According to Pew Most White Evangelicals Don’t Think COVID-19 is a Medical Crisis

In 2011 the International Health Regulations Review Committee already gave a warning that

“The world is ill-prepared to respond to a severe influenza pandemic or to any similarly global, sustained and threatening public-health emergency.“

In certain countries or states, we the last few years have seen a grow in evangelical and Pentecostal churches. Several of those evangelical denominations slid or slipped off to become very conservative or sometimes even very fundamental Christian groups.

The nonpartisan American think tank, Pew Research Center, based in the Washington, D.C. area does polling, research into American social issues, politics,  public opinion and demographic trends, If you read any newspaper or watch regular news you see their material, as it is used regularly
  In early March of 2020 Pew did a survey of white evangelicals from March 10 through 16. In the United States CoViD-19 was declared a national emergency on March 13, 2020. Here is what Pew says.

 Around three-quarters of white evangelicals (77%) say they are at least somewhat confident that Trump is doing a good job responding to the outbreak, including roughly half who say they are very confident. Majorities of white evangelicals say Trump has assessed the risks of the situation correctly (64%) and that the crisis has been blown out of proportion by the media (76%), while just a quarter (24%) say Trump hasn’t taken risks tied to the coronavirus seriously enough.
By comparison, about half of Americans overall (52%) say Trump has underplayed the risks, including majorities who say this among the religiously unaffiliated (64%), black Protestants (67%) and Jews (73%)

Close to 1,000 students some from high infection areas were encouraged to come back to campus in central Virginia.

We can notice a blatant disregard to face the facts. Pandemics happen and history is full of them. In the United States they, like in many other places, have pandemics every so often. Influenza, small-pox, measles, scarlet fever, etc… have all happened in the history of the United States from colonial times to current. Many evangelicals do not seem to understand that people should be protected and in many cases also receive vaccinations against such diseases to avoid worse scenarios. 

  It is incredible that today when one has so much coverage of bad cases all over Europe that several American churches are still calling their flock to meet and want to have big Easter gatherings this weekend.

This irresponsible attitude to ignore the rules of good public health indicates a totally irresponsible attitude without a deep love for other people.

+

Preceding
Using fears of the deadly coronavirus

Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal

Catholics facing a totally different Holy Week

++

Find also to read

1. The unseen enemy
2. Making deeper cuts than some terrorist attacks of the near past
3. Mel Brooks saying “go home” to Max Brooks
4. CoViD-19 warnings
5. President Trump shall have to recognise that Immigrant Workers Are Vital to the U.S.A.
6. In denial, Donald Trump continues to insist that nothing serious is at hand and everything is in control
7. Under-reporting the total number of coronavirus cases
8. José Antonio Vergara talking in Esperanto about the outbreak of the epidemic
9. Margaret Zaleski-Zamenho from Paris telling in Esperanto about the situation in France
10. Coronavirus on March 11 declared a global pandemic on March 31 affecting more than 177 countries
11. Europe in Chaos for a Pandemic
12. Only a few days left before 14 Nisan
13. Even in Corona time You are called on to have the seder
14. Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal
15. One Passover tradition asking to provide the less fortunate with foods and help
16. In a time when we must remain in our place
17. Hosting a Virtual Seder During a Pandemic
18. Love in the Time of Corona
19. Recrafting our World
20. CoViD-19 warnings
21. Anxiety Management During Pandemic Days~
22. Hope on the Horizon: Pandemic Anxiety Management II~

the Just Gospel conference

At the beginning of last month, before Coronavirus lockdowns, a sizable and impressive conference took place at Garrett Kell’s Del Rey Baptist, in the Washington, D.C. area.

It was not bad that those Americans dared to look at the issues of politics and the church and touched on issues from poverty to immigration as well. In what will be a volatile election year with many evangelicals involved in Christian nationalism the Just Gospel looked like a healthy and solid event.

The Del Rey Baptist church is a daughter church of Capital Hill Baptist.

The Just Gospel described itself as following:

No one saw the 2016 presidential election coming. No one predicted the effect the election would have on the country — and the Church.

To some extent, our tribalism has been exposed and perhaps deepened. Unity has become more fragile.

In all likelihood, the Church will face the same stark choices and the same potential for misunderstanding, disunity and tribal politics. This time, however, we have an opportunity to approach politics and the election differently… like Christians… like the pilgrims and aliens we are in the world.

