On a smaller scale A1B its ally churches have already successfully pulled this off, resulting in the normalization and acceptance of promotion of sin and false doctrine in the church. Churches regularly invite in speakers to undermine the teaching of the church, to impugn the Bible, and to promote sin, all with no accountability within the broader church. Consider for a moment whether or not the church would tolerate any other sin-advocacy group in her midst. How about a Society for the Promotion of Greed? Or perhaps a Hate Inclusion Club? I happen to be prone to both of those sins, among many others. Sound ridiculous? Certainly so, but no more ridiculous than the continued persistence and acceptance of a group within the church who are allowed to openly and unrepentantly call people into sin. And Synod (being dutifully obedient to church order "experts") deliberately has stonewalled any attempt at accountability on this matter. Synod was even unwilling to say that encouraging and promoting others to sin is itself sinful. Dan, we don't have to imagine this happening - it has happened and is happening as we speak.
Thank you, Sarah Joy, for your beautiful testimony! You are indeed a blessing and a Joy! How wonderful that God would use you to speak such powerful words. May God continue to bless you as you also continue to bless those around you.
I think something really gets lost when "women in leadership" is equated with "women in ecclesiastical office". The two are not the same, yet I think in the church too often we use the first as shorthand for the second. This is unhelpful. One thing it does is paints churches who hold to the historically orthodox position on women in ecclesiastical office as against the use and appreciation of women's gifts in the life of the church. Such could not be further from the truth.
I am very supportive of women in leadership. There are a plethora of ways in which women can and do have leadership roles in the life of the church without ever holding ecclesiastical office. I have observed and celebrated it all my life.
The CRC has placed itself in an awkward position. It has decreed that two exclusive positions are both correct. One would suppose that such an incoherent position would only be able to survive in the long term if both positions were allowed to exist side-by-side with impartiality. Yet such has not been the case. The CRC puts its institutional weight behind egalitarianism while marginalizing complementarianism. For example we have the denominational ministry called Women's Ministry which states explicitly "We affirm and support women in all levels of leadership." This ministry then uses denominational resources and platforms to promote teachings and practices at the expense of the other position that the denomination ostensibly holds as "a" biblical position. We also see practices at synod that are not only inconsiderate by also seem to be designed to purposely marginalize complementarians and affirmatively violate their consciences.
It is hard to see this pattern leading to greater denominational unity or cohesiveness over time. In fact, it seems almost designed to either "convert" or drive out a portion of the church so that over time one position is normalized while the other position is marginalized to the point of being considered unacceptable. Perhaps this was inevitable given the logical incoherence of a position that says that "A" and "Not A" are both true.
Denise, more directly to your question, my main approach is one of prayer and encouragement. I'm not much for programs and such as much as I am the individual deliberative practice of love. Loving each other in the church, when considered in its full-orbed scope, leads us to recognize and encourage the use of gifts in those around us. This is probably most easily and widely practiced in/with those that we are closest to, but should not be limited to that.
My wife happens to be better at some aspects of leadership than I am (particularly in organization), so she not only leads but also helps me when I am called to lead. My wife currently fills roles as Classical Treasurer, Youth Group Coordinator, Minn-I-Kota Youth Network Board Member, pianist, and Sunday School teacher among other roles outside of church. As a husband, but also as a brother in Christ, I am called to encourage and support her in these roles as she uses her gifts to glorify God.
Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. Like it was written by a sixth grader or Miss Universe contestant asked how they intend to save the planet.
But in many ways it is not funny at all, because actual elected legislators think this is sound thinking. Best quote, perhaps: The Green New Deal will guarantee "Economic security for all who are unable or unwilling to work."
No. Unequivocally no. And it should not simply be a question of "who's ox is being gored". I am opposed to church mission creep whether the church is playing in my end of the pool or the other end. As you so rightly point out, when we covenant together, it must mean something. The division being caused right now in the body of Christ (and it is real and damaging) is because we bear false witness that we intend to do something that we do not have the will to abide by. Shame on us for our duplicity as a denomination.
Izaak, to answer your question, I'll simply quote Roger from another forum:
"Although my background is Reformed, my present position would come much closer to deism, which is a belief in the existence of God based on the evidence of reason and nature, with a rejection of supernatural revelations such as the Koran, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Jewish Scriptures and all other so called supernatural revelations."
Roger is still listed as a Minister of the Word in the CRC but rejects the Bible.
