Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June/72

Contributor - John J. Opmeer

Title - The 'Testimony' - What Next?

Topic - The Confessions

The 'testimony', which appeared last fall in The Netherlands as an appeal to the Reformed Church not to add water to the wine of the Reformed confession, has become a first class controversial issue.

Intended -as an encouragement to the orthodox-church members and as an appeal to the church leaders not to forsake the old paths in order to serve the world, it has generated a discussion distinguished more by heat than by light.

Everybody these days seems 1 be aware of the dangers of 'polarization' (taking opposite positions) in the church, but in spite of this the controversy around the 'Testimony' is a typical example of 'polarization'.

It is obviously very difficult for many theologians to listen to each other. Dr. Van Niftrik, one of the authors of the 'Testimony', complains in a rather bitter article: "I have received the jeers, if not the scorn of the elite of Dutch theology. It was a real temptation to respond with a bitter and sarcastic article about all those people who know it so well and have obviously read the 'Testimony' rather badly. But I won't do it." He then still proceeds to tell what kind of fancy criticism he has been subjected to.

The 'Testimony' has been called a theological ornament of hardened lava", a "revolt of the middle class". It has been insinuated that its authors are out of touch with the times, have put theology back some 50 years, and have apparently never understood Karl Barth!

In all this it must be remembered, of course, that Dutch theologians are often harder with their words than with their intentions. As someone has said: they first cut off your arm, but then they offer the hand of peace!

What place is the 'Testimony' going to occupy in the history of the Netherlands Reformed Church? That depends, among other things, on the official reaction of the General Synod of the church. Already last year it appointed a special committee to study the 'Testimony' and its background, and to draft a statement which was to clarify the issues for the members of the churches. The idea was that such clarification would encourage both the supporters and the critics of the 'Testimony' to follow their best intentions.

However, in order to clarify issues, there must be real agreement in the church, and so far the Reformed Church has not produced such unity yet. In the February session of the General Synod, when the draft statement was discussed, it was soon apparent that the members of Synod were not yet of one mind and spirit on the deeper issues that led to the writing of the 'Testimony. Particularly the paragraph dealing with the political responsibility of the church produced much controversy.

Finally, after a four hour discussion, it was decided to ask the committee to rewrite the statement in the light of the discussion! The temptation will be, of course, to come up with some kind of compromise which will cover up the real divisions and serve nobody. The Committee members are not to be envied for their assignment! At the June session of General Synod the fruit of their labours will be tasted again.

It will be more than interesting to see whether the Netherlands Reformed Church will be able to produce a statement that can really shed light on such an essential subject as the contemporary proclamation in word and deed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To call the church back to its confession is one thing, but to really live than confession in today's world is another.

It is obvious that criticism of the 'Testimony' has come from at least two sides: those who are not ready to accept the authority of Scripture, and really have no use for the confessional statements of the Reformation, and those who struggle to translate the Gospel into meaningful political and other action. It seems to me that the 'Testimony' of 1971 has succeeded in laying bare again the real biblical foundations which were in danger of being covered up by some or replaced by human building.

But its real success would lie in another direction, and is still to be achieved: namely a renewed effort to come to a truly prophetic witness of the church in the modern world. I believe that such prophecy is a gift of the Spirit to the church, which will be received only after repentance, and'a true yearning after the leading of the Holy Spirit.

That spirit of repentance and seeking for divine wisdom has not been very evident in the discussion around the 'Testimony' so far, but a prayerful General Synod may change the situation entirely. I believe that as members of a church which usually looks elsewhere for theological direction, and which has such close ties with the Netherlands Reformed Church, we have a more than common stake in the final results of the whirlwind stirred up by the 'Testimony'. Perhaps the wind of the Spirit is blowing through all this, with a Word for all who will listen!

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