The goal of Just Gospel 2020 is NOT to engage in partisan debate or endorse any party’s platform. Nor is our goal to bind the consciences of attendees to a particular policy prescription the Bible does not require. We will not recommend or even comment on any candidate.

The Just Gospel 2020 conference goal is to help Christians think biblically and deeply about being Christians and taking our Christian identity and perspective into our political lives.

The organisers of the conference in any case had good intentions/

We hope to aid each other in our discipleship. We are “strangers and exiles on the earth” who “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one” (Heb. 11:13, 16).
We hope to model how Christians who differ in secondary and political matters can nevertheless do so charitably and in a way that preserves both unity and freedom of conscience. We hope to make a difference — for the Church and the country.

We need and want healing conversations that serve the Church We need pilgrim politics that bear witness to Christ and Kingdom to which we are headed. Join us!
 

The Neo-Calvinist movement addresses the situation of racism or even hate groups. Traditional evangelicals and Trinitarian Baptists have failed substantially on this issue and have ignored, downplayed or just haven’t really spoken to this topic. Garrett Kell in his ministry has been consistent on pushing back against those in the Southern Baptist Convention who embrace Christian nationalism and marry faith and politics. When the Southern Baptists had their regular meeting in Dallas, Texas in 2018 it was Garrett Kell who tried to replace Vice President Mike Pence speaking to the Convention with a time of prayer.

The conference was well balanced and covered a large number of issues form immigration, to poverty,  to politics and the church. What surprised me is that there were more outsiders than the traditional 9 Marks church circuit speakers. That made this conference well needed and necessary.

Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal

Before Jesus went to the Olive Garden where he would be taken prisoner by the Roman soldiers, Jesus had come together with his disciples in an upper room somewhere in Jerusalem, the city of David.

The son of man, born in Bethlehem and brought up in Nazareth, had come to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover with his disciples. 14 Nisan, Thursday evening, March 31, 33 C.E., and a full moon very likely adorned the skies above Jerusalem. Jesus Christ and his apostles had just concluded the Passover celebration when he took some other bread and a cup of wine.

Gospel writer Matthew wrote

 “Jesus took a loaf and, after saying a blessing, he broke it and, giving it to the disciples, he said:

‘Take, eat. This means my body.’

Also, he took a cup and, having given thanks, he gave it to them, saying:

‘Drink out of it, all of you; for this means my “blood of the covenant,” which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:26-28) 

For the master teacher this was not going to be "a one-time event". He requested his pupils to remember that night and to come to break bread in the future as a memory of what Jesus has done, having given himself as a lamb of God, shedding his blood for the forgiveness of sins.

The step that Jesus Christ took on the night of Nisan 14, 33 C.E., was much more than a passing incident in his life. The apostle Paul discussed it when writing to anointed Christians in Corinth, where the pattern was still being followed over 20 years later. Although Paul was not with Jesus and the 11 apostles in 33 C.E., he surely learned from some of the apostles what happened on that occasion. Furthermore, Paul evidently got confirmation of aspects of that event by inspired revelation. Said Paul:

 “I received from the Lord that which I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was going to be handed over took a loaf and, after giving thanks, he broke it and said: ‘This means my body which is in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.’ He did likewise respecting the cup also, after he had the evening meal, saying: ‘This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood. Keep doing this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”​—1 Corinthians 11:23-25.

In this day and age we too have to remember this act of Jesus. Like he had an evening meal with his close friends we should have too. Though this year we shall be limited in such act, because we have to keep us to the restrictions of travelling and gathering as well as social distancing.

The present lockdown does not have to mean we can not have a memorial meal, nor should it have to mean we can not express our unity with other brothers and sisters in Christ.

We may not allow this unseen enemy get us away from our obligation to come together, even when it might be virtual, or to take our memorial meal.

The Gospel writer Luke confirms that Jesus commanded:

 “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)

 These words have also been rendered:

 “Do this in memory of me” (Today’s English Version) and “Do this as a memorial of me.” (The Jerusalem Bible)

 In fact, this observance is often referred to as the Memorial of Christ’s death. Paul also calls it the Lord’s Evening Meal​ — an appropriate designation, since this was instituted at night. (1 Corinthians 11:20)
 Christians are commanded to observe the Lord’s Evening Meal.

that meal should us remember how Jesus put his own will aside to do the will of God and being prepared to give his flesh and blood he died as an upholder of his heavenly Father’s sovereignty and brought salvation unto mankind.

