I was an elder delegate at the 1985 Synod. Some of the important questions that came to my mind were: Why is there division in our denomination? What is the cause? Why so much confusion? Is there perhaps a lack of knowledge of God’s Word? Is God’s Word too difficult or unclear? Are we not able to comprehend it? At the Synod I came to the conclusion that the problem is much deeper. Many in the C.R.C. do not want to be in subjection to the Word of God. They are reasoning without regard to God’s revealed will. Knowing God’s Word and yet putting our own reasoning above it is “higher criticism.”
The decision was made to change our confession, but there was no mention made of God’s inspired phrase, “husband of one wife” which is found in Timothy. Our only rulebook was neglected, or silently set aside. During the debate on women in the office of deacon I made the remark that higher criticism was used. After the session a (well meaning?) pastor wanted to take me verbally to the woodshed. Could it be that some ministers have education but not much spiritual wisdom? Some have the wisdom of the new hermeneutics (which is not new at all). The serpent in the garden used a similar approach to God’s Word, and through the ages it has kept coming back. Karl Barth gave some of this “wisdom” to the Reformed Churches.
At Synod we were often reminded to work in the Spirit of unity. This is wonderful, but our unity must be the result ofChristian love in obedience to God’s Word. “If you love me, keep my commandments!” Even the demons have unity, but their unity is not to God’s glory. We must know and believe that God is sovereign. This is the only way back for our Christian Reformed Church, the only way to true Christian unity. For a long time I had a struggle with the doctrine of dual predestination. This lasted until I was convinced of the absolute sovereignty of God. As a denomination we must also be convinced of the absolute sovereignty of God, whose Word is sure and unchangeable.
In my committee we had to study the liturgical dance. Why? Are our people so happy about their salvation that they are not able to sit still in church for one hour? Or do we want entertainment? Should we replace a part of the formal worship service with the dance? Israel had the dance in the worship service on one occasion, but on that occasion they worshipped not God but the golden calf. And God was not pleased. Perhaps it would be more glorifying of God’s kingdom if we started to teach the antithesis again. We should be a people separated unto God. Psalm I begins, “Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of God, and on this law doth he meditate day and night.” We may not drift along with the world and the spirit of the time. Often Christian liberty is interpreted wrongly in our circles. The Biblical liberty is to be set free from the condemnation of sin, to be free to serve our Saviour. By grace we are able to fight against the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh. Parents, please remember the covenant vow that you have given.
After the overtures against women deacons were voted down, a concerned pastor asked the question, “What now? What can we do?” One delegate said later, “I am sick of it and I give up!” No, brother, we are in the militant church and the battle must go on until we are in the church triumphant. Our first responsibility is to our family and our local church. The promise of the King of the church is, “be faithful and you shall receive the crown of life.”
At the end of our Synod the President of Synod spoke about growing pains in the C.R.C. Is it possible that the pain is more like that of the hardening of the arteries? Not only the issue of women in church office, but the reasoning that culture and time limit the authority of God’s Word; this is the basic cause of our sickness. The only remedy is the sovereign Word of God which is able to bring us back to health and unity.
I do not want to be only negative. There are also good things to report. Many wonderful Christians were at Synod, men who are faithful. We can be thankful for them. I met some of the candidates, young men with biblical convictions. This is also a reason to be thankful. We must pray for them and support them. Pray also for the editor of the Banner, that the Lord may give him wisdom and understanding. He has a great responsibility in our Christian Reformed Church.
Brothers, let us not be thoughtless slaves of narrow tradition; but let us neither be slaves to the opinions of men, who do not know God or love His Word. Let us be neither narrow minded nor broad minded as the world counts these things. Let us, rather, be biblically minded and subject to Christ Who is the King of His church.
Thomas Spriensma lives at 1994 Quincy, Grandville, MI 49418.