In this Old Year-New Year contribution, Rev. Arthur Besteman writes: The church in her witness to the world in this century needs members grounded in the Word, committed to the truth of the Reformed Faith, and convinced that “the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Will you be that kind of member in 1977? Rev. Besteman is pastor of the North St. Christian Reformed Church of Zeeland, Michigan and is Secretary of Reformed Fellowship, Inc.

   

1976 has been a significant year.

In the United States the Bicentennial has been observed with elaborate ceremonies. The Christian Reformed Church commemorated the one-hundredth year of the founding of Calvin College and Seminary. The Reformed Fellowship. the publisher of this periodical, was privileged to observe its twenty–fifth anniversary and to reflect upon the rich blessings received from God in a quarter century of seeking to preserve and to propagate the Reformed faith.

For each of us 1976 has been another year in which we were called to serve the Lord in gratitude for the great salvation which is ours in Christ Jesus.

1976 was also a year spent by many in the feverish pursuit of personal gain and advancement. For many prospect of a promotion and raise was the motivating drive throughout the year.

Others have been primarily interested in accumulating possessions in which they hoped to find happiness. Millions more have thought only about the fun to be found in recreation and other forms of entertainment. The apostle John reminds us, “The world is passing away, and also its lusts” (I John 2:17a). A year spent only in the pursuit of personal gain, increased status, greater possessions, and more fun is one that has been lost.

In contrast stands that which abides. The same apostle says, “the one who does the will of God abides forever.” Let us commit ourselves in the year ahead to doing the will of God.

The Scriptures enjoin us to “pray without ceasing.” The past year has brought increased concern to many within the church. It was the year in which attention was focused upon The Battle for the Bible as Dr. Harold Lindsell confronted the evangelical church world with the erosion found within its ranks in regard to allegiance to the Bible as the inerrant Word of God.

This concern has been reflected within our own church as for the first time in the history of the Christian Reformed Church a man has been admitted to the ministry of the Word and sacraments who publicly called into question the historical actuality of events recorded in Genesis and the Gospel of Matthew.

The growing demand for the ordination of women and for the weakening of the church‘s position in regard to divorce and remarriage is indicative of the readiness of many within the church to interpret or dismiss the teachings of God’s Word to accommodate their own desires which often seem to be dictated by the world which passes away rather than by the Truth which abides.

In such a situation one increasingly hears the following remarks: “What‘s the use?”, “It‘s too late,” “Time is against us,” “The paint of return has been passed.”

Should our attitude he one of pessimistic despair?

Have we forgotten the great promise given by God, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (II Chron. 7:14).

Surely this promise applies to the church also. We are told that the great revival of 1857–1858 began in the Fulton Street prayer meeting in New York and spread through the city, then to other cities in the east, and finally farther west, until in the spring of 1958 a business man traveling from Denver to Boston reported that he found a continuous prayer meeting all along the way. This revival spread and brought new life to thousands of churches throughout the United States. In the New Year let all who love the Lord and His truth unite in prayer on behalf of the church and the great need for reformation within her.

Let all who love the truth and the church founded upon that truth recognize anew the importance of preaching. The Gospel of Mark opens with the preaching of John the Baptist and continues with the preaching of Jesus who went through all the cities and villages saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The Reformers emphasized the primacy of preaching. Calvin while at Geneva preached two and sometimes three times on Sunday and on alternate weeks preached the weekday sermons on .Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It was his custom to preach through a book of the Bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse.

The Great Awakening in the eighteenth century came through the preaching of the Word. George Whitefield came to Philadelphia in the fall of 1739. He remained several weeks preaching at every opportunity. Thousands were converted. After Whitefield left there were regular preaching services twice a day for a whole year and on the Lord’s Day three services and sometimes even four.

Today many have lost their confidence in preaching continue to be used if not at the morning service then at the second service. Travelers tell of coming to churches whose doors are closed in the evening on the Lord’s Day. All have the responsibility and especially the elders to demand that the Word be faithfully proclaimed not just once but twice on the Lord’s Day. Through the faithful preaching of the Word we may expect God to answer the prayer, “O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years.”

There is a need for Christians to become better informed. A speaker said recently, “Thousands do not know what they believe and they don‘t care.” Many who call themselves Reformed do not know the difference between the Reformed Faith and Arminanism. This calls for a renewed study of God’s Word lest the judgment “My people perish for lack of knowledge” be applied to us.

At a time when there is such a desperate need for the witness of the Reformed Faith there seems to be declining interest among many in the study of God’s Word so that many Men‘s Societies have already experienced their demise and serious Bible Study in some women‘s groups is threatened by various other activities.

Many today read without discernment. Books by authors who capitalize Upon the spectacular and sensational even though they have no foundation in Scripture are read and highly acclaimed while books by Reformed writers are left unread.

A report by one of the church’s service organizations tells of the growing demand in the Latin American world for L. Berkhofs Systematic Theology which is already in its second printing in the Spanish language. In our church this same book is rapidly becoming a forgotten volume even by those who receive a theological education. If something had been published in recent years to replace it this would not be so serious but such has not been the case.

We and especially those in positions of leadership within the church ought to take time once again to read. This is essential if we are to bear witness to the truth. This is necessary if we are to judge that which is being preached, taught and written within the church. There is a great need also for those holding office within the church to become better acquainted with matters of church policy.

The concern for instruction in the Reformed Faith should be extended to the education of the youth of the church. A missionary to the Philippines said recently, “The young people of the Philippines are eager to be taught and to learn the Heidelberg Catechism.” Article 64 of the Church Order states, “The Heidelberg Catechism and its Compendium shall be the basis of instruction,” given to the youth of the church. We hear and read about churches which replace such instruction by courses in career selection or courtship. Our churches can only be weakened by such a policy.

Elders ought to assume seriously the responsibility of supervising the catechetical instruction of the church. This supervision should include the materials studied and the personnel who give the instruction.

Prayer, study of God’s Word, reading to become better informed Christians requires time. It may mean giving up some of the activities which have been demanding too much of our time. The decision we must make is this, are we going to use this new year for that which is passing away or for that which abides? The church in her witness to the world in this century needs members grounded in the Word, committed to the truth of the Reformed Faith and convinced that “the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Will you be that kind of member in 1977?