Insurance and Becoming Emeritus

Some time ago I received a question from a young man, who asked me what the real difference was between having insurance and providing for an emeritus minister when he is not able to perform his labors anymore. In our circles, probably in former days more than today, our people were warned not to have insurance. At first sight we might say, “Is there really a difference?” But then we would be too hasty with our conclusion because God’s Word and the writings of our fathers are contrary to these thoughts.

When we speak about this topic, then we are actually dealing with two different subjects. With God’s help we will try to explain both separately and then make a conclusion at the end.

What is Insurance?

Iwill quote my dictionary about this word: It is “protection against risk, loss, or ruin, by a contract in which an insurer or underwriter guarantees to pay a sum of money to the insured or the beneficiary in the event of death, accident, fire, etc., in return for the payment of premiums.” Thus, it is a safeguard against risk or harm, as many see it today.

At many church meetings this point has been discussed. Already at a synod i-cal meeting in 1918 it was recorded in the minutes that the people must be warned against having insurance. This was repeated in 1946. This decision was based mainly on Lord’s Days 9 and 10 where God’s providence is dealt with.

In our days many are insured from cradle to grave, but we should realize we will never be completely covered. We must condemn the thoughts that so many insured have: Now nothing can happen to me! Whoever insures himself with the hope that he is safe from God’s judgments, sins in a terrible way. If we may observe our life in the light of God’s providence and care, then we will not need insurance. The Lord says, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” The Catechism states in Q. 27, “What dost thou mean by the providence of God? A. The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.”

In the application of the sermon on Lord’s Day 10 Rev. Van Reenen says: “That is the very reason why we look so much to man, and hew out broken cisterns, which can hold no water, and lean upon broken reeds that pierce our very hands. That is why we insure ourselves and our property and resort to other policies, as if God were not worthy of our trust.”

Rev. G.H. Kersten also speaks in a negative way about insurance in his Dogmatics,on page 190: “Our Catechism teaches us not to seek insurance against all possible afflictions, but rather to trust that the Lord will make it well for us also in the future. This does not mean an indifferent life. Joseph built storehouses in Egypt.”

Another example of such care is the God-fearing King Hezekiah who made an underground water system to provide water for a possible besieging (2 Ki. 20). Did Hezekiah make a mistake? The prophet Isaiah did not condemn this work (2 Ki. 22). Still it grieved the prophet that some put their trust solely in that water system and not in the Lord, the God of Israel.

We exercise the same care when we install a lock on our door or build dikes around a river which often floods over. Our only surety can be when we may know that God’s hand is spread out over us. We must care for ourselves and our dear ones, but we may not be overconcerned! We cannot deny that today we are confronted with many problems, to which there seem to be no answers. We find those problems in our social life which are the result of government interference and social organizations which have gradually become more powerful. The many different forms of insurance have nothing else in view other than to escape God’s providential governing with respect to the future.

The late Rev. Lamain warned against insurance and concluded with these words: “I hope that it has not been like a voice in the wilderness, but that it may bring us all to serious reflection. A true, childlike, humble, and believing trust in the Lord must be wrought in our hearts by the Spirit of God.”

Is it not applicable for all of us: “Put thine hand into thy bosom” ? And will not our hand be leprous? May we begin to seek true assurance in our life, to be for God’s account.

I think of an old minister who was traveling by train. At a small town a gentleman got on and sat next to him. He told the minister that he was an insurance salesman, but it had been a bad day. The preacher said that he felt sorry for him. Soon the salesman asked in what business he was engaged. The Christian said that he also was in the insurance business. The next question was, “For which company do you work?” The preacher answered, “I work for the biggest insurance company in existence.”

“That must be the Metropolitan,” the businessman said.

“No, I work for a bigger company.” He added, “It is the only company where all the premiums are already paid. Its resources are unlimited, and this company has never defaulted on any of its obligations.”

The salesman was so impressed, that he stated that he would like to take out a policy in that company. “That is possible,” was the answer—” All you need to do is enter a claim that you are a poor, hell-deserving sinner, and you will be insured for time and eternity.” You know what the minister meant. Against such insurance we have no objections! Do you already have it?

Becoming Emeritus Minister

Again I look in my dictionary: “Emeritusmeans retired from active service, usually because of age, but retained in an honorary position.”

Also on this topic much has been spoken at many church meetings, including Classes and Synods. The Synod of 1954 decided : “The care of the emeritus ministers, ministers’ widows and orphans is left to the care and responsibility of the consistory of the congregation of Kalamazoo. They must provide the necessary means when they are needed, summon the congregations to hold collections for this maintenance which is entrusted to the churches and also supply the necessary help to those who are included under the Emeritus Fund.”

This decision was made according to Article 13 of the Church Order of Dordt: “In the event that Ministers are rendered incapable of performing the duties of their office due to age, sickness, or otherwise, they shall nevertheless retain the honor and title of a Minister, and the church which they have served shall honorably provide for them in their needs, also for the widows and orphans of Ministers.”

In short we can say: Because a minister is called for life to his office, he may not be dismissed when he becomes old or sick. Until the end of his life he remains a minister of the gospel of the last congregation whereunto he has been bound. Since the minister can no longer perform his official labors, he

should receive release from his duties, so the congregation will not be harmed. Because a minister is called for life, he also has the right to receive financial support during his entire lifetime. This support pertains to his family also at his death. God’s Word gives support for this way of dealing as we read in 1 Corinthians 9:14, “They which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”

We may neither be careless nor overconcemed.

Although this is clearly described in the Church Order and is underwritten by all of us, in the history of the church we find this was practiced very little. In former days the salaries for ministers were very low. When they would become emeritus, it would drop so much that they would try to remain in active service as long as possible. This was not profitable for the churches. The care of the widows and orphans of ministers was even worse. Often these families came to the greatest poverty. What should be done about this problem?

A solution, to establish a common fund for supporting emeritus ministers and their families, was sought, for which all the congregations would have collections. Due to the small number of ministers in our denomination, their field of labor in all services, including their services as moderators, is divided among many congregations, so the burden of the Emeritus Fund should be borne by all.

I am sure that all the things which I have written about becoming emeritus are well-known among us and also accepted in our congregations. Therefore, I do not want to go deeper into this subject, but try to come to an answer concerning the question which was laid before me: What is the difference between insurance and becoming emeritus; and who is paid out of this fund?

The Difference Between Insurance and Becoming Emeritus

It seems to me that my answer can be very short because the difference has already been explained, but still it is necessary to add a few things to it. We should remember that emeritus ministers keep their office and honor, even though they cannot do the work in the vineyard of the Lord anymore. Who will condemn this attitude of the congregations to help those who have been seeking the welfare of their souls? In this way they can show their love to the minister for all the labors he has performed, when he now needs help.

As all things must take place in order in God’s church, so it should also be done in these things. Therefore, the Synod decided years ago to form a fund from the collections taken by the congregations. The consistory of Kalamazoo received the task to take care of this fund on behalf of the churches.

But then a minister is assured of receiving an income when he may become old! This assurance for emeritus ministers has nothing to do with insurance. In that system the “overconcemed” try to cover themselves for the future in the event that adversities befall them. Insurance is against faith in God’s ability to govern. Faith teaches us to trust in the Lord for the future. The Lord taught his disciples to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.” We may neither be careless nor overconcemed. This is a difficult lesson which the Lord teaches us. This does not relieve anyone from his duties, and the church has no argument against caring for emeritus ministers and their families.

Rev. A.M. den Boer ¡s pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Sunnyside, Washington.

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