I am always glad to hear your opinion, though I don't think you and I have been interacting to this point. I have indeed stated my opinion of that document quite clearly, and for that I make no apology. Better to be clear than to equivocate. That does not mean that you are not encouraged to also state your opinion. As to the document that I linked, I have nothing but mockery and disdain for it, and will further argue that it represents a nadir of foolishness and silly thinking. I see no reason to take it seriously. That's strong language, to be sure, but I doubt that you would want me to be squishy or unclear.
Are there principles embedded therein that can be useful? I have no doubt that there are, but I find their presence in the document utterly unredemptive for the document as a whole. If you are recruiting help to mock some other proposal that you feel is worthy to be mocked, by all means make your pitch. Mockery has its place when considering certain proposals.
There is plenty of room generally for Christians to give each other latitude in this broad matter. I much prefer the approach of Dr. Judith Curry, which I find balanced and less prone to overreaction that many other approaches. An example of her measured approach can be seen in her testimony here: https://naturalresources.house.gov/imo/media/doc/Curry%20Testimony%20House%20Natural%20Resources.pdf I'm not particularly interested in parsing her testimony here, as I don't think we will accomplish anything by that. I simply post as an example of what I believe is a reasonable approach. As a government-employed scientist, I can tell you that I have read more than my share of SONARs (Statement Of Need And Resonableness), and can confidently say that the science behind legislation is not immune to being stretched, cherry-picked, manipulated, and misrepresented.
I would be interested to see one straight-forward attempt to answer Doug’s continual question regarding Church Order Article 28 and the proper activities of the institutional church. The pertinent language of Article 28 is as follows: “These assemblies [council, classis, & synod] shall transact ecclesiastical matters only, and shall deal with them in an ecclesiastical manner.”
We can argue until we are blue in the face about carbon taxes, green new deals, capitalism vs. socialism, nuclear power, etc., and that is all well and fine. But in the end, as individual Christians we make decisions based on our conscience as informed by God’s Word. And there simply is no straight line from God’s Word to the complexities of 21st century energy and economic policy, no matter how hard you try. There is no way to argue that a certain position on a national carbon tax is an “ecclesiastical matter” without stretching the definition of ecclesiastical until it has no meaning whatsoever. If everything with a moral component is an ecclesiastical matter then there is no end to what can be made to be ecclesiastical. If everything is ecclesiastical, then nothing is. If we are to have common ground, we must have a common language, and that language has to mean something. Are we so double minded (James 4:8) that to say one thing and then do another is perfectly acceptable to us? Or are those who hold the power in the church’s institutions and agencies indifferent as long as their ox is not being gored?
What happened to Christians respecting each other’s consciences in matters such as this? Why must Christians take the reins of power and co-opt the name and resources of others to advance their preferred political agenda? What is to stop these brothers and sisters from pressing their claims through YECA, EEN, Sojourners, 350.org, or any number of other organizations of like-minded individuals, whether Christian or not? How are we to understand the continual, obvious, and divisive politicking of the church except as a display of arrogance and disregard in the face of brothers and sisters who differ?
I'm familiar with that material, as well as DeMoor's commentary. I guess what I was more looking for was some proponent of the type of lobbying that Doug here decries to interact with Doug's question about the institutional church transacting ecclesiastical matters only. I am interested to see someone who favors this type of activity in the church grapple honestly and more than surficially with our covenantal language.
The closest I've seen in this thread is Tom Ackerman's quote: "I disagree with your statements about the role of the church on issues of social justice, including global warming. There is no stronger message in the Bible than our requirement as God's people to seek justice and to love mercy. Laying waste to our environment is neither just nor merciful."
A couple of observations:
1) Tom does not in this argument establish that lobbying for a carbon tax is an ecclesiastical matter, except to establish his belief that it relates to justice an mercy. But of course, every aspect of life relates to justice and mercy in one fashion or another, but that does not maker every matter in life ecclesiastical (of or relating to a church especially as an established institution).
2) There are indeed stronger messages in the Bible than our requirement (law) to seek justice and love mercy. Grace always overwhelms law in the Christian gospel, so it simply will not do to posit law as the dominant theme of the Bible.
