Not long ago a friend received a letter from a kinsman who is a pastor in the Gereformeede Kerken Nederland. The Dutch pastor who serves a large congregation in a metropolitan area wrote that those who are questioning the historicity of the Bible are no longer restricting their attacks to the opening chapters of Genesis but are now calling into question the entire Word. Although such news is alarming we need not be surprised. To call into question the integrity of any one part of Scripture will eventually result in undermining the authority of all of Scripture. That is why the present situation in the Christian Reformed Church is such a serious one.
It is a well known fact that Professor John Stek has had problems with the historicity of the opening chapters of Genesis. The April 12, 1987 issue of the Grand Rapids Press reports Dr. John Kromminga as saying that the Board of Trustees of Calvin College and Seminary after investigating Rev. Stek’s position gave him “a very mild slap on the hand.” Professor Stek himself is quoted in the same article as saying, “Depending on who you talk to, I was given a reprimand or a vote of confidence.”
Dr. Howard Van Till of Calvin College in his book The Fourth Day has described the opening chapters of Genesis as “Primeval history” not to be taken literally. Now the committee appointed to study the views of Dr. Van Till along with those of two of his colleagues has presented its re port which was adopted by the board of trustees in their winter meeting in February. We hear the board saying that the views of Dr. Van Till “fall within the limits set by our denomination’s guidelines for how to interpret the Bible.” Dr. Van Till is commended along with his colleagues for “their deep devotion to Christ and their diligence in subjecting their work to His service.”
I can’t help but recall the visit of Dr. Harry Kuitert to Grand Rapids almost thirty years ago. The Dutch scholar addressed a group of ministers and students gathered on the Franklin Street campus of Calvin College. Dr. Kuitert acknowledged freely that he had problems with the opening chapters of Genesis and their historicity. But said although you may question the opening chapters of Genesis you may not question the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thirty years have passed and those who have followed events in the Netherlands know that not only the opening chapters of Genesis are being questioned but also the vicarious atonement and the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And that should not surprise us because if Genesis 1 may be questioned, why not John 3 and Luke 24?
We are told that Professor Van Till is deeply committed to Jesus Christ and that is not to be questioned. But then who was to question the sincerity of Dr. Kuitert thirty years ago when he said that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was not to be questioned? A person’s sincerity is not the question before us at the present time. The question is rather, where will Professor Van Till’s position lead him or the students who sit in his classroom or those who read his book? How long will it take before the historicity of one of the great events of redemptive history is questioned? And then what will the church’s reaction be? Just a few years ago Professor Stek received a “mild slap on the hand.” At most the Board ofTrustees of Calvin College shook a finger at Professor Van Till as they encouraged him “to be as clear and complete in the future as he can be with regard to these issues so that the church will not be needlessly disturbed.” The church is becoming accustomed to a view of Scripture which calls into question the historicity of its teachings. And where will that lead us? How long will it be before we find ourselves without the Gospel?
When will the Christian Reformed Church wake up and learn from the experience of other churches? The Dutch pastor wrote my friend, “Now the entire Word is under question.” Don’t we see the same thing happening in our church? We must wake up before it is too late!
Beverly CRC Wyoming, MI
