At stake was the glory of God and the comfort of the believer⤒🔗

As this year marks the 400th anniversary of the Syn­od of Dort, readers will not be surprised to have another Dort related editorial. It is good to seize the moment and bring out how the decisions of that synod, held so many years ago, in a country that resonates less and less with the younger generation, matter for us today. To use a popular way of expressing oneself, we could say #DortMatters. In this editorial, we will briefly review the issues dealt with in the Canons of Dort, consider what was at stake, and con­clude with showing why #DortMatters today.

Brief review of the issue←↰⤒🔗

By the end of the commemoration of the Reformation last year, many were able to sum up the key issues of the Reformation by naming the five sola statements. The key issues that led to the Synod of Dort can also be summed up in five statements, often captured in the acronym TU­LIP. This stands for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Invincible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. This acronym sums up the position explained in the Canons of Dort. While the word "TULIP" is a handy way to remember the issues, the actual order in the Canons is ULTIP. The Synod put forth these teachings in response to those who had spoken of election on the condition of foreseen faith. Man was seen as only partially depraved, still able to accept or reject the gospel. They spoke of universal atone­ment, that is, of Christ dying for everyone, and it was up to people to accept or reject the offer. They also spoke of resist­ible grace, which meant that if a person decided to reject the gospel, there is nothing God could do about that. Finally, they spoke of the possibility of the elect falling away from grace. When you put all the pieces together, the issue came down to whether God is sovereign in salvation or whether man has a free will, able to make a contribution to his salvation, even if that contribution is no more than accepting the offer of salvation by faith.

When you reflect on this, it is evident at issue was the truth that had been summed up especially in Articles 14­-16 of the Belgic Confession, which deal with the creation and fall of man and his incapability of doing what is truly good, original sin, and divine election. Articles 14 and 15 explain how we are dead in our sins and trespasses. Salva­tion, therefore, depends fully upon the gracious act of God for every aspect of our salvation. God does not just send the offer of salvation for man to take it or leave it. God gra­ciously sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice to pay for sins. God sends the Holy Spirit to give new birth to hearts dead in sin. God works faith to believe in the Saviour. While it is true that the gospel message is proclaimed to all men, it is only by the gracious working of the Spirit that people be­lieve. Key passages that bring out God's sovereign, gracious plan of election are Romans 8:29-30, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, and Ephesians 1:3-2:10.

It may appear that the Synod of Dort dealt with a dis­pute among Christians in The Netherlands around the turn of the seventeenth century. This was not the case. Christians in England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and France were aware of the dispute. When a synod was called, men from these countries were invited to partici­pate in the discussion.

There is one more remark to put the matter into perspec­tive and show the link to the Reformation. Luther had a dis­cussion with Erasmus on the same root issue, namely, the free will of man. He wrote a book titled On the Bondage of the Will. Those gathered at Dort did not deal with just an internal matter for believers in The Netherlands. They dealt with a matter that touched the very core of the Reformation.

What was at stake←↰⤒🔗

When it comes to doctrinal controversies, it is possible to overstate the case. Before you know it, there is more heat than light. Sometimes it is helpful to take some distance from a discussion and then revisit the matter and ask what really is at stake. Is it possible to agree to disagree? The Can­ons of Dort indicate that this was not possible. At stake was the glory of God and the comfort of the believer. This is ex­pressed several times in the Canons.

We come across this for the first time in Chapter 1, Article 6, "God's Eternal Decree." After explaining how God works in those he has elected and leaves others in their own sins, it con­cludes with the words, "Although perverse, impure, and unsta­ble men twist this decree to their own destruction, it provides unspeakable comfort for holy and God-fearing souls." Note that "comfort." Which believer does not long for that unspeak­able comfort, that certainty of salvation?

The next mention is in Chapter 1, Article 14, "How Elec­tion Is to Be Taught." It stresses that the doctrine of election should be taught "with a spirit of discretion, in a reverent and holy manner, without inquisitively prying into the ways of the Most High, to the glory of God's most holy name, and for the living comfort of his people."

This is reinforced in Article 15 in the chapter dealing with the Perseverance of the Saints. Perseverance is part and parcel of the doctrine of election. It shows how God completes what he has begun. The heading of this article is, "This Doctrine Is Hated by Satan but Loved by the Church." It starts off, "This doctrine of the perseverance of true believ­ers and saints, and of their assurance of it, God has most abundantly revealed in his Word for the glory of his name and for the consolation of the godly..."

There are two references to this dual emphasis of God's glory and the believer's comfort in the Conclusion to the Canons of Dort. In the second last paragraph, we read, "In teaching it, both in speaking and writing (ministers) ought to seek the glory of God's name, the holiness of life, and the consolation of afflicted souls." For this reason, the doctrine must be taught with restraint, not going beyond the Scrip­tures. That is always a danger and opens the church to criti­cism. Saying too much dishonours God and undermines the comfort of believers.

The Conclusion ends with a prayer that the Lord Jesus "lead to the truth those who err, silence the slanderers of the sound doctrine, and equip the faithful ministers of his Word with the Spirit of wisdom and discretion, that every­thing they say may tend to the glory of God and the build­ing up of those who hear them. Amen."

Why #DortMatters←↰⤒🔗

By this point it should be clear that the Canons of Dort dealt with the doctrine of election with the double moti­vation of God's glory and the comfort of the believers. We are reminded that correct doctrine is not a matter of try­ing to outwit someone else, of trying to look more ortho­dox. As Christians, we should always have the glory of our God as our first and fore­most goal. It touches on the third commandment, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain." It touches also on the first petition, "Hallowed be your name."

The glory of God's name is something to keep in mind in all discussions about doctrine. So easily such discussions are reduced to, "Is it a salvation issue?" or, "Can't we agree to disagree?" We are not sticklers for truth just for the sake of being sticklers, but because we want to glorify God's name. This is also true when it comes to the doctrines summed up in the Canons of Dort. To use a formal term, the Canons are concerned with Doxology, and in the way they explain the doctrine of election, they are doxological.

At the same time, the Canons of Dort are pastoral. They show how there is pastoral motivation for pursu­ing the truth. The pastoral motivation is the true com­fort of believers. If you take away the truth of God's elect­ing grace in Christ, you in effect bring people back to the uncertainty that plagued Luther. He finally found peace in knowing that he was justified out of grace in Christ, through faith. If you slip in any human contribution as a ground for salvation, even if it be no more than the act of faith, you put every person on the slippery slope of doubt and uncertainty.

The Synod of Dort may appear as something that lies in the mist of ages past. All the details of events leading up to it and the figures involved may not capture our imagina­tion. However, those whose desire is to glorify God's name and find comfort in the gospel will do well to read the Can­ons. Perhaps someone will want to start a #DortMatters and rekindle profound doxology for God's sovereign elect­ing grace in Christ and point the way to unspeakable com­fort for believers.