“Remove not the ancient landmark , which thy fathers have set” (Proverbs 22:28).

The words of the text mean, literally, that if you have a piece of land and there is a corner post that marks the boundary line between your and your neighbor’s property, you may not move it.

To the west of our home, on a clear day one can see a conspicuous peak, Mount Diablo. It was first observed by Spanish explorers in 1772, but for 500 years before that the Indians had been using it as a landmark. In 1851 it was selected as the initial point for land surveys of Northern California and Nevada. Base and meridian lines originated at that peak and it is a reference point in all property deeds. Mount Diablo is an import ant landmark.

Using “landmark” as a figure of speech, we mean by it a fundamental principle. In general, the landmark for the Christian is the Bible. Although we may speak of secondary landmarks, such as the doctrine of the covenant, in the broadest sense, the Bible is our landmark.

The text says, “Remove not the ancient landmark.” Of course, one couldn’t actually remove this landmark, but one can abandon or ignore it, and many are doing that. Therefore this subject is an important one in our time.

ARE WE IN DANGER?

Are we in danger of removing the ancient landmark which our fathers have set? Yes, that danger has always existed and is present today. Recall some facts of history. Read the second chapter of the book of Judges. The families of Israel occupied their assigned possessions. No doubt every plot of ground had its landmark. Joshua had died and the elders of Israel who had seen the mighty works of Jehovah were gone. As a new generation arose, the people forsook their covenant God and served false gods! The same thing happened again and again. It happened in the New Testament church. At the time John’s gospel was written, a false religion threatened the church. We read about Demas who forsook the faith and went to Thessalonica. Paul wrote to Timothy, “But the Spirit saith expressly that in the latter times some shall fall away fro m the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons” (I Tim. 4:18).

The voice of history speaks to us! Our thoughts turn to the Reformation, especially at this season. Then too the Church had forsaken the landmark. But the Bible was again discovered. It disclosed that salvation is by grace through faith without works. Did the church remain steadfast on that landmark after the Reformation? No, the church again drifted from the landmark and succumbed to rationalism. Throughout the world, in country after country, we see evidence of current departure from the landmark. Consider the Netherlands, from which many of our forefathers came. The Reformed churches there long stood firmly and solidly on the Biblical landmark. Christian principles, like leaven permeated various facets of society-labor, politics and education. Then there was a drift from the land mark, slow at first but ever gaining momentum. If you want to know how far the churches there have drifted from the landmark, ask some of your friends who may have visited there recently. The same thing has happened and is happening in our United States. In 1924, in the large Presbyterian Church a document known as the Auburn Affirmation, was signed by some 1300 ministers. This document affirmed that belief in such doctrines as the virgin birth, the miracles and the physical resurrection of Jesus, were not essential to salvation. More importantly, it stated, in effect, that the infallibility of Scripture was not the ultimate landmark. A great church had departed from the landmark.

Can It Happen To Us?

Is it possible for the Christian Reformed Church to follow the same course? Do we see signs that indicate that we are beginning to forsake that landmark? I do not like to call these facts to your attention, but they are of public record. The changes have not come overnight. Thirty or forty years ago a protest was made to the denomination’s synod that a prominent man on the Board of Trustees of Calvin College and Seminary, publicly stated that he did not believe that Eve was formed from the rib of Adam. The protest urged that this man should not serve on the Board of Trustees, but nothing came of it. Some professors of Calvin College do not hesitate to espouse theories of creation, contrary to what we find in the Book of Genesis. Several years ago, a minister expressed his views in writing about the so-called contradictions in the first three Gospels.

Because he couldn’t reconcile these differences he concluded that there were errors in the Bible. Though these may be somewhat isolated instances of departure from the landmark they are nevertheless reasons for concern.

It is one thing for individuals to have these divergent views of Scripture, but it is quite another matter when a church takes an official stand that opens the door to divergent and questionable views of the Bible which are a departure from the church’s historical position. I mentioned the Auburn Affirmation. This constituted the official position of the Presbyterian Church USA. It was a departure from the landmark. The result was tragic as that church went down hill fast. It reminds one of a Biblical example. Although the Old Testament Church before the reign of Ahab was shot through with idolatry, when Ahab, with his wife Jezebel, took the throne, Baal worship officially replaced Jehovah worship and apostacy soon reached a new low. Elijah struggled valiantly to stem ‘ this tide.

So far, nothing in our church has happened comparable to what happened in the Presbyterian Church. Thank God for that. But I fear the ominous direction of the church’s course.

Some years ago Synod approved a document known as Report 44, which was intended to clarify our stand on the Bible. Although many good things are found in Report 44, in dealing with the first chapters of Genesis, it opens the door to different interpretations. The consequences of this appeared in later synod cases. A number of years ago, a man who questioned whether the serpent spoke to Eve was admitted to the ministry although at the resurrection of Jesus, we read that there was a great earthquake, this man also questioned whether this was a real earthquake. It seems that he thought that it might have been some sort of “inner earthquake.”

