Episode 256: More Than Sunday Christians — Kurtis Ritsema (Part 2)
“I believe wholeheartedly that our denomination is in a good place…I also believe that the future is bright for the CRC…We’re in a unique place of foundational development, understanding what it means to be confessional…I believe that my seminary experience aided that, to help develop that importance for me.” —Kurtis Ritsema
Summary of This Episode
Jason and Willy are back on this episode of The Messy Reformation with Rev. Kurt Ritsema, senior pastor at Bethel CRC in Waupun, WI. If there’s a theme for this episode, it’s the finitude or limitedness of pastors. They continue sharing that most pastors don’t excel in every gift, and yet you can often look at the life of a congregation and identify that God provided specific pastors with different giftings for different seasons in the life of that church.
Willy asks about Kurt’s work in Classis Wisconsin, which has been pretty limited other than allowing his name to stand for synod and that brings us to talking about the denomination. It’s encouraging to hear him share, “I believe wholeheartedly that our denomination is in a good place…I also believe that the future is bright for the CRC…We’re in a unique place of foundational development, understanding what it means to be confessional…I believe that my seminary experience aided that, to help develop that importance for me.” Going forward, he sees us needing to help people understand what that means—what do we stand for.
Jason and Kurt also talk about going forward in the present cultural moment. Kurt mentions with the increased use of AI, we have to remain in God’s Word, because it’s the only way we’ll continue growing. Jason puts forth that our identity needs to come out of the confessional grounding. He shares how teenagers he’s ministering among desire firm truths. Information is so widely and cheaply available today, but truth is weighty, especially old and lasting truths.
They also spend some time talking about nervousness that many pastors share they’ve experienced in the pulpit. Willy asks, “Do you think the pressure…exists and some of the anxiety…ensues because it’s the one place that God has promised infallibly that he will work and is going to work?” Is it not just the pursuit of perfection but for it to be the words of Christ? Kurt shares it is a lot to handle and remember, but Jason points out there is also a weightiness in pride and not wanting to look stupid.
Kurt’s main message to ministers is: “Stay the course. Keep doing what you’re doing, and the Spirit will use what [he] needs to use.” He also reminds us to be engaged with people, and remember that we’re not only preachers but pastors. His closing words to the broader audience are that we can’t just be Sunday Christians, in part because our world needs us to be more than that. Be looking for how you can “be Christ” wherever and with whoever your week brings you into contact with.