PointyHaired Calvinist
Puritan Board Junior
Can Rich DeVos reunite Christian Reformed Church with Reformed Church in America?
I think it may be sooner rather than later...
I think it may be sooner rather than later...
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It’s probably true that there are no substantial, principled reasons to remain separate, but who has moved since 1857, the CRC or the RCA? To ask that question is to answer it. The RCA “Americanized” very quickly in the 19th century and the CRC resisted for about a century. Since the middle of the 20th century, however, the push to make the CRC a truly “American” (what some of the old Dutchmen in the CRC used to call “Methodist” or revivalist) church has been underway for several decades.
Gradually over the last 60 years, the CRC has gradually abandoned her confession (theology, piety, and practice). She isn’t even mouthing the words any more. The very thing feared by Foppe ten Hoor and Louis Berkhof and others, in the early part of the 20th century, has come to pass. The CRC has become a broadly evangelical denomination. On its present path the future of the CRC is clear: the RCA, the home of those paragons of Reformed theology, piety, and practice: Norman Vincent Peale and Robert Schuller. Is that the witness for Christ for which Mr DeVos hopes and if not, how will he or anyone else prevent it when the CRC and the RCA merge?
Many CRCs up this way no longer have catechism classes, they have 'Fish', sort of like a public service team. Not to mention one evening service every two weeks, etc. If there's no desire to hear the Word, why even bother?
That first church sounds horrid. If by "fish" you mean that horrid management video from the Seattle Fish market then that is many levels of wrong. The newer RCA's here are trying to emulate Rob Bell and Mars Hill (and doing it badly).The CRC that I saw with "Fish" also has female deacons, elders, and a slick one hour show that passes for a service. Another CRC (where my father attends) has none of the above and still teaches catechism.
...the cry of 'Soli Deo Gloria!' has been replaced with 'Social Justice!'
The newer RCA's here are trying to emulate Rob Bell and Mars Hill (and doing it badly).
Now what is the difference between Kingdom Seekers and GEMS? The URC's here have the former.
The newer RCA's here are trying to emulate Rob Bell and Mars Hill (and doing it badly).
The newer RCA's here are trying to emulate Rob Bell and Mars Hill (and doing it badly).
Interesting to note that DeVos' son, Dick, attends Mars Hill. I would agree that much of the church planting efforts of both denominations are heavily influenced by emergent/missional type thinking. So goes the future for both denominations.
GEMS is where my daughters used to go, they are very trendy, have a magazine that reads like a toned-down "Seventeen" (what's hot now, how to be 'green') and Bible study is present but lasts about 5 - 10 minutes. Now in Sheffield they attend Kingdom Seekers, and Bible study lasts about 1/2 an hour, and there is more focus on traditional activities, instead of 'saving the environment'.
-----Added 5/28/2009 at 08:19:00 EST-----
The newer RCA's here are trying to emulate Rob Bell and Mars Hill (and doing it badly).
Two of my cousins from the "Fish" church were going to a wedding in GR and the second biggest item on their agenda was attending Mars Hill and being part of the Rob-bellion.
Rob-bellion?
Rob-bellion?
They like Rob Bell. Sorry, I thought that was clever... (I don't think so anymore, mind you.)
I know, a little frumpy. But that's me.