Two years ago another man applying for candidacy in our church revealed his doubts about the opening chapters of Genesis. He wouldn’t answer unequivocally whether Adam was a historical person, gave ambiguous responses to questions about whether there was a real serpent that spoke, etc. Synod turned him down. Although a number of people were disappointed, we think Synod did right. But it must be pointed out that the majority of the Board of Trustees and the majority of the faculty of the Seminary recommended that this man be declared a candidate.

It is important to observe that some of our church leaders contended that “within the framework of Report 44” this man could be accepted. The approval of Report 44 has indicated a change of direction, or, as the saying goes, been a “straw in the wind.” In it I see a drift away from the landmark. The full impact of this official statement of the position of the church is yet to be felt. The soundness of a local church will not long remain at a higher level than the position taken by its Synod. The adage that water finds its own level is applicable here too. If a member of a local church denies the factuality of parts of the opening chapters of Genesis and then if the consistory seeking to maintain that factuality appeals to Synod, it will lose out because Synod has taken a stand that can be interpreted in different ways. Thus the appeal process is largely vitiated because of the stand a Synod has taken.

Something else has developed as a result of this hazy view of Scripture. It is alleged that the Bible is culturally conditioned, or time conditioned. We are told by some that one must consider the times in which the Bible was written. People believed certain things then, but in this enlightened age we now believe differently. People had a certain lifestyle then, but times have changed. We must adjust to present conditions and lifestyles. We must fit the Bible into our present mold. Such arguments raise the question, “Is the Bible as landmark still the touchstone of truth?” Regarding, for example, the issue of women in office, we have been influenced by the women’s liberation movement. Even though there isn’t a single example in the Old or the New Testament of a woman who was officially appointed to an office, we have opened the door to that and are trying to open it wider. The creation ordinance regarding the relationship of the man to the woman is being ignored or denied.

Let me use a final example that indicates that we are drifting from the landmark. Have you noticed the vast difference in our attitude toward what we used to call worldliness? A recent synod’s stand on the dance was hailed by some people as meaning, “Hurrah! Now we can dance!” Let’s look beyond the dance at the principle that underlies this issue, for the dance is more of an effect than a cause. What is the cause? We have lost sight of the biblical teaching of the “antithesis,” that is the God-ordained cleavage between the children of light and the children of darkness. I said the antithesis was God-ordained. It originated in Paradise when God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed . . . .” The seed of the woman, in Christ, has been redeemed. The seed of the serpent remains in darkness. The idea of the antithesis stems from the doctrine of sin and grace. God has maintained the antithesis from the beginning and He will maintain it until the end, but Satan has always tried to wipe out the line of demarkation. When did God decide to destroy the old world? When the “sons of God” began to marcy the “daughters of men.” Our adoption of various practices of the world is evidence that we are losing sight of the importance of the antithesis. Listen to what Paul says about the lifestyle of the believer, ‘“. . . we once walked according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived in the lusts of the flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest—but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, (by grace have ye been saved) and raised us up with him and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:2–6). Many more references could be given to indicate that the child of God, rather than copying the world, has risen above the things of the world. We are in the world, but not of the world.

In 1928, the Synod took a position on three common forms of amusement : dancing, card playing and movies. Many, today, make a joke of these pronouncements. Instead of dismissing them, we ought to examine these pronouncements in relation to the Bible’s doctrine of the antithesis. About card playing, let me say that many of us waste too much time playing cards. Many sound reasons were given why we should avoid the movies, but today, reviews of movies are given in our periodicals. Some have reported that recommended movies are not only immoral, but convey an anti-Christian way of life. Have the movies improved over the last fifty years? Is the dance more acceptable today than fifty years ago? No. We have changed and become less conscious of the antithesis. We have lost our spiritual sensitivity. We have drifted from the landmark.

Have I painted a dark picture of the situation as we commemorate the Reformation? If the picture is dark, there can be light.

Earlier in this article I referred to Mount Diablo. In California, every acre of land, every section, every township is laid out from the lines that have their beginning in this peak. Mount Diablo can be compared to the Bible. There is something about Mount Diablo I haven’t told you. Many years ago, when we were kids, there was a huge beacon light on top of this mountain peak. At night, even at a distance of 100 miles, you could see that light flash as it turned. Before the coming of radar and other sophisticated instruments it guided airplanes to a safe landing. That beacon light has disappeared long ago. But the light of God’s Word still shines. It will never go out. It is a lamp unto our Feet and a light upon our pathway. That Word tells us of Jesus the True Light. Have no doubts about the landmark. Jesus didn’t. He said, “It is written-it is written-it is written.” He said, “The Scriptures cannot be broken.” He said, “Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass away from the law until all things be accomplished.”

Commemoraung the Reformation (and the 125th anniversary of our church) is a time of thanksgiving and praise to God. It must also be a time of examination, confession and repentance. And it must be a time for a new resolve to let Scripture and Scripture alone be our landmark.

“Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.”

Note: This article by Rev. Simon Viss, a retired Christian Reformed minister at Ripon, California is from a Reformation Day sermon presented at the First Church on Oct. 24, 1982.