All Articles For Authors, Various

Excess Introspection Your editorial on Jean Taffin’s little book [The Marks of God’s Children, Baker, 2003] in the August 2003 Standard Bearer was a blessing. Especially I was heartened to find another who so well described my feelings about excess introspection combined with a deficit of trust, joy, assurance, and praise. I have put the editorial in my assurance file. It should also guide me away from some “Reformed” preachers and groups. Lewis Price Batesville, AR Lying Please allow me to make a few remarks on the matter of lying, addressed in SB of April 15, 2003, p. 322, and...

September 10, 2003 Byron Center Protestant Reformed Church Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, September 10, at the Byron Center PRC. Each congregation was represented by two delegates. Also in attendance were the synodical deputies from Classis West and two representatives from the Wingham, Ontario OCRC. Rev. Rodney Kleyn served his initial stint as chair of this classis. The main item of business on the agenda was the examination of Pastor-Elect William Langerak, who had accepted the call to Southeast PRC. Pastor-Elect Langerak preached a specimen sermon and then endured several hours of oral examination. Classis approved his...

The “Witness” of Matthew 18 Please have Rev. Daniel Kleyn complete his article [“The Neglected Admonition,” Standard Bearer, Dec. 15, 1999]. Don’t “neglect” to explain exactly what is meant as “witness.” It cannot necessarily mean witness to the sin against the brother. I was involved in a situation like this and accompanied the offended brother as a “witness.” To make a long story short, I left the PCA because of what transpired. I am very interested in what the author has to say about the “witness” and his responsibilities. Emmett O’Donnell Fulshear, Texas Response: The Standard Bearer article referred to...

Hard Stands Thank you for your useful work Common Grace Revisited, originally a series of editorials in the Standard Bearer (March 15, 2002 — December 1, 2002). I am a member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and have struggled with the doctrine of common grace ever since I read A.W. Pink’s book The Attributes of God. I am especially grateful for your work in light of the desire of many within the church to blur the line between the church and the world. I am especially impressed with (or depressed by) the quotations of Mouw and Smedes at the end,...

Ironic Site Selection As the Protestant Reformed Churches prepare for the celebration of our seventy-fifth anniversary, I wonder if anyone else sees the irony in the selection of this place to celebrate? If the Lutheran churches had celebrated their anniversary at the Vatican seventy-five years after the theses had been nailed to the church door, that esteemed professor of theology who had nailed the ninety-five theses on the door of the Castle Church at Wittenberg would have nailed them to the wall and then dieted on the worms. I pray that our denomination remains faithful to the truth and that...

The Real Scandal I just read your editorial, “The Hillsdale Scandal” (Standard Bearer, March 15, 2000), and wanted to express my appreciation for a timely and perceptive contribution. I didn’t have a lot of data about all that occurred, World magazine being one of my main sources. I do, however, concur with your pointing to the “real scandal” and pray that it will be effective in pointing us to God’s holy requirements. Thanks. (Dr.) Carl W. Bogue Akron, Ohio

Baptism by Women In the article, “Invalid Baptism by Women,” in the Standard Bearer of 1 March 2000 you take a position that seems to go beyond what the Bible by necessary consequence would demand. With you, I wholeheartedly enjoin that for baptism the application of water in the name of the triune God is required, as well as that women are not lawfully called to be ministers. It must be admitted that WCF, ch. 28.2; Second Helvetic Confession, ch. 20; the Bremen Consensus; and the Scottish Confession of Faith maintain that a sacrament is only valid when performed by...

On a Distinctive Reformed Doctrine of Salvation I have a couple of questions and comments about “Distinctively Reformed Soteriology” by Rev. Laning in the February 15 issue of the Standard Bearer. First, at the end of the “Limited Atonement” section, we find this phrase: “…and that He did not die for those whom God had reprobated.” I find it more accurate to put it this way: “…and that He did not die for the non-elect.” The difference? I understand that we are all born as reprobates (original sin) and that only the sovereign electing love of God converts us from...

Love for the SB from “Far Off” On behalf of all those who love the Standard Bearer from “far off,” I express my heartfelt thanks to all those involved in the production of this most excellent periodical. I have learned so much from its pages. It stands as a beacon for the Reformed faith in an age of backsliding and apostasy among those who claim the title “Reformed.” It is good for us to know that we are not alone or isolated in holding to the truths of sovereign election, the covenant, reprobation, and the denial of a common love...

Anon. No Longer We do so appreciate your fine magazine, and are blessed by the thoughtful articles and your solid stands. On page 85 of the November 15, 2003 Standard Bearer, attributed to “Anon.,” is a verse of one of our favorite hymns. It was written by the Scottish pastor, Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne, in 1837. The verse you have quoted is verse 3 in most hymnals. The other verses are: When this passing world is done, when has sunk yon glaring sun, when we stand with Christ in glory, looking o’er life’s finished story, then, Lord, shall I fully...