Figured I would pose this question here. The issue arose on a Dutch reformed forum, where there are many churches made up of those who of their own admission are what seems to be 'comfortably' unconverted.

Is it proper for such to do confession of a 'historical' faith, while they will, in all likelihood, not wish to partake of the Lord's supper, nor should they, if they are unconverted...

Should they be allowed to present their children for baptism?

The consistories that accept their confession do this willingly, knowing that as admitted unconverted they are, according to Scripture, enemies of God and of His church.

My take is, that they are guilty of censurable sin against, amongst others:

The first commandment

The third and ninth commandment (false oath)

__________________
Bert Mulder
Elder of the First Protestant Reformed Church of Edmonton
Edmonton Alberta Canada

Is Wilhelmus a Brakel considered a representative of the Dutch Reformed tradition? In the Christian's Reasonable Service, 2:504, he states, "If someone has therefore entered into the covenant -- whether it be in truth or in an external sense -- and has been baptized, they are also obligated to surrender their children to Christ by way of the covenant and thus permit them to be baptized, as the covenant has also been made with their children.

Again, p. 506, "all children of members of the covenant (irrespective of whether these members are converted or unconverted) who die in infancy -- be it prior to or after the administration of baptism -- must be considered as saved by virtue of God's covenant in which they were born and in consequence of which they are children of the covenant."

__________________
Yours sincerely,


"Illum oportet crescere me autem minui."

Yes, have just recently read those sections in Brakel.

Can not say that I agree with him on that, as much as I in general agree with him.

__________________
Bert Mulder
Elder of the First Protestant Reformed Church of Edmonton
Edmonton Alberta Canada