“For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.” (Titus 1:10–11, ESV)
(This post is one in a series interacting with Leonard Vander Zee’s presentation at an All One Body gathering on October 8, 2020. Click here to see more posts in this series.)
Remembering a Conversation
Lately, I’ve been thinking about a conversation I had in seminary. A classmate became agitated with me and said, “Why are you conservatives so obsessed with sexuality—homosexuality in particular? Aren’t there other things that God condemns? Why are you constantly talking about it? Aren’t there more important things you should focus on?”
My response was two-fold.
Obsessed with Homosexuality?
First, I asked him if that was a true statement. Are conservatives really obsessed with homosexuality? When was the last time he stepped into a conservative church and heard a sermon on homosexuality? He had to admit he couldn’t remember. It’s a false narrative. I may SEEM that way because there are some conservatives talking about it in a public way. However, once you enter the pew—into actual conservative churches—conservative churches are NOT obsessed with homosexuality. I would even dare to say they are almost silent on the topic.
Who Is Pushing Dialogue?
Second, I reminded him that the conservatives throughout the CRC are the ones wanting to end the conversation about homosexuality and move onto more important things. The conservatives are happy with the CRC’s position on homosexuality created in 1973. We believe it is thoughtful, theological, and pastoral. Yet, the progressives in the CRC won’t drop the issue. They bring it up over and over again in the name of “dialogue.”
Leonard Vander Zee & All One Body
A few months ago (October 8, 2020) Leonard Vander Zee gave a presentation for the group called All One Body. Leonard’s talk is titled, “Same-Sex Marriage: A Biblical, Theological, and Personal Case.” Since Leonard is a retired minister in the CRC and since All One Body’s mission is “Working towards full inclusion of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members in their Christian Reformed Church homes,” I have decided to interact with this presentation.
My plan is to walk through the presentation point by point over the next series of blog posts, measuring each point against the Word of God. So, stick around. I pray that the conversation is both thought provoking and edifying.
Asking For Dialogue
As I read/watched Leonard’s presentation, I wasn’t surprised he was calling for continued dialogue. He ends the presentation saying, “I’m asking that we do not close down this process of discernment with overly hasty conclusions that will certainly divide and alienate. I’m thinking particularly here of the Committee’s suggestion of a way to effectively close down the discussion.”
The Committee he’s talking about is the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality appointed at Synod 2016. Their task is in the name. Synod gave them the mandate to develop a biblical theology of human sexuality that addressed our current cultural situation.
Leonard’s frustration comes from the stipulation that this committee needed to be composed of members who affirm the CRC’s position on homosexuality from 1973. He said, “But never in its history did the CRC study a controversial matter of deep importance by allowing only one point of view to be represented. Why now? The only possible conclusion for me is that out of fear the Synod determined to silence my voice and the voices of many others in order to end any discussion.” He explains that this made him feel “deeply betrayed.”
Divisive, Hurt, Betrayed
Leonard’s feelings of betrayal come from the fact that Synod ended the discussion on homosexuality. He believes this is a bad thing and will cause hurt and divisiveness.
Yet, there’s another side to the coin. Many conservatives in the CRC have recognized the hurt and divisiveness of CONTINUED CONVERSATION on this topic. Can anyone honestly say that continued conversation on this topic has led to greater unity?
Many conservatives in the CRC have also felt betrayed. People attack and undermine our historical position on homosexuality year after year. Conservatives in the CRC feel betrayed when people in our denomination (like Leonard Vander Zee and All One Body) who are pushing agendas and holding seminars that are in DIRECT CONTRADICTION to the biblical position we hold. I have to be blunt and honest: those actions smell more like betrayal than ending conversation.
Ending the Conversation
Any parent—or leader—knows there is a time to end a conversation. More than that, God’s Word COMMANDS us to end some conversations. In the passage at the beginning of this post, Paul commands Titus to SILENCE the false teachers in his church. No more conversation. No more dialogue. End the conversation NOW.
Why does Paul see continued dialogue as a bad thing? These false teachers are leading entire families astray. Titus cannot allow the conversation to continue because it will cause division, hurt, and betrayal throughout the congregation—entire families will fall away from the church and away from Christ. This is far more tragic than ending the conversation, which is why Paul tells Titus to silence the false teachers so they stop leading people astray.
I have to admit that I almost laughed when Leonard warned of us coming to “hasty conclusions.” I have no idea what he’s talking about. The CRC thoughtfully, theologically, and pastorally addressed homosexuality in 1973—almost fifty years ago. This conversation has been happening in the CRC ever since. On top of that, we have reaffirmed this report multiple times over the past twenty years. How does a fifty-year-long conversation end in hasty conclusions? It doesn’t.
The conclusions we are making as a denomination are anything but hasty. We have been talking about human sexuality long enough. We HAVE listened to the arguments presented from those who disagree with the 1973 report. The arguments do not convince us. We do not agree. The conversation has become unhelpful and unfruitful; it is causing division, hurt, and betrayal, and it is leading many people astray. So it’s time to end the conversation and move on.
Out of Fear
I can’t end this post without commenting on one more thing. Leonard says, “The only possible conclusion for me is that out of fear the Synod determined to silence my voice and the voices of many others in order to end any discussion.” It may surprise you, but I agree with him.
I’m not sure what Leonard thinks we’re afraid of, but Synod definitely made this decision out of fear—fear of God.
In the Heidelberg Catechism, we’re asked what’s required of us in the first commandment. The answer is, “That I rightly know the only true God, trust him alone, and look to God for every good thing humbly and patiently, and love, fear, and honor God with all my heart. In short, that I give up anything rather than go against God’s will in any way,” (HC Q&A 94).
The decision to end the conversation comes from this type of fear. We fear God and have decided we will not go against God’s will in any way. This is why we are ending conversation. This is why we are taking our stand. Not because we fear man, but because we fear God.