Thanks, Jim, for posting this. But I must say that it is a sad sign of CRC insularity that you didn't know who CJ Mahaney was (or Curtis Allen at this point) - because the CRC is becoming more and more out of touch with the Reformed re-awakening that has been taking place in the world for the last 20 + years or more. As the CRC continues to drift toward the mainline churches and irrelevance, there's been a wonderful revival of "New Calvinism" - with the Young, Restless, and Reformed. But most of that has been happening outside of the declining CRC/RCA matrix.
I didn't mean to add to a feeling of being ostracized or left out.
This does happen to be a Christian Reformed Network, so I was assuming most of the participants were CRC. I was expressing my frustration with the CRC leadership (Rev. Dekker has been prominent in the CRC for a long time) which has been actively leading the CRC toward more cooperation with more mainline/liberal/declining churches (like the United Church in Canada, or the UCC & PCUSA in the US) rather than with the vibrant and yet enthusiastically-Reformed movement.
Thanks, Jim, for your gracious reply. Our two messages crossed in cyberspace - while I was finishing up mine - yours must have been travelling through the Network :)
I have also just read your bio - I knew some of your info - I knew Erika in Seminary - but it was of interest to learn more too -
I am a Westminster Sem (Philadelphia) grad as well as a Calvin Sem grad - a Calvin College (MACS) grad and a Wheaton College (BA) grad - so, like Paul, I have bragging rights - in both the Evangelical and Reformed worlds.
Whether insular or insulated are the best words to use - maybe not - but I will still lament that the CRC has, in many places, lost part of its "first love" - excitement about "the Reformed faith". While Colin Hansen - author of Young, Restless, and Reformed - and regular contributor to Christianity Today - is certainly well aware of the CRC/RCA - there is an obvious reason why we don't rate much in his analysis of the "Reformed" "movement" today - We aren't very excited or evangelistic about the "Reformed faith" anymore - not many are "catching" the Reformed "faith" from us - we aren't on the cutting lines - We're "yesterday's news" - so to speak - a moribund denomination.
I can concur with your points - being relevant/popular isn't what matters - it's being faithful to the Lord's commands, which include the Great Commission (evangelism) and the Great Commandment (Love God and Neighbor). What I believe is happening is that a desire to be attuned to the latter is eclipsing the former, among other things.
I don't think trying to be in the middle between the mainline denominations and the evangelical denominations is a good place to be. The CRCNA never joined the NCC (but now we might as well have, being in the WCRC). I think we should be squarely in the Evangelical camp, while maintaining Reformed distinctives to a gracious extent. I think that most of our Evanglical brothers and sisters in Christ have been more balanced all along on the evangelism/social justice scale that they have been characterized by by others. I've had a foot in both the Evangelical and Reformed worlds my entire life (stemming from my parents, who were both Evangelical (My dad went to Wheaton College and my mom went to a dispensational Bible School) before they came to Reformed convictions) . I was born and raised in the CRC (just to ward off suspicions).
The "Reformed Resurgence" churches do appear to be reaching new people - or at least bringing straying young people back to a living relationship with Christ and His Church. And they are growing the most in urban centers (like Tim Keller and Mark Driscoll) where they are engaged in diaconal work among the poor and the needy.
Posted in: A Wrap of a Rap on the Heidelberg Catechism
Thanks, Jim, for posting this. But I must say that it is a sad sign of CRC insularity that you didn't know who CJ Mahaney was (or Curtis Allen at this point) - because the CRC is becoming more and more out of touch with the Reformed re-awakening that has been taking place in the world for the last 20 + years or more. As the CRC continues to drift toward the mainline churches and irrelevance, there's been a wonderful revival of "New Calvinism" - with the Young, Restless, and Reformed. But most of that has been happening outside of the declining CRC/RCA matrix.
Posted in: A Wrap of a Rap on the Heidelberg Catechism
Dear Hope,
I didn't mean to add to a feeling of being ostracized or left out.
This does happen to be a Christian Reformed Network, so I was assuming most of the participants were CRC. I was expressing my frustration with the CRC leadership (Rev. Dekker has been prominent in the CRC for a long time) which has been actively leading the CRC toward more cooperation with more mainline/liberal/declining churches (like the United Church in Canada, or the UCC & PCUSA in the US) rather than with the vibrant and yet enthusiastically-Reformed movement.
You can learn a little about CJ Mahaney here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._J._Mahaney
God Bless
Dave
Posted in: A Wrap of a Rap on the Heidelberg Catechism
Thanks, Jim, for your gracious reply. Our two messages crossed in cyberspace - while I was finishing up mine - yours must have been travelling through the Network :)
I have also just read your bio - I knew some of your info - I knew Erika in Seminary - but it was of interest to learn more too -
I am a Westminster Sem (Philadelphia) grad as well as a Calvin Sem grad - a Calvin College (MACS) grad and a Wheaton College (BA) grad - so, like Paul, I have bragging rights - in both the Evangelical and Reformed worlds.
Whether insular or insulated are the best words to use - maybe not - but I will still lament that the CRC has, in many places, lost part of its "first love" - excitement about "the Reformed faith". While Colin Hansen - author of Young, Restless, and Reformed - and regular contributor to Christianity Today - is certainly well aware of the CRC/RCA - there is an obvious reason why we don't rate much in his analysis of the "Reformed" "movement" today - We aren't very excited or evangelistic about the "Reformed faith" anymore - not many are "catching" the Reformed "faith" from us - we aren't on the cutting lines - We're "yesterday's news" - so to speak - a moribund denomination.
In the Lamb
Dave
Posted in: A Wrap of a Rap on the Heidelberg Catechism
Thanks, Dominee Dan, for your response. I'll reply more in a moment. But I think that the following might be on interest:
Can the Reformed Resurgence Fly in Grand Rapids?
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2010/11/16/can-the-reformed-resurgence-fly-in-grand-rapids/?comments#comments
I can concur with your points - being relevant/popular isn't what matters - it's being faithful to the Lord's commands, which include the Great Commission (evangelism) and the Great Commandment (Love God and Neighbor). What I believe is happening is that a desire to be attuned to the latter is eclipsing the former, among other things.
I don't think trying to be in the middle between the mainline denominations and the evangelical denominations is a good place to be. The CRCNA never joined the NCC (but now we might as well have, being in the WCRC). I think we should be squarely in the Evangelical camp, while maintaining Reformed distinctives to a gracious extent. I think that most of our Evanglical brothers and sisters in Christ have been more balanced all along on the evangelism/social justice scale that they have been characterized by by others. I've had a foot in both the Evangelical and Reformed worlds my entire life (stemming from my parents, who were both Evangelical (My dad went to Wheaton College and my mom went to a dispensational Bible School) before they came to Reformed convictions) . I was born and raised in the CRC (just to ward off suspicions).
The "Reformed Resurgence" churches do appear to be reaching new people - or at least bringing straying young people back to a living relationship with Christ and His Church. And they are growing the most in urban centers (like Tim Keller and Mark Driscoll) where they are engaged in diaconal work among the poor and the needy.
Keep the faith:)
David Kuyper Watson