Question about the CRC denomination

[arunma]

I have a question for everyone. How do you guys view the Christian Reformed Church?

I'm asking because I've been church-shopping since I moved to a new town. Last week (as well as this Lord's Day) I attended a neary Christian Reformed Church. I've read about their beliefs, and they believe in Reformed, Calvinistic doctrine. There's just one minor issue: they believe in the ordination of women, something that simply can't be reconciled with Scripture. This in fact seems to be why the PCA broke ties with them about ten years ago. Now, it's not such a big deal at the church I'm attending, because the pastor and all the elders are male, and there is only one female deacon (something that is permitted in Scripture). So effectively it makes no difference to me personally. Nonetheless, the fact that they believe in this led me to wonder if this is the best church to attend. Is the CRC generally a doctrinally sound church, or are they given over to theological liberalism?

One other thing you guys should consider when writing your responses. I live in a fairly small town, and there aren't that many good churches here to begin with. Numerically there are a lot of churches, but most of them belong to very liberal denominations such as PCUSA, United Methodists, the Episcopal Church, etc. My only other options would be a "purpose driven" Evanjellycal church, and a non-Reformed Baptist Church.

Oh, and finally, as most of you already know my department is sending me out to an observatory for the next week and a half. So I won't be able to respond to anyone until Wednesday night of next week. Please go ahead and post, and I'll read all your replies when I get back. Thanks a lot.

 

[Iosias]

I have a question for everyone. How do you guys view the Christian Reformed Church?

A big thumbs down from me as I am sure some will have guessed. I prefer the Protestant Reformed Churches who formed when some CRC ministers were kicked out from the CRC. A brief history can be found here and a more indepth one in The History of the Protestant Reformed Churches (1924-1936).

I don't know where you live but you may wish to try one. A list of their churches can be found here.

 

[calmcoolandelected]

I have a question for everyone. How do you guys view the Christian Reformed Church?

I'm asking because I've been church-shopping since I moved to a new town. Last week (as well as this Lord's Day) I attended a neary Christian Reformed Church. I've read about their beliefs, and they believe in Reformed, Calvinistic doctrine. There's just one minor issue: they believe in the ordination of women, something that simply can't be reconciled with Scripture. This in fact seems to be why the PCA broke ties with them about ten years ago. Now, it's not such a big deal at the church I'm attending, because the pastor and all the elders are male, and there is only one female deacon (something that is permitted in Scripture). So effectively it makes no difference to me personally. Nonetheless, the fact that they believe in this led me to wonder if this is the best church to attend. Is the CRC generally a doctrinally sound church, or are they given over to theological liberalism?

One other thing you guys should consider when writing your responses. I live in a fairly small town, and there aren't that many good churches here to begin with. Numerically there are a lot of churches, but most of them belong to very liberal denominations such as PCUSA, United Methodists, the Episcopal Church, etc. My only other options would be a "purpose driven" Evanjellycal church, and a non-Reformed Baptist Church.

Oh, and finally, as most of you already know my department is sending me out to an observatory for the next week and a half. So I won't be able to respond to anyone until Wednesday night of next week. Please go ahead and post, and I'll read all your replies when I get back. Thanks a lot.

Here's our experience and my .02 --

We attended a small CRC church plant in the late 80s, early 90s. There was no other Reformed influence in the area at that time. This was when the role of women was being widely discussed denomination-wide, but our particular pastor said it wasn't an issue in his church. The problem was, it *was* an issue in his church and he wasn't aware of it.

The PCA had been trying to do church planting in that area for a while and we were able to find others and call a pastor.

My husband grew up in the PCUSA and CRC. His father's side was CRC and still is (and my husband is of Dutch heritage). He attended a CRC school for his early elementary years. He says the church has changed drastically since he was a child when they frowned upon dancing, card playing, movies.....and I guess now the ordination of women.

Theologically, I don't remember anything out of the ordinary besides the whole ordination of women issue and have not spent much time keeping up with the CRC since we left.

Now for my .02 -- If it is the only Reformed influence in your area, it may be your only option for a while. You may find that there are others who are like-minded and you could do what we did, contact the denomination and see about a church plant.

CC&E

 

[Elisha1961]

I grew up CRC...It is funny to read the views on it from the Reformed perspective. I made the mistake of refering to it as a Reformed church one time and was quickly corrected that we were no more Reformed than we were Lutheran. But I could never get my head around the difference between Reformed and CRC. Was told we are more strict about our Calvinist beliefs but never understood what they were. Guessing it is like the difference between Missouri Synod Lutherans and Wisconsin Synod or LCA. (Yes I have bounced between a number of denominations.)

Back when I went I was considered a rebel in the church because I indicated I wanted to go into the ministry...not a minister but something. Back then (70's) the role of women in the church was very clearly defined. Going back for Christmas they had a praise and worship team just like the Pentecostals...I even heard an Amen in the middle of the service and a few hands lifted up in praise. I was criticized before cuz I closed my eyes when I sang with the congregation, LOL.

 

[picnic]

I think you should base your church on the individual church, not the denomination.

Also prioritise what things are important to you in a church. At times of our lives we have to make do with what's available and often will have to compromise on certain things.

 

[HiredGoon]

As a whole, the CRC is not a theologically Reformed denomination anymore, they've gone mainline. Some do like to pay lip service to their Reformed heritage though, like other "Reformed" mainlines. In the mid 90s they allowed individual congregations to decide the issue of females in office for themselves. There was a mass exodus of conservative Reformed Christians from the CRC in the years after that. Several OPCs were planted in my area in the late 90s because of this. The big news from this year's CRC Synod was their decision to officially remove "male" as a requirement for office, and to allow women as delegates to next year's synod. They've also decided to work on a new joint hymnal with the more liberal RCA for 2013. Some see this as the next step toward a probable merger between the two denominations in coming years.

As a presbyterian, I believe the theological integrity of a denomination as a whole is just as important as the individual session/congregation. No congregation is an island unto itself.

 

[heymikey80]

Speaking from the EPC? Um ... the CRC people I've known feel somewhat to the left of me. but then we're on the right edge of the EPC, ordaining women deacons, but not elders.

There are always bright lights of churches within each denomination, often reinvigorated by the departure of the denomination itself. Strengthen what remains. Live as a remnant. Repent in ways that turn heads in your denomination.

 

[arunma]

Well I'm back in town. Anyway, thanks for your comments everyone. As always they are appreciated. I think for now I'll continue to learn more about this individual CRC church. I may remain with them, or try the non-Reformed (but otherwise Bible believing) Baptist church. I'd still be interested if anyone has further thoughts on this.