Episode 134: Reflections on Synod 2023 with John Klompien (Part 2)

“One sin never helps make another sin better…We've sinned in trying to and refusing to do discipline. And if we continue to do that, it's not going to make it better…We need to repent and believe and trust [God] in that…It's my prayer that Synod 2024 would be an opportunity for us to repent and believe and be faithful to what God has called us to do as a denomination because as we know repentance bears fruit and it bears the fruit of the Holy Spirit.” -Jason Ruis

Summary of This Episode

This episode picks up where we left off last week with Jason and John Klompien’s rich conversation. They return to the discouraging aspects of Synod. John shares the discouragement others have voiced about poor time management and the effect that had on work not getting done. Jason notes how the hope of his committee was to finish their work, implement some timelines, and move forward as a denomination. The goal was not being punitive for the sake of being punitive, but to bring these matters to a concluding point. He also shares his personal intent to look into where the work of Advisory Committee 8 stands going into Synod 2024, which he believes should still come as recommendations. 

John was also disappointed by discussions around “punitive” actions. Paul DeVries, having been serving as chair, brought a lot of influence in his words, but John reminds us, “…All this would have required is that…1) Neland Avenue would agree not to seat again a person in an office like this, 2) that the classis would also agree, and…say they were sorry for not heeding synod, [and] 3) the classis would likewise say they would hold them accountable and they would sign onto that before being delegated [to the next Synod]. That's just good order. That's not punitive. It’s “Are you going to be able to agree with things that have confessional status?” [Simply calling it punitive] is contrary to our confessions, which call church discipline a loving and God-glorifying thing. It’s a misunderstanding of church discipline, [which is] restorative and not punitive.” Jason shares one of his biggest regrets is not addressing DeVries’ statement as misrepresenting the committee’s work and report. Their goal was repentance—and if they’d repent, there’s no punishment.

The discussion turns to the practice of church discipline in the CRC, which we struggle with. It hasn’t been done faithfully and is often avoided “because we’ve never seen it done well and we haven’t done it for a long time.” As they analyze trends of legalism and antinomianism (do we make too much or too little of law), John points out, “Does God more often say, ‘Be holy,’ or more often say, ‘Be free’? They’re not at odds with one another. He’s freeing us from sin to be holy.” Jason rightly notes the connection of these things to our having lost a grasp and promotion of sanctification. “One sin never helps make another sin better…We've sinned in trying to and refusing to do discipline. And if we continue to do that, it's not going to make it better…We need to repent and believe and trust [God] in that…It's my prayer that Synod 2024 would be an opportunity for us to repent and believe and be faithful to what God has called us to do as a denomination because as we know repentance bears fruit and it bears the fruit of the Holy Spirit.” 

After sharing some ways that each of them were convicted and humbled, they look ahead to next year. John highlights it’s not strategy or politics but integrity that Synod will need to deal with the matters remaining from this year early on. He also hopes, “to see us get more intentional about the proclamation of the Word and the gospel for the glory of Christ and the renewed vigor of the [CRC].” He shares how he’s seen this across many of the younger delegates, “They really have confidence in the Word of God proclaimed to create faith and to expand efforts at growing God’s kingdom through the [CRC].” He also wants to hear more from Scott Vander Ploeg with the strategies he introduced.

While the focus has been Synod, the guys notice this impacts, and is also already happening in, local congregations. John hopes we can hear more as a denomination “about churches faithfully using the means of grace and seeing their growth”—success isn’t just numbers, but vibrancy. Often times, the pastors and leaders serving in these kinds of churches go quietly and faithfully about their work, not realizing or thinking they have much to share. John adds that they might be the ones who tend to stay away from Synod because they enjoy and are busy with the local work. He wraps up by expressing gratitude and humility “to be a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ [and] that there are faithful people in the pews who are not paid full-time to be in God’s word” but who’s regular encouragement and influence on others is a blessing to him.