It is understandable that members of the Christian Reformed Church are extremely concerned about developments in the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland. There is no need for me to elaborate these affairs, since The Outlook is keeping you informed. While publicizing this information is necessary, it is in danger of one-sidedness, looking only at the negative news coming from the Netherlands without rejoicing over the good news. It should not be forgotten that there are more reformed denominations than the GKN, and that these churches sincerely wish to remain reformed and reformational.
One of these churches is the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland. (In order not to confuse, I will leave the name untranslated.) Her 1980 Synod accepted the ecclesiastical fellowship offered to her by the CRC. One of the most important points of this fellowship is, that CRC ministers visiting the Netherlands are allowed to preach in a Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerk, if this is the only denomination in the Netherlands in which they want to preach. This fellowship also implies that both churches have opened the Lord’s Table for each other’s members.
Because of this relationship it might be helpful to your members to know more about this Dutch church. I will first describe briefly the history of the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken, and then give some characteristics and a description of her relation to other churches.
History of the Denomination
The year 1892 is a very important one in the history of the Dutch churches, for on the 17th ofJune the Unification (Vereniging) took place in which the Church of the 1834-Secession, until then called Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerk, and the Church of the Nonconformists (Dolerenden, 1886) united. The name of this “new” church was: Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland, and her most famous leader was Dr. Abraham Kuyper.
Although this was a memorable event, still regarded by many as an act of God, this Unification also meant a break with some church members who were not ready to unite. For some time some ministers and congregations had been objecting to merging with the Nonconformist churches. These complaints resulted in a petition, written by Rev. Van Lingen and Rev. J. Wisse. These were, in short, their objections:
a. Church Polity: Never bad a congregation been consulted in this matter; this unification was based on an hierarchical decision. The local congregations had to do what Synod told them. This was in conflict with Reformed church order.
b. Historical: Nonconformism was not the same as Secession. Some Noncomformist churches could not be regarded as confessionally reformed churches. Besides, in many places mutual love between the two churches was totally absent.
c. Doctrinal: The main objective was the issue of “presupposed regeneration” as taught by Dr. A. Kuyper. These teachings were not according to the Scriptures.
When the Synod rejected the petition the churches of Noordeloos, Teuge and Zierikzee informed their classis and the Dutch government, that they did not go along with the Unification. At a meeting of these churches in Utrecht it appeared that there were many more who shared the objections. They all wished to remain the continuation of the church of the Secession, holding to the name of Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland.
This church gradually grew through the years. In 1894 a Theological School was established in The Hague , but since 1919 the Seminary is situated in Apeldoom. This seminary is well-known for her scriptural, confessional training. Her professors are Dr. J . Van Genderen (Dogmatics), Dr. B.J. Oosterhoff (Oid Testament), Dr. W . Van’t Spijker (Church History), Dr. W.H. Velema (Ethics, Homiletics) and Dr. J.P. Versteeg (New Testament). All of these professors are renowned scholars in the international Reformed world. The Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken adhere strictly to the Calvinistic creeds as formulated in the Belgic Confession , the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dordt. The General Synod convenes every three years, particular synod every year, whereas classis meets usually twice a year. There are some 65,000 members and 180 congregations.
Relations with Other Dutch Churches
In the past the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken have had contacts with the Gereformeerde Gemeenteo in Nederland, GKN and the Gereformeerde Kerken Vrijgemaakt (art. 3 1). From this latter church a new church separated in 1969, named Nederlands Gereformeerde Kerken (not to be confused with GKN, or with Ned. Hervormde Kerk). With these Nederland Gereformeerde Kerken some Christelijke Gereformeerde congregations have very close contacts. These churches also have an ecclesiastical fellowship with the CRC. For those who are familiar with the sad situation of all Reformed churches in the Netherlands, it is clear that the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken have a position in the middle of this diversity.
Relations with North American Churches
Although Dr. H. Beets visited the synod of the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in 1911 there was no official relationship with the CRC until the 1980 ecclesiastical fellowship.
Many immigrants became members of the CRC; others did not feel at home in this church and this resulted after some conflicts with the Old Christian Reformed Church, in the establishment of the Free Reformed Churches of North America. With these churches the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken have an official relation since 1947. This relatively small church is scattered all over North America and her members are mostly post-war immigrants. One of the ministers is Rev. C. Pronk, who is the pastor of the Free Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. He and his wife are not unknown to the readers of The Outlook.
The ecclesiastical fellowship with the CRC did not imply that contacts with the Free Reformed Churches were reduced.
Characteristic of Church Doctrine
One of the objections against the Unification of 1892 was that against the doctrine of presupposed regeneration as taught by Abraham Kuyper. In short, this theory says that children of believers should be baptized on the assumption they are elected. Should they in the course of their life appear to be unbelievers and therefore not divinely elected, then theirs was not a real baptism!
In the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken nothing is supposed; we have to start with God’s promises. Supposing means “maybe,” but God’s promises are sure, solid as a rock. All baptized children receive the promise of the Covenant. Baptism serves as a testimony that God will forever be our gracious God and Father (Art. 34, Belgic Confession). These promises are true to all those baptized, whether they turn out to be believers or not. But a covenant has two parts; we have to respond in faith to God’s promises; that’s what God demands. This is the characteristic of Christelijke Gereformeerde preaching: promise and demand. Faith is necessary as the answer to what God promises in baptism, for “they are not all Israel, that are of Israel” (Romans 9:6).
In the sermon the congregation has to be urged to deepen her covenant-relationship with the Lord. Faith may not be presupposed; we are all sinners and to every member of the covenant Christ has to become a living reality. Knowing that Christ died for sinners is not enough; you have to know that Christ died for you!
I hope that this article gives readers an idea of what the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland are. In a world in which the Church of Christ has to face more and more problems, it is necessary that churches holding to the Reformed faith stay in close contact although there’s an ocean between them. Let us unite our forces in proclaiming the gospel; let us share Christ’s love in a brotherly fellowship. We need each other; may the Lord use and bless this ecclesiastical fellowship for the sake of His Kingdom!
Note: Mr. Herman J. Selderhuis is a 23–year-old theological student in the seminary of the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in the Netherlands who trace their origins to the 1834 secession. He has visited the U.S. four times and studied at Calvin College. His address is Oogsiplein 21, 7545 HP Enschede, The Netherlands.