Jesus ‘gave his soul a ransom in exchange for many.’ (Matthew 20:28)   By having once a year a special evening to remember this we show our thankfulness. that is the least we can do. Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal reminds us of the great love shown by both Jehovah and his Son in connection with Jesus’ sacrificial death. How we should appreciate that love!

Regarding the Lord’s Evening Meal, Paul said:

 “As often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

 Individual anointed Christians would partake of the Memorial emblems (breaking the bread and drinking the wine) until their death. Thus, before Jehovah God and the world, they would repeatedly proclaim their faith in God’s provision of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice.

The Passover was held only once a year, on the 14th day of the Jewish month Nisan. (Exodus 12:1-6; Leviticus 23:5)Wednesday the 8th of April 2020 is the day all lovers of God all over the world shall remember that exodus from Egypt, the liberation from human slavery of the People of God. Christians also shall remember how all mankind can come under the grace of salvation by the sacrificial offer of Jesus and therefore shall also remember that night when Jesus took that bread and wine as a symbol for a New Covenant.

Let us be blessed and be happy that we can remember those memorable nights when salvation came over mankind.

+

Find to read

1. The unseen enemy
2. Using fears of the deadly coronavirus
3. Not able to see Jesus working wonders
4. Thinking about fear for the Loving God and an Invitation for 14 Nisan
5. Death and Resurrection of Christ
6. When Belonging to the escaped ones gathering in Jesus name
7. Worthy partakers of the body of Christ
8. 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception
9. 14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus
10. 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast
11. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
12. A Holy week in remembrance of the Blood of life
13. High Holidays not only for Israel
14. Deliverance and establishement of a theocracy
15. Yom Hey, Eve of Passover and liberation of many people
16. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
17. Observance of a day to Remember
18. A night different from all other nights and days to remember
19. Jesus memorial
20. Only a few days left before 14 Nisan
21. Even in Corona time You are called on to have the seder
22. One Passover tradition asking to provide the less fortunate with foods and help
23. In a time when we must remain in our place

 

 

The night before Jesus his execution

These coming days we make time to think about what Jesus has done.

Lots of Christians do forget that God can not die, but that Jesus really has put his own will aside to do the will of God (when Jesus would be God he naturally would always have done his own will). Jesus really found his death at the stake and after his resurrection could show the wounds of his torture at the stake, proving he is no spirit, like his Father is Spirit.

In the Scriptures we also can find how Paul describes the true Christ or Anointed of God and not God the Anointed, something totally different. As a devout Jew Paul was convinced that in Jesus could all people receive salvation or redemption through Jesus and not through God His blood, because Paul knew that God has no bones, flesh or blood Him being a Spirit. John and the other apostles believed the same as any other Jew would believe. (Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:50; John 4:24)

Paul does not say Jesus is God but defines Jesus to be in the image of the invisible Elohim, the firstborn of every creature. You seem to forget we all are made in the image of God. God is invisible but Jesus not and was seen by many who did not fall death when they saw him. No man can see God and live (Exodus 33:23; John 1:18; 1 Tim 1:17).
Paul like the apostle John also considers Jesus as the instigator of the New World, a new creation of which all followers of Jeshua shall become inheritance.

Paul writes that it was for it pleased the Father (i.e. Jehovah God) that in Jesus should all fulness dwell because we may count on it that peace is made through the blood of his death at the stake (please also do not forget that God can not die). This giving of his own body and soul as a ransom was to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, Paul says, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

In the Olive Garden the night before his execution when Jesus prayed the scripture uses phrases like,

“My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death”…
”he went forward an little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: never the less not what I will, but what thou wilt”.

Jesus expresses that he wants God Will to be done and not his will. In case Jesus is God, naturally than it would always be his own will which would happen.

In this Olive Garden we find the son of man praying to his heavenly Father, and not praying to himself, which he would have done when Jesus is God.  See Jesus did exactly what we are expected to do.  Pray for our need, but submit to the will of the Father.  Know that what he is asking us to do is needful and necessary.

