Aspects of Congregational Life (2)

Our Walk of Life

The congregation is not the congregation of the Lord on Sunday only, but during the entire week. That is true for our personal walk with the Lord, the religious training of our children — but also for our walk of life. In earlier days it would at times be said of our congregations: “You know them by their garment, conversation, and demeanor!” Expressions such as “the little church,” “the black-stocking church,” and “the wooden-shoes church” are heard less, but have not completely disappeared as yet. We are still recognizable in our walk of life — but no longer always and everywhere.

Also among us —we must confess it — the world is becoming visible: a worldly demeanor, worldly garments, and worldly conversation. In spite of all this, there is still resistance among us toward the spirit of the time. Generally speaking, we have an aversion for excess and waste; we are in favor of a measure of moderation. In general, television is rejected. We denounce this medium since we see the hand of the devil in it to rob us of our place in the world. Generally speaking, we are opposed to the sports news presented to us in the newspaper. We reject organized sports and the desecration of the Sabbath.

In his farewell sermon in Rijssen, my father said, “Must you not acknowledge that in this congregation and the place of your residence we have sought to break down sin, and instead have sought to promote virtue and godliness? Have we not faithfully warned you against sinful entertainment? Have we not condemned your soccer field, your markets, and your Sabbath desecration? Have we not, with sorrow of heart, stricken you on God’s behalf when you neglected your religion for it?”

As yet there is a love for basic principles, which comes to expression in adherence to the confession of our forefathers and the great generosity manifested toward the work of mission, evangelism, and those who are in need.

Our congregations are the guardians of old truths — values which we must transmit from generation to generation. Are we conscious of being the guardians of these old values? This will also have to manifest itself in our walk of life. By reason of birth, baptism, and perhaps confession we are united to our Netherlands Reformed Congregations. These are great privileges! The great responsibility to preserve this heritage therefore rests upon us. Are we conscious of that responsibility? Does this manifest itself externally in obedience to God’s commandments? Is it evident in our walk and talk that we love the congregation to which we belong? Do we have brotherly love for those who fear God and walk in the truth?

We live in a world filled with subtlety, deceit, and violence — doing so with a heart which is naturally inclined to choose the pathway of sin. What indifference and lovelessness is to be found among us! What worldly methods we often use in our battle for the truth!

Thanks be to God, there are yet many in our congregations who desire to live according to God’s commandments. Nevertheless, it is necessary to keep our eyes open and to warn. It is our calling to be who we are — also relative to other churches.

The Netherlands Reformed Congregations are not the only true revelation of the body of Christ. Our congregations are, however, one of the revelations of the church of Christ. God’s Word is preached, discipline is maintained, and the sacraments are administered according to Christ’s institution.

On the basis of God’s Word, we do well to keep in mind that the New Testament church was built up and did originate from the local congregations established by the apostles. The church of Christ manifests herself locally. Whenever false doctrine is preached and discipline no longer functions, the church ceases to be a revelation of the body of Christ.

Does this mean that everyone must concern himself with his own church only? We do indeed have the obligation to strive for contact and dialogue wherever possible. However, we may not yield our position as given to us by God in the past.

The Preaching of the Word

It is a good custom among us that we attend church together with our children. As much as possible we attend as a family. This is a privilege as well as an obligation. It is a matter of concern when, relative to the hallowing of the Sabbath, the greatest emphasis is upon what is prohibited on the Lord’s Day. The idea of resting on Sunday is sometimes interpreted so literally that nothing is permitted on this day and that one therefore lies in his bed most of the day. One could then possibly speak of rest — but not of hallowing. In Lord’s Day 38 the question is asked: “What doth God require on the Sabbath?” The answer is as follows: “First, that the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained; and that I, especially on the Sabbath, that is, on the day of rest, diligently frequent the church of God, to hear His Word, to use the sacraments, publicly to call upon the Lord, and contribute to the relief of the poor, as becomes a Christian. Secondly, that all the days of my life I cease from my evil works, and yield myself to the Lord, to work by His Holy Spirit in me: and thus begin in this life the eternal Sabbath.” The emphasis is here upon what may and must be done. The primary issue is the diligent frequenting of the church of God. We do not attend church because it is the proper thing to do or to pass the time; but rather to hear the Word of God.

In the preaching of His Word, the Lord speaks to His congregation. He brings us the message of salvation, grace, and deliverance. It is the public administration and proclamation of salvation in Christ, administered by the herald of the King in the midst of God’s congregation. The servant of the King administers the Word of God, and the congregation is to receive it as such — not as the word of man but as the Word of God.

It is in this way that the Lord guides His congregation. He shows His children the way. He feeds, comforts, helps, and chastises — all according to the need at hand. It is the responsibility of the parents to see to it that the entire family goes to the house of God. It is the responsibility of the preacher to see to it that also the youth are incorporated into the service. As a matter of principle and from a practical perspective a separate youth service must be rejected.

