Senior Examination in R.C.A. Doctrinal Standards

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Senior Examination in R.C.A. Doctrinal Standards

We will not review the dates and circumstances of writing the Standards of Unity (Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of the Synod of Dort), assuming the examinee is familiar with their history.

1. Nature of Subscription:

Appendix, The Formularies of the Reformed Church in America

1.Declaration for Licensed Candidates

(This Declaration shall be made orally by the candidate in the presence of the classis. The candidate shall then sign a book containing the declaration.)

I, ______, in becoming a licensed candidate for the ministry in the Reformed Church in America sincerely and gladly declare before God and with you that I believe the gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and as expressed in the Standards of the Reformed Church in America. I accept the Scriptures as the only rule of faith and life. I accept the Standards as historic and faithful witnesses to the Word of God.

I promise to walk in the Spirit of Christ, in love and fellowship within the Church, seeking the things that make for unity, purity, and peace. I will submit myself to the counsel and admonition of the classis, always ready, with gentleness and reverence, to give an account of my understanding of the Christian faith. I will conduct the work of the church in an orderly way according to the Liturgy and the

Book of Church Order.

1.What is a licensee declaring about Scripture?

2.What is a licensee declaring about the RCA Standards?

1. Historical clarifications of the Standards (see Daniel Meeter’s Meeting One Another)

Check in Ecumenical Creeds and Reformed Confessions (C.R.C. version of the Standards) page 95 (Belgic Confession, Article 18, continued) and pp. 117-118 (Belgic Confession, Article 36, with CRC Synod footnotes). Compare articles 18 and 36 and the Preface (1792) to the first R.C.A. Constitution:

1.“An expression which occurs in the 18th and 36th Articles of faith, and which mentions the Anabaptists in harsh terms, will probably with some, especially such as are ignorant of the history of the sixteenth century, appear unfriendly; and if applied to those who are sometimes distinguished at this day by the same name, be considered as an assertion not founded in truth. To obviate every objection it will suffice to observe, that there were persons at, and shortly after the reformation who were called by that name, who held the erroneous and seditious sentiments which in those articles are rejected, and who by their fanaticism and extravagance rendered themselves abhorred by all sober and religious men. In publishing the articles of faith, the Church determined to abide by the words adopted in the Synod of Dordrecht, as most expressive of what she believes to be truth, in consequence of which, the terms alluded to, could not be avoided. But she openly and candidly declares, that she by no means thereby intended to refer to any denomination of Christians at present known, and would be grieved at giving offence, or unnecessarily hurting the feelings of any person.” (Meeter, page 50)

How will you answer someone who is uncomfortable because the Belgic Confession denounces Baptists- also notice Article 34- (and all his in-laws are Baptist)?

2. “Whatever relates to the immediate authority and interposition of the magistrates in the government of the Church, and which is introduced more or less, into all the national establishments in Europe, is intirely [sic] omitted in the constitution now published. Whether the Church of Christ will not be more effectually patronized in a civil government where full freedom of conscience and worship is equally protected and insured to all men, and where truth is left to vindicate her own sovereign authority and influence, than where men in power promote their favorite denominations by temporal emoluments and partial discriminations, will now, in America, have a fair trial; and all who know and love the truth will rejoice in the prospect which such a happy situation affords for the triumph of the gospel, and the reign of peace and love.” (Meeter, page 50)

Compare the 1792 Preface and Article 36 on the power of the state – to what extent was Article 36 limited by the Constitution of 1792?

To what extent do the footnotes (revision) of Article 36 (CRC edition) apply to an RCA minister?

3.From the 1792 Preface: “Her [the Reformed Dutch Church] mode of worship is expressed in the Liturgy, where forms of several prayers are given, without any idea, however, of restraining her members to any particular terms or fixed standards for prayer. Firmly believing, that the gifts of the Holy Spirit for the edification of Zion in every age, are promised and bestowed, the reformed Dutch Church judges it sufficient to shew in a few specimens the general tenor and manner in which public worship is performed, and leaves it to the piety and gifts of her ministers to conduct the ordinary solemnities of the sanctuary, in a manner they judge most acceptable to God, and most edifying to his people.” (Meeter, page 49)

To what extent, then, must ministers use prayers from the Liturgy?

