ALL IS NOT WELL IN THE CRC

Anyone who is not a stranger in Jerusalem knows, to say it mildly, that all is not well in the Christian Reformed Church. Much has been written about this condition and in reading this again and again, I recall the Word of the Lord spoken by His servant Hosea in chapter 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

Doesn’t the Church know its proper position any more? In Amos 3:2 the Lord said, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities.”

The words of the prophet Amos still address us today as the New Testamentic Israel, the Church of Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter tells us the same in , Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” “Ye are my witnesses” said Jehovah God to Israel through the mouth of Isaiah. “His people have I formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise” (Is. 43:2l). These words sum up the whole task of the people of God in this world. What a privilege by the grace of Cod to belong to the Church for whom He sacrificed His only begotten Son, the Church He loves so much, that if one would touch it, be would be touching the apple of God’s eye. “Zion on the holy hills, God thy Maker loves thee well.”

But what a responsibility. God hates sin and it grieves Him much when His people commit spiritual adultery with the world. Hc wants to keep His church pure. That is Scripture everywhere. In the days of Isaiah, Hosea, and Amos, the nation of Israel experienced great prosperity, but spiritually, it was in a sad condition. Riches and affluence arc always Satan’s tools with which he tries to destroy the church. Do we not read in Proverbs 30:8, “Give me neither poverty, nor riches. . .”? The reformed genius, Dr. A. Kuyper, once said that in Jesus’ heart there dwells no hatred against the rich, but rather a deep sympathy for their pitiable state, for the service of mammon is exceedingly difficult. Sooner indeed would a camel go through the eye of a needle than a rich man enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  (That is good for us In America to ponder too.) We as part of the western civilization have reached a standard of living unknown in history and the consequences are already visible.

For many, life on earth here looks good; why should we look for a better country? (Heb. 11:16). Yet our citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20). We are pilgrims and strangers here on earth. It is a tragedy that the church has let go of this and even sneers at this in our day. There is also an alarmng lack of the knowledge of the Scripture in our day and age. Personal Bible study becomes more and more a rarity, with sports events, etc., taking priority. Ours is a pleasure-mad society. Tile words of Paul, that physical exercise is of little value, are completely ignored. “Men have become lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” (II Tim. 3:4).

Today in many churches the so-called new hermeneutics is running rampant, and the CRC is no exception. THE OUTLOOK (Torch and Trumpet), has tried to defend the Reformed faith for many years, but are we n0t fighting a losing battle, it seems to me that we want to reform the church on our own terms of human philosophy and not on Scriptural terms. We arc more concerned about love towards our brother than the love of God towards His church. Are we not aware of the seriousness and power of sin?

Among other things, the apostle Paul said in Corinthians 5, that sin in the church works like leaven. It leavens the entire church. Sin spreads like cancer. Paul goes on to say that if there is only one sinner that doesn’t want to repent in the church, deliver him unto Satan. Don’t keep company with him, don‘t even eat with him. This is strong language.

Today, many have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. In II Timothy 3:15 we read, “from such tum away,” and in Revelation 18 we also note, “Come out of Babylon (the nominal church ) my people, that ye he not partakers of her sins.” Finally, John who is called the apostle of love, writes in his second epistle, “If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, . . .” Are we not interested too much in the quantity rather than the quality of the church? Although we read in Revelation 7 that the total number at the elect is called a great multitude, it is also true that throughout the ages, the church is called a small remnant. When this earth was destroyed the first time, only eight people were saved, and Scripture tells us that the days of Noah will return. During the time of the prophet Elijah, there were only seven thousand in the entire nation of Israel who didn’t bow unto Baal. Christ Himself called the church a little flock in Luke 12:32, “Many are called but few are chosen.”

If Luther and Calvin had taken the same attitude which many take today, we might still be in the Roman Catholic Church. Recently a CRC minister wrote that the church is more influenced by the world than most of us realize and.  want to admit. The language of the antithesis has largely become foreign among us.

In our materialistic church of today. the words of the prophet Habakkuk also almost become foreign to us. He said in chapter 3:17, 18, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls, yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

As long as heaven stanch on pillars firm and sure

But if his children forsake my law appointed,

And walk not in the ways decreed by mine Anointed;

Then truly will I come in holy indignation

And chastise them with rods for all their provocation.

