Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/68

Contributor - R.A. Hartmans

Title - The Church And Her Mission To the World

Topic - Church In The World

Turmoil and unrest can be seen everywhere around us in the world and in the church. This becomes evident again from an article in Hervormd Nederland (March 2, 1968) which deals with "The Open Letter to the Synod".

Apparently, 24 ministers who serve the Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk have sent out a public letter to the members, the Consistories, and the General Synod of the Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk which expresses alarm about the spiritual state of the Church.

The letter states that since World War II the Church has followed new paths. These paths have led away from the proper nourishment of the faithful. They have tried to lead the congregations to take a more active part in problems of society and the world in general.

Severe criticism is expressed in the letter of the role of the so called middle orthodox Section of the N.H.K. The middle orthodoxy has caused impoverishment of the life of the Church through preaching and confession. They say that this section of the church "talks much about unity and cooperation but knows little about it nor does she want to recognize the continuing tension between the true and false church, or the battle between truth and error". They also say that there is a lack of honest preaching, for "preaching is the call of souls, on behalf of Christ, in the face of the realities of heaven and hell, of salvation and lostness". Instead, the letter calls for "preaching which shows the promised light of the miracle of grace come unto us in Jesus Christ in his cross and his resurrection, in the present situation of nihilism and lostness".

Apparently, the concern of the 24 ministers is the concern of many, for over 70,000 copies of the letter have been distributed so far.

The reaction of the General Synod has been admirable. Few people are able to take criticism graciously, but they seem to be doing that. For her reaction, please read on. But let me first comment here that the General Synod of the N.H.K. has shown tremendous concern and activity both in the life of the congregations as well as in relation to her task in the world. The N.H.K. is respected internationally for her public, if not always correct, stand in principles of Christian conscience during the last three decades. Therefore, it must have been even more difficult for the leaders of the N.H.K. to face the prophets at home.

Nevertheless, the Synod took several actions in reply to the letter. In the first place, a short reply to the letter of the Twenty-Four was given. In this reply, the Synod, "on behalf of the entire N.H.K. confesses her guilt for the spiritual decay of the Church".

At the same time the Synod pointed cut that the guilt belongs to the whole Church and not to one section like the middle orthodox. Also, the Synod considered it incorrect to divorce the nourishment of the faithful from the mission to the world. Both should be seen as necessary in the life of the Church. Nevertheless, Synod recognized that the true Biblical preaching and confession of the Church is fundamental to the existence and the future of the Church.

In addition to this reply, the Synod adopted the paper, "The Congregation of Christ, Now", ("De Gemeente Van Christus, Nu") written by Professor R. Bylsma, as the best suitable explanation of the Synod's position on the matter. The paper is too long even to be summarized, but it brings out the need for the Church's witness to the faithful and the witness by the faithful. This witness is in thankful obedience to the proclamation of the Holy Scriptures which calls the Christian congregation to be a revolutionary community. The Word of God does not allow the faithful to abide with the things as they are.

In reply to the letter of the Twenty-Four, the Synod of the N.H.K. has also called for a meeting with the authors of the letter to discuss with them the place of a troubled church in a troubled world.

A troubled church? Yes, perhaps this is true, but at least there is a healthy atmosphere in the Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk, for they are facing their problems squarely in the eye and a dialogue has developed which will cause all sections of the church to look at themselves and at one another. It seems to me that there is reason for great thankfulness for the Synod's reaction to this letter; it shows that the Spirit of God continues to move men to be truly reformed under the Word of God.

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