3) In this quote Tom illustrates the cardinal sin of environmentalism, that of hyperbolic pronouncement. Later in the thread Tom objects to the use of the term "alarmist". But the word is used for a reason, and the history of alarming exaggeration within environmentalism is long and illustrious, whether the name be Ehrlich, Gore, Hayhoe, McKibben, or some politician pandering for votes through fear. The idiom "lay waste" is defined in one place as "to devastate; destroy; ruin", which is typical of its common usage. The idea that humanity is somehow devastating, destroying, or ruining "our environment" is the the type of apocalyptic language that is so detached from reality that the purveyor of such fearful language drives people into two disparate camps: First, true believers, who begin to speak and act in more and more irrational ways (see Green New Deal language) due to exaggerated fears. Second, those who are driven away by the hyperbole and flee to the opposite end of the spectrum, and often in so doing also discount realistic concerns. So the use of such hyperbole is quite counterproductive, and it continues to be the Achilles heel of the environmental movement, both within and without Christianity.
Thanks for asking. I’m glad to give further insight into my thoughts on the matter. As you begin by revealing part of your story (abuse survivor), allow me to begin by saying that my prayer for you is that God has granted and will continue to grant you healing and peace - the kind which the world cannot offer. Only our Savior, who knew abuse and suffering like no other, can ultimately offer the healing balm that lasts and makes whole the wounded soul.
I should begin by noting that my comments here have not been primarily a pushback on background checks, per se. You’ll see that my initial and follow-up pushback was aimed mainly at the paternalistic tendency of the Safe Church office, which is a subset of the larger paternalistic tendency among CRC agencies and staff. As I noted to Eric, he is really in no position to tell my local church council what they should or should not do in regards to the pastoral care of their congregation, yet he has assumed the role of doing so. He has neither the intimate knowledge nor the authority to coherently do so, and his denominational employment does not make him automatically qualified. As office bearers in the church, we answer to the head of the church, Jesus Christ, for our care of the congregation, not to Grand Rapids. And you’ll notice that criminal background checks are conspicuously absent from 1Timothy 3 and Titus 1. If Eric had simply offered resources or thoughts on criminal background checks, you would have read no response from me, but he went further. And that additional distance he went is in keeping with a larger pattern that I think is worth pushing back against, for the health and unity of the church.
Secondly, it is worth noting that Eric deftly illustrates another besetting flaw of many agency staff in his response, that of patronization. The first reaction of many agency staff when challenged is to position themselves as the teacher, with whomever their respondent is being the student in need of education. So, Eric goes immediately to the de facto response of so many agency staff: point to some inane statistic or study, as if that settles the matter. As I noted to Eric: people aren’t statistics, and proper pastoral care is not beholden to any set of numbers. To make the matter personal, the question of whether or not my 16 year old daughter should be subjected to an application, interview, reference checks, and a criminal background check before serving in the church nursery is not a question to be answered by any statistic, nor entrusted to denominational staff. That is a question to be answered by my church council, the members of which have also not undergone a criminal background check, yet have been entrusted with the spiritual care of the church.
As to criminal background checks in and of themselves, they are simply a tool, which like all tools can be wielded for good or for ill. Also like all tools, there is a time to avail oneself of the use of a criminal background check, and a time to refrain. Such judgments require wisdom and discretion, the likes of which can only be properly exercised in close relationship with people. That is a closeness that agencies don’t possess, yet elders must possess. When Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:16 to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves”, he does not say how that will look in any or all situations. Sometimes the shrewdness demanded in that command will result in use of such a tool, sometimes not. Therein lies the problem in receiving moral or practical absolutes from detached agency staff. I have no doubt as to the pure and honorable intentions of Eric Kas, but that does not mean that he or his agency are always going to make decisions or pronouncements that are healthy for the church.
Thank you for your response. I too value dialogue – iron sharpening iron.
I respect and honor the decisions made in your local church in this arena. That is in keeping with the thrust of my interaction here. I have no interest in attempting to dissuade you from your convictions in that respect. A couple follow-up notes:
1) It seems as though the reasoning that you proffer could quite consistently be applied to mandatory criminal background checks for the whole congregation and all visitors. After all, can we really know who is lurking, what their intent is, and when/how they might attempt an assault? Don’t all of our members come into contact with children and other potential victims? Now, you may think this unpastoral and unnecessary. But suppose for a moment that someone from outside your church, perhaps a denominational agency, assumed to tell you that you should do this at the local level. And suppose if you didn’t acquiesce to the protection protocol of the denomination, they threatened to “name and shame” you until you did. Not so conducive to unity and harmony in the church, it seems to me.