HERMAN WOLTJER Zeeland, Michigan

   

SIGNS OF THE LORD‘S RETURN

The days immediately preceding-the Savior’s return shall be perilous, according to II Timothy 3 and Matthew 24. With potentially world-destroying missiles in the hands of some of the world’s most wicked rulers, and hatreds general, could times ever have been more perilous than now?

Then too, since Noah‘s Hood could there ever have been a time when opportunities for eating, drinking and merry-making have abounded as currently? And the ever increasing number of alcoholics and drug addicts are but a few of the horrifying results. At the same time such calamities as famines and pestilences are raging in many regions, as was also prophesied.

Do you believe that such extreme iniquities as homosexuality and abortion, both of which now run into the millions in our land, will never be punished? To believe that you must close your eyes and cars to the teachings of secular history as well as those of God’s Word. God’s Word says “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Ps, 9:17).

When also considering that all the nations are floundering on the verge of bankruptcy (our own included) and considering all the strange phenomena that are causing men’s hearts to fail them for fear of the things that are coming to pass (Luke 21:26), how dare we neglect my duty to serve as watchmen upon Zions walls?

The “man of sin” referred to in II Thessalonians 2:3 who must appear first , could represent fast-growing Communism and the prophesied great apostacy is currently, clearly and universally evident. Although we do not yet experience tribulations they are endured by Christians in other lands, as Corrie Ten Boom has been reminding us.

Finally, could the materially prosperous times that preceded the world’s first judgment, namely the flood, ever have found as close a parallel as they do in ours? Therefore the Lord’s return in judgment could now be as sudden and unexpected as was the flood in those times, coming, as is a lightning flash (Matt. 24:17) and as “a thief in the night,” “in such an hour as ye think not” (Matt. 24:43–44).

REV. J. E. BRINK Kalamazoo, Michigan

LOVING MY MOTHER

I loved my Mother dearly. She gave me all the love a Mother could ever give any child. She brought me to Christ. She took very seriously the question, “Do you promise and intend to instruct this child, as soon as he is able to understand, in the aforesaid doctrine (God’s Word and the articles of the Christian faith) and cause him to be instructed therein to the utmost of your power?”

Indeed, she was faithful in keeping that promise. She nurtured me until one day I could appear, first before the consistory and then before the whole congregation, to declare my faith in God publicly and claim the covenant promise of my baptism as my very own.

Even then her concern for me did not end. She was deeply interested in my spiritual development. Continually I was admonished to grow in sanctification, to become better acquainted with God’s holy infallible Word, and apply that Word to every area of my life.

How thankful I was that she continually encouraged me, until even at the ri pe age of thirty-seven I returned to the class room where I struggled for five and a half years until I finally graduated from our Seminary. How I appreciated her encouragement throughout those long years. And even during the times when things didn’t go so well, Mother continually told me that I should prepare myself for the ministry of the Word and Sacraments.

My Mother was really thrilled when, by God’s grace, I was first declared a candidate and then ordained as a Pastor of the local congregation to serve as one of the Master‘s undershepherds.

Yes, Mother was happy, and proud. She had done her job well.

Then in 1967 Mother began to get ill. I think deep down she realized what caused her illness, but she refused any treatment. Slowly but surely her condition worsened. Then in 1972 it took a more serious turn.

This time there was no doubt at all as to her condition; it wns even diagnosed as terminal. Some of her children encouraged her to take the proper medicine; she did so off and on, but she listened to those who had little knowledge about proper medication but who had talked to Drs. Barth and Bultmann. The result was that her condition deteriorated rapidly. She went into a coma. On June 21, 1978 at about 4:30 P.M. the doctors gave up all hope.

Today, I and a small number of relatives still haven’t given up hope, for we realize that all things are possible with God.

If things continue the way they are, Mother can’t live much longer. The time seems to be close at hand when we may have to say good-bye to her. If that should happen we will have to look for another mother. There are many young children in our family who need a mother‘s love and concern. But I am sure that God in His good providence will provide whatever we need.

One thing is sure; my Father certainly loves us. He knows all the efforts that have been made to restore Mother. In fact, He has provided the remedies. But He has told us often that we will have to choose between His remedies and those of relatives who think that they know more than He does. With Father’s help we will try to do the very best for our Mother. If God should be so gracious as to bring her back to health, she will have to learn to listen to Father much more than she has done in the past few years. That is the only way she can be the Bride she was meant to be.

Mother, if you can hear me, listen again to Father. He is the Only One who can help you. Won’t you do that, Mother? Please?

A concerned son,

REV. FRED GUNNINK