  If Jesus would not have suffered for us, then his sacrificial offering would not benefit us. When Jesus is God and if he as God having come to this world would have faked his temptation, his praying to the Most High and faking his death (because God cannot be tempted nor die) then we would not know the Father.
  If you do not have times of suffering, someone else who may have come to know Jesus by the example of your faith, might also die  but not in their sins when he or she accepted Jesus Christ.  We have to trust in his will and continue spreading the message of Christ, calling people to come to God having Jesus as the way to God, that is faith.  Standing in that hope and knowledge of the love of God towards you is exercising that faith.

  So then the disciples awoke Jesus in some vague hope that he just might be close enough to God to do something. But fear did overcome them and it took until the day that the Holy Spirit came over them before they dared to come out in public again to tell others they were followers of Jesus Christ.

Are you a real follower of Jesus Christ?
Do you dare to tell others that you believe that Jesus is the son of God and not god the son?
do you dare to tell others that you worship the same God that was worshipped by Jesus Christ and his disciples, namely the Only One true God Who is One, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah?

Or is their fear in  you, not willing to admit yet that you believe Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, sent by God?

Or you still in a stadium of being 'in the night before Jesus his execution'?

Not able to see Jesus working wonders

As with the rulers noted in Matthew 21, we might not be able to see Jesus working wonders if we are consumed with power and control, whereas the blind, lame, and little children can truly see him (Matthew 21:14-15).

A big problem these days is that several Trinitarian Christians want others to believe this coronavirus is a penalty of God. Several of those so-called Christians want to bring fear over mankind, some even going so far that this is the end of the world. Others want people to resist vaccinations and say that it is their governments bringing on the mark of the beast on the forehead. One cannot imagine how crazy it can be.

We can see how it are the vulnerable ones who are targetted. Though they have everything to gain and nothing to lose as a result of Jesus, whereas these preachers and leaders fear to lose their grip on power, which they hold onto tightly with a closed fist. They cannot reach out and touch Jesus, like those longing for him, though they long to seize him and do him in (Matthew 21:45-46). What about us?
Did we journey with Jesus through the season of Lent with his disciples simply to take matters into our own hands, like Judas did in his conspiracy with the establishment?

How many of us believe in the miracles Jesus did? How many are willing to witness for him and his works as well as to witness for that only One True God? How many are not afraid to pronounce the Name of that Only One True God?

In these times of isolation, nobody should stop speaking about Jesus and his God. Also in social media can be spoken of the necessity to trust God and to try to keep to the hygienic regulations as they were written down thousands of years ago, but still should apply for today.

Not daring to show a connection

For several sorts of Christians Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11).

Palm Sunday is the day that they celebrate Jesus in his humble glory riding a donkey into the city of David, as the crowds and children cry out,

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9; ESV).

 At that time lots of people gathered to shout and to welcome Jesus as their special guest. The Vip of his time got the crowds throwing palm branches on the path before him to celebrate him as their approaching King (Matthew 21:8), who came to bring lasting peace and gracious justice.

Peace and justice still did not come to the world. A few days later many of those welcoming that king could have also been in the crowd shouting to kill that Nazarene man. Glory often is just for a short time. Thankfulness is also not for a long time. We can wonder where all those people were at that moment Jesus was presented to the public as a big criminal. Jesus ad helped so many people. Jesus also had inspired so many and had shown to all around him that he was a man of peace and not of war.

Suddenly not many seemed to remember what he had done. Many also out of fear, even a close disciple as Peter did not dare to let others know that he knew Christ or was for that man.

Also today there are lots of people who not dare the outer world to show they have an interest in that Nazarene teacher or that they believe in the same God as that Jewish man worshipped. Jesus did not worship himself (what he would have done when he is God) but worshipped the God of Israel, Who is a Singular eternal all-knowing Spirit Being.

These coming days are again days that God requests to show faithfulness to Him and His commandments. One of those requirements is to come together and to remember the exodus from Egypt and the other is to remember Jesus commemorating that event and installing a new exodus, namely the exit of the curse of death. In the upper room in Jerusalem Jesus came together with his disciples and installed the New Covenant. He asked to remember that night and that is what we should do. It is also a sign of willingness to be under that New Covenant.

Though we may not mix with a lot of people and are requested to stay home, that should not hinder us to feel united even though it is via an internet connection.

I sincerely hope we shall be able to find many brethren and sisters uniting and sharing their Memorial Meeting with others around the world.

In case we have contact by internet, via Face Time or other means, do not hesitate to mention this coming Wednesday as a special day. Keep witnessing along the virtual way, now we can not do it with direct human contact.

