A Great Need in our Midst

In writing these words above this topic, then it is difficult to know where to begin and where to end. There are so many needs in our denomination, in our families, and in our personal lives. Often the expression is heard, “If there were no sins, then there would be no wounds.” How true this is, because the origin of all misery is sin.

Of course, we should not go so far as to say that there is only misery on earth, for this is not true. By God’s common goodness there are yet many temporal blessings received in our lives. When the catechism speaks of God’s providence, then it not only speaks about unfruitful years, but also about fruitful years. God’s children may also have times when they may rejoice in the Lord. Still, we confess that many difficulties are our portion in this world because of the curse of the Lord on this earth.

When we are to write a little about “a great need in our midst,” then we can think of the grief which is experienced as a consequence of sickness and death. So many are mourning the loss of dear ones, who have come to the end of life on earth and for whom it became eternity. This is also taking place in our midst. Think only of the death of Rev. A.W. Verhoef and of Mrs. Melanie Vergunst, but there are many others. Afflictions are found in all congregations. In many homes and also in the hospitals you hear sighs heaved because of the heavy burden that is resting upon the families in sicknesses and adversities. If we have to bear the burden alone, then it is a double weight. What a great blessing it is when, in truth and uprightness, we may pour out our heart before the Lord, since He is the heavenly Physician who is able to help in the greatest need in our life. It is not certain that the Lord will always give the deliverance we would like to see, because for holy reasons the Lord can go a totally different way with us. Still, in such circumstances, it is possible by the grace of God to say, “I will not open my mouth, because the Lord has done it.” It is a blessed place to be, and I wish it for all who go heavy laden over the earth.

It is not my intention to delve deeper into these various needs in our midst, even though there are plenty of reasons to write about them. We hope there will be an opportunity for it, the Lord willing, at another time.

Possibly you are now wondering about the direction I want to go with this article. Perhaps many know already, because they, too, are personally aware of the great need in our denomination. When I opened the March Banner of Truth, then my attention was especially drawn by the announcement of the secretary of the Curatorium, Rev. J. den Hoed, in which he emphasized so much the need in our denomination to receive men from the Lord to serve in the midst of us in the ministry. In the meantime you have heard that Rev. H. Hofman has accepted a call to the Netherlands, which leaves us only five ministers for all our congregations.

During the last few weeks we have visited several congregations from east to west. In every vacant congregation, or those soon to become vacant, we heard about the same need, “We have so few ministers in our midst.” It is true, there have been times when it was even worse than now, when only one or two ministers served all the congregations. In those days there were fewer congregations, but the lack was also felt. Another thing is that after the Second World War so many things have changed. The demands and input of the people have become so much greater in our society, which has also influenced the church. Modern education has especially had a negative influence.

In those days you heard very few complaints about reading services. In my youth there were always reading services in our church, and the Lord has also given His blessing upon it. It was only a few times a year that a minister came to administer the sacraments. Even during the week it was very seldom that we had a minister, because there were so few of them. Today things are quite different. There is a desire, especially among the young people, for the living Word. We hope that it is a real desire, and not merely a dislike of reading services. When there is a true hunger for the Word, then also the reading services can be a blessing. The Lord is free. And we should not forget that our forefathers had much light from the Lord.

In writing this, I do not want to give the impression that it is good this way. No, when a congregation is vacant, then an office is missing in the midst of them. That office was an institution of the Lord. Under the Old Testament the Lord gave prophets, priests, and kings. This continued in the New Testament church in the offices of minister, elder, and deacon, and this is upheld until the present time.

What is the reason we have so few ministers, while other churches do not know what to do with them? In the past it was often the Curatorium which received the blame. Friends, then I can tell you that it is the hearty desire and prayer of the Curatorium members to receive men in God’s favor, men of whom we may believe that the Lord has called them from death to life, but also called them to the ministry. These are two different things. You must realize that they may not accept people who have only beautiful gifts. Every member of the Curatorium has his own responsibility before God in this matter.

The late Rev. A. Vergunst said to me that the institution of the Curatorium was not a guarantee that it would be perfect; it was not ideal, he said, but he had never found a better solution. He pointed to other churches where everyone who is interested could become a minister. There it had become a profession and no more. This he rejected as a failure, and he was convinced there was no better way than that which we have followed.

It cannot be denied that mistakes could be made on both sides, either in accepting or rejecting. But the Lord knows that it is not intentional, and when it is God’s work, then at His time the person will return; the Lord says, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.”

Those visits to the vacant congregations, or soon to be vacant congregations, gave me a deep impression of the great need in our denomination. The announcement of the curatorium gave greater emphasis of this to me. What should we do? Are the requirements to be changed, so that everyone may come? No, there is a better way. Does the Lord not give permission to pour out our heart before Him? It is my wish and prayer that many among us in consistories and congregations may feel the need and come upon the right place before the Lord to ask Him for help and deliverance. May the Spirit of prayer and supplication be working among us! May we wrestle as Jacob did at the brook Jabbok, so that we cannot let the Lord go except He bless us in this way, giving us, if it pleases Him, more laborers in His vineyard. The need is so great in our midst! May we all feel something of it.

Many souls traveling to eternity are entrusted to us. By nature all are under the curse of the law, having no hope for that day when they will be called before the Lord. But it is yet the time of grace and of the possibility to be saved. An office-bearer cannot give us that salvation, which we lost in Paradise, but in the past passion weeks we have commemorated that the Mediator has fulfilled everything which was required in the establishing of the covenant of grace. In this way sinners can be saved.

How does the Lord do it? Through the preaching and reading of the Word, the Lord works faith under the administration of the Holy Spirit. Then it is not only an external call, but it becomes an irresistible internal call in the heart. In heaven there is joy over one sinner that comes to conversion. Also on earth in the midst of a congregation there is happiness when the hand of the Lord may be seen in their midst. He wants to be asked by the house of Israel. May the Lord give such prayers in our midst to the welfare of His kingdom on earth and the glory of His Name.

Remember the history of the widow and the unjust judge. She persevered in asking that justice be done to her, and finally she was delivered from her enemy. In like TEACHERS NEEDED manner may the Lord give a prayer that more laborers may be sent into His vineyard. Such prayer always includes, “Thy will be done.” We have to be subject to the Lord and His will. May the Lord gladden us with His deeds, even though we do not deserve them at all.

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