[Faith-talk] Beliefs and Practices of the RCA

[Doris and Chris]

I was hoping you might respond to the query, Pastor Tom. :-)

When going to the webpage that was cited for reasons not to join that 
Reformed Church, I actualy did not see what the objection was 
supposed to be. Since the page dealt with the treatment of and 
position towards homosexuals in the church, I guess this was supposed 
to be the objectionable position of the church. I did not find 
anything wrong with their take on homosexuality at all. Rather I 
appreciated the differentiation between objection to the sin of 
homosexuality but the loving acceptance of the homosexuals.

This is what good old Luther (greetings from LUtherland!) referred to 
as "god hating the sin but loving the sinner). I firmly believe that 
the way to calling a sinner to repentence is not by judging them and 
excluding them but by showing them Jesus's love and welcome so that 
they _want_ to repent of their sin and do right and not because they 
are forced to or otherwise denied any warmth and fellowship.

God bless,

Doris




At 01:55 PM 7/18/2012 -0500, you wrote:
>As a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church, the RCA is a sister
>denomination with which we have much in common.
>Let me tell you what I can, and I invite your questions.
>The RCA, as its name suggests is rooted in the Reformed/Presbyterian branch
>of the church.
>It has been part of the American scene for over 200 years and has
>established a track record that is easily verifiable.
>The beliefs of the RCA, can be seen in the three major confessions they
>subscribe to:
>Heidelberg Catechism
>Belgic Confession of Faith
>Canons of Dort.
>If you wish to read any of these I can email them to you
>The RCA is not a liberal denomination.
>It has a deep concern for being faithful to the Word of God, and proclaiming
>the gospel of Christ.
>Neither does the RCA fit into the fundamentalist camp.
>While being true to the infallibility of God's Word, the RCA confesses the
>truths of the Apostles Creed, and speaks the faith with a Reformed accent.
>So they will emphasize the sovereignty of God's grace in salvation, and call
>its members to see the entire world and life as being under God's control,
>and so our lives must be lived for his glory -- not just in prayer and
>worship services, but in daily life, at work, in the community and in
>Christian response to the poor.
>The RCA supports mission work around the world.
>Being in the Reformed tradition means that the RCA teaches that children of
>believers should be baptized.
>As evidence of its concern for a Christian response to all of life, the RCA
>has recently adopted the Belhar Confession which speaks to the issues of
>racism in our world.
>If you have further questions, I will be happy to respond here, or you may
>email me directly.
>Blessings,
>Tom Vos
>
>
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