+

Find also to read:

1. Only once and with consequences
2. When Belonging to the escaped ones gathering in Jesus name
3. Dark times looking like death is around the corner – but Light given to us
5. In a time when we must remain in our place
6. First time since Nazi time no public gathering
7. No idea yet for 14 Nisan or April the 8th in 2020 Corona crisis time
8. Only a few days left before 14 Nisan
9. A meal as a mitzvah so that every generation would remember
10. A Passover for unity in God’s community
11. A virtual Seder this Wednesday, April 8 from 6.30 p.m.
12. To turn the world into a “vessel” receptive of God
13. The Application of the New Covenant 

Catholics facing a totally different Holy Week

For Pope Francis at the Vatican, and for Catholics worldwide from churches large and small, this will be an Easter like none other, like for real Christians this week shall be one of isolation whilst otherwise so busy with meeting and sharing the Good News.

The joyous message of Christ’s resurrection will be delivered to empty pews in the Christian world.
Bible students all over the world, who normally gather on 14 Nisan to have their Memorial Meal shall not be able to gather in this time of lockdown.
Also the Jews shall not be able to invite friends and poor people to their seder and shall have to celebrate the Passover meal on their own.

For the Catholics and many protestants, the world seems to come to a stand still, having no mass or worship services in public any more. Some protestant churches already spoke of a devil (Satan) making sure there would come an end to people serving and worshipping God.

Worries about the coronavirus outbreak have triggered widespread cancellations of Holy Week processions and in-person services. Many priests and pastors will preach on TV or online, tailoring sermons to account for the pandemic.
Many extended families will reunite via Face Time and Zoom rather than around a communal table laden with a Pesach Memorial Meal on Wednesday the 8th of April or an Easter feast on April 12.

Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, will be celebrating Mass for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Easter in a near-empty St. Peter’s Basilica, instead of in the huge square outside filled with Catholic faithful.

+

Find also to read:

1. Making deeper cuts than some terrorist attacks of the near past
2.  The unseen enemy
3. Coronavirus on March 11 declared a global pandemic on March 31 affecting more than 177 countries
4. Europe in Chaos for a Pandemic
5. No idea yet for 14 Nisan or April the 8th in 2020 Corona crisis time
6. Only a few days left before 14 Nisan
7. Even in Corona time You are called on to have the seder
8. A meal as a mitzvah so that every generation would remember
9. A night different from all other nights and days to remember
10. First time since Nazi time no public gathering
11. Hosting a Virtual Seder During a Pandemic
12. Love in the Time of Corona
13. Christian Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Offering words of hope

Today lots of people clinch to social media to find a virtual world which seems better than the world they encounter in real life.

Lots of people create themselves their own virtual world, with their virtual friends, but are missing the real-life contacts which build real friendships.

Churches have become empty and people disinterested in God and the Church.

The Church has to come to find new energisers and spiritual leaders who are full of energy to magnetise others and to attract people, curious for finding out what might inspire those people so much that they are so energetic and full of those words they can proclaim with so much fire.

The church also needs people who are willing to have an eye and an ear for what is going on and to be encouragers. They need to be willing to listen to those around them.

It is out of the abundance of God’s presence in their life that there must be 'disciples of Christ' who want to follow in the footsteps of the siciples of Christ, going out in the world, spreading the Good News and caring for the needs of others then becomes a natural outgrowth of faith.

The contemporary church leader has to give the priceless gift of understanding when he or she hears and responds. It’s not that we need to solve someone’s problem. With courage and optimism, however, we can offer words of hope. Recognizing this good, creative, valuable aspect in someone’s life, offers huge encouragement.

As a follower of Jesus, we are called to love one another. One expression of this love is through encouraging words. Many scripture passages tell us to voice words of comfort and strength.

 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  

We are siblings in Christ with believers all over the globe. Each of us has a role. Gifted with talents and abilities, we serve to care for those in need. Together we can (and do!) make a difference. 

+

Preceding

Church indeed critical in faith development

Church indeed critical in faith development

Some two thousand years ago, Jesus approached twelve seemingly unsuspecting Galileans and bid them:

 “Come, follow me.”

For the next three years, they walked alongside him as he discipled them. Toward the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus commissioned his disciples to go and do the same — to take the Gospel message to the world and make disciples in all the nations.

