Episode 126: Conversation with Darren Kornelis (Part 2)

“I don’t believe we’re worshiping the idol of clarity. God’s Word is clear, and so let’s let it speak clearly. Let’s submit to it as it speaks clearly…Clarity if very freeing.” -Darren Kornelis

Summary of This Episode

On this episode of the Messy Reformation, Jason and Willy are back with Rev. Darren Kornelis, pastor of Niekerk CRC in Holland, Michigan. The conversation turns to Synod 2023, which all three of them will be attending. Darren agrees with the message that we are a denomination that needs clarity on what we believe when it comes to matters of sexuality. Decisions need to be made, and we need to do that in line with the truth of God’s Word. Responding to an accusation that’s floated around, he says, “I don’t believe we’re worshiping the idol of clarity. God’s Word is clear, and so let’s let it speak clearly. Let’s submit to it as it speaks clearly…Clarity if very freeing.”

Willy points out, “We will not advance the truth by telling lies.” The group talks about the ideals of the “Better Together: A Third Way” movement in the denomination. It doesn’t work. Having ambiguity—or a local option, each church chooses what it wants to believe, offers a false sense of unity, a foolish sense of being together. Darren recognizes that having pastors like himself calling people to repent while others are saying that call is unjust is not helpful. For “Better Together” and those on the revisionist side to claim to be about listening, they’re not listening to us. 

Another area we see that failure to listen is in an overture coming to the Synodical Services advisory committee that Darren will be serving. The overture seeks to silence Classis Minnkota’s protest to women being seated as delegates at Synod. Jason points out given our denomination’s position, that has to be allowed. The 30-second reading of their protest is not lengthy or severe, but it’s a compromise made by strong complementarians.

Back to matters of sexuality, this is a matter of integrity. If the denomination would take the clear position of being open and affirming, most on the orthodox side are willing to walk away. Why is that? It’s not just the “confessional” identification of what’s understood as “unchastity” in Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 108 and 109. Jason reminds us, this is a biblical issue. Q&A 87 testifies that those who do not turn to God from their ungrateful and unrepentant ways can by no means be saved because “Scripture tells us.” The Bible has more authority than the confessions! This is what’s behind Darren and Willy’s statements that this is a “salvific” and “primary” matter, not a secondary issue. 

Saying that so clearly shouldn’t be problematic. When we look at LGBTQ+ community, part of what fosters such a sense of belonging among them is that they are clear in the message and affirmation they communicate. We do well to remember that the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is not just “go and make disciples,” but “Go…and make disciples…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe [obey] all that I have commanded you…”

With all these voices heading into Synod 2023, how should delegates be prepared? Jason advises they need to have answers to questions like: when we say “unity” or “in covenant,” what does that mean? “Can we be in covenantal unity when it comes to matters like this?” “There is no unity right now. There’s nothing to keep…We need to see it, we need to recognize it, and we need to act accordingly and wisely.” Synod 2022 drew boundaries, and this year provides our denomination the opportunity to double-down and figure out the path forward. Darren agrees that separation is necessary, but we don’t have to be bitter or hostile about—be as graceful as possible. The path forward affects local churches, our mission, and our denominational leadership—clarity must be present in all three fronts.

Darren’s final word is for pastors to preach the Word faithfully! It is by his Word and its preaching that God preserves, sanctifies, and brings renewal to his people. Be constantly in prayer. “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).