2) Switching to a slightly different, but related, topic in order to drive home the point: Imagine with me a denominational agency called Armed Church Ministry. This agency is equipped with studies, statistics, and stories about mass shootings in places of public gathering and realizes that the common link in most of these shootings is the assailant’s conclusion that he has identified a soft target. Now, this agency knows how God values human life, and how much grief, destruction, and trauma results from such incidents of violence. Additionally, this agency takes seriously the recognition in Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 107 that God wants us “to protect [our neighbor] from harm as much as we can.” In this light, the Armed Church Ministry devises safety protocols under the creative moniker “Armed Church” and begins to encourage churches to adopt the protocols and the moniker. Over time, encouragement turns to urging, turns to telling churches what they should do, turns to demanding, turns to public shaming for noncompliance. The protocols are as follows:
- All churches should have a message on their website and on their visible church sign that they are an Armed Church and that violent offenders should be aware that armed personnel are present at every gathering.
- All churches should have a metal detector at each entrance.
- All visitors should be screened before attending public worship services.
- All churches should have armed guards who open-carry their weapons, so that violence can be dissuaded.
Initially, there will be some push back, but eventually most will be ok with it. After violent incidents in public places, we so often hear “I had no idea Johnny was capable of that”.
I don’t say those things to mock or belittle Safe Church or its staff. I love each person involved. I do think that the church can experience mission creep, and I do think that a recurring theme from Grand Rapids is the top-down mentality that we profess to not believe in. This top-down mentality does not strengthen or vitalize the denomination, but leads to a greater and greater disconnect and loss of unity (witness denominational ministry shares struggles). This is a real problem in the CRC, and it is evident in numerous arenas.
Posted in: The CRC and LGBTQ - Part 2
On a smaller scale A1B its ally churches have already successfully pulled this off, resulting in the normalization and acceptance of promotion of sin and false doctrine in the church. Churches regularly invite in speakers to undermine the teaching of the church, to impugn the Bible, and to promote sin, all with no accountability within the broader church. Consider for a moment whether or not the church would tolerate any other sin-advocacy group in her midst. How about a Society for the Promotion of Greed? Or perhaps a Hate Inclusion Club? I happen to be prone to both of those sins, among many others. Sound ridiculous? Certainly so, but no more ridiculous than the continued persistence and acceptance of a group within the church who are allowed to openly and unrepentantly call people into sin. And Synod (being dutifully obedient to church order "experts") deliberately has stonewalled any attempt at accountability on this matter. Synod was even unwilling to say that encouraging and promoting others to sin is itself sinful. Dan, we don't have to imagine this happening - it has happened and is happening as we speak.
Posted in: Life, Life, and More Life
Thank you, Sarah Joy, for your beautiful testimony! You are indeed a blessing and a Joy! How wonderful that God would use you to speak such powerful words. May God continue to bless you as you also continue to bless those around you.
Posted in: What Ways Are You Supporting Women in Leadership?
I think something really gets lost when "women in leadership" is equated with "women in ecclesiastical office". The two are not the same, yet I think in the church too often we use the first as shorthand for the second. This is unhelpful. One thing it does is paints churches who hold to the historically orthodox position on women in ecclesiastical office as against the use and appreciation of women's gifts in the life of the church. Such could not be further from the truth.
I am very supportive of women in leadership. There are a plethora of ways in which women can and do have leadership roles in the life of the church without ever holding ecclesiastical office. I have observed and celebrated it all my life.
The CRC has placed itself in an awkward position. It has decreed that two exclusive positions are both correct. One would suppose that such an incoherent position would only be able to survive in the long term if both positions were allowed to exist side-by-side with impartiality. Yet such has not been the case. The CRC puts its institutional weight behind egalitarianism while marginalizing complementarianism. For example we have the denominational ministry called Women's Ministry which states explicitly "We affirm and support women in all levels of leadership." This ministry then uses denominational resources and platforms to promote teachings and practices at the expense of the other position that the denomination ostensibly holds as "a" biblical position. We also see practices at synod that are not only inconsiderate by also seem to be designed to purposely marginalize complementarians and affirmatively violate their consciences.
It is hard to see this pattern leading to greater denominational unity or cohesiveness over time. In fact, it seems almost designed to either "convert" or drive out a portion of the church so that over time one position is normalized while the other position is marginalized to the point of being considered unacceptable. Perhaps this was inevitable given the logical incoherence of a position that says that "A" and "Not A" are both true.
