We have complained about Prof. Harold Dekker’s heresy of a universal love of God and general atonement. We have also objected to the film arts report as being contrary to the Antithesis. We have not been able to stop Report 36-44 with its double-talk from becoming a guideline in the C.R.C. We objected to the ordination of the Rev. Allen Verhey because of his false doctrine, but it was declared that Rev. Verhey was within the guide-lines of the C.R.C. We had objections against the writings and the gravamen of reprobation from Dr. Harry Boer; and we objected also to the report and the recommendations of the Synod. We did not believe that the Bible permitted women to be deacons. The 1988 Synod approved the teaching of the theory called “theistic evolution” and declared the three professors teaching it to be within the guidelines of the C.R.C.
We might well ask ourselves, “What are the limits of the guidelines of the C.R.C.? The Heidelberg Catechism? The Canons of Dort? The Belgic Confessions?” Apparently not! “Report 36-44” is used as a “guideline.” It is more serious that evolutionism and the denial of literal, historical accuracy of the account of Genesis 1–11 is approved, first by the Board of Trustees of Calvin College and then by the Synod. Creation and redemption are unseparably connected. We cannot deny the one and hold to the other. “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Heb. 11:13).
Is it not now the time for many C.R. churches to proclaim that we believe in an authoritative, inspired, inerrant, and infallible Bible, and therefore reject the decisions which are made by the Synod of the C.R.C.? We must denounce and separate ourselves from the decisions that are contrary to Scripture and the confessions. If we do not speak now and act, what will happen to the instruction of our children and grandchildren?
Please look at history. It should teach us something. Thirty years ago in the Gereformeerde Kerken, only Genesis was rejected as being a historical and literally true account. About sixteen years after the first denial of the historicity of Genesis appeared, Prof. Kuitert, speaking for the Gereformeerde Kerk, wrote, “There has never been an Adam and no Eve either; there never existed a Paradise that was created without sin and death.” Kuitert wrote in Trouw May 13, 1966, “You cannot say that something really happened because it says so in the Bible. For instance in the time of Joshua, Jericho did not exist.” Prof. Koole, in the Gereformeerde Weekblad, Sept. 16, 1966 wrote, “The Bible is an ancient, oriental description of history which one should not expect to be absolutely exact.” Dr. T. J. Baarda wrote in 1969, “There are some accounts in the gospels that have the legendary touch, as for instance, the story of the cursing and withering of the fig tree, or more so even, that of the resurrection of some dead when Jesus died. Is it not possible that certain apocalyptic words of Jesus have been dramatized in the rumor, the story passed on orally by the people?” And so our mother church has fallen from one denial into the next. The conservatives have compromised, and by now secession seems to be too late. Because they remained in the denomination, their children were fed the lie.
Where the church departs from the Word of God, there is no hope anymore. In Rev. 3:20 Christ addresses the church of Laodicea, “I am going to spew you out of my mouth.” To the faithful in that church, Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and sup with him, and he with me.” As long as we are members of a certain church or denomination, we have the responsibility to protest all that is opposed to the Word of God. We may not say, “It is no use.” However, if it is true that the foundation of a church is so undermined that there is no hope any more of directing that church back to the truth, then we do not belong there any more. Then we do not need dialogue, but only faith to direct our families back to the principles of the Reformation.
We do not want revolution. We want reformation. Justification by faith alone. “Sola Scriptura” for Scripture is the infalliable Word of God, and we may not support those who contradict the divine revelation of God’s Word. Let us not be negative, but in the strength of the Holy Spirit, let us be positive. And let us give an honest answer to the question, “What is the time?”
Thomas Spriensma lives at 1994 Quincy, Grandville, MI 49418.