CONCLUSION: PASTORAL CONCERNS

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Historically the Reformed faith has held that the Bible is our only standard for faith and practice. Van Harn takes a different approach: “Creation and the Word work together. The report chooses one over the other.” Which will we choose?

Rev. Kelderman seems to be advocating that our synod should not determine which acts are sinful. Is that how the church is to be a light unto the world?

Dr. Timmermans seems to imply that the only way the church can be pastoral is to fully accept any behavior that might be sinful. Is that a good path to take?

Dr. James Brownson is the most prominent voice right now in the Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church advocating for full acceptance of same-sex marriage. Brownson rejects the argument that the love of God requires us to accept same-sex marriage. Dr. Hoeksema’s argument is that the love of God requires acceptance of same-sex marriage. Hoeksema needs to show how Brownson is wrong before he can simply assert that God’s love requires it.

Each of these men takes a position that is contrary to what the church has held in the past. Each of these positions is very questionable in nature. We see no valid objection to the Human Sexuality Report in these four videos.