All Articles For Cammenga, A

In any circle, whether learned or unlearned, the above caption would certainly be condemned as being illogical in the superlative degree. Illogical because it contains two elements which, according to popular opