Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/87

Contributor - Rev. Will Kroon

Title - Requests For a Different Spiritual Emphasis

Topic - Church In The World

Occasionally I glance through the book Reformed Church Roots by Rev. Arie Brouwer. That book has helped me to see how the Reformed Church has changed throughout its 350 year history. Truly a living Church is a changing Church. Not that there is always a need for fundamental changes; that is not the case. Most of the time the Church only seeks a shift in some aspect of its spirituality such as a shift in its worship or a shift in its reaching out to others.

Requests for a change often come when a section of the Church feels that an aspect of "being the Church" has been neglected or that an aspect of its faith needs a greater focus. A request for change may express a desire for a modification in its liturgy, a desire for a written confession, or a longing for a greater involvement in mission. At other times, people express a need for a kind of spirituality that is best nurtured through Bible study and sharing in small groups.

Those of you who have been involved in the work of the Church will recognize the reoccurring requests for changes. This is especially so when the Church evaluates the direction it is going or when it is under pressure to "produce".

Inner changes are also a normal part of growing toward spiritual maturity. For instance, we see these growing changes in the ministry of Dr. Billy Graham. On the one hand he has remained steadfast in his mission to bring the Gospel to the unchurched, but on the other hand we notice a greater sensitivity toward the contributions and sensitivities of the Mainline Churches. in his present ministry he puts a much greater emphasis on social issues and on meeting the needs of the poor. This openness to change and readiness to cooperate with leaders of various denominations has made him an effective and respected leader in the Church.

A Present Desire For A Change In Spirituality

For some time there has been a desire for a change in emphasis in the Church at large. This was very evident to the Evangelicals who attended the worship services at the Vancouver Assembly of the World Council of Churches in 1984. They were surprised and pleased to see a g-'eater emphasis on worship and sharing at that meeting. in the Reformed Church we often sense a similar need, a need to give more emphasis on inner spiritual renewal. For lack of a better name, some call it a need for a more "Evangelical" approach to our preaching and worship. People seek a spirituality that not only satisfies the mind but also the heart.

However, the question which is now being raised is, "What do we mean with the word Evangelical?" When I asked that question to a Lutheran pastor he was quick to respond: "We are the true evangelicals." Others interpret the word "Evangelical" as being conservative in moral pronouncements, fundamentalistic in Scripture interpretation and/or charismatic in worship. We in the Reformed Church claim to be Evangelical for we believe in the "Evangel", the Good News, as it is centered in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Before the issue gets even more complex I would like to point out that there are true Evangelicals in all denominations. For instance, when one attends a Faith and Word retreat he Or she meets Evangelicals coming from a host of different Churches. And just a few years ago more than 300 Evangelicals from the Roman Catholic Church met at McMaster University for a service of healing. However, I do not want to give the impression that all Evangelicals from some denominations share our values, believe in our creeds and hold a similar view on the sacraments while evangelicals from other denominations hold very different views on these subjects. While it may be enjoyable to meet with the latter at a Rally it is very difficult to study and work with them on a longe-range venture. Our views are too far apart.

Who Are We and With Whom Can We Work and Worship Fruitfully?

Well, who are we as a Church? Let me begin by stating that we are not only Evangelical, we also happen to be Reformed. Furthermore, we happen to hold values, adhere to traditions, and do things as a Church that may or may not be called Evangelical. For instance, ever since John Calvin gave birth to the Reformed Movement, we have expressed an interest in doing things together with other denominations. To put it differently, we have always put a high value on Christian This explains the fact that leaders of the Reformed family have always been . the centre of inter-denominational cooperation. But let us again return to the question:"Who are we?"

1. We are Reformed. As such we believe that we are constantly open to change when we are touched by God's Word and His Spirit. Furthermore, as members of the Reformed family, we pay a great deal more attention to the Biblical Covenant then many Evangelicals in other denominations. Consequently, we also pay more attention to the teaching of the Old Testament as well.

2. We believe in the importance of being Born Again as do other Evangelicals. Yet, there are moments when we feel like saying to the overly zealous advocates of that doctrine: "Be quiet for awhile and let us listen to the still small voice of God." We believe in the value of listening, not only to God but also to one another. Our aims for evangelism are to reach the unchurched and not to steal members from other denominations.

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