Dilemma For Evangelicals (2)

Last month we referred to the mounting concern among born-again believers in the denominations at the rising tide of ecumenism and the dilemma this has brought to them. Two conflicting courses are being urged on evangelicals by their leaders: (1) remain in your denominations and protest, and (2) separate from your denominations.

In a recent paperback, "Reformation today", Professor Klaas Runia of the Reformed Theological College, Australia, gives a balanced evaluation of the ecumenical movement and the problems it has brought to evangelicals in the denominations. He urges the need for a new reformation: "Personally" he writes, "I believe that the only answer is, we have to work towards a new reformation. Nothing less will do". He then proposes that evangelicals in the denominations should promote this new reformation by (1) revival of doctrinal preaching, (2) revival of discipline, and (3) the voice of protest.

Last month we referred to confused thinking among believers arising from an ambiguous' use of the term "the church". Frequently it is implied that the total of the denominations, diverse as they are in doctrine and practice, is God's church. In his use of the term, "the reformation of the church", Professor Runia infers that all the denominations had a divine beginning. They comprise, in his view, "the Christian church of today". This conception of "the church" is scripturally untenable. Any argument built on the premise that "the church" and Christendom are equated is unsound. It would help to clear the issue for evangelicals in the denominations if their leaders were more explicit in employing words with their scriptural connotation.

After discussing at some length the possibility of "the reformation of the church", which he describes as "our task within the church", Professor Runia asks, "But what if the church and its leaders refuse to listen to our words of protest and stubbornly continue the wrong teachings and practices?" He answers, "Then, I believe, we must separate ourselves from our church". This counsel will, no doubt, be offensive to many. But that it is seriously proposed and forcefully urged by a distinguished Reformed theologian brings evangelicals in the denominations face to face with an issue they can no longer evade in the ecumenical predicament. In this crucial hour in the history of Christendom the reaction of the evangelical minority will have far-reaching consequences.

When Professor Runia comes to examine the question of a separation of evangelicals from the professing churches, he sets before them as the goal to be attained "a United Evangelical Church". He recognises the formidable difficulties in attaining such an ideal but suggests ways and means of overcoming them. He writes, "We should not start with doctrinal compromises, for then our unity will only be apparent, and it will also soon break apart again. The end then will be worse than the beginning. Our first task must be to seek for real and genuine agreement. This will entail, among other things, a serious and penetrating study of God's Word. Behind nearly all our differences lies the problem of a different interpretation of the Bible. It is essential that we start this study with the willingness to sacrifice our own views, if they prove to be wrong. Yes, we should even be willing to do this when we are unable to prove them from Scripture. Such a discussion will certainly not be easy. We all have deep seated prejudices, and as we all know, it is very difficult to abandon them. And yet this should be possible."

What the Professor and other evangelical leaders propose is not new. At this stage in the ecumenical controversy it is significant and startling and will, no doubt, attract some evangelicals as the answer to the ecumenical challenge. But his proposal is, broadly speaking, a revival of teaching advanced in the early 19th century that membership of the Body of Christ is the basis of gathering for God's people. The vision was an illusion. It failed then and it will fail now because it is scripturally untenable. The constitution and order of apostolic churches of God is on record in the New Testament embodied in the Faith once for all delivered unto the saints. These churches, founded by apostolic authority remain the pattern to which we must revert for guidance in the prosecution of the work of God in our own day.

During 1967 a series of monthly articles appeared in this magazine entitled, "New Testament Churches of God". In these articles the unity, government, worship and witness of the New Testament churches was reviewed, all of which is relevant to the present crisis in Christendom. We commend to our readers a careful study of these 12 articles as helpful to an understanding of the scriptural basis of gathering for God's people. In the December 1967 issue of "Needed Truth" we reprinted an important article by F.A. Banks, entitled, "The Church, and the Churches of God: a suggestive outline of truth". This article was first published in 1883. It has now been re-issued in pamphlet form. A more recent review of the subject will be found in the pamphlet, "Churches of God; New Testament pattern". These pamphlets are obtainable from our Publishing Office.

unknown | Jul 1969
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