TJERK VEENSTRA’S LETTERS
Published on the web by John Veenstra
The following letters were written by Tjerk Veenstra in 1927. The first was written to the editor of the Banner about an article by Rev. Z. J. Sherda (L.J., as in the letter is incorrect) that appeared in the Dec. 17, 1926 edition. The second seems to be a response to a letter received from Rev. Sherda as a reply to the first letter. These are copies of rough drafts that are in the possession of Carl Veenstra.
Notes:
1. There is a word missing in the second paragraph of the first letter. It is not legible in the original.
2. Notes 1x and 2x, at the end of the first letter, were on the rough draft as shown.
Dear Editor-
Will you allow me space for a few remarks about what Rev. L. J. Sherda writes about the cloven foot in “Our Doctrine”, Banner Dec. 17, 1926?
Rev. Sherda says there are a good many people who have [ ? ] hatred of Rome: I ask as David asked Eliab: Is there no reason. See Ps. 139: 21, 22. Granted that some of the things that are circulated about the Roman Hierarchy are fabrications: is there not evidence enough today that it is dominated by the same Spirit of arrogance and pride that made Apollyon and his angels forfeit their place in heaven.
You say that Rome has once shown the cloven foot to the world. A cloven foot belongs to a clean animal- Ex. 11: 3 and is a sign of purity. I would rather say that Rome has shown and shows yet the paw of the red dragon. This is confirmed in history.
You say that Rome does not change, well hereby you contradict your own statement that Rome once showed the cloven foot; from which we may infer that she is better than she has been, which I do not believe. Why Rome acts as she does, what is the Idea, the motive back of her arrogant pretensions, you ask. Well, Domine, you advise us to read Merle D. Aubigne’s History of the Reformation, and it seems he answers the questions fairly thoroughly to the point.
You say further that Rome is perhaps the most wonderfully devised mechanism extant.
By her admirable organization she appears as the most Brilliant, intellectual, and worldly-wise manifestation of Anti-Christ in the world up to date, and that is why she is the most flexible, the most adjustable, the most adaptable scheme of things devised by man. She can conform to any proposition of the corrupt human mind, but not to the truth as revealed to us by the Holy Ghost, because the Carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Rom. 8: 7.8.
Rome has changed the truth of God into a lie, worshipping and serving the creature more than the creator. Rom 1: 25. Witness Transubstantiation, denial of the sufficiency of the mediatorial work and Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mariolatry, adoration of Angels, Saints, and what not. Rome has done, and does, what the Devil tempted our Lord to do, to fall down and worship him and then he will give him all the glory of the world with its kingdoms and dominions, and that Rome has not got it is because Satan cannot deliver the goods, but that is the aim of the Church of Rome. The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof, Ps 24: 1.
You are right and here history has proven the truth about what you say about slinging mud or hurling stones, for it is written- Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit only, saith the Lord of Hosts, can that invulnerable, and to our minds invincible, fortress be made a plane, Zech. 4: 6,7.
In my opinion Romanism, Mohammedanism, Mormonism, Christian Science, Russelism, Rationalism, Modernism, and all the other isms, who do not accept the Bible as the infallible rule and authority of doctrine and conversation are manifestations of Anti-Christ. Rome has set the Pope above the Word of God.
Now a little about the scolding and abusing of the people by Luther, Calvin, and the other great reformers. I must say, Domine Sherda, I am astonished and it pains me to hear such things from a Reformed Minister. Touch not mine appointed and do my prophets no harm Ps. 105: 15, is written for you too. There is a book or pamphlet written by Robt. Ingersoll entitled “The Mistake of Moses”. Well, of course such men dare to challenge God in Heaven, why not his servants? But I confess, if seems somewhat audacious to me that a minister of the Gospel speaks derogatively about such heroes of the Lord as Luther, Calvin, and the other mighty men of the Reformation. I do not know what invectives they used, have not read enough of their work to be a judge about this matter. Only allow me to remind you that if they were somewhat rough about it, that they were not the first to use invectives and epithets against sinful people and pervertors of the truth of God.
For an example, please read Ps. 109, part of Ps. 79, and others. How did Jehovah’s prophets thunder against sin and iniquity.
John the Baptist calls his hearers a generation of vipers, etc., our Lord calls them hypocrites, a wicked generation, blind leaders. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell? Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do, John 8: 44. Stephen calls them stiff necked and uncircumcised of hearts and ears, resistors of the Holy Ghost, murderers of the Lord’s prophets and of the Lord Himself.
But enough to show that if the reformers used some rough names for people of the opposition they had good precedents. Paulus could make use of some harsh epithets; to witness his encounter with Elymas. What you further say about what they did to bring Rome to terms is OK as far as my humble opinion goes.
