Dear Christian Reformed Church, Why do you forsake your middle name?

You were my mother church, the church I grew up in, and I have tremendous loyalty to you, for you nurtured me and cared for me. I learned the catechism in church and catechism classes. I was trained in Christian schools that were financed by hard working and sacrificially giving parents who put their money where their mouths were. I have argued against Independent Baptists and told them of the advantages of a denomination. For example,

1.) Church discipline: If a church began to deny the faith, other churches through classis or synod would corral the errant church and correct the situation. In a congregational church there is no means for such correction, as each church is the highest authority.

2.) Training of ministers: With a denominationally controlled seminary, the church can guarantee a Reformed education. In an independent church what guarantee is there that the next “dominie” will be trained in the Bible and the Reformed faith?

3.) Denominational projects: Numerous projects can be undertaken that would otherwise be impossible for a single church. How could a single church by itself support a Christian radio program? Examples of many churches making light work are foreign missionaries, radio and TV broadcasts such as the Back-to-God Hour, denominational publications such as the Psalter Hymnal, catechetical and Sunday school materials.

Being in an area where the nearest CRC is over an hour’s drive away, I decided to go to a Reformed Baptist church. I was impressed with the solid Biblical preaching in the style of Rev. Al Martin and the deep commitment to some Reformed doctrines. Even the average pew sitter knew the doctrines of total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistable grace, and perseverance of the saints. Not only were these topics being boldly proclaimed from the pulpit, but they were also believed in the pew. The average church goer would mention at least one of them every Lord‘s Day in prayer or praise.

But after a honeymoon, I realized that although they were Reformed, they also were Baptists. Thus there is a conflict in their thinking. While they were Calvinists in the Five Points, they deny the covenant and the Calvinistic world and life view and are weak in several other areas.

Because they deny the covenant, they deny infant baptism. The children are viewed as objects of evangelism. In fact one parent told me that his child was the “son of the devil” because he did not yet believe. There is no infant dedication, and they are hostile to the idea of a Christian school. The children as a general rule are less well behaved than should be expected of Christian parents. There is no concept of family worship and the children’s church is a little church trying to win souls to Christ.

Secondly, they are not totally convinced that the Lord is the Lord of all of life. Dr. Vernon McGee said that if Christ is king now, He is not doing a very good job. While the Reformed Baptists do not entirely subscribe to such a view, they do not view the world as a Calvinist does. Thus, there is no impetus for Christian schools, no reason to claim all of life for Christ.

Thirdly, they do not have an evening service. They do not preach from the Heidelberg Catechism. In their desire to be Biblical, they refuse to consider any man-made documents as part of the church. In fact when I mentioned they should study the catechism, they feared it was a Catholic document. They do not say the 10 commandments or the Apostles Creeds. One minister (or elder as they prefer to say) has been taught at a seminary. The other two elders who have served have not had seminary training. Thus there is no knowledge of Hebrew and limited knowledge of Greek (the languages in which the Bible was written). They are unsure of church history. The hymnal was a man-centered hymnal with many repetitions.

These criticisms leveled against the Reformed Baptist church do not distinguish the true or false church. Whether the church uses the Psalter or another hymnal that is more man-centered and trite, will not cause the members of the church to go to heaven or hell. Yet the Psalter is a far superior hymnal. After not hearing the Psalms sung, it is a great joy to sing them when I do attend a CRC congregation. My wife who grew up outside the CRC now prefers the psalms to the sentimental slush of “And he walked with me, and he talked with me . . . .” The Psalms are Biblical and God-centered.

The 10 Commandments clearly state God’s desire for our lives and give us a goal in which we can do good works. By not saying the 10 Commandments, the weekly call to examine ourselves and renew our commitment to serve God as He desires us to do is lost.

The second service is also not necessary for salvation. But after going to church in the evenings for years, a deep void has been formed with no evening service. I like to eat and my wife feeds me at least twice a day. But on Sundays I can only get one serving of God’s Word.

I can go on, but do you understand my point? The Reformed Baptist church, while good, is not as good as you once were, because you were a more complete church. You understood the whole counsel of God and acted on it.

I used the past tense, because you are now denying your middle name in word and deed. Errant churches are not corrected and disciplined. Professors at your colleges deny the authority of the Bible and ridicule those who believe in Creation. They twist the Bible to say things it does not say, and ignore things the Bible clearly teaches. I thought you would correct yourself, as I had argued with my Baptist friends you would do. But I do not see that. The training of your ministers has become suspect. And the denominational projects are not always Reformed. Thus instead of the Board of Publications defending and proclaiming the Reformed faith and increasing the amount of Psalms in the Psalter (hymnal), it makes our Reformed heritage like genealogy: great to have such a distinguished line of ancestors but having no impact on the day-to-day operation of life.

You deny your middle name? Why? Having worshipped in the Protestant churches in Belgium and now with a Reformed Baptist Church, I appreciate what a great heritage you have. But don’t deny your middle name. Preach the Word of God TWICE EVERY Sunday. Preach the Heidelberg Catechism. Establish Christian schools. Ensure the covenant is practiced. Discipline the church. Excommunicate those who do not believe. Believe and act on the truths of our heritage as written in the three Doctrinal Standards. Train all ministers in Greek, Hebrew, and the Reformed faith. Don’t give up the faith.

In Christ,

Glenn P. Palmer

Note: The writer is an officer in the U.S. Navy, the son of the late Dr. Edwin H. Palmer, (a CR minister and editor of the NIV Bible) and he has long provided us with the column, “What is my name?” He lives at 453 Wayley St., Portsmouth, RJ02871.