Episode 118: Conversation with Lincoln Rus (Part 2)

"I will die on this hill. I would happily get rid of every celebrity pastor (even the ones that I like) if it meant that every church had a faithful pastor who is discipling them." -Lincoln Rus

Summary of This Episode

We begin by discussing the idea of salvific issues and the unity required to work together in ministry. There needs to be a close alignment in theology when it comes to ministry partnerships and the hiring of personnel. An episode of Ask Pastor John is mentioned, which discusses how to draw lines for ministry partnerships, and highlights the need for theological clarity and agreement in order for it to be successful. We also talk about how certain issues, such as the women in office issue, have become difficult due to theological disagreements. The closer one gets to partnership and ministry, the more theological agreement is required. Even if an issue is not considered salvific, it can still cause problems.

Jason asks Lincoln if he is considering pursuing ordination in the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) after graduating from Reformed Theological Seminary. Initially, Lincoln thought it would make more sense to pursue ordination in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), since he is currently attending a PCA church, his mentors are both in the PCA, and there are not many Dutch Reformed churches in the area. However, after seeing the CRC take a stand on issues at Synod 2022, which was encouraging, he began to consider pursuing ordination in the CRC. Ultimately, he plans to follow wherever doors open and continue trusting God as He has been faithful so far.

At Synod 2022, the CRC made a decision that has encouraged people to join the denomination rather than leaving it (contrary to the opinions of some). This decision gave hope to many and opened the door for more people to be blessed by the theology, polity, and doctrine of the CRC. By taking a hard line stance, it also encouraged people to stay in the denomination and be proud of its history and future trajectory. The Apostle Paul's example in Philippians 1 of how his imprisonment emboldened others to step up with the gospel is similar in that by taking a hard stance, other denominations are encouraged to do the same. People are looking for places where they can take it or leave it, where there is no wishy-washiness. Dort University in Sioux Center, Iowa is an example of this - they have been very solid in their convictions and have not wavered from them and have been growing as a result. By making wise decisions that remain faithful to their beliefs, the CRC can continue to flourish.

Lincoln and Jason believe it is important for churches and religious institutions to take a stand for their beliefs and be clear about them. Being honest and upfront about what one believes, even if someone disagrees, is essential for authentic relationships. This means not trying to "bait and switch" people into believing something different than what the church stands for. The Christian Reformed Churches during the church growth movement may have been tempted to abandon their beliefs in order to attract a broader audience, but ultimately it was unsuccessful. Jason mentions Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "Life Together" in which he coined the phrase "fake community," which is when people are unified but don't actually stand on anything. Finally, they encourage churches to be unashamed of their convictions and set expectations with clarity so people know what they are getting into. Clarity is more important than agreement, they say, so everyone knows where they stand even if they disagree.

Lincoln encourages pastors, elders and deacons to take up their roles with fervor, leading their congregations faithfully. He encourages them to invest in the people of their church, recognizing potential future pastors, elders and lay leaders and discipling them. He expresses that this grassroots level ministry is far more impactful than any top-down changes made at the General Assembly (or Synodical) level. Lincoln's passion for local ministry is evident as he expresses his desire to celebrate births and weddings, baptize new believers and mourn sicknesses alongside the people under his care. Ultimately, he hopes that this is what churches will look like in the future: local communities investing in each other with faithfulness and love.

Jason talks about how me recently met with a group of pastors in Sioux Center, Iowa and talked to them about mobilizing the local church. He emphasizes the idea of the priesthood of believers and how this can bring authority out of the upper structures of the church and into the local church. He encourages pastors to equip believers for ministry, so that they can be active in bringing about change from the bottom up.

We believe that any lasting reformation must come from faithful pastors and local congregations equipping members for every good work. This type of reformation is much more effective than relying on upper structures or denominations to bring about change. The local church is at the foundation, and any progress must start with equipping believers and building them up to be active in their faith.