Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/90

Contributor - Bob Jackson

Title - Always Reforming

Topic - Reformed Church

A little more than two years ago Pastor Les Clark of Nanaimo and I talked on the phone about leaving the United Church, "the other place"' and forming a new one.

"We should call it the Reformed Church," I suggested.

"I think there's one by that name already," responded Les.

Right on! Not long afterwards, the winter of 1989, 1 attended a meeting in Nanaimo concerning the Reformed Church in America (RCA). The guest speaker was the Rev. Robert Wise of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I had already left "the other place" (Nov '88), because of it's "wanton disregard for the authority of Holy Scriptures." A few days later, with God's help, a new congregation of like-minded souls was formed.

Classis Cascades received me as a minister of the RCA in the spring of 1989. Our congregation was received in the fall of 1989.

This was the realization of our prayerful desire to be part of the Reformed tradition, in a church that acknowledges the authority of God's Word incarnate and written. Therefore, we did not have to form a new denomination. We are very grateful that God provided us with a new church home and we thank the RCA for welcoming us with open arms.

In "the other place" we saw the great need for reform such as Martin Luther and John Calvin must have witnessed in sixteenth century Europe. In our society today there is also a great need for reform. Our times are reminiscent of the Fall of Rome. We see moral and spiritual collapse all around us. Many choose the way of libertinism.

A Latin saying concerning the Reformed Church is apropos, Ecclesia reformata semper reformanda est. That means, "the church reformed is ever reforming". It stresses the need for continuing the work of reforming the church to the end of history. Implicit here too, is the need for constant watchfulness or alertness. It is the perseverance of the saints.

With God's direction Gideon selected a fighting force of only 300 out of 32,000 enthusiastic volunteers. Those who were afraid were told to go home. Then there was the water test. He chose those who showed alertness as they drank water from a pool in the presence of the enemy. Thus, Gideon ended up with an elite band of 300 men who were enthusiastic, courageous and alert (Judges 7).

We need to watch for possible heresies and other forms of corruption in our church. Since such evils have a way of spreading like a communicable disease from one church to another, we need to be alert to what is happening in other denominations as well.

Take for example the phrase, "regardless of sexual orientation." What does it mean? Some are born female and some male? No. It has to do with one's personal preference of gender which can be the same as one's own when it comes to sexual relations, and broadened further can include incest and beastiality. It is a "do as you please" attitude, libertinism. The homosexual rights movement insists that those who have a preference for the same gender as their own and engage in homosexual activity are born that way. Scientists have proven that theory to be false. Masters and Johnson, authorities on human sexual response, are examples of those who have disproved that theory (Human Sexuality 2nd edition, by Masters and Johnson with Robert Kolodny). More important however, is the Biblical standard. Wherever homosexual behaviour is mentioned in the Bible it is condemned.

Another issue of concern within the church involves the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God. Recently a church in Toronto made the decision to cease saying the Lord's Prayer in worship services. Why? Because it addresses God as Father. Here they are bowing to pressure from the feminist movement. To the feminists, "Mother" is an acceptable title for God. That gives us a goddess of heaven. Here is an old heresy rearing it's ugly head. The Fatherhood of God concept is the very essence of our Christian faith. In our distinctively Christian view, taught and revealed by Christ, God is Holy Father-love. To deny the Fatherhood of God is to deny Christ.

It is one thing to recognize the need for reform and another to begin reform. Where does one begin?

Reform often begins with one individual who believes that he or she can bring about change for the better. Consider the parable of the mustard seed. From a tiny mustard seed grows a tree-like plant as high as 12 feet in which birds nest.

Starting with one man, William Wilberforce, a member of the British parliament, the slave trade was brought to a halt throughout the British Empire. Many years -later Martin Luther King led an effective movement to achieve equal rights for blacks in the United States. Recently, Elijah Harper, a member of the Manitoba Legislature, single-handedly overturned the Meech Lake Accord to pave the way for something better in terms of equal rights for all Canadians; and it was Pastor Lazlo Tokes, of the Reformed Church in Romania, who sparked the flames of revolution that overturned a tyrannical government in that country.

Closer to home for some of us is a movement related to the education of our children in the public school system. The movement is called "Moms in Touch. 112 In 1984 it was founded by Fern Nichols in Abbotsford BC. She was concerned about the spiritual warfare that her children were to face in the public school system upon leaving a Mennonite school. They needed someone to pray for them, to help them win their battle against temptation and sin. After she gave invitations five mothers met to pray for their children, other children, teachers and administrators and the school board.

They paid a visit to Abbotsford junior High and without hesitation explained what they were doing. Here was a group of mothers supporting them and the school with prayer and prepared to help in practical ways. They were not there to criticize. The principal and staff loved the idea and welcomed their support, though not immediately.

When the school year ended the principal sent the ladies a letter of thanks for the way they had supported them and had shown that somebody really cared.

Today 250 "Moms in Touch" groups exist in Canada and thousands in the rest of the world. It all began with one woman of faith, like a tiny mustard seed.

In the historic illustrations mentioned above the movements of reform began with one person and grew to include many who shared the same vision. As followers of Jesus Christ we are also called to work for reform and regeneration where we see the need whether it be in the church or in society. Therefore, like Gideon's select troops, we need to be enthusiastic, courageous and alert in the presence of the enemy. Through prayer and the searching of Scriptures let us look to the Lord for truth and wisdom and the strength to do His will. When Christ's Spirit possesses us we call on tremendous resources of divine power.

He gives strength to the weary and to those without resources he gives an increase in power. Even young men shall faint and be weary, and young athletes shall fall exhausted; Yet they who look expectantly to the Lord shall have a renewal of strength, They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk unfainting (Isa 40: 29-31).

Christ's transforming Spirit working through us will bring about reform in the church and in the world.

I like the name Reformed Church. It reminds us that God has called us to be ever reforming.

1) "the other place" phrase was first coined by Rev. Les Clark, Nanaimo BC to refer to the United Church of Canada.

2) "Moms in Touch" for further information write: Moms in Touch, P.O. Box 300 Vancouver, BC V6C 2X3

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