E. F Grant asks:
What is that, and what have been its steps that led to Holland's fall? Has it/Is it happening here? What other factors contributed to Holland's demise? Could it not have been the pride of its commercial success? Or are these two things related?
1) What is it? Presumptive Regeneration takes many forms, i.e., it is expressed in various degrees. But the crux of the matter is a
presumption that covenant children are automatically elect, regenerate, saved and/or are to be considered Christians. Again, how it is defined depends upon those who hold to the view.
One of the threads which you may wish to review can be found here:
Covenant members and more. In one of my replies in that thread found here:
My Reply #7600, I included an attachment "Form for the Baptism of Infants", with my personal emphasis marked out within the document to illustrate this doctrine and the errors it contains.
2) Contribution to the fall of the Dutch churches? It would be silly for me to speculate to what degree Presumptive Regeneration played in the demise (apostasy) of the Dutch Reformed churches. However, that it played a significant part cannot be disputed, IMHO. The fact that any church allows membership without requiring a valid profession of faith will always result in unbelievers and their influence to bring negative affects upon the congregation. Remember, that Presumptive Regeneration says that ALL covenant children are to be
presumed saved unless they openly reject/deny Christ, etc. Such unbelievers can and have succeeded in holding ordained offices within the church; offices of authority which allow those occupying them to teach others and/or to formulate ecclesiastical policy and doctrine.
3) Is it happening here? Of course....
Those churches who hold to Presumptive Regeneration are inherently susceptible to the evils it brings. And, IMHO, those who hold to Presumptive Regeneration are even more susceptible to the present danger of NPP, Federalism, etc.
4) What other factors led to Holland's demise? Everything?
The Church has always been and always will be a positive influence upon the world. But, it is never going to be the
dominant influence whereby the world becomes "Christianized", unless of course, you hold to Postmillennialism and believe in the alleged future "Golden Age". In other words, the churches in Holland (mainly speaking of the Dutch Reformed denominations) by allowing unbelievers to have authority in their churches allowed the influences of the world to enter thereby effectively removing the positive influence it had for many years in restraining evil in the country.
In His grace,
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