“SURPRISED BY JOY”

Evan K. Gibson in his C. S. Lewis, Spinner of Tales. a guide to that author’s fiction, recalls Lewis’ early Screwtape Letters, a series of imaginary letters which one devil writes to another about conducting their campaign against God as “the Enemy” (p. 108). More than once Screwtape “describes God as a hedonist at heart. This derogatory word, which usually means one who spends his life seeking and enjoying pleasure, is used ironically to express a great truth about the divine nature. The love which is at the center of the Trinity, of course, produces pleasure, pleasure for all creatures who are in harmony with God.

“Lewis even has Screwtape quote from Psalm 16, ‘At His right hand are “pleasures for evermore’”. . . . He admits that ‘the Enemy’ invented pleasures, and that all of the researches of hell have not been able to produce a single joy. God has filled His world with hot baths, cool drinks, fragrant mornings, and breathtaking sunsets and, to the disgust and misery of Hell, delights in seeing His creatures enjoying themselves.”

It is highly significant that Lewis entitled his autobiography which details the story of his conversion to the Christian Faith , Surprised by Joy.

These observations highlight an important tru th which ought to have more attention than we at times give it. Today we have to oppose a degenerating society that, as predicted (2 Tim. 3:4), can be characterized as being “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God,” and as Christian “soldiers,” we need to be disciplined to endure hardship (2:3). We must not, however, overlook God’s Word’s stress on the joys of His children. We need to emphasize that for our own and for our children’s encouragement, as well as for a proper Christian testimony in this world.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we must trust “in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17). Our Lord taught us that He is “the vine” and we are “the branches” (John 15:5ff.) . Any branch which is separated from the vine will produce nothing , wither and be discarded. The Lord wants us to thrive and be productive, to rely in prayer upon Him, and to be guided by His commandments toward such productive living for Him. And He adds, ”These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” That is the way of Psalm 16 to “fulness of joy” and “pleasures for evermore.”

PDJ

RETHINKING CONGREGATIONALISM (JANUARY OUTLOOK, p. 22)

I would like to respond to the article of my names’ sake in the January ‘86 issue of this magazine. Though we agree on many things, I would like to express my disagreement with this particular article. I do not think that the situation in the CRC at the present time warrants “a parting of ways.” Readers of this magazine know that I am far from happy about many things going on in the CRC today, and we must do what we can to change those things and bring the church back to a more confessional basis. We need to awaken a lot more members of the church to what is going on, and we need to be more firm and adamant in our refusal to go along with unscriptural tendencies. There is far too much apathy and complacency among the general membership as well as the leaders. We must pray for a genuine confessional renewal in our churches, and work hard to achieve it. This is our task at the present time, as I see it, rather than abandoning ship.

Let me respond more specifically with a number of points:

1. I sense a certain “defeatist” attitude in the article of my colleague: “We are dreaming if we think that we can . . . bring the Liberal mind back to sound orthodoxy.” “If we remain, we will lose everything we think we can regain.” “If (there) is not ground enough for action now, nothing in the future will be either.” Etc. I fear that such an attitude will only hasten that which we fear the most. It sounds too much like Elijah: “I am the only one left.” God calls us to be faithful in doing our task and “contending earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints,” and we must leave the results to Him. If we give up and sit back and do nothing, we are only hastening the demise of the CRC as a Reformed church. Throughout history God has often used a few people to bring about great change (think of Gideon, Josiah, Luther, Calvin, etc.). Defeatism never gets one anywhere. We may be discouraged at times (I am too), but we shouldn’t be defeatist. We may not be able to bring the liberal mind back to orthodoxy, but we may be instrumental in bringing the church back to a more confessional stand. 2. I realize that my colleague was in the Netherlands recently, and what he saw there did not exactly revive his optimism. I can fully understand that, and I can see that this also influenced the writing of his article. I have often said myself that in the Geref. Kerken the “verontrusten” (concerned) always bark but never bite. It is a fact that they tend constantly to “move back the line’” at which the final stand will be taken. That is sad but true. And in that regard Schaeffer’s warning is apropos. It happens so easily. so imperceptibly. It’s the old frog story: heat him up slowly and he will boil to death. I don’t want to underestimate the danger we face in this respect. We see it clearly in the Geref. Kerken. (A considerable number of people, of course, have left for more orthodox church communions, but not in any organized way).

At the same time, we must keep at least two things in mind: The situation in the CRC is not by any means identical with that in the Geref. Kerken. We may be following them. (Contrary to what the Council of CRC’s in Canada said recently, I believe we are more influenced by what goes on in the Geref. Kerken than we care to admit.) But the situations are far from identical. And one may not just leave the church at the first sign of defection. There is no perfect church on earth, and defects afflict the best churches. Just because a church takes the first step to apostasy does not yet warrant a parting of the ways.

Secondly, it is not an inexorable law of history that things have to go the way they did in the Dutch Gereformeerde Kerken. We are responsible agents, and we can only blame ourselves if we continue to compromise. That is our decision. We are not pawns on the chess-board of (ecclesiastical) history. Personally, I say that if the CRC ever gets to the place where the Gereformeerde Kerken is today, I will no longer be a member of our church. I could not in good conscience before the Lord remain a member of such a church. I hope that if and when that time should come for us, I would have the courage and integrity to stand by my words, also and especially for the sake of my children. In any case, it will remain my decision, and I will be responsible for it.

