Are we finally heading for a showdown in the CRC? Let’s hope so. And also pray so. A showdown that will save our name from becoming Ichabod.

A showdown on what issue?

The issue is this: What do we as a CRC really believe about the Bible?

Increasingly this issue is today being recognized as the watershed that determines the direction in which a church is sure to go.

To alter the figure, when confronted with this question we arc at the crossroads. It is precisely at this point that we come to a parting of the ways. Indeed, we have said this before, even repeatedly. But the matter is so momentous that it bears emphasis and repetition.

It is right here that the orthodox and the liberals no longer walk together. I t was hoped that Report 44 on the Nature and Extent of Biblical Authority, adopted at the CRC Synod in 1972, would settle this question once and for all. But unfortunately, not so. The controversy goes on with both sides obviously believing that they are covered by 44. Language is so easily made to say what we want it to say.

However, now a showdown or a decisive confrontation may at least be approaching, if not yet in the offing. Consider the following significant items as possibly pointing in this direction.

1. Rev. Peter De Jong, reporting in the June issue of THE OUTLOOK (p. 3) on the 1975 CRC Synod, observed: “Many wanted to open offices to women because of the changing times, the demands of women, the need for using all abilities in the church, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc. But the discussion always returned to the critical consideration, the teaching of the Bible. Professor Bastiaan Van Elderen [N. T . Professor at Calvin Seminary] dismissed Paul’s prohibition, claiming that it contradicted Paul’s own teaching in Galatians and was an adjustment to a local, historical situation and asked whether Paul was not indulging in an exegesis of Genesis, learned from the rabbis, to make a paint rather than teaching something normative for us” (italics added) . . . . The debate on this demonstrated that we are a divided house. The division on this issue and many others is caused by diverging views of the Bible’s authority.

The ACRL News Bulletin of July, 1975, with its wide circulation, quotes Dr. Van Elderen to the same effect.

Can there be any doubt that if we sow the wind of this kind of hermeneutics at Calvin Seminary—our CRC school of the prophets—that we need not be surprised if we will soon be reaping the whirlwind in the preaching from CRC pulpits?

2. Rev. L. Mulder, pastor of the Lethbridge CRC in Alberta and a delegate to the 1975 CRC Synod, in reporting on the sessions in Calvinist Contact (July 7, July 14, p. 12) wrote the following:

“This whole matter (women in church offices) will be back before Synod before long and the emotions which surround this affair will increase in intensity too. This affair may become a watershed in our denomination; the business of having women in office may be of sufficient weight to cause a split in the church, not just because women are given access to office, but because a new principle of interpreting the Scriptures will then have been introduced and that may be the straw that breaks the earners back (italics added). I am frankly planned and deeply disturbed. In the coming years the Seminary is going to be involved in the question concerning rules of: Biblical interpretation; judging what was said by some professors during the high level debate, my fears can only be increased that our church is in for rough weather and stormy sailing.”

The matter of women in church offices could conceivably be the occasion for a showdown or a decisive confrontation in the CRC. Not only or first of all concerning that particular issue but rather concerning whether we still accept Scripture as being inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative in its totality or whether we as a church now regard it as such only in part.

3. Elsewhere in this issue the reader may find an article by Rev. John D. De Jong on “Those Thirty-two Negative Votes.” It also gives evidence that we may well be heading for a showdown in the CRC. As a visitor at the 1975 Synod, Rev. De Jong reports that he was left with “a sad and sickening feeling” as a result of that which he witnessed. He too quotes from Rev. L. Mulder’s report and he adds:

“From the discussion at Synod and, not the least, from these 32 negative votes that were registered, it became very plain to me that the subject of ‘Women in Office’ will come at Synod again. Not only that, but I also believe that our church is in for rough weather and stormy sailing . . . don‘t forget, those 32 votes registered at our last Synod . . . tell us very much about the direction in which our church is going, they tell us about the polarization among us, and they tell us about greater changes still to come . . . .”

4. One more item: Simply to dispose of the ACRL (Association of Christian Reformed Laymen) as nothing else than a collection of hopeless troublemakers may be an easy out for those who do not want to face up to facts. However, that ploy should be recognized as unworthy of anyone who wants to be a responsible member of the CRC. Let’s face it, the ACRL does have a cause. Moreover, let’s not fool ourselves; the deplorable trends in the CRC which they are fearlessly exposing will not disappear if we only look the other way.

In its News Bulletin of July, the ACRL writes at length about Dr. Sierd Woudstra (not to be confused with Dr. Marten H. Woudstra at Calvin Seminary), about his alleged repudiation of our historic view of Scripture, and about his dismissal from the RTC (Reformed Theological College) of Geelong, Australia, to which school he had been loaned by the CRC. As alleged documentary evidence for the serious charges brought against Dr. Woudstra’s view of Scripture, the News Bulletin offers “Lecture quotes” relayed in correspondence from Australia. Anyone interested in getting the full report of the ACRL on this matter should send his request for this to P.O. Box 1303, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501.

Now these are serious charges lodged against someone who remains a minister in good standing in the CRC. The News Bulletin goes so far as to speak of a “Watergate style cover-up” in the case of Dr. Woudstra.