Posted in: What Ways Are You Supporting Women in Leadership?
Denise, more directly to your question, my main approach is one of prayer and encouragement. I'm not much for programs and such as much as I am the individual deliberative practice of love. Loving each other in the church, when considered in its full-orbed scope, leads us to recognize and encourage the use of gifts in those around us. This is probably most easily and widely practiced in/with those that we are closest to, but should not be limited to that.
My wife happens to be better at some aspects of leadership than I am (particularly in organization), so she not only leads but also helps me when I am called to lead. My wife currently fills roles as Classical Treasurer, Youth Group Coordinator, Minn-I-Kota Youth Network Board Member, pianist, and Sunday School teacher among other roles outside of church. As a husband, but also as a brother in Christ, I am called to encourage and support her in these roles as she uses her gifts to glorify God.
Posted in: Should the CRCNA Lobby in Favor of Federal Carbon Tax Legislation?
http://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=5729035-Green-New-Deal-FAQ
Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. Like it was written by a sixth grader or Miss Universe contestant asked how they intend to save the planet.
But in many ways it is not funny at all, because actual elected legislators think this is sound thinking. Best quote, perhaps: The Green New Deal will guarantee "Economic security for all who are unable or unwilling to work."
Posted in: Should the CRCNA Lobby in Favor of Federal Carbon Tax Legislation?
No. Unequivocally no. And it should not simply be a question of "who's ox is being gored". I am opposed to church mission creep whether the church is playing in my end of the pool or the other end. As you so rightly point out, when we covenant together, it must mean something. The division being caused right now in the body of Christ (and it is real and damaging) is because we bear false witness that we intend to do something that we do not have the will to abide by. Shame on us for our duplicity as a denomination.
Posted in: Where Are the Evangelicals?
Izaak, to answer your question, I'll simply quote Roger from another forum:
"Although my background is Reformed, my present position would come much closer to deism, which is a belief in the existence of God based on the evidence of reason and nature, with a rejection of supernatural revelations such as the Koran, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Jewish Scriptures and all other so called supernatural revelations."
Roger is still listed as a Minister of the Word in the CRC but rejects the Bible.
Posted in: Should the CRCNA Lobby in Favor of Federal Carbon Tax Legislation?
Hi Tom,
I am always glad to hear your opinion, though I don't think you and I have been interacting to this point. I have indeed stated my opinion of that document quite clearly, and for that I make no apology. Better to be clear than to equivocate. That does not mean that you are not encouraged to also state your opinion. As to the document that I linked, I have nothing but mockery and disdain for it, and will further argue that it represents a nadir of foolishness and silly thinking. I see no reason to take it seriously. That's strong language, to be sure, but I doubt that you would want me to be squishy or unclear.
Are there principles embedded therein that can be useful? I have no doubt that there are, but I find their presence in the document utterly unredemptive for the document as a whole. If you are recruiting help to mock some other proposal that you feel is worthy to be mocked, by all means make your pitch. Mockery has its place when considering certain proposals.
There is plenty of room generally for Christians to give each other latitude in this broad matter. I much prefer the approach of Dr. Judith Curry, which I find balanced and less prone to overreaction that many other approaches. An example of her measured approach can be seen in her testimony here: https://naturalresources.house.gov/imo/media/doc/Curry%20Testimony%20House%20Natural%20Resources.pdf I'm not particularly interested in parsing her testimony here, as I don't think we will accomplish anything by that. I simply post as an example of what I believe is a reasonable approach. As a government-employed scientist, I can tell you that I have read more than my share of SONARs (Statement Of Need And Resonableness), and can confidently say that the science behind legislation is not immune to being stretched, cherry-picked, manipulated, and misrepresented.
Posted in: Should the CRCNA Lobby in Favor of Federal Carbon Tax Legislation?
I would be interested to see one straight-forward attempt to answer Doug’s continual question regarding Church Order Article 28 and the proper activities of the institutional church. The pertinent language of Article 28 is as follows: “These assemblies [council, classis, & synod] shall transact ecclesiastical matters only, and shall deal with them in an ecclesiastical manner.”
