Conservatives Need to Step Up
Time to Step Up
Conservatives, we need to start stepping up. It is no longer good enough for us to complain from the sidelines about how bad things are. It is no longer good enough for us to whine about the leadership of our denomination. It’s time to get in the game. The opportunity is right in front of us. We need solid conservatives to apply to be the General Secretary of the CRCNA.
Yet whenever I ask, “Do you know of any conservatives who have applied for the General Secretary position OR have you nominated a conservative for this position?” things get awkwardly silent. Everyone either looks down at their feet or sheepishly looks at everyone else, hoping someone else has done something…but no one has. The best response I’ve gotten so far is, “I’m pretty sure [so and so] is being nominated and they're fairly conservative.” That’s not good enough. If we want to fight for our denomination, we also need to fight for a solid conservative as our next General Secretary.
Excuse #1
Yes, I’ve heard the excuses:
“But Jason, I don’t hate anyone enough to put them in that position. If a conservative becomes General Secretary, they will chew him up and spit out.”
I completely understand this will most likely happen to any conservative in this position. Here are two responses to that excuse. First, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18–19, ESV). Faithful Christians will be hated wherever we serve. It doesn’t matter if we’re serving in denominational headquarters or in our local congregation. Don’t let that fear prevent you from putting your name forward. My second response is this: Do you hate our denomination enough to sit back and watch someone step into that position who will lead us down the path of destruction?
Excuse #2
“But Jason, the deck is stacked against any conservative getting that position. And besides, if they get the position, their hands will be tied. They won’t be able to accomplish anything.”
Again, I completely agree with these sentiments. I think the deck is stacked against conservatives and it’s highly unlikely a conservative will become our next General Secretary. But, does that mean we don’t even try? Does that mean we sit back and complain about how bad things are? Is that truly what we believe is honoring to God in this situation? I don’t think so. Even though the deck is stacked against us, we need to start throwing names into the ring. What’s the worst that can happen? Some people get rejected for the position. Then, they can give thanks to God for graciously sparing them from an extremely difficult calling.
But what if they don’t get rejected? What if God looks graciously on the CRCNA and works to put a conservative into this position of leadership; then, God overcomes the handcuffs placed on that position and uses that conservative to lead our denomination in repentance and revival? We’ll never know if we never try.
Excuse #3
“But Jason, conservative pastors are focused on their own congregations. They don’t want to step into a denominational position.”
Again, I completely understand this position. However, I’m extremely thankful that the reformers didn’t follow this line of logic. Luther didn’t believe he was ONLY called to serve a local congregation, and neither did Calvin. Both of them understood their calling in a much broader sense. They served the church that extended beyond their local congregation. Calvin said, “I am compelled, whether I will or not, to withstand you openly. For then only do pastors edify the Church, when, besides leading docile souls to Christ, placidly, as with the hand, they are also armed to repel the machinations of those who strive to impede the work of God.” (Letters of Calvin Vol 1, “To Cardinal Sadolet’s Letter,” p. 29). If the reformers would have tucked their heads, focused solely on their local congregations, the reformation wouldn’t have happened. We must not make that error in the CRCNA. If we do, the CRCNA will die.
Any Nudges At All?
If God has placed a solid conservative’s name on your heart—even a tiny bit—you need to submit their name. If God has given you the slightest nudge toward this position, you need to submit your resume. Don’t resist it or talk yourself out of it. Send it in and trust God to do with it as he wills. He may put a conservative in the position. He may not. But we’ll never know if we sit back and do nothing.