Episode 168: The Danger of Tolerating Sin and the Need for Discipline - Jared Luttjeboer (Part 1)

“The process of bringing correction and calling for repentance appears to be so prolonged, and, at least to me…very ineffective…Why can’t we just have such a robust conversation about the Belgic Confession and what the three marks of the true church are?…If that leaven remains, what further damage could possibly be done?...Scripture calls for patience in a process of appeal when trying to restore a sitting brother or sister, but on the other hand, Scripture emphasizes acting decisively when there is no repentance…When is enough enough?” -Jared Luttjeboer

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Summary of this Episode

This week on the Messy Reformation, Jason and Willy are joined by Jared Luttjeboer. Jared is the Director of Marketing at Mid-America Reformed Seminary (MARS) in Dyer, IN, where he graduated with a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree. Since college, he was interested in synthesizing digital media with theology, and MARS provided him that opportunity already as a student. He also serves the local church as a member and elder at Beacon Light Community Church, a Christian Reformed congregation in Gary, IN, and is licensed to exhort by Classis Illiana.

After discussing some about being a strong theologically Reformed church in a non-traditional CRC/Dutch area, Jared is asked what it’s like working for MARS and remaining CRC. MARS was founded by CRC pastors and members in the 1980s due to the doctrinal shifts in the CRCNA, and was originally intended as an alternative for CRC students to Calvin Seminary. As Jared has learned more about the history of the CRC and the tensions that existed from the 1970s on, the criticisms of the CRC by MARS faculty are understandable. However, he attests to not seeing hatred toward the CRC as perhaps might have been the case previously, and the seminary’s faculty and graduates often fill our pulpits. What he finds is sympathy for current frustrations.

There are several things that drew him to MARS as opposed to other seminaries. A significant factor was affordability. His home classis (Quinte) was only willing to provide financial aid if he was pursuing an MDiv. and ordained ministry. Jared knew he didn’t want or feel called to pursue that. MARS, in large part because of relationships with local churches, does an incredible job with financial aid. Northwest Indiana was also a draw because of family members in the area, and conversations with President Cornelis Venema and others attested to a robust education. Looking back, he sees the seminary as offering excellent training for students to robustly preach God’s Word in a Christ-centered way.

Jason steers the conversation to what Jared sees happening in the CRC right now. He offers a very insightful response and exhortation for delegates heading to Synod. “The process of bringing correction and calling for repentance appears to be so prolonged, and, at least to me…very ineffective…Why can’t we just have such a robust conversation about the Belgic Confession and what the three marks of the true church are?” He reads from Article 29, “We believe that we ought to discern diligently and very carefully, by the Word of God, what is the true church—for all sects in the world today claim for themselves the name of ‘the church.’ We are not speaking here of the company of hypocrites who are mixed among the good in the church and who nonetheless are not part of it, even though they are physically there. But we are speaking of distinguishing the body and fellowship of the true church from all sects that call themselves ‘the church.’ The true church can be recognized if it has the following marks: The church engages in the pure preaching of the gospel; it makes use of the pure administration of the sacraments as Christ instituted them; it practices church discipline for correcting faults…These two churches [the true church and the false church] are easy to recognize and thus to distinguish from each other.”

Jared asks, “Is the CRC ready to acknowledge that there is a regiment of the false church within her ranks? And if so, something needs to be done about it. [Discipline] rooted in Scripture.” His outside-looking-in perspective of Synod has been that we get caught up in so much talking, emotion, and story-telling. “But Synod needs teeth…It needs to move…quickly.” What he’s talking about is calling to repentance, and if not, then preserving the purity of the church. He highlights Galatians 5:9, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” “If that leaven remains, what further damage could possibly be done?...Scripture calls for patience in a process of appeal when trying to restore a sitting brother or sister, but on the other hand, Scripture emphasizes acting decisively when there is no repentance…When is enough enough?”