Interlude: I realize full well that in a real sense those who remain loyal to the confessions of the churcl). are not those who “leave.” They are the continuation of the true church, as my colleague also puts it: “We are not withdrawing from the Chr. Ref. Church.” H. De Cock and the “Vrijgemaakten” said the same thing, and they were both right. But the point is that in actual practice there is a separation, a parting of the ways, and that always involves some separation among brothers too. That must never be undertaken lightly. Here I would like to reiterate what G. Kamminga wrote in the same issue of OUTLOOK: “I would urge all the members who want to liberalize the church to pack up and peddle their liberal ideologies elsewhere, and take the ministers and schools who think as they do with them.” Amen!

3. There is still a large number of members in the CRC who want to hold to our confessions and who are concerned about what is going on in the CRC. We must stimulate them to action rather than abandon them at this time. We need a bit of Asaph’s spirit: “If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’ I would have betrayed this generation of your children” (Ps. 73:15). 4. When does the time come to “abandon” the church, to leave the sinking ship? That is not an easy question and the answer does not come easily either. I do not agree with those who say that they will only “leave” when they get kicked out (as happened to De Cock). I believe there may come a time when a believer is duty bound to leave a corrupt church. As I said before, for me as a Reformed believer that time has now come in the Gereformeerde Kerken. I thank God for men like Lindeboom, Kwast, VanDyk, Runia and others who continue to oppose the liberalism within their churches, but I believe they are fighting a losing battle and would have a greater and more beneficial influence if they left those churches.

I believe too, that local circumstances can make a difference. What is the situation in one’s own local congregation? Is it possible to hear good preaching and belong to a congregation where there is biblical discipline? That will influence one’s decision. It is never easy to say just where the line is beyond which one may not go. I believe the following quotation from James M. Wilson, which appeared in a magazine some years ago, has real merit:

Her (the Church’s) constitution, as it lies in the Word of God, is perfect; but defects still exist in the best churches. And it is far from easy—is it possible?—to prepare a minute statement of the marks of a true church, which will render easy the task of deciding in every case, absolutely and at once, whether a society can be reckoned a true church or not. And yet, very intelligent Christian admits that a church, once genuine in its character, may become completely apostate. To draw the line and say, just here it ought to be abandoned, is not easy. The truth is, all questions of this sort must, as they occur, be left for decision, under the guidance of general principles, to the enlightened judgment, pure hearts, and honest purposes of the faithful in Christ (orig. ital.).

One must consider also the biblical evidence: the O.T. Israelites were stiff-necked and hard-hearted and forsook the Lord time and again. But He did not abandon them, though He punished them for their sins. Some members of the Corinthian church denied the resurrection (I Cor. 15); the Galatian church had been “bewitched” by false teachers; the church in Sardis had a name that she was alive, but she was dead; the church in Laodicea was neither hot nor cold. Yet all are addressed as churches of the Lord Jesus Christ. This should give room for caution when we consider secession. Christ’s prayer in John 17, though often misused by liberals, should have proper use and weight for those who love the truth. The multiplicity of churches nowadays should not sit lightly with us. Even the Reformed family is badly divided. Surely this gives food for thought.

5. We must also look at the wider ecclesiastical situation. If we leave the CRC, where do we go? Start another Ref. church? I believe we would have the duty to unite with an existing Reformed church which is faithful to the creeds (e.g. Canadian Reformed, Free Reformed, etc.). (I sometimes long for a church communion where we could all be one, as we ought to be). But is the grass always greener on the other side of the fence? Are the church-communions mentioned above free from problems, and would we like everything that takes place there? What is more, have they had a positive and noticeable effect on Canadian culture? Does history not teach us that church separation often brings with it separation in other spheres—school, labor unions (CLAC) etc.? Is that not a sad situation? Must that always take place? Is there no room for cooperation in non-ecclesiastical organizations? Must we have a proliferation of schools and other organizations? The whole business makes me very sad at times. And that is something we must take into consideration before acting hastily. Even groups that have left the CRC recently are not united. Is that the way to go? Church splits (secessions) often have ramifications that go far beyond the church.

I realize that some of my “conservative” friends will not be too happy with this article. That is too bad, but does not bother me too much. I think my record is clear as to where I stand. I am as concerned as anyone about the situation in the CRC, and I have not been silent about it. At the same time, I want to do what is right and pleasing in the sight of the Lord and best for His church. For that reason I have written this article.

J. Tuininga, Lethbridge, Alta.

MID-AMERCA REFORMED SEMINARY

Though I am a board member of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, I am not writing this so much as a board member but just as a personal note to prospective seminarians. To them I say: Consider MidAmerica for your seminary training. I can assure you that you will not regret it. You will get.a goo.d solid, basic Reformed training in theology which will stand you in good stead throughout your ministry.

At our most recent board meeting, a fourth professor was given an appointment—in the field of systematic theology. (By the time you read this we should know his decision). If that appointment is accepted, Mid-America will have four full-time professors, all able and well qualified men. The basic faculty will be in place then for the time being, and it is a faculty of which we can be proud and for which we can be thankful. Students, give them a try and you will find out for yourselves. You will receive a good Reformed perspective for the work of ministry.

The student body is still small. That has disadvantages, no doubt, but also advantages: small, closeknit community, where there is ample time for private talks and advice from the faculty. Bigger is not always better. Please do not be intimidated by those who will try to discourage you from going to Mid-America. We are here to help you as much as we can, and you will have the support of a growing number of people. Be willing to stand up for your convictions and to take a few knocks, if necessary. It will prepare you to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and for the inevitable knocks that come along later in the ministry. The church needs people with backbone, people who are willing to stand alone if necessary. who do not always go along with the stream.

So once again: Think seriously about coming to Mid-America, young men. I wholeheartedly recommend it. Your training will in no way be inferior.

Jelle Tuiningo. Lethbridge, Alta.