I take note of a comment from Facebook that was brought to my attention.

Facebook is a place where many say things frankly. And this post is a frank admission. The poster is Gary Vander Schaaf. He is a very well-read member of the Protestant Reformed Churches. The discussion on Facebook was regarding various Protestant Reformed doctrines, such as good works, reconciliation, forgiveness, assurance, justification, and sanctification. The discussion, as discussions do on Facebook, meandered around for a while as various other posters contributed their two cents regarding these doctrines.

But then this from Gary:

Eternal Justification as taught by Hoeksema has been rejected by some PR professors and ministers. It is important to notice that I said “as taught by Hoeksema” since all PR ministers to my knowledge hold to the view that the cross and resurrection accomplish and seal a justification that is certainly before my believing.

This rejection of HH’s views on such basic ideas as election and justification means that virtually all theological ideas (sanctification, repentance, forgiveness of sins, you name it) will have to be reworked. Thus, the spate of articles and speeches and sermons on topics that were once considered the A, B, C’s of faith. You will want to read David Engelsma’s book “Gospel Truth of Justification”, especially chapters 12 & 13, where the differences between his views and those of his teacher are made explicit. 

Just one example. Compare DJE to HH.¹

HH first… “We do not become righteous before God in time, by faith, but are righteous in the tribunal of God from before the foundation of the world. God beholds us in eternity, not as sinners, but as perfectly righteous, as redeemed, as justified in Christ (Num. 23:21, Is. 49:16, Rom. 8:29,30)…And this indeed, is the comfort of faith. Faith in Christ takes hold upon eternity, and knows that there is no condemnation, that there never was condemnation for them who God hath justified” (Triple Knowledge, v. 2, p. 337).

This is the view that you [the former poster] put into words above, both as to its content and to the great comfort—our only comfort—we draw from it. And this shows, too, that your mom was right, that this is the truth as she was taught it, and that she in turn taught you.

Now hear DJE, “Implied by the reality of justification in time by means of faith is that it is a mistake for a Reformed preacher or teacher when treating of justification, to put eternal justification first and foremost in his sermon or lesson…The main message and issue is not eternal justification, but justification by faith—justification by faith alone” (Gospel Truth of Justification, p.259). 

As Rev. MMG has noted on this site, here is a polite rejection of HH’s view. Polite, to be sure, but a rejection all the same.

And so the PRC finds itself in a period of transition, where everything needs re-examining and restatement.

First of note regarding this post is the frank acknowledgment that Herman Hoeksema’s view of eternal justification has been rejected. But then it must also be noted that Herman Hoeksema’s view of the decree has also been rejected, and with it the decretal theology of Herman Hoeksema has been rejected. Decretal theology was the theology of Herman Hoeksema, and so the theology of Herman Hoeksema has been rejected by the Protestant Reformed Churches.

Second, the one who led the way in this rejection was Prof. David Engelsma. Hoeksema taught that we do not become righteous in time; we are righteous eternally. Prof. David Engelsma calls the placing of this reality first in a sermon and in teaching “a mistake.” As others have noted, this is the rejection of Herman Hoeksema’s view.

Third, and most fascinating of all, is the frank admission that the Protestant Reformed Churches, having rejected Hoeksema on the decree, are “in a period of transition.” In this period of transition, “everything”—everything—“needs re-examining and restatement.”

This is what Protestant Reformed ministers and professors have been doing. They sold the people the story that they were faithfully following Herman Hoeksema, but they had rejected him and were reexamining and restating everything in his theology.

With this assessment of Gary, I absolutely agree. Let the Protestant Reformed Churches be done with the charade that they are faithful disciples of Herman Hoeksema. They are transitioning away from him. Transitioning away from Hoeksema, they are transitioning away from the truth and the Reformed faith. Rejecting the Reformed faith, they have rejected God and are working hard to promote man. The Protestant Reformed Churches have rejected God at the heart of the gospel—the decree and justification by faith alone. This project of reexamination and restatement of all of theology is simply the working through of their rejection of the truth as their father taught it to them. They are the foolish children who did not heed the instruction of Solomon (Christ), who said, “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” (Prov. 1:8).

Will anyone hear?