4.The Canons of Dort originally included the “Rejection of Errors” (still included in the C.R.C. edition). Compare Corwin (Digest of Synodical Legislation, 1906, pp. 129, 130) “Rev. Henry Beets appeared as delegate from this Body [CRC], to R.C.A., in 1901. In his address, he asked for information as to the future attitude of R.C.A. to secret oath-bound Societies; and why, in the Standards of R.C.A., the “Rejection of Errors” of the Remonstrants, seems to be omitted”. . . . “As to the failure to include the so-called “Rejection of Errors” in the Standards of R.C.A. The history of the Church in America explains this. The conditions in America, in 1792 were so different from those in Holland in 1618. The Synod of Dort gave both a positive and negative declaration why the Remonstrants could not be depended on as reliable expositors of the Word of God. There were no Remonstrants demanding rights in R.C.A. in 1792, and no law of exclusion was needed. The American Church, therefore, adopted simply the positive statement of truth.”

Are you subscribing to the “Rejection of Errors”? How should those sections be explained?

1. Uses of the Standards:

1.The Book of Church Order provides: (p. 13) “The points of doctrine contained in the Heidelberg Catechism shall be explained by the minister at regular services of worship on the Lord’s Day, so that the exposition of them is completed within a period of four years.” How will you accomplish this?

2.What confessional authority does the Apostles’ Creed have in the R.C.A.? (Cp. Heidelberg and last paragraph of Belgic, Article 9, on the Trinity):

“And so,

in this matter we willingly accept

the three ecumenical creeds –

the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian –

as well as what the ancient fathers decided

in agreement with them.”

3.The Belgic Confession’s view of Scripture is especially found in Articles 2-7. According to the Belgic Confession:

A.How do we know God?

B.How do we know God’s word?

C.What are the characteristics of God’s word?

D.Apply the Belgic’s view of Scripture to its designating (Article 4) Paul as the author of Hebrews?

4.Dealing with the doctrine of the mass in Question 80 of The Heidelberg- is the statement accurate as to the doctrine of the mass in 1563? How accurate is it as to the views today of the Roman Catholic Church officially, or in the popular mind, or in the U.S.?

5.Descent into hell- Heidelberg, Question 44. Do the Catechism writers teach that Christ literally went into hell after his death? Does Scripture? What will you teach?

6. In the late 1980’s the Christian Reformed Church finished approving fresh translations of the Heidelberg, Belgic and Canons from their original languages. The R.C.A. General Synod approved the use of the new CRC translations (published separately, and together as Ecumenical Creeds and Reformed Confessions). In the years that followed the Commission on Theology published revisions of all 3 for General Synod approval. The criteria were:

“The basis for this new translation is the 1988 translation of the Christian Reformed Church, used with permission. The original French text has been checked to ensure fidelity to the teachings of the author, Guido de Bres.”

“As in the new translation of the Heidelberg Catechism, divine names and titles have been retained even when gender specific (e.g., Father, Son, Lord). Masculine pronouns (he, him, himself, his) have been retained in references to the historical Jesus and the risen Christ, but they have been eliminated in all references to God the Father, the pre-incarnate Word, the necessary (a priori) characteristics of the Mediator (Articles 18 and 26), and the Holy Spirit in order to avoid, as much as possible, language that suggests that God is limited by human gender.” (G.S. Minutes, 1990, p. 410)

Comment on how you would chose a version of the Standards to use.

7. Could someone subscribe to the Heidelberg Catechism and be a universalist? Which Qs and As in the Heidelberg confirm your answer? How about the Belgic Confession? What Articles there confirm your view?

8. Do the Canons of Dort teach that election to salvation is based on:

faith

works

foreseen faith

foreseen works

baptism

______other(s)

Give the “Head of Doctrine” (I, 2, etc.) and Article # to confirm your answer.

9. Suppose a Christian prays with someone to receive Christ and then assures him or her of salvation: “God says it, you believe it, and that settles it.” Do the Canons say all Christians will come to assurance of salvation, and if Christians do come to assurance, how will that happen? (I, Article 12: V, Article 10) Compare Heidelberg, Q & A. 21 & 32.

10. In the Canons of Dort which of these are taught as arising from man, which from God, or which from both God and man? (Give Head of Doctrine and Article #.)

Faith, conversion, regeneration, conviction of sin, sanctification?

11. Where do the writers of the Canons of Dort stress the mystery of the doctrines they are expounding? (This is in contrast to the stereotype of “paleo-Calvinists” who assume they understand everything.)

12. From your review of the Standards’ teaching on the return of Christ, would you say that, consistent with the Standards, an

RCA pastor could hold to the a-, pre-, and/or post- millenial return of Christ?

13. The Belgic Confession, Article 29, gives the three marks of the true church, including “the pure administration of the sacraments as Christ instituted them”. The Quakers (Friends), Salvation Army, and a few other groups do not have sacraments. Would you consider them “true churches”?