20 years in the CRC and I pretty much share your view of the Banner, Jessica. Then again, I know lifelong members in their 70s who feel the same way and ask the same questions.
I want to reiterate, I've only attended a CRC church for 4 years and I'm not actually a member yet, so obviously my perspective is of a very new person to all this. These concerns that I have seem to be shared by many people. In conversations I've had in person and what I've seen online, I've not actually heard anyone argue that the Banner is an affirmatively good publication that is theologically solid.
If there is widespread dissatisfaction with it, why has it been allowed to continue as it has for so many years? Why hasn't it been fixed?
No simple answer. I think part of it, is that the denominational establishment around Calvin U skews more progressive and seems to be disproportionately represented in leadership roles. I would suggest googling Robert P. Swierenga's essays on CRC history to understand some of the issues that have led to the current malaise. That said, if you are in an orthodox church, I hope you and your family will join as we need more orthodox voices.
"If there is widespread dissatisfaction with it, why has it been allowed to continue as it has for so many years? Why hasn't it been fixed?" In large part, because it is hard to kill sacred cows!
Jessica; kudos for speaking out on this. TB is so pedestrian in its content and awkwardly sympathetic to woke culture that my criticism is unfortunately based on scant reading of it. But what I have read gives me deep concern in that the slide toward Gomorrah usually starts with an incremental acceptance of woke culture not overt sudden changes. It’s the proverbial frog in the kettle, and this frog shows no signs of jumping out any time soon.
I think it's a problem that people just stop reading it because it's not a particularly interesting read and doesn't have much intellectual or spiritual benefit. Then you miss out on what it is they're actually promoting. At the same time, all of the people who aren't reading it but are giving to their church are still funding the Banner through their ministry share dollars. I think individuals, individual churches, and classes need to be giving a little more thought into what they are supporting at the denominational level because, like it or not, it does actually reflect back on churches and classes.
Did you know that the Christian Reformed Church is 1/3 Canadian, the Banner's editors have been, and that the vast majority of those north of the border are ashamed of US evangelicalism and the faux outrage culture war? Our own publication, the Christian Courier, is far deeper than the Banner's offerings and generally sits to the left of them.
I am aware that a sizable chunk of the CRC is located in Canada and that Shiao Chong, the current editor in chief of the Banner, is based in Canada. I have not read the Christian Courier, but will check it out. Thanks.
I don't understand what you mean when you say CRC Canadians are "ashamed" of US evangelicalism. If it's something you aren't participating in or associating with, what is there for you to be ashamed of?
Thank you for this. I'm a pastor (1st CRC of Artesia) and we're constantly bemoaning TB. We need an overture at Synod 2024 to overhaul it.
20 years in the CRC and I pretty much share your view of the Banner, Jessica. Then again, I know lifelong members in their 70s who feel the same way and ask the same questions.
I want to reiterate, I've only attended a CRC church for 4 years and I'm not actually a member yet, so obviously my perspective is of a very new person to all this. These concerns that I have seem to be shared by many people. In conversations I've had in person and what I've seen online, I've not actually heard anyone argue that the Banner is an affirmatively good publication that is theologically solid.
If there is widespread dissatisfaction with it, why has it been allowed to continue as it has for so many years? Why hasn't it been fixed?
No simple answer. I think part of it, is that the denominational establishment around Calvin U skews more progressive and seems to be disproportionately represented in leadership roles. I would suggest googling Robert P. Swierenga's essays on CRC history to understand some of the issues that have led to the current malaise. That said, if you are in an orthodox church, I hope you and your family will join as we need more orthodox voices.
"If there is widespread dissatisfaction with it, why has it been allowed to continue as it has for so many years? Why hasn't it been fixed?" In large part, because it is hard to kill sacred cows!
Jessica; kudos for speaking out on this. TB is so pedestrian in its content and awkwardly sympathetic to woke culture that my criticism is unfortunately based on scant reading of it. But what I have read gives me deep concern in that the slide toward Gomorrah usually starts with an incremental acceptance of woke culture not overt sudden changes. It’s the proverbial frog in the kettle, and this frog shows no signs of jumping out any time soon.
I think it's a problem that people just stop reading it because it's not a particularly interesting read and doesn't have much intellectual or spiritual benefit. Then you miss out on what it is they're actually promoting. At the same time, all of the people who aren't reading it but are giving to their church are still funding the Banner through their ministry share dollars. I think individuals, individual churches, and classes need to be giving a little more thought into what they are supporting at the denominational level because, like it or not, it does actually reflect back on churches and classes.
100% agree on all counts!!!
Did you know that the Christian Reformed Church is 1/3 Canadian, the Banner's editors have been, and that the vast majority of those north of the border are ashamed of US evangelicalism and the faux outrage culture war? Our own publication, the Christian Courier, is far deeper than the Banner's offerings and generally sits to the left of them.
I am aware that a sizable chunk of the CRC is located in Canada and that Shiao Chong, the current editor in chief of the Banner, is based in Canada. I have not read the Christian Courier, but will check it out. Thanks.
I don't understand what you mean when you say CRC Canadians are "ashamed" of US evangelicalism. If it's something you aren't participating in or associating with, what is there for you to be ashamed of?
Jessica, what is your email?
jessica@jessicamenn.com