The obvious conclusion is that a showdown or a decisive confrontation should now be regarded as imperative. An announcement has been made that Dr. Woudstra has accepted a call to serve for two years as the pastor of the Hobart Reformed Church at Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Meanwhile his ministerial credentials remain at the Borculo (Mich.) CRC and he is still an employee of the CRC Board of Foreign Missions while he is a minister “on loan.” The matter as it now stands should be recognized as intolerable.

Either Dr. Woudstra must be cleared of the serious charges lodged against him, or the Borculo consistory and the CRC Board of Foreign Missions should acquaint the church with the true state of affairs and what action they are taking. Meanwhile, let us make it our united and fervent prayer that they and also Dr. Woudstra may be given a large measure of divine guidance in this by no means insignificant matter.

To be sure, the items indicated above are too important to be ignored. Whenever the Word of God is under attack, we should realize that the foundations are being destroyed. If a showdown or a decisive confrontation should be approaching or in the offing, may God graciously guide and have mercy on us as we decide which way to go.

“With God All Things Are Possible”

Reading the above lines about disturbing trends in the CRC and a possible showdown, the cynic may merely shrug his shoulders and say, “So, what else is new? It‘s a lost cause anyhow. Nothing to be done, nothing to be done. History proves that when a church is once on skids, then that’s it.”

But, surely, that’s not the language of faith.

Our Lord taught us: “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26). No excuse then for a defeatist attitude. “Again I say unto you,” Jesus said, “That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:19, 20).

Consider also this choice bit from Emerson:

“So nigh is grandeur to our dust, So near is God to man. When Duty whispers low, Thou must, The youth replies, I CAN.”

So—with God nothing is ever hopeless.

Thoughts like these come to mind as we read of the continued determination and triumphs of conservatives in the 2,800,000 member LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) under the courageous leadership of Rev. Jacob A. O. Preus, Synod president.

Recently at that denomination‘s 51st biennial convention held in Anaheim, California, by a vote of 626 to 466, the LCMS demanded the resignation of those presidents who do not abide by the church’s rcgulations for ordination. It is expected that several congregations will withdraw from the denomination after the decisive action taken at Anaheim. How many is something that remains to be seen. Rev. Preus thinks the number will be less than fifty. Another estimate is about a hundred.

Commenting on these stirring developments in the LCMS, Dr. C. Aiken Taylor, editor of The Presbyterian Journal (July 23) makes the following significant observation:

“It is beginning to look as if the Lutherans of the Missouri Synod will emerge from the dust and smoke that is still confusing much of the issue, having accomplished what never has been done before; turn around a major denomination in its tracks from a liberal to a conservative direction” (italics added).

Further comments by Editor Taylor to be noted are the following:

“The almost universal practice (by the media and others) to refer to the mainliners as ‘ultra-conservatives’ and the liberals as ‘moderates’ has been only part of the smoke screen.

“What has interested us is that the issue had to boil down to its essence –Scripture –before it could be clarified and resolved . . . .”

It‘s so easy and simplistic to refuse to regard controversy about issues in the CRC as being serious simply by saying that it’s all a matter of semantics, a tempest in a teapot, or much ado about nothing. Another easy out is to resort to the argumenium ad hominem, attacking the person of one’s opponent or critic rather than addressing oneself to the issues. Such tactics should be recognized as being unworthy of responsible churchmen.

We need desperately to get the issue clearly in focus. Basic to our growing concern for the future of the CRC is whether we will continue in our historic position that the Bible in its entirety is inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative, or whether the so-called new hermeneutic will be allowed to continue its infiltration among us.

President Preus and other conservative leaders in the LCMS have clearly recognized this issue and have boldly let it be known that the hour of decision has come. Obviously, their faith is not being put to shame.

With God all things arc possible!

In the CRC also.

The issue is urgent and the hour in the church we love is later than we would like to think. Not only the clergy but also the laity must be involved. Don‘t let anyone tell you that all is well and that you may be at ease in Zion. The foundations are under fire, and if the future of the CRC is to be secured, let’s make no mistake about it: it‘s now or it may be never!

But, can anything be done?

Please be sure, there is much that you can do. Pray fervently for an outcome to CRC controversy in which Scripture will retain the place of honor due to it. Press for this. Stand up and dare to be counted. Urge your pastor and consistory to become involved. Fortify yourself and others by organizing a Reformed Fellowship chapter in your area.

Let your voice be heard. Don‘t be gullible enough to believe that when the Establishment speaks it can never be wrong. Dare to think for yourself and be like the Bereans who searched the Scriptures to know for themselves whether what they were being told was true. Fear God, but, if need be, do not fear to incur the disfavor of the powers that be. Dare to believe that if you have faith like a mustard seed, mountains can be moved. It is still true: with God all things are possible.

Yes, you may have to pay a price if you decide to become actively involved. But you will be in good company if you do.

In good company with Elijah who had to flee from the wrath of a wicked king.

With Micaiah, the son of Imlah, whom Ahab hated.

With Jeremiah put in a dungeon.

With John the Baptist who was beheaded.

With Paul who ran the whole gamut of persecution.

With Calvin and Luther who suffered so much.

And with all the martyrs whose blood has been the seed of the church.

The CRC with its Reformed heritage, has a tremendous potential for service also in the U.S. and Canada today as the sorely needed salt of the earth and light of the world, if only we hold fast what we have.

With God all things are possible!

We too are here for just such a time as this.