Conclusion

While it is lamentable that the body of Christ is so fragmented, this seems to be our lot. The Afscheiding, the Doleantie, and the Schilder split in the Netherlands - among others - maintained that they were not seceding from the church but returning to the roots of a church gone astray. The True Dutch Reformed, Christian Reformed, and Protestant Reformed made similar claims in North America. Current defections from the CRC and Netherlands Reformed Congregations also claim to be returning to the orthodox stance they were founded upon.

Secession and schism are not a topic we can discuss abstractly in our circles. Real people, God's children on both sides, are being hurt as families and churches draw battle lines. Even those who profess common grace as a reason to work with the unsaved sometimes exhibit less grace toward their brothers and sisters in Christ on the "wrong side" of our denomination wars.

We speak of one holy catholic church in our creeds; then we spiritualize the concept so we don't have to obey Jesus' instructions:

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matt. 5:21-24)

Plantinga and Wynia write about "seeking our brothers [and sisters] in the light" (from 1 John 1:5-10 and 2:9-11).

Unless we maintain that these other reformed denominations are no longer true to God's word, we all stand in the same light. Can we all stand together in the light of Christ?

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