Yours in the bonds of Christian faith and love,
T. Veenstra
1X Any person that will read history, the book of martyrs, en (sic) above all, the Bible without prejudice and compare the system of Rome therewith, must come to the conclusion that the last mentioned is full of the tyranny, lies, and deceptions, mixed with some truth to hide its baseness and iniquity to bind the consciences of the people. And so there is abundant reason, I think to feel an aversion of Rome. See Times Indicator.
2X Purgatory, sale of indulgences, denial of the truth that we must be saved and live by faith alone and not by works.
Denial of the truth that even the best works of the believer are imperfect and defiled with sin, and asserts that saints are capable of laying up a store of meritorious good works for the benefit of others who have not enough of their own, etc., etc.
Clement XIV July 21, 1773
Rev. L. J. Sherda, Evergreen Park, Illinois
Dear Domine,
I do not know you personally and you most likely never thought that there was a person calling himself T. Veenstra, in the world. Well just the same, we may be brothers in our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has loved us and given Himself for us an offering and sacrifice unto God, for a sweet smelling savor.
The object of my writing is to let you know something about myself and assure you that it was not my purpose to show off, XX that I wrote the remarks on Romanism, but, dear Domine, I must confess that it is a hard thing for me to stand, to see Reformed ministers say a good word for the Roman hierarchy and Jesuitism, which dominates the same ever since that Order was reinstated by Pope Pius Vii, March 7, 1801.
I have observed the fruits of that combination to some extant in several countries of the world, as the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Austria, and also in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. And about the Greek Church, I had some experience in Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia, and have come to the conclusion, that altho they have some elements of truth in their official creed, those truths are so thickly obscured by error, idolatry, superstition, adoration of angels and saints, etc., that they can hardly be said to exert any influence on the life and faith of catholics.
When I think of what those people have done to the true followers of our Lord; I feel troubled and my bowels twist in my body, and can not help to have a sense of abhorrence to them, for the cruelties they perpetrated on innocent persons.
You see, Domine, I had the great blessing and privilege to be reared in a Christian home, trained in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, indoctrinated in the scriptures from my youth, and now as I am in the evening of my life’s journey; having reached my 83th (sic) milestone on the 23rd of Jan. last, I see more clearly how that Godliness is profitable for this life and the life to come, and also how detestable and wicked Romanism is in keeping their people ignorant of their responsibility and true relation to God, when they have every opportunity to know and do better. It is a clear case of what our Savior said to the leaders of His day; Ye travel about sea and land to make a proselyte; and when ye have found him, ye make him a child of Hell seven times more than yourself: you will not go into the kingdom of heaven, and prevent them that should go in.
Now, dear Domine, I hope you will not be angry or provoked with me for what follows; I take it that it is every one of God’s ministers of the gospels duty to lead lost sinners to the knowledge of themselves and the Savior and that also our religious church papers must be printed with that end in view. I am and have been a reader of the Banner, but find very little soul food in its pages. The exceptions are mostly the meditations on the first page and sometimes the editorials of Dr. Beets, and also the articles of Dr. Trap, etc.
You write under the caption, Our Doctrine; but is what you have been writing now for a good while Doctrine? I would call it Church Government.
If I am not entirely mistaken, there have been for years but few articles under the above Caption, that were conducive to the edification and upbuilding of the laity in the faith.
I remember when Mr. Hoeksema wrote, that there were very good things until he began to spoil it with his denial of common grace. At the same time Dr. Jansen was trying to make him out a heretic, instead of putting the beam out of his own eyes and called Mr. Hoeksema an Annabaptist (sic). From time to time we had some good food by the hand of other ministers until we came to church polity.
It seems to me that we have enough opportunity to know about these matters in what our Lord teaches us about those things [in] the letters of the apostle Paul and elsewhere in Scripture; also in the forms of ordination for ministers, elders, and deacons and in our Church order; also in the Belgic Confession. In my humble opinion it would be better to publish such things in pamphlet or book form, so that if any person should want more information about these matters, could avail himself thereof.
I respectfully submit to you, Dominie, if it would not be more conducive for the upbuilding of the church in general and its members in particular to elucidate such a subject as for instance, the Doctrine of the Covenant, The Spirit of Baptistry is rampant in our church, also in our denomination, and is constantly fed by the doctrine of pre-millenarianism.
I am acquainted with elders and deacons in our church, also in Grand Rapids, who assert that there is no more in infant baptism than giving the child a name. I think there is a crying need of information.
I beg your pardon if it should appear as if I would teach you a lesson; that is not my objective at all and my esteem for the ministers of the gospel is such that I would not think of such a thing. I only state my honest opinion, and that is what I do in the presence of our beloved and esteemed Dr. H. Goodyk of whose congregation I am a member. He sometimes calls me brother and I feel highly honored thereby. Am also good friends with Dr. Lysenga, Dr. Lamberts, etc.etc. and I doubt not if we should learn to know each other better, we would be good friends, and brothers, too.
I would be very grateful if you would write to me sometime.
The Lord bless and keep you and give you bountiful results on your labor for His kingdom.
Yours in our dear Savior,
T. Veenstra