December 3, 2013
Has Dr. Joel Beeke Finally Left Refo500?
A Response by Pastor Ovadal and Rev. Foster
We have been asked by more than one person if we know that Dr. Joel Beeke has left Refo500. To our knowledge, Dr. Beeke has not publicly uttered a single word to that effect, though it does not mean that he has not left Refo500. Certainly, Dr. Beeke has not left the horrifically corrupt and ecumenical Evangelical Theological Society as of the date we are posting this. His Reformation Heritage Books continues to sell a great many books written by men and women who are anything but faithful Christians. And finally, it is clear Dr. Beeke has not seen the light concerning the danger and sin of yoking with unfaithful men as well as deeply corrupted churches and ministry organizations.
But what of Dr. Beeke’s rumored departure from Refo500? For two years, beginning in 2010, Dr. Joel Beeke went boldly along, involved with the prestigious, worldwide, religiously and spiritually corrupt organization Refo500. Then, beginning after the publishing of our first warning article in June of 2012, Dr. Beeke began to come under pressure from at least a few other faithful ministers, as well as some members of the body of Christ, to sever his ties and his ministries’ ties with Refo500. This we know for a fact. The record shows Dr. Beeke continued his relationship with Refo500, while coming under ever increasing pressure as time went on, at least through July of this year when he led a major Refo500 European tour. Perhaps Joel Beeke has now finally and truly separated from Refo500. Time will tell on that. Yet, even now, RHB--Joel Beeke, editorial director--continues to sell an official Refo500 book edited by Karla Apperloo-Boersma, project leader of Refo500, and Herman Selderhuis, the director of Refo500 and president of the Refo500 Reformation Research Consortium. The title page of that book which, by the way, was just published in 2013 states, “edited on behalf of Refo500”; the back cover has the Refo500 logo and again states that it is edited on behalf of Refo500.
But, if Dr. Beeke has finally done the right thing and left Refo500, why has he not made clear to the multitudes he influences that he should never have been in Refo500 in the first place; and why has he not warned them to also steer well clear of that organization and all of a similar nature? Over the three-plus years Dr. Beeke has been so deeply involved with Refo500, personally and through his ministries, he certainly has many times urged the body of Christ to join him in his grievous error. Dr. Beeke clearly ought to humble himself, play the man and the faithful minister in this. As a minister, he has failed to teach the Lord’s people “the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean” (Ez. 44:23). In truth, by his example, the very influential Dr. Beeke has taught the Lord’s people just the opposite. And what then of our Lord’s warning, “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” (Mt. 18:7)? As things stand, Dr. Beeke most certainly cannot testify with the Apostle Paul, “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men” (Acts 20:26).
But what of Dr. Beeke’s rumored departure from Refo500? For two years, beginning in 2010, Dr. Joel Beeke went boldly along, involved with the prestigious, worldwide, religiously and spiritually corrupt organization Refo500. Then, beginning after the publishing of our first warning article in June of 2012, Dr. Beeke began to come under pressure from at least a few other faithful ministers, as well as some members of the body of Christ, to sever his ties and his ministries’ ties with Refo500. This we know for a fact. The record shows Dr. Beeke continued his relationship with Refo500, while coming under ever increasing pressure as time went on, at least through July of this year when he led a major Refo500 European tour. Perhaps Joel Beeke has now finally and truly separated from Refo500. Time will tell on that. Yet, even now, RHB--Joel Beeke, editorial director--continues to sell an official Refo500 book edited by Karla Apperloo-Boersma, project leader of Refo500, and Herman Selderhuis, the director of Refo500 and president of the Refo500 Reformation Research Consortium. The title page of that book which, by the way, was just published in 2013 states, “edited on behalf of Refo500”; the back cover has the Refo500 logo and again states that it is edited on behalf of Refo500.
But, if Dr. Beeke has finally done the right thing and left Refo500, why has he not made clear to the multitudes he influences that he should never have been in Refo500 in the first place; and why has he not warned them to also steer well clear of that organization and all of a similar nature? Over the three-plus years Dr. Beeke has been so deeply involved with Refo500, personally and through his ministries, he certainly has many times urged the body of Christ to join him in his grievous error. Dr. Beeke clearly ought to humble himself, play the man and the faithful minister in this. As a minister, he has failed to teach the Lord’s people “the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean” (Ez. 44:23). In truth, by his example, the very influential Dr. Beeke has taught the Lord’s people just the opposite. And what then of our Lord’s warning, “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” (Mt. 18:7)? As things stand, Dr. Beeke most certainly cannot testify with the Apostle Paul, “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men” (Acts 20:26).