wfn.org | CRC NEWS: Synod Adopts Revised Contemporary Testimony

["Henry Hess" <hessh@crcna.ca>]

June 17, 2008 -- Concerned about the need to speak to the issues of the  day in strong but biblical language, Synod 2008 of the Christian  Reformed Church in North America today adopted a newly revised version  of "Our World Belongs to God: A Contemporary Testimony."

The testimony, a revision of a text that first came out in 1986,  provides an updated look at how the Reformed faith addresses concerns  facing people today, from end-of-life issues to issues of sexuality, the  environment, terrorism, and peace and war.

Written in free-verse poetry, such as is used in the Psalms, the  testimony contains much that was in the previous version.

"We have tried to keep the tone of the original version and smooth some  things out, but speak to contemporary issues," said Rev. Morris  Greidanus, chair of the revision committee that was formed in 2005. He  helped to write the original contemporary testimony.

Although it refers to scripture, the testimony is not written as a  dogmatic text, Greidanus said. Rather, it contains Bible-based material  that is in part a response to how the world was affected and changed by  events such as the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Those events  "made people feel a little shell-shocked and we wanted to reflect that,"  he said.

Some delegates said that the revised testimony contains some statements  that seem more political than biblical.

In response, Greidanus said the testimony is in line with statements and  decisions made by previous synods. "...We tried to stay strictly to what  synod has said," he told the delegates. "We never go beyond what synod  has said confessionally."

Rev. Raymond Blacketer from Classis Alberta North said he found the  revision to be worthwhile, but he wanted synod to table it for a year so  that people in the churches would have more time to review it.

Tobias Lewis, an elder from Classis Georgetown, asked why there should  be a rush to adopt a document that has some political overtones to it.  "We haven't had time to pore over this with our hearts and souls," he  said.

But other delegates said that it is important to get the document in the  hands of church members so they can use it to help explain the Reformed  faith to new believers, who are eager to know about the faith but have  little background in the historic confessions of the CRC.

"As we plan and lead worship services, the contemporary testimony can  serve us well," said Rev. Joy Engelsman from Classis Rocky Mountain. "It  can help us speak to things that are of concern to people in our  congregations today."