The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Why the current state of the Netherlands

Johan,

about whether or not what the author, Isbell, was saying that this one thing was the sole cause of the problem in the Netherlands. Surely, it was a major contributing factor along with the other elements of the society, etc. What can be surmised, however, is IF the government was comprised mainly of Kuyper's party and shared his views, and the Reformed churches were in sync/agreement with them as well, then surely this was a major contributing factor. During the "Great Awakening" here in this country, not all the churches were of the same mind doctrinally nor experimentally. However, a major difference was that there was no concerted effort to Christianize the country, i.e., to establish a strictly Christian government. Men like Jonathan Edwards focused upon the true conversion of lost sinners and not on social issues, science, etc.

What the article and the quotes I grabbed from it are saying is that because experimental Calvinism (biblical Christianity) was abandoned, for the most part, many? in authority were not truly converted and thus their source of truth was not Scripture but worldly philosophy which eventually took its toll both on society and especially the churches. From my own limited experience with Dutch Reformed churches, this is a fact. There are many who profess to be Christians but there is little evidence to support the claim. And within a short period of time, many of these churches have gone down the road to embracing heresy and some have become apostate. When unregenerate men are installed as Elders, this is doubtless the expected result. The world is brought into the pulpit and embraced and practiced by its members. This is without question a recipe for disaster. Again, in my experience, far too many in these churches had a strong loyalty to their nationality and denomination and not to Scripture, the Lord Jesus Christ and unto holiness.

So, what do you think might have been the major cause(s) that have led to the current situation in the Netherlands?