Episode 247: Reformation Through Ordinary Means — Shelby Gemmen (Part 2)
“I’ve seen very godly people that were raised in the faith that I…thought…would never wander [or] stumble, and I’ve seen them stumble in the most atrocious ways…At the heart of it, every single time…is the same thing—they have fallen away from reading the Word of God, letting it saturate them in prayer.” —Shelby Gemmen
Summary of This Episode
Welcome back to The Messy Reformation for part two of Jason’s conversation with Rev. Shelby Gemmen, lead pastor of South Olive CRC. Given Shelby’s history with the RCA, Jason asks if he thinks the familiar sentiment that the CRC is just a few years behind the RCA still rings true. Shelby sees the shake-up over the last few years, in both denominations, as putting an end to that. While there are still ties between our denominations, he points out that when people in positions of power change, it’s likely that the RCA continues in an increasingly liberal direction and the CRC being more biblical, confessional, and conservative. While there have been and continue to be some struggles, he trusts that God will bless those who are faithfully following him.
Jason follows up by asking more generally about his thoughts on the relationship we have with the RCA and if he thinks it will continue. Shelby shares, “…Based on what the RCA is now and who’s there, who’s in charge, who’s going there, what their intention will be…I think it’s just a contradiction…It doesn’t make sense to finally get orthodoxy and bring reformation, and then go back to whatever we think the connection is. If it’s not a biblical connection…truly grounded in Christ, then it’s just shrouded in falsehood…It’s going to be false teachings, false teachers…relationships that won’t be edifying, and God’s not going to bless it with a lot of the bad hanging fruit…I think it’s easy to look at anyone and to see the good in them because they’re made in the image of God, but don’t be deceived [by] someone not walking with God.” Jason agrees and names, “…This “unity” would not be a true unity, because our unity is [to be] based in Christ and his Word.” This would be destructive.
Shelby has a lot of good biblical tie-ins throughout the episode, one of which comes here—when the Israelites had Aaron make the golden calves, they name it “Yahweh.” “When we have a false teaching and false version of Jesus, we still call it Jesus, and we still tell people it’s Jesus, when it’s not…There’s not false teacher that’s waving his arms, saying, ‘Look, I’m a false teacher. I’m here to deceive you.’ It’s always shrouded in falsehood and…will…win the hearts of people by the power of emotions and…of love and affection at the expense of denying orthodox, sound doctrine, truth, and biblical revelation.”
The conversation shifts as Jason asks where Shelby thinks the CRC needs to continue reforming and growing. Shelby names continued accountability and raising the bar on discipleship. He and Jason talk a bit about the importance of having future generations in mind when we do discipleship. Just as we like to stand on the foundation and shoulders of theologians long before us, hopefully we’re setting a solid foundation that serves well for decades or even centuries to come. Shelby also talks about the importance of the ordinary means of grace and helping people to read and interpret the Bible with a Reformed lens.
His final words are a caution to not grow lazy in the faith. “I’ve seen very godly people that were raised in the faith that I…thought…would never wander [or] stumble, and I’ve seen them stumble in the most atrocious ways…At the heart of it, every single time…is the same thing—they have fallen away from reading the Word of God, letting it saturate them in prayer.” He strongly encourages family worship, singing songs with good theology, being careful about the misleading distractions that often, and putting effort into our faith. However, he ends with a reminder that we also must remember Christ’s grace “…and the next step that we take in sanctification is always from him…Be faithful in piety and…every other way…that will help ground you.”