By: Rev. Stephen Terpstra
Photo by Robin Spielmann on Unsplash
As we debate critical issues in the life of the Christian Reformed Church (CRCNA), from LGBTQ+ to Racism to Social Justice to the very core of the gospel, increasingly we are found focusing on Church Order rather than Scripture.
Certainly, in private conversation and in personal meditation and in Synodical declaration we refer to Scripture. But when push comes to shove, when we have to decide what to do, we have been debating procedure rather than obedience. I love church order. We must have order.
God is a God of order.
But we do need to ask, what is the right place of church order in the life of the church. How does Church order relate to Scripture? Does Church order serve the church or does the church serve the church order?
The Church Order of the CRCNA begins with the clearest possible statement: “The Christian Reformed Church, confessing its complete subjection to the Word of God and the Reformed creeds as a true interpretation of this Word, acknowledge[s] Christ as the only head of his church.” All else follows from this principle.
First, it means the Church Order and the Synod and the Classis and the local Council, in all we do, is in complete subjection to the Word of God. There can never be a scenario where we use the Church Order as a reason or an excuse to sin in either commission or omission.
“God is a God of order.”
If Scripture forbids something, it is irrelevant whether Church Order allows it.
If Scripture demands something, it is irrelevant whether our Church Order forbids it.
If Scripture is disobeyed, a Council or Classis or Synod is both obligated to obey Christ and his Word, and subsequently to seek to alter the Church Order so that it is again in complete subjection to God’s Word. Scripture is the revealed will of God. It is true and reliable in every way, infallible and sufficient to accomplish God’s purposes.
If scripture commands us to discipline a false teacher (like an ordained pastor that advocates for Kinism, or one that denies substitutionary atonement), the Council and Classis and Synod are obligated, in obedience to God’s Word, to protect the flock over which we are overseers, to maintain the unity and purity of the bride of Christ, to maintain the witness we have to the world, and to honor the holiness and righteousness and glory of God. Discipline is a mark of the true church.
If Scripture forbids something, it is irrelevant whether Church Order allows it
Second, it is clear that the Church Order, and every decision of any ordained body, is subject to the Reformed Creeds as a true interpretation of this Word. That again seems obvious but is increasingly being denied. We cannot allow churches to deny infants the sacrament of baptism as if the matter were indifferent. Our Creeds declare that “infants as well as adults are in God’s covenant and are his people. They, no less than adults, are promised the forgiveness of sins through Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit who produces faith.” Likewise, there can be no debate concerning substitutionary atonement, which is clearly declared in all Three Forms of Unity.
When the report on Human Sexuality declares that sexual ethics is confessional, it is stating that we as the church are already agreed and subscribed to the traditional and biblical position. As the Catechism interprets scripture, it declares, “God condemns all unchastity. We should therefore…live decent and chaste lives. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, body and soul, and God wants both to be kept clean and holy. That is why he forbids everything which incites unchastity, whether it be actions, looks, talk, thoughts, or desires.” The church has always included in that description any sexual activity outside the covenant union between one man and one woman in marriage. This is nothing new. There is no excuse for disobedience to God’s Word or our agreed upon interpretation of it. If any office-bearer believes our confessions are in error, the only approved approach is a Graveman or overture to Synod. Office-bearers, Councils, and Classis have no authority to reinterpret scripture for themselves where we have commonly agreed to an interpretation.
“Christ is Lord of the church. It is not my church. It is not your church. The church does not belong to any time or place. She is not under culture or answerable to culture. ”
Finally, Christ is Lord of the church. It is not my church. It is not your church. The church does not belong to any time or place. She is not under culture or answerable to culture. Jesus is her only Lord. We do not always know what God’s purpose or reasoning is. We do not need to. We are creatures and servants. We do not always grasp why God arranges things as he does. We do not need to. It is enough that Christ is our Lord, our Savior, our King, our brother, our groom, our shepherd, our high priest, our sacrificial lamb, our friend, and our beloved. We are not our own, but belong, body and soul, in life and in death, to our faithful Savior. We follow where he leads, no matter what any worldly power may say, no matter what our flesh may protest, no matter how the devil may rant.
Church Order is a servant to the Word, which reveals Christ our Head. It can never be more than a servant, nor can we. Let us covenant together with good order based on solid scriptural support and necessary consequence to keep us faithful. Let us never, never use human words as a reason or excuse to not be faithful to our only Head, Jesus Christ our Lord, as He reveals his will in his written Word. To love Him is to obey Him. To obey Him is to love the world in his name. Nothing less will do.