The South African census of 1936 reveals that 56 percent of the European population in South Africa speak the Afrikaans language, and 39 per cent speak English. Afrikaans is the sister language of modern Dutch and Flemish, all three of which experienced a remarkable revival during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. The Afrikaans people is a new European nation which has resulted from the early Dutch settlers, the French Huguenots, and German colonists.
The rapid settling in the hinterland of South Africa came as a result of the great trek between the years 1834 and 1837, and afterward through the discovery of diamonds near Kimberley and gold on the Witwatersrand. Being descendants of Die Guese, or seabeggars, as the despised Protestants of Holland were called, and the fleeing Huguenots of France, the Afrikaans people are usually stanch Protestants, mostly of the reformed faith according to Calvin. In fact, Calvin is considered a very great man by the Afrikaners. And among the Dutch Reformed people today we find a revival of Calvinism in South Africa in societies like the Calvinistiese Studiekring (Calvinistic Study Circle).
In 1933 the Bible appeared in the Afrikaans language. It was translated by five doctors of divinity, representing the three branches of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. . Since then the Afrikaans Bible Concordance has appeared, and at present plans are afoot for an Afrikaans Bible commentary.
The Calvinistic outlook of life has had a deep, abiding affect on this people. In the early days of Protestants the doctrine of predestination became a governing factor with the Calvinists. This is a beautiful doctrine in the light of the cross of Calvary, but the hyper-Calvinistic outlook has given a very unfortunate trend and teaching to this doctrine. We as Seventh-day Adventists need to study and present the doctrine of predestination in the light of the Advent message.
Closely related to predestination is the definitely theocentric view of human salvation as opposed to the homocentric view. On this very point the Dutch Reformed Church opposes Methodism. In other words, the Calvinist thinks more of what God has done and provided for our salvation, instead of stressing what we must do to be saved. God and His provision is stressed by the Dutch Reformed Church. Because Adventists are not always careful in stating how and why it is that we keep the Sabbath and the commandments of God, Calvinists often charge us with legalism. We ought to present the message as clear as crystal, that we keep the Sabbath and God's law not to be saved but because we are saved.
The Dutch Reformed Church looks upon "Die Drie Forrnuliere van Enigheid" (The three formulae of Concord—the Netherlands confession of faith, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the doctrines of Dordt), as the great authorities in matters of their faith. These are usually printed and published in the same volume and as part of their hymnbook—Psalms en Gesange.
Some years ago there was a controversy in an Afrikaans daily newspaper about Sabbath and Sunday. Some of our men quoted overseas authorities, and the Dutch Reformed ministers presented their usual texts for Sundaykeeping. They wrote: "What have we to do with what those men from overseas think or say? We follow the Bible." And the editor closed the discussion on the subject. This revealed to me how necessary it is that we use and quote local and special authorities of the Dutch Reformed Church. For the assistance of my fellow workers I offer the following translation of quotations from my own collection.
Authority of the Scriptures
The Dutch Reformed Cliurch people have an implicit faith in the inspiration of the Bible. Hence, it is easily understood why there was such a stir in 1930 with the great heresy trial of Dr. J. Du Plessis, of the Dutch Reformed Seminary at Stellenbosch. But this is another evidence of the inroads of modernism and evolution in the Christian church. Here are two typical quotations of a firm and solid belief in the authority of the Holy Scriptures:
"We believe these Holy Scriptures contain the will of God completely, and that everything that man must believe for salvation is sufficiently taught therein. . . . No writings of man, however holy they may be regarded, can be _placed on the same level with the Holy Scriptures. Neither could tradition be compared with the truth of God—because truth is above everything else—neither the great majority, nor antiquity, nor the example of times or persons or of church councils, ordinances, or decrees, because all men are in themselves liars, and worse than nothing. -Hence we reject wholeheartedly everything that does not agree with this infallible rule."—Die Nederlandse Geloofsbelydenis, artikel VII. (Netherlands Confession of Faith, Article VII.) (Published by S. A. Bybelvereniging, Cape Town, /937.)
"Calvin realized very clearly that nothing on earth could be placed on the same level with the scriptures, neither the everyday practices of life, nor the history even of the people, however highly it should be honored and respected, not tradition, neither the nation, nor the country, nor any of the imaginations of the perverted human mind, no, not even the church. To the majesty of the word of God everything else should be subjected and should be proved thereby. . . . Nothing in the world, is like the sure word of prophecy, and whosoever puts the church in the place of it, departs from the ways of truth of life."—F. POTGIETER, quoted by S. Du TOIT, in "Die Kerkblad" (The Church Paper), Dec. 17, 1943. (Die Geteformeerde Ketk van Suid-Afrika, Pretoria, 1943')
Respect for Ten Commandments
The Dutch Reformed people have had a wonderful respect for the law of God, and it is real modern heresy when the abolition of the law of God is preached to oppose our Sabbath doctrine. Here follows a typical view of the law of God:
"If any one thing has been lost in the world—yes, or even in the church—it is the conviction of what constitutes sin. If there were ever a time when God's law should be preached with power by men who have a knowledge of its spiritual depths, men who are filled with the Holy Spirit, that time is now. Such preaching, and such preachers, will certainly not be popular, but woe unto him who seeks for popularity, rather than to know and to do the will of God."—G. D. Du Toll., Heiligmaking (Sanctification), Cape Town: (S. A. Bybelvereniging, 1935), p. 146.
The Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa emphasizes the binding obligation upon Christians to keep the Ten Commandments. Seventh-day Adventists can fully agree with the following statements :
"The Ten Commandments are a resume, in a concise form, of the divine requirements that existed since creation. . . . Our Saviour came to this earth not to put the law aside, nor to reject it, but to fulfill, And His explanation about the law makes us more guilty before God, the holy Lawgiver! . . If God Himself spoke the words of the law, then it behooves us to read them with respect and obedience, and by God's grace to obey them."—A. J. VAN WYK, Uit die Beek (Out of the Brook), (Cape Town: Die Bybel en Bidvereniging, 1934), PP. 40, 41.
This appraisal appeared in the leading Sunday school magazine:
"The Ten Commandments conform to all the requirements of the domestic, social, political, and economic life. The greatest intellects of the world may try, but will not succeed in adding anything to that law, nor to improve on it. Apart from the thought that they have been divinely inspired, they are a perfect rule for the conduct of man, young, or old, learned or illiterate, in Christian as well as in heathen lands."—H. J. STANDERS in "Die Kindervriend" (The Children's Friend) (Bloemfontein: Die Sondagskoolkantoor, a Sunday school magazine, 1942), May, 1942.
The true Protestant view of the relationship between the law and the gospel is maintained in these words :
"Although Christ fulfilled for us the obedience and holiness required by the law, yet that has not relieved us from the obedience required of us toward the law."—A. J. BARGER, Kart Begrip (The Epitome of the Heidelberg Catechism) (Pretoria: Ned. Herv. Kerk, 1933), p. 38,
"The conscience must be schooled and governed by a firm hand. That firm hand is the law of God. We cannot decide what is lawful or unlawful, what is virtue or what is sin. This was the great mistake of primeval men when they tried to decide for themselves what was allowed and what was not allowed. . . . No, not man, but God, must determine what is good and what is evil, God did this in His law. The law of God, is the will of God."—Ibid., pp. 7, 8.
"Jesus shows that, although the gospel message is different from the law, and although many are earnestly pressing in to the kingdom of God, it does not mean that the law has been abolished. The moral law—the foundation of righteousness and divine holiness—is of longer duration than the universe. And as an example of the unchangeableness of the moral law, Jesus mentioned the law concerning divorce. Any modification would be in the direction of being of more binding obligation. Matt. 5:12."— A. J. VAN WYK, Overdenkingen ("Meditations") (Cape Town: Bybel en Bidvereniging, 1924), 1926, P. 69.
The Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa likewise emphasizes the absolute necessity of keeping the whole law.
"Will it be sufficient if we observe the Ten Commandments partially? No, God Himself is perfectly holy. He requires holiness in His creatures. He wants a perfect obedience from man. It is not sufficient to observe some of the commandments and then to disregard others. The Ten Commandments are as so many links in a chain. If you break one link, then the whole chain is broken. If you transgress one of the Ten Commandments, then the whole law is violated."—PRoF. JOHN MURRAY, Katkisasieboek (Catechism) (Cape Town: N. G. of H. Kerk, 1933), p. 35.
The inviolability and perpetuity of God's law is thus described by one of their moderators.
"To add to the commandments of God anything that is an obligation on the conscience and as a real part of worship gives the impression that God was guilty of an omission. This is an insult to His wisdom. To omit something from the law of God is an. insult to His authority and goodness. All the commandments of the Lord are reasonable, practicable and beneficient. If we are not blinded and deceived by Satan we would feel urged in our own interests to keep the commandments of God. . . . By keeping the commandments of God we further our own happiness, the interests of others, and the honor of God." —A. J. VAN WYK, Uit die Beek, 1935, bl. 222.
The Two Laws
Likewise the distinction between the moral and ceremonial laws is recognized and taught.
"Many other laws which the children of Israel received from God, do not concern us anymore, e.g. the laws concerning sacrifices, and feasts in the tem-pie of Jerusalem, but the Ten Commandments which are called the Moral law, remain forever and were given for all people."—PROF. JOHN MURRAY, Katkisasieboek, p. 5.
"The Lord had given to the Jews, other laws besides the Ten Commandments. e.g. The law of ceremonies, and the law of civil life. These laws were designed only for the Jews and are abrogated. . . . The Ten Commandments are called the Moral law. Therein man is taught and commanded how his moral life and conversation should be according to God's will. This law can never by abrogated; as long as the world stands,. this law will be in force."—Da. T. HAMERSMA, "De Katechismus in 52 Predikaties" , (The Catechism in 52 sermons) (Bloemfontein : Calvijn Jubileum Boekenfonds, 1910, pp. 329, 330.
(To be concluded in July)
*Where reference is made to the Sabbath, the Dutch Reformed Church means Sunday, as from the New Testament time. They interpret the commandment as "a seventh day." J.J.B.C.