Also here it is true that what God has joined together man shall not tear asunder. The youth constitute a part of the congregation. Young people need the same Word for conversion as do the adults. The Lord does not work a different faith in our children. In fact, we read the contrary in God’s Word. To adults the Lord says: “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Mat. 18:3).

Moreover, our children are the future of the congregation. A seed shall serve Him! They will come, guided by divine light. Soon the places of the fathers shall be taken by the sons. The Lord commands, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Mat. 19:14).

On the day of rest we come with our children to the congregation of the Lord to hear God’s Word. It may generally be expected that they who come to church come there to receive something personal. Also the hand of the child must then be filled. Young people are often very receptive to the Word of God.

A good way to test whether the sermon has been understood by young people is to ask for the text and the points of division. If our boys and girls no longer remember this, they ought not immediately be blamed for this.

The preaching of the Word can be a cause for young people to become estranged from the public worship service. When one does not hear something concrete, interest will dissipate. One will then attend church out of obligation. Irregular church attendance and a roaming around from one place to the other adversely influences the receptiveness and involvement of the young people. The objective of the preaching is that the congregation would hear the Word of God. We may never have a preference for a certain minister.

The congregation is a body which, by means of being nourished by the Word of God, must come to full development. Both milk and solid food must be dispensed. The Word of God must be unveiled to all, so that they who are without Christ may come to repentance, and that they who have been ingrafted into Christ by faith may grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

It is then that preaching is the administration of the Word of God. The essence of every sermon will then be the foundation of salvation, Jesus Christ. This imposes a great responsibility upon the preacher. He must know the flock in order to be able to feed and shepherd the sheep and the lambs. The preacher must be conscious of the fact that He administers the Word of God. He must not expect fruit from things which suddenly come to mind or from bursts of oratory, but rather from the dew of the Holy Spirit. The only task a minister of the Word has, is to bring the message as purely and clearly as possible. Throughout the period of the development of our ecclesiastical existence, we can detect a wrestling with the biblical character of preaching.

The late Rev. G.H. Kersten once said: “In order to exposit the books of the Bible properly, it is necessary to observe the context of the chapters and the verse, as well as the meaning of each word and each text individually. It is particularly in the preaching that justice must be done to this meaning.”

When the congregation, on the day of rest, comes to God’s house to hear God’s Word, nothing else but God’s Word must be preached there. The preacher must stand behind the Word — not in front of it. Posturing, colloquial expressions, and a bit of philosophy do not attract; instead, they set the Word aside in speaking as well as hearing.

In this context Rev. G. H. Kersten once wrote:

A sermon which is not an exposition of God’s Word is not a sermon. At best it is a lecture which may contain much good, but which nevertheless does not meet the requirements which the Lord imposes upon His servants. For indeed, His servants are ministers of the Word. This means, therefore, that they must bring God’s Word — by way of exposition and application. Not the experience of the saints, but God’s testimony must be the fountain from which the ministry of the Word proceeds. The Scriptures must make us wise unto salvation. He who detaches himself from God’s Word and makes the experience of the saints the well from which he draws his preaching, cannot but lose sight of the cardinal events of redemptive history. These events as such cannot be experienced; they can only be known by faith as the foundation for salvation. Such preaching — if it is still worthy of the name—will therefore drift away from God’s Word and will cause men to be adrift upon the emotions of the heart.

The wonder of God’s Word is so unspeakably great. It has such a manifold effect. It makes dead sinners alive, comforts those who mourn, strengthens the weak, feeds the hungry, and heals the sick. In all such circumstances a daring statement by a minister has no effect. If such a statement has any effect, it is only negative. Time and again it is evident that the Holy Spirit makes use of His Word.

When older and younger people who are troubled, anxious, or lonely, feel themselves addressed or helped by the preaching, they may know that this was preaching which brought the message of God to the heart in a clear and understandable manner.

Preaching which unveils the King in His beauty, majesty, and grace is precisely what is needed for those who for one reason or the other are in difficulty for themselves.

Sensationalism in preaching has only negative results. The Word of God is so rich, great, and wondrous that it neither requires nor tolerates sensationalism. Preaching which unveils the King in His beauty, majesty, and grace is precisely what is needed for those who for one reason or the other are in difficulty for themselves.

When God’s Word is faithfully preached, the Lord will dispense food in His house. Then, in the way of prayer, the rich blessing of the hearing and keeping of the Word of God shall be received. This will not only be true corporately, but also personally in seeking the Lord’s countenance before we go on our way to the assembly of the congregation. I wish to direct you to the form prayer for the beginning of public worship: “Open now the mouth of Thy servant, and fill it with Thy wisdom and knowledge, that he may boldly proclaim Thy Word in all its purity. Prepare our hearts to receive it, to understand it, and to preserve it.”

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