A Path Toward Denominational Unity (not Uniformity)

It’s nice to read that the theme of this year’s General Synod was unity. It’s unfortunate that the reports and anecdotes I’ve heard since then were anything but unifying. So, “what events would have to take place and what problems would have to be addressed for the RCA to experience genuine, vibrant, Christ-pleasing, Spirit-filled, God-glorifying unity?

1.) Admit that we do not trust one another in the RCA. This is not just a denominational problem. It is a symptom of our larger society. Mobility and social media have allowed us to be surrounded by like-minded people and the result is suspicion differing views. It lurks around every corner. Democrats and Republican don’t trust one another. White people and black people don’t trust one another. Young people and old people don’t trust one another. Rather than get to know one another and find common ground, people tend to hunker down in their respective camps and demand uniformity in belief and behavior. Uniformity is not unity. My wife and I are united, but we are certainly not uniform in our beliefs or our behaviors. Still, even if we disagree, we always trust that our partner begins with good intentions and give each other space to learn and grow. It would be nice to have that in our denominations as well.

2.) Remove cultural boundaries. Our denomination continues to struggle with unity because, like the first churches, we have a hard time telling the difference between cultural and theological boundaries. Cultural differences, gender roles, socio-economic status prevent us from coming together as one in Christ Jesus. The church is the body of people who confess that Jesus is Lord (or God’s Son or Anointed One or Messiah, etc.) and believe in their hearts that God raised him from the dead. This is what it means to be Christian, Reformed or otherwise; probably not more and definitely not less.

3.) Understand that our Standards are “faithful and historic witnesses” (but also politically motivated). We already don’t ask are candidates for ordinations proscribe to every letter and line as they are written. We have been humble enough to admit that some of the statements are over-stated or even improperly stated. I’m sure some pastors would like to blur the lines on other portions of our standards (or the whole Belhar for that matter) as well. It would also be honest of us to admit that there is more going on than theological clarification. The Belgic Confession throws the Anabaptists under the bus to avoid association and, therefore, persecution. The authors of the Canons beheaded their opponent to seal their victory. They are political pronouncements of a sort. Still, they are helpful documents in offering an answer to the questions that people have asked and will continue to ask about the Christian faith (even if they’re not always very good).

4.) Admit the difference between theology and ideology. Christians can agree that God wants to bring healing into the world. Honestly, the Bible says nothing on private insurance or single-payer plans. The Bible says that the government is God’s servant for our good and that we should pay our taxes. But, we all have to admit that that there aren’t any verses against communism or for capitalism. These are political and economic terms, not theological ones. Again, it would be nice if we could trust one another enough to allow for different perspectives without condemning them as evil (or maybe actually admitting that they start with good intentions). Christians, perhaps more than others, should weigh in on important policies because we (and maybe we alone) understand that government, too, belongs to God.

5.) Admit that we all have different priorities when it comes to mission, but that they are all part of the same mission. The social justice advocate can no more say to the evangelist, “I don’t need you” than the hand can say to the eye “I have no need of you.” The glory of God is that we all have different gifts and different experiences and different desires and have been invited into the same house where God can use all of them for good. God’s mission is wide and long and hard and thanks be to the One who allows us to do our small part in it.

6.) Emphasize discipleship. The church is made up of people who have been called out to learn and to grow. Unfortunately, faith has become a very private matter and inquiries from elders and pastors have become uncomfortable if not resented. Theologically speaking our denomination has done a good job rooting people in justification by faith and the hope of glorification, but we have been more lax on sanctification in the Holy Spirit; on becoming a people set apart for bold proclamation and compassion in the way of Christ; on dying to the old and rising to the new.

7.) “Priesthood of all believers” doesn’t mean that everyone should be a priest (or a pastor). I understand the exciting nature of the call to ministry. I think seminary education would be good for every Christian. But I’m also beginning to notice how quickly that gets translated into the role of professional pastor. I hope I answered my call to ministry well (sometimes I wonder), but so far I’ve been affirmed. At the same time, being a pastor is not the only way to minister. We can be honest with people about that. We can be proud enough not to feel ashamed about that.

