Questions from Our Readers

This question was asked recently at a sing-a-long for young people, and I promised to answer it in The Banner of Truth, as well, as it really is a question that nicely fits the criteria set for the Q&A page.

The Bible clearly speaks about degrees or steps in the knowledge and experiences in the Church of God. Naturally, this is so in any earthly family as well. An infant of two years old is just as much a true child of the family as one who is eighteen years old, but common sense shows that the eighteen-year-old can understand and verbalize much more about what it means to be a member of the family than the other. Also, when we become a father or mother ourselves, more knowledge and experiences will be added to what it means to be a son or daughter. I remember in that regard what my father would say to me upon occasion, “Wait till you are a father yourself, then you’ll know…” Now I can say the same to my children regarding being a grand-father…I am sure many readers will recognize this.

The Apostle John speaks in his epistles of little children, children, young men, fathers etc. When we read what the Dutch Marginal Notes explain here, they clearly do not refer to a distinction merely in age but also in experience. The Apostle Peter concludes his second epistle by exhorting, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” To mention more: Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3 that he could not speak unto the Corinthians as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, “even as unto babes in Christ.”

The established Church, then, refers to a certain maturity in spiritual matters and leadings. It is a blessing if it pleases the Lord to lead further upon the way of grace and to exercise in the mysteries of salvation. I fear that we live in meager times as far as this is concerned. There can be several reasons for such a poor state of affairs. One of the main causes, I am afraid, is that nowadays there is a speedy resting in and upon an experience or two. Some rest in the fact that the Lord opened their eyes. Others cling to a text they received many years ago, but there is no progress. With progress I mean something of dying to self and increasing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is also possible that after it pleases the Lord to show more of Himself, that God’s children begin to rest in being established…It is worse though, if some think they belong to the established but demonstrate in their speech and demeanor that they have lost sight of what it is to remain poor and lost in themselves. This prompted the more established people of God sometimes to say, “They have run aground by high tide.” May the Lord teach!

Recently—while reading in Rev. Van Reenen’s book about the wilderness journey of the children of Israel—I was struck by how he describes the difference between the established and a less assured faith. Case was jealous of God’s people because they may daily go to that fountain and draw with joy water out of the wells of salvation, but Bart replied, saying, “I don’t know if I say it right, but I find it already so precious if I might thirst for it in a right and lively manner.” I summarize it in my own words: some may thirst in a true lively manner after the water of life while others may drink, but let the established church remember that it is not always that way. David longed and said, “Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” (2 Samuel 23:15), but as the above-mentioned author wrote, “The enemies kept that gate occupied.”

Thus, a measure of caution is in place when we speak about being established. Also, the established Church does not keep the matters of faith secure in their pockets or possession. To say it with John Newton—and this is true also for the established Church—if the Lord does not prevent it, the buzzing of a fly can become a distraction. It is the Lord who deals to every man the measure of faith.

Send your questions to: Rev. H. Hofman, 2339 Deer Trail Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505, or hofman@premieronline.net.

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