Transformation Through Engagement
Transformation through Engagement –
One of many reasons that we are Better Together
by Colin P. Watson, Sr.
I’ve been frequently asked why I am a part of the CRCNA movement called Better Together. The roots of my support run deep, and are informed by the reasons for my membership in the CRC in the first place. When I first joined the CRC as a member of the Madison Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Paterson, New Jersey, I had been a member of the Anglican church for my formative years. But what drew me deeply into the CRC was the theology — especially informed by a Theology of Grace — Christ has paid it all.
As HC Q&A #1 reminds us – I am not my own, but belong — body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
Any issues regarding my salvation have been fully and completely addressed by the finished work of Christ. Even as we submit to Christ in our everyday lives, throughout whatever vicissitudes we may experience, the sufficiency of Christ’s love and work remains.
To this day, I vividly remember my first Bible study In the CRC. We studied the book of Romans. I am indebted to Pastor Don Sherow for this introduction to the CRC and the reintroduction to the word of God. Many verses from Romans have stuck with me over the years, including –
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
And God has been faithful – he has ordered my steps in such a way that over the decades, he has deepened my faith, strengthened my commitment, and increased my desire to share with others as I walk with him. God has also provided wonderful partners in ministry who have walked alongside me as we sojourned further in and further up toward the throne room of Christ. But obviously, there have been challenges.
I have had to be reminded that it’s all about what Christ has already done, and it’s not up to me to decide who’s worthy of God’s love and presence. God gathers his flock from all corners of the earth, and sets each of us on a path toward his throne room – and all of our paths are different.
I almost left the CRC on at least 2 occasions in the past, both having to do with race. As I engaged with other Christians outside of my local church community, I encountered many individuals who had a perspective on race that I found difficult to understand and accept. These individuals did not recognize the existence of systemic racism. My journey with God and in life have led me what I believe is in an undeniable conclusion – that to deny systemic racism, in view of all of the current evidence, nationally and globally, is to implicitly believe the heresy that we are not all created equal in the sight of God– and that somehow, black people and African-Americans are inherently inferior. I plan on amplifying this fact more in future writings, but suffice it to say that, even in view of this critical disagreement with other Christians in my view of God’s word, I’m glad I stayed with the CRC. God’s command to unity in the spirit across other differences strengthens the power of the gospel, and God uses it all for his glory –
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:21
God uses our engagement with each other to transform us and draw us closer to him – this transformation through engagement, used by God as part of his sanctification process, makes us better together. As we each share our journey to the cross – sharing our myriad paths to the one Gospel, God draws us closer and closer together. And together, the threads of our individual lives are woven to create a new tapestry, blessed by God as his Church. I believe this is the essence of Jesus' prayer in John 17.
We are called to reconcile across racial, social and economic lines, and every other division created by society. Those of us who believe we are advantaged in some way, must not look down upon those who society deems to be ‘less than’ or whose circumstances or realities are different. This belittling of others should not be the way of civil society – let alone that of the Kingdom of God. Shakespeare wrote “… the abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power…” and that the powerful abuser will “scorn the base degrees by which he did ascend…” The kingdom of God must be much more just than the imaginings of a Shakespearean play.
We are called to engage, and through engagement, God makes us better together. God uses engagement to effect transformation – to make transformation a reality… it’s part of the journey of sanctification… regardless of the shape or condition of the path. And when the benefits come, the credit belongs to God.
Additionally, our CRC history and beliefs should provide a cautionary tale in the way we view others, and in the way we imagine they are viewed by God. On racism, the CRC has made some critical mistakes in the past, and as an institution, has had to follow a miry path to truth. We have had to repent of acting in what we now know to be racist ways vis-à-vis world missions decisions in Africa, CRC Christian school behaviors in Chicago, our entanglements in South Africa, our behavior toward the Belhar confession, our long tolerance for Kinism – all behavior for which we had to repent over time. But it took time – and some of these were times when I (and others) considered leaving. But thankfully, some CRCNA leaders reminded me that as a church we follow Christ, and not man. The fact that there are within the communion those who disagree with me on race, is not a reason for leaving. I’m here because I follow Christ, and I am not my own, I belong to God.
While I believe that the issue of systemic racism in the church is still unresolved and that society does daily violence to many – me included – as a result of a failure to engage on this matter, I have resolved not to leave because of this. Though it is to me, more significant than any other potential schism that comes to mind, I know that if I leave – and others of like mind and background do the same – this act would diminish the possibility of engagement. Such a departure would reduce the possibility of sharing my story, my path, and God’s abundant love in the midst of it, with others.
Cutting off engagement results in looking at God through a man made straw… it cuts off our peripheral vision… it says… “if I don’t understand what God is doing, then God must not be doing anything…” This thinking represents an arrogance of certainty that can be harmful to the church, and harmful to those on a different, perhaps rocky or muddy, path who are nevertheless moving toward God, and are also being sanctified by God’s radiance.
Over the years, there have been other issues, besides the issue of race, that have been potentially divisive within the CRC. I credit my church community at Madison Avenue Christian Reformed Church, and the leadership of Rev. Dr. John Algera and others, to help me and the church community understand and navigate these issues. We have navigated issues including — women in office and the role and current working of the Holy Spirit. We used conversations about these aspects of our faith to learn from each other. These issues were never a reason to leave or separate – because Christ has paid it all – this is our belief – this is our truth — this is our Theology. Spiritual growth comes by wrestling through these issues — together.
Engagement improves understanding, and can strengthen us in our own journey.
It has been helpful to me to view the church, the called out ones, as a centered set of believers (focusing on what keeps us together) vs a bounded set (focused on our myriad differences). The question for members of the church – the uniting question – is “Is my face directed toward Jesus, or toward man-made boundaries between believers?” When we cast our eyes on the paths of others, we remove our gaze from Christ who still illuminates their visage. We must journey together, with our eyes fully fixed on Jesus our Christ, to get a better appreciation, understanding and internalization of the fullness of the grace of God.
The CRCNA is again at a crossroads. The same-sex attraction issue is forcing us to confront a decision to separate or not to separate. Regardless of the decisions of Synod 2023 or future Synods, I for one will continue to engage with Christians who disagree with me on some matters – even matters as grave as the existence of systemic racism.
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
If I can engage with others who disagree on systemic racism – this core matter for me — whether we are all equal in the sight of God — with my eyes fully fixed on Jesus, then I believe, disagreement on most other issues, including whether or not I will be in Christian fellowship with those who have a different perspective on same-sex relationships, are not a reason for not journeying together.
As we journey on God’s road towards sanctification laid out for us – a lifelong process – I often think of the African proverb… if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together…
May we go as C.S. Lewis would say “further up and further in” — together — into the grace and goodness of God.