We can argue until we are blue in the face about carbon taxes, green new deals, capitalism vs. socialism, nuclear power, etc., and that is all well and fine. But in the end, as individual Christians we make decisions based on our conscience as informed by God’s Word. And there simply is no straight line from God’s Word to the complexities of 21st century energy and economic policy, no matter how hard you try. There is no way to argue that a certain position on a national carbon tax is an “ecclesiastical matter” without stretching the definition of ecclesiastical until it has no meaning whatsoever. If everything with a moral component is an ecclesiastical matter then there is no end to what can be made to be ecclesiastical. If everything is ecclesiastical, then nothing is. If we are to have common ground, we must have a common language, and that language has to mean something. Are we so double minded (James 4:8) that to say one thing and then do another is perfectly acceptable to us? Or are those who hold the power in the church’s institutions and agencies indifferent as long as their ox is not being gored?
What happened to Christians respecting each other’s consciences in matters such as this? Why must Christians take the reins of power and co-opt the name and resources of others to advance their preferred political agenda? What is to stop these brothers and sisters from pressing their claims through YECA, EEN, Sojourners, 350.org, or any number of other organizations of like-minded individuals, whether Christian or not? How are we to understand the continual, obvious, and divisive politicking of the church except as a display of arrogance and disregard in the face of brothers and sisters who differ?
Posted in: Should the CRCNA Lobby in Favor of Federal Carbon Tax Legislation?
Hello Lubbert,
I'm familiar with that material, as well as DeMoor's commentary. I guess what I was more looking for was some proponent of the type of lobbying that Doug here decries to interact with Doug's question about the institutional church transacting ecclesiastical matters only. I am interested to see someone who favors this type of activity in the church grapple honestly and more than surficially with our covenantal language.
The closest I've seen in this thread is Tom Ackerman's quote: "I disagree with your statements about the role of the church on issues of social justice, including global warming. There is no stronger message in the Bible than our requirement as God's people to seek justice and to love mercy. Laying waste to our environment is neither just nor merciful."
A couple of observations:
1) Tom does not in this argument establish that lobbying for a carbon tax is an ecclesiastical matter, except to establish his belief that it relates to justice an mercy. But of course, every aspect of life relates to justice and mercy in one fashion or another, but that does not maker every matter in life ecclesiastical (of or relating to a church especially as an established institution).
2) There are indeed stronger messages in the Bible than our requirement (law) to seek justice and love mercy. Grace always overwhelms law in the Christian gospel, so it simply will not do to posit law as the dominant theme of the Bible.
3) In this quote Tom illustrates the cardinal sin of environmentalism, that of hyperbolic pronouncement. Later in the thread Tom objects to the use of the term "alarmist". But the word is used for a reason, and the history of alarming exaggeration within environmentalism is long and illustrious, whether the name be Ehrlich, Gore, Hayhoe, McKibben, or some politician pandering for votes through fear. The idiom "lay waste" is defined in one place as "to devastate; destroy; ruin", which is typical of its common usage. The idea that humanity is somehow devastating, destroying, or ruining "our environment" is the the type of apocalyptic language that is so detached from reality that the purveyor of such fearful language drives people into two disparate camps: First, true believers, who begin to speak and act in more and more irrational ways (see Green New Deal language) due to exaggerated fears. Second, those who are driven away by the hyperbole and flee to the opposite end of the spectrum, and often in so doing also discount realistic concerns. So the use of such hyperbole is quite counterproductive, and it continues to be the Achilles heel of the environmental movement, both within and without Christianity.
Posted in: Background Checks: What Screening Services Does Your Church Use?
Hi Frank,
Thanks for asking. I’m glad to give further insight into my thoughts on the matter. As you begin by revealing part of your story (abuse survivor), allow me to begin by saying that my prayer for you is that God has granted and will continue to grant you healing and peace - the kind which the world cannot offer. Only our Savior, who knew abuse and suffering like no other, can ultimately offer the healing balm that lasts and makes whole the wounded soul.
I should begin by noting that my comments here have not been primarily a pushback on background checks, per se. You’ll see that my initial and follow-up pushback was aimed mainly at the paternalistic tendency of the Safe Church office, which is a subset of the larger paternalistic tendency among CRC agencies and staff. As I noted to Eric, he is really in no position to tell my local church council what they should or should not do in regards to the pastoral care of their congregation, yet he has assumed the role of doing so. He has neither the intimate knowledge nor the authority to coherently do so, and his denominational employment does not make him automatically qualified. As office bearers in the church, we answer to the head of the church, Jesus Christ, for our care of the congregation, not to Grand Rapids. And you’ll notice that criminal background checks are conspicuously absent from 1Timothy 3 and Titus 1. If Eric had simply offered resources or thoughts on criminal background checks, you would have read no response from me, but he went further. And that additional distance he went is in keeping with a larger pattern that I think is worth pushing back against, for the health and unity of the church.
