In the history of the Reformed Churches of South Africa (RCSA) great emphisis was placed
on the notion to make decisions on the basis, and in accordance to the Scriptures. In spite of
this notion, the church community of the RCSA stand in the midst of great tension regarding
some decisions. In the fifty year period from the centenary festival in 1959 to the 150 year
festival in 2009, assemblies of the church community were confronted with many objections
to decisions regarding racial relations, the acceptance of the 1983-translation of the Bible in
Afrikaans, the acceptance of the 2001-Psalter, the use of small cups in the Holy Communion
and the role of women in the offices of deacon, elder and minister. The question that’s being
addressed in this study is, if a shift in the RCSA’s view of Scripture took place.
Chapter 2 gives an historical overview of the decisions that gave way to to the differences
mentioned above. From the historical overview the aspects regarding the view of Scripture
can be formulated.
In chapter 3 the relation between the differences and the view of Scripture are examined. At
first a short definition of the reformed view of Scripture are formulated. Hermeneutical and
view of Scripture aspects of the raports of deputies and decisions of assemblies are tested
according to the formulated definition of a reformed view of Scripture.
Chapter 4 examines the influence that paradigm shifts had on the differences in the RCSA.
Focus is placed on the influence of postmodernism on the one hand and fundamentalism on
the other. Attention is also given to the stance of the RCSA on these two paradigms of
thought with relation to the view of Scripture. In light of the reformed view of Scripture the
postmodern approach to hermeneutics is discarded as well as the the fundamentalist view of
Scripture. In spite of the reality of paradigmshifts, the raports of deputies and the decisions of
assemblies does not reflect this reality.
Chapter 5 tries to point a way out to handle the differences in the ligt of the Reformed view of
Scripture. Focus is placed on the place the sociohistorical context holds in the revelationhistorical
exegetical process. The chapter further investigates the relation between desicions
on Scriptural grounds and the right to protest according to artical 31 of the Reformed
Chrurchorder. Attention in given to so called ordinary cases ans essential cases. The notion
that differences can be solved when dessicions is based on Scripture alone is put forward in
this chapter. / Thesis (M.Th. (Church and Dogma History))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/8408 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Jooste, Christiaan |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Language | other |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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