “gifts” and little or no awareness of any calling by the Lord through His church to preach His Word, consistories must assume their responsibilities as “watchmen” for the we if are of the church and work for Reformation.

(3) To Act Positively

Seeking to be faithful to our callings in consistories or in the office of all believers, we must speak up in loyalty to God’s Word. That entails the duty to protest against decisions contrary to God’s Word and the church order. We may not let fear of controversy silence us. We may not “sacrifice our deepest convictions” in order “to stay together.” “To speak in love is not being contentious.” Our congregations and denomination are not so fragile that they must be preserved by silence about Biblical convictions to preserve a false peace.

The speaker was convinced that “we should not just walk away,” as some have done. Even though some in the past were deprived of office, they evidently had more influence than if they had walked away. We are challenged today to reform. This means (1) a whole–hearted soul-commitment to our creeds and the truths that they express, and (2) rededication to prophetic Biblical preaching with a decidedly Reformed commitment (Reformed means Biblical). We must insist that the seminary produce men who are so dedicated and if it does not, look elsewhere for them. We may not be satisfied with pastors who are anything less than that. (3) “We must protest again and again to the synods against unbiblical decisions. The majority of our church members have a right to be rightly represented at our synods and we must insist that our delegates rightly represent us. (4) We must overcome the malaise of the denomination and stop being ashamed of being Reformed. We must quit letting foolish considerations such as “Dutch background” or being “all white” inhibit us from speaking up for God’s Truth. (5) This will entail hard work for each believer and church member each consistory and consistory member, and each class is to maintain, extend and expand the Reformed witness without compromise so that it reaches even to the synod of the churches. We have to work hard to be Reformed, which means to be Biblical and obedient. That may be difficult and costly, but it is called for now, in the fellowship of others who share this commitment, using our organizational resources, for the sake of Christ’s church. Engaged in that endeavor, we will experience what our Lord promised (John 16:33), ” In the world ye have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome . . .”

PDJ

The complete address is available on tape from the Reformed Fellowship