Secondly, it is worth noting that Eric deftly illustrates another besetting flaw of many agency staff in his response, that of patronization. The first reaction of many agency staff when challenged is to position themselves as the teacher, with whomever their respondent is being the student in need of education. So, Eric goes immediately to the de facto response of so many agency staff: point to some inane statistic or study, as if that settles the matter. As I noted to Eric: people aren’t statistics, and proper pastoral care is not beholden to any set of numbers. To make the matter personal, the question of whether or not my 16 year old daughter should be subjected to an application, interview, reference checks, and a criminal background check before serving in the church nursery is not a question to be answered by any statistic, nor entrusted to denominational staff. That is a question to be answered by my church council, the members of which have also not undergone a criminal background check, yet have been entrusted with the spiritual care of the church.
As to criminal background checks in and of themselves, they are simply a tool, which like all tools can be wielded for good or for ill. Also like all tools, there is a time to avail oneself of the use of a criminal background check, and a time to refrain. Such judgments require wisdom and discretion, the likes of which can only be properly exercised in close relationship with people. That is a closeness that agencies don’t possess, yet elders must possess. When Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:16 to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves”, he does not say how that will look in any or all situations. Sometimes the shrewdness demanded in that command will result in use of such a tool, sometimes not. Therein lies the problem in receiving moral or practical absolutes from detached agency staff. I have no doubt as to the pure and honorable intentions of Eric Kas, but that does not mean that he or his agency are always going to make decisions or pronouncements that are healthy for the church.
Thanks again for interacting. God bless you.
Eric
Posted in: Background Checks: What Screening Services Does Your Church Use?
Hi Frank,
Thank you for your response. I too value dialogue – iron sharpening iron.
I respect and honor the decisions made in your local church in this arena. That is in keeping with the thrust of my interaction here. I have no interest in attempting to dissuade you from your convictions in that respect. A couple follow-up notes:
1) It seems as though the reasoning that you proffer could quite consistently be applied to mandatory criminal background checks for the whole congregation and all visitors. After all, can we really know who is lurking, what their intent is, and when/how they might attempt an assault? Don’t all of our members come into contact with children and other potential victims? Now, you may think this unpastoral and unnecessary. But suppose for a moment that someone from outside your church, perhaps a denominational agency, assumed to tell you that you should do this at the local level. And suppose if you didn’t acquiesce to the protection protocol of the denomination, they threatened to “name and shame” you until you did. Not so conducive to unity and harmony in the church, it seems to me.
2) Switching to a slightly different, but related, topic in order to drive home the point: Imagine with me a denominational agency called Armed Church Ministry. This agency is equipped with studies, statistics, and stories about mass shootings in places of public gathering and realizes that the common link in most of these shootings is the assailant’s conclusion that he has identified a soft target. Now, this agency knows how God values human life, and how much grief, destruction, and trauma results from such incidents of violence. Additionally, this agency takes seriously the recognition in Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 107 that God wants us “to protect [our neighbor] from harm as much as we can.” In this light, the Armed Church Ministry devises safety protocols under the creative moniker “Armed Church” and begins to encourage churches to adopt the protocols and the moniker. Over time, encouragement turns to urging, turns to telling churches what they should do, turns to demanding, turns to public shaming for noncompliance. The protocols are as follows:
- All churches should have a message on their website and on their visible church sign that they are an Armed Church and that violent offenders should be aware that armed personnel are present at every gathering.
- All churches should have a metal detector at each entrance.
- All visitors should be screened before attending public worship services.
- All churches should have armed guards who open-carry their weapons, so that violence can be dissuaded.
Initially, there will be some push back, but eventually most will be ok with it. After violent incidents in public places, we so often hear “I had no idea Johnny was capable of that”.
I don’t say those things to mock or belittle Safe Church or its staff. I love each person involved. I do think that the church can experience mission creep, and I do think that a recurring theme from Grand Rapids is the top-down mentality that we profess to not believe in. This top-down mentality does not strengthen or vitalize the denomination, but leads to a greater and greater disconnect and loss of unity (witness denominational ministry shares struggles). This is a real problem in the CRC, and it is evident in numerous arenas.