On the 4th of October* a historic meeting took place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Four groups came together to discuss the state of the Christian Reformed Church. This was a coalition for reformation in the CRC. It included members of the Abraham Kuyper Christian Citizen Foundation from Canada, members of the Reformed Fellowship, members of the Mid–America Reformed Seminary and members of the committee of concerned CRC office-bearers in the USA and Canada.
This was the first time members of these four reformation organizations met together. It is very significant, because the reformation movement in the CRC must be united. The unity is found not simply in opposition to women in office, but in a total and uncompromising commitment to the infallible Scriptures as interpreted by the Reformed confessions.
The occasion which brought this group together is the decision of the 1984 Synod to open the office of deacon to women. All of these groups oppose this action.
A Changing Church
The Canadian group presented a position paper entitled “Changing Directions Within the CRC.” They cited various movements to the left within the CRC as reasons for genuine concern as to where the church is going. Women in office is a prime example of a new and unreformed interpretation of Scripture. The ecumenical direction of our church seems to be more toward closer relations with the wee and the RCA than with the OPC and PCA. The publications of the church from The Banner to other materials published are pushing in this direction, while the positions of outstanding leaders like the late Francis Schaeffer are not published.
What accounts for this changing direction? The first reason is the indifference and apathy of many people in the churches who perhaps know better but really don’t care. Second, worldliness has captured the hearts of too many in the church.” In our gene ration the painful truth is that the church (all of us) is guilty of massive accommodation to the world. “Thirdly, our educational institutions are not providing the distinctive Reformed, Calvinistic leadership that prepares our youth to face the destructive, secular challenges of our day. Many of our Reformed college and seminary professors stand in the forefront of those who demand change. Fourth, some Christian organizations are often functioning contrary to the purpose for which they were formed.
What to Do About It
The Canadian group presented various options : one is to do nothing, second is to react negatively. Both to do nothing and to react negatively are counter-productive. The third and positive option is to act responsibly and effectively, that is to give good leadership.
The concerned office-bearers presented a paper in which they reported that many CRC consistories and individuals have requested information and assistance. Some consistories want help in writing overtures. The concerned office-bearers have made available materials written by Dr. George Knight and Dr. W . Robert Godfrey, concerning women in office. They are urging all communications to Synod to be presented according to proper ecclesiastical procedures.
The reformation coalition decided upon some immediate goals and some long–range goals. The immediate concern is the 1985 Synod of the CRC which must deal with the response to the decisions of the 1984 Synod. Much time was spent in working on overtures which can be helpful to consistories which request such assistance.
The issues facing the church are far-reaching and touch the very foundation of our religion. The long–range goals seek to address these issues.
Some of the areas to be addressed are these: the new and unreformed hermeneutics, which lies at the root of many of the deviations from sound doctrine and life today; reform of the CRC Synod, which is becoming increasingly powerful and is in danger of losing sight of the Reformed principle that the local consistory has been given the keys to the kingdom; ecumenical concerns, in which we seek to establish and strengthen ties with those churches which share our loyalty to the Reformed confessions and distance ourselves from those bodies who either give lip service to the Reformed confessions or ignore them altogether; ethical issues, such as marriage/divorce, abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, the Lord’s Day, social/political issues such as liberation theology, war/peace, capital punishment, crime; Christian education and covenant; Christian worship and liturgy.
Although this list is not exhaustive, the direction is clear. The urgent need of the hour is a positive and continuing reformation in the churches. Christ is the King of the church. All reformation comes from Him. We only want to be willing instruments in His hands.
It is very significant that these four groups came together to work for reformation in the church. It is our prayer that Christ will use us for His glory, for the building of His church and for the coming of His Kingdom.
Thomas C. Vanden Heuvel is the pastor of the First Christian Reformed Church of Orange City, Iowa.
*The annual meeting of the Reformed Fellowship was held the same day.