DANGER OF INCONCLUSIVE “CONCERN” Reformed Fellowship, Inc., Publishers of the Outlook

Dear Sirs,

For over a year I have considered cancelling the subscription. I have enjoyed reading the Outlook for many years and it has given us much good food for thought. But it has, to me at least, become more and more evident that the leadership given in the Outlook is falling in the same errors as were seen in the Gereformeerde Kerken in the Netherlands. There “bezwaarden” the concerned, battled for years inside of the denomination, while those in influential leadership positions set the course away from traditional Reformed truths and values, as well as practices. The concerned definitely did not want to leave the denomination, but hoped to reverse the trend. Lately one does not hear much about the concerned any more. They were mostly the older generation that has since passed on. Their influence is minimal at present. Because they had stated not to wish to leave, they were simply ignored. What they forgot was their responsibility to positively lead the next generation. Their actions were confined to protests of leadership acts, synod decisions, etc. In the meantime, the younger generation, growing up in the “new style Gereformeerde Kerken,” does not see any need to change back to the “old ways” and ignores the complaints of the “concerned” as irrelevant.

I can write all of this from much personal observation. I was 16 when my Father, as elder in the Gereformeerde Kerk, was one of a group of over 50 elders who were suspended and deposed from their office. That was in 1944. I still see it as a work of God’s grace that gradually all those who had only wished to continue to be truly Reformed were gathered into joining the Gereformeerde Kerken “Liberated,” upholding Article 31 of the Dordt Church Order). Some of our relatives decided to stay in the old church and not join the “Article 31” church. They did not realize then, what consequences that decision would have for their offspring, their children and grandchildren.

On meeting them later, one is shocked to see what bad church leadership has done to once good families. It is saddening to see that only a few of the “concerned” eventually came to the right conclusion, that what happened in 1944 and 1945 was not a church schism, but a reformation in the classical sense. It was a return to values, doctrines, teachings, practices that had only very gradually been changed, but became more and more a matter of great concern to a few. These few gave the positive leadership that could only lead to a confrontation. They did not seek this, but they could not shun it either when it came. They remained faithful to their calling to lead the sheep as good shepherds.

Why do I write all this? This history can teach us a lesson. “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Sam. 15:22). It is becoming very late for a Reformation of the CRC to be effective. The longer we wait, the more younger families we see becoming complacent and no longer caring. It is time to say, “Let us return before we all drift so far away that none of us can find the way to return to our origins.” May our Lord give us that kind of courageous and obedient leadership also in the Outlook.

In Christ, yours truly

Ebel H. Pol

133 Yonge Cr.

Pointe Claire, PQ H9R 2M1 Canada