The Great Commission is an audacious undertaking, all the more so given the fast and sweeping changes taking place in the broader culture. People in this day and age have become the new slaves? The slaves of the international companies. But they also have become slaves of their own materialism and want for more.
Their aspirations to come somewhere in life, to reach the top or to get this or that, makes that they are often under a lot of stress. Each person has his or her own stresses: Mountains of laundry wait, errands beckon, and another pressing meeting extends the workday. Prayer life, if it still exist by certain people, reduces to the minimal communication of mealtime grace and thank-you-Lord-for-this-day bedtime amens.

By the majority of Christians there are no moments any more of contemplation, or of being together in the household taking time, to read the Bible and to say prayers.  No listening ear for God’s voice. Little thought of discerning His plans for the day.

Those who still find time to go to church love to find the pastor or priest doing all the talking and doing all the work. They settle into a church home, then rely on pastors and small group leaders to guide them into maturity. They might know that Church is indeed critical in their faith development.

But something is not working if most of the Christians report little spiritual growth over the course of a year.

The “spiritual journey” language is most preferred among non-practicing Christians. We can wonder how they build up such a spiritual journey. While spiritual growth is very important to tens of millions, the language and terminology surrounding discipleship seems to be undergoing a change, with other phrases coming to be used more frequently than the term “discipleship” itself.

Today the word "discipleship" also seems to have a negative co-notation, giving the impression that one is weak when one wants to become a disciple. Not many do want to be a disciple and having to let others know that one still has to learn.

Engagement with the practices associated with discipleship leave much to be desired.  When in  certain regions there still could be 20 percent of Christian adults involved in some sort of discipleship activity, it would not be bad to come to see that more than 6% would come to be active in church planning, attending Sunday school or fellowship group, meeting with a spiritual mentor, studying the Bible with a group, or reading and discussing a Christian book with a group.

For sure Church needs a new fertilizer and new seed. It needs also people who can ignite the fire in  others. Church leaders must be diligent in finding tools that help people examine the reality of their spiritual growth, not merely how they perceive it.

It is high time that churches start to rethink what is working in connecting with today’s younger Christians and non-believers, particularly when it comes to relational and mentoring forms of spiritual development.

Besluit om vrouwen tot het ambt toe te laten onvoldoende onderbouwd volgens Synode GKV

Met ongelijke meningen in de Vrijgemaakt-gereformeerde synode moest deze toch tot een conclusie komen, waarbij meerderen toch niet zo gelukkig om zijn.

De synode van de Gereformeerde Kerken vrijgemaakt (GKV) heeft donderdag en vrijdag een hele dag uitgetrokken om 20 bezwaarschriften tegen de vrouw in het ambt te bespreken.

De commissie revisieverzoeken m/v concludeert na het bestuderen van de bezwaarschriften in ieder geval dat het besluit om vrouwen tot het ambt toe te laten onvoldoende is onderbouwd. De commissie meent dat de Bijbelteksten over het zwijgen van de vrouw in de gemeente “onvoldoende in rekening gebracht”. Tegelijkertijd adviseert de commissie om de besluiten voorlopig niet te herzien. Overigens werd ook bekend dat een Indonesische zusterkerk de banden met de GKV heeft verbroken omdat vrouwen zijn toegelaten tot het ambt.

Gerrit  van der Meer vraagt hierbij

Als er een besluit is genomen en men gaat het besluit later herzien, om zodoende tot een nieuw besluit te komen, wat is dan de waarde van het genomen besluit.

Een commissie moet daadkrachtig zijn en genoeg vertrouwen uitstralen. Leden dienen het door de commissie genomen besluit te accepteren (wat is anders de functie van een commissie). Indien we binnen de kerk ons bezighouden met bezwaarschriften op genomen besluiten maken we ons naar buiten ongeloofwaardig.

W. Theo. Baan haalt aan

De traditionele kerken verkeren in een crisis. De NGK, zal zich sterk moeten maken in de eenwording met de GKV, om de gezags autoriteit van de synode te ontmantelen. De GKV synode heeft haar gezag zwaar beschadigd en de NGK hebben aangetoont zonder synode kerkverband te kunnen zijn.

 +

Vindt hier over verder:

1. Gerry Bos eerste vrouw die dominee zou hebben kunnen worden in de Gereformeerde Kerken vrijgemaakt
2. Kritiek op de werkwijze van de vrijgemaakt-gereformeerde synode