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Inheritance Preserved
Book by Vanoene, W. W. J.
404 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1974
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August 3, 2015
The book aims to briefly describe the history of the Canadian Reformed Churches, tracing its roots to the secession of 1834, through the Doleantie of 1886, the Union of 1992 and the Liberation of 1944, all events that have played out in The Netherlands, material that takes up the first four short chapters. The fifth chapter is devoted to a very short history of the Christian Reformed Church since the 1840s. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 contains the bulk of the book providing a description of the formation and continuation of the Canadian Reformed Church.
It is the conviction of the author that the Canadian Reformed Churches "have preserved the inheritance passed on to them from generation to generation from the days of the great Reformation on, and before, yea, from the beginning of the world" (p 217). In explaining his position the authors refers to the churches' faithfullness in doctrine and church polity.
The book provides a wealth of material for those interested in the people, dates and decisions taken in the history of this church. Those who have an interest in the functioning of immigration communities will also benefit from the book.
The book contains little material on doctrinal viewpoints, which is not a problem in an historical text as such, but is a deficiency when conclusions are drawn that the churches have "abided by the truly Reformed doctrine" (p 217). Such unsubstantiated statements do limit the scope of the book to only those audiences that are within this church and does not really encourage deeper theological self-reflection. Describing church history does not per definition means that it should be endorsed as abiding to truthful doctrine, a lesson that many Reformed churches over the centuries had to learn over and over again. No church is an exception and all are called to continual reformation.
I believe readers will benefit most if the book is read together with other works that take a biblical and confessional viewpoint on what it means to be "one, holy, catholic and apostolic church". In a culture where the words "denomination" and "fragmentation" are seen as synonyms, the witness of the church to what true ecumene is called for yet again.
It is the conviction of the author that the Canadian Reformed Churches "have preserved the inheritance passed on to them from generation to generation from the days of the great Reformation on, and before, yea, from the beginning of the world" (p 217). In explaining his position the authors refers to the churches' faithfullness in doctrine and church polity.
The book provides a wealth of material for those interested in the people, dates and decisions taken in the history of this church. Those who have an interest in the functioning of immigration communities will also benefit from the book.
The book contains little material on doctrinal viewpoints, which is not a problem in an historical text as such, but is a deficiency when conclusions are drawn that the churches have "abided by the truly Reformed doctrine" (p 217). Such unsubstantiated statements do limit the scope of the book to only those audiences that are within this church and does not really encourage deeper theological self-reflection. Describing church history does not per definition means that it should be endorsed as abiding to truthful doctrine, a lesson that many Reformed churches over the centuries had to learn over and over again. No church is an exception and all are called to continual reformation.
I believe readers will benefit most if the book is read together with other works that take a biblical and confessional viewpoint on what it means to be "one, holy, catholic and apostolic church". In a culture where the words "denomination" and "fragmentation" are seen as synonyms, the witness of the church to what true ecumene is called for yet again.
Displaying 1 of 1 review