8.) Make better use of our seminaries in our churches. As a pastor in a reformed denomination, it frustrates me to no end when I am criticized for a reformed position by a reformed parishioner. The evangelical movement and mindset has infused a great part of our Christian culture, the RCA included. Most people in our pews don’t know the difference. Some pastors don’t care. Making better use of our standards would help here. But making better use of our seminaries would go a long way in maintaining our identity.

9.) Stop trying to force uniformity. Uniformity is a slippery slope and its by-products are often heavy-handedness, cold-heartedness, and mean-spirited pride. We must do better at sharing our experiences, building trust between differing groups, and giving each other space to learn and grow. You will know them by their fruits (gentleness, kindness, patience, harvest of righteousness, etc.).

10.) Remember the gospel is good news. Three days after his crucifixion Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Death is defeated! Life is eternal! It can be found in Christ and can start today. Sing it strongly. Preach it loudly. Live it boldly.

I didn’t take it mean you were calling him to be quiet. I took it to mean you thought he was the problem and source of this disunity.

Your charge of McCarthyism seemed to imply you found Kevin’s assessment baseless and/or fear-mongering.

Now, back to sermon prep!

Paul; I affirm the Standards of Unity regarding the content of the Gospel found within scripture the same as I did 34 years ago when I took my senior exams in Zeeland Classis. What I meant by the Gospel being “more” is that it is not confined by the mechanical functionalism of the constructs I cited. The Gospel is organic… living… growing… dealing with the relationship between God and humanity that contains his image. Why do you suppose Question 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism begins with a relational question?

Matthew; Strange you took what I said to mean to be quiet. Read my response again. What I said was, “If you have ministers in your classis who violate their ordination promise, bring a charge. If there is a General Synod Professor teaching heresy, bring a charge…” I suspect you haven’t done so because they haven’t violated their vows… they just don’t agree with your mechanical definitions. As to the rest… if Kevin has anything to say, I will engage him in conversation.

PS: Our families most likely knew each other in New Amsterdam.

Good sense is telling me to keep quiet, that this is probably a hit and run comment and that you don’t really want to dialogue about these issues. But I’ll bite…

I grew up in the RCA, have parents who work at an RCA college and numerous family members who are RCA pastors. I now pastor in another denomination. All this to say, I have some history (even the 100% Dutch ID card!) and no lack of love and gratitude for the history of faith passed down to me, in no small part through the RCA.

Having said all that, I’ve had conversations with RCA pastors who specifically reject significant portions of the Standards. I’ve had conversations with the troubled congregants after a Sunday School term that left them shaken by the things their pastors had said regarding Scripture, the reformers, etc. And I’ve had conversations with pastors who have significant concerns about the RCA.

If you really don’t think there’s an issue in the categories Kevin lists, you’re either naive, a convinced false teacher (i.e. some or many of those categories hit a little close to home) or really want to bury your head in the sand. You might not agree with his conclusions, but the issues exist. The Elephant in the room is real brother.

And to say that Kevin and pastors like him are the ones creating disunity is incredibly disingenuous. If having theological convictions and the courage to state them and stand by them makes one a harbinger of disunity, then Kevin should gladly accept that label. He would stand in the distinguished lineage of men like Paul, Athanasius, Augustine, The Cappadocian Fathers, Luther, Calvin and many others.

If unity means taking no stands for doctrinal fidelity and turning a blind eye when a man feels convinced significant orthodox positions are in jeopardy, then you have a deficient definition of unity.

It’s no small thing that prior to praying for the unity of the Church in John 17, Jesus prays “Sanctify them in truth, your word is truth.” Unity matters. Jesus prayed specifically for it. But the kind of unity matters more. Namely, unity founded upon the truth of God’s word. If a pastor feels the foundation of truth is being compromised, he has a responsibility (which God will hold him accountable to on the last day) to defend it.

And the McCarthy charge is just weak, if not outright slanderous. You’ve just accused Kevin of deceitful, underhanded practices unbecoming a minister of the word. You’d do well to either repent of the hyperbolic accusation or take your own advice and bring formal charges. If you really think that label appropriately sticks, you’ve got more to do than a little blog comment.