Balance, not radicalism
Jon Huisken reflects on the historical tension between two competing worldviews within the PRC—the pietistic isolationism of the Afscheiding tradition and the cultural engagement of Kuyperianism—arguing that pastoral balance rather than radicalism is essential for the health of the church. He encourages reformed pastors to cultivate an irenic spirit and biblical ecumenism that synthesizes these perspectives rather than embracing extreme positions in either direction.
It took courage to write your editorial on radicalism in the PRC (Editorial, Sept. 15, 2018, p. 485), and I thank you for it. There is no doubt that your writing arose out of your love for our churches and their future welfare. You rightly point out that these tendencies have been in our churches since their inception. I trace the origins to the existence of two very different worldviews that were imported by the Dutch (and a few German) immigrants who formed the Christian Reformed Church...
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