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Multiple laments have been published about Synod 2024. For sure, its decisions were tough and the fallout tremendous. The reactions have gone beyond disappointment.
Some have said Synod 2024 represents a “new direction.” Its decisions have been described as “reckless, arbitrary, and unimaginable in any other age.” One writer characterized it as, “The Babylonians have struck.”
However, upon looking back at synods of the past 20 years or so, the decisions of the past three synods come as no surprise. Synods 2022-2024 are consistent with synods of the past.
Holding congregations and officebearers to the CRC stance on human sexuality is consistent with the response of synods 2004 and 2005 to First CRC Toronto. Not compromising the traditional biblically orthodox stance on human sexuality can be seen in 2011 when synod refused an overture to restudy the matter from scratch. The same was evident in 2013 when synod specified that the committee to give pastoral advice on same-sex marriage be grounded in the existing stance on sexuality from 1973. When the pastoral advice committee stretched the 1973 tether to the breaking point, Synod 2016 adopted only the minority report that kept ministers from solemnizing same-sex marriages. Moreover, Synod 2016 formed a new study committee to look at human sexuality altogether but required its members to agree with the 1973 stance, minus the Promotor Fidei to keep the committee from being an echo chamber.
The past three synods are not an unimaginable new direction akin to a foreign invasion but a continuation of the historical direction. Some will be disappointed that we did not bend to changing times, but CRC history has been consistent on human sexuality.
To balance the many laments, the following is a case in favor of Synod 2024’s decisions.
The CRC has had two ideologies on a collision course. These two views are fundamentally incompatible. Each has differing doctrines of anthropology, sin, general and special revelation, ecclesiology, soteriology, and sanctification. The result has been a war for the soul of the denomination, prolonged by the pipe dream that these differences could simply be smoothed over. Splits in multiple denominations (including the CRC’s close ecclesiastical relative, the Reformed Church in America) have demonstrated that trying to remain under one denominational umbrella with these differing views on human sexuality is untenable. Synod needed to make a decision on where to stand on this topic that—like it or not—has de facto confessional status. Synod recognized the incompatibility and confirmed as much. The past three synods have decided that the CRC is going to stay on course with the historic and worldwide church on the topic of marriage and sexuality. Recognizing the incompatible nature of the two colliding theologies, synod has said that church teaching on unchastity is not negotiable. Those who publicly contradict the teaching on unchastity with a high hand will be under discipline.
Looking Ahead
Conflicts on marriage and sexuality must be resolved because the CRC has major challenges to face. With a unified stance to withstand the sexual anarchy of our time, we will be able to face these challenges on a sure footing.
Looking to the future, my dream for the CRC is that we would exhibit the best of the Reformed tradition with the best of evangelical Christianity. The Reformed tradition provides a rich heritage of emphasis on God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. The creeds and confessions ground our understanding of Scripture into the historical church so that we do not read the Bible in a vacuum. Evangelical Christianity puts the gospel message at the forefront and prioritizes evangelism, willing to work with others across denominational lines toward sharing the gospel.
My hope is that the CRC would have a focus on the gospel message and that we would preach it well. Too often when people are asked to articulate the gospel, they will look like a deer in the headlights. Answers will too often be along the lines of making the self or the world a better place or following commands. I’ll never forget leading a chapel service at a nearby Christian school where I asked the students how a person could be saved. “Obey the Ten Commandments” was one of the answers. This is not the gospel. All people were created good but are fallen sinners in need of Jesus Christ as Savior. Jesus lived, died, rose again, and ascended to atone for sins. Those who believe will inherit eternal life by God’s grace, while those who reject Christ will inherit eternal punishment. My prayer is that everyone in the CRC will be able to articulate the gospel and would unashamedly spread this good news.
While the evangelical world has the gospel, they are adrift without a confessional tradition to ground them. Many have floated in the directions of the prosperity gospel or Christian nationalism or pastoral personality cults. An emphasis on the Reformed confessions, their biblical validity and historical viability keeps an understanding of Scripture anchored against the changing winds of time and culture. This is an ancient faith, held by innumerable believers for thousands of years. The Ecumenical Creeds and Reformed Confessions are guardrails in our understanding of the Bible. They hold a foundational articulation of God’s greatness, human depravity, reconciliation in Christ, and living a life of gratitude. My hope is that the CRC incorporates the catechism into worship, that it would be taught in our Sunday schools, that it would be quoted in conversations, that each member would know that their only comfort in life and in death is that they belong to their faithful Savior Jesus Christ. My hope is that we would never be embarrassed by the Canons of Dort but that we would boldly declare that we are saved by God’s grace to the exclusion of any boast on our part.
With this Reformed evangelical focus, the CRC can expect to expand its cultural and linguistic diversity. Many congregations have already joined the CRC from places like Venezuela. The Consejo Latino (Agenda for Synod 2022, p.528) and Korean delegates to synod have made known their position on human sexuality. With this matter resolved, we can expect more to join. Since Synod 2024 a Hispanic church has already contacted Classis Zeeland about possibly joining us.
My hope is that the CRC would be a home for refugees of the sexual revolution, a place where God’s grace abounds but the boundaries don’t budge. People who once pursued sexual fulfillment as personal salvation would hear that true intimacy is found in spiritual union with Christ alongside the believing community. The many who struggle with pornography would find accountability partners who are gracious enough to comfort the shame but firm enough to challenge sinful behavior. Those who fall into sexual sin would be reassured of God’s grace but also told to go and sin no more. Those living in sin would find a warm welcome to worship and a kind community that invites them over for dinner. If membership is pursued, the hard conversations about membership expectations would be had with Christian love and spiritual concern.
Synod 2024 made difficult but needed decisions. Not everyone will be happy with the result but the CRC has confirmed where it stands on human sexuality and is positioned to meet the other challenges while theologically unified as a multicultural denomination. Hopefully now we can focus on preaching the gospel while staying grounded in a Reformed identity. Hopefully now we can concentrate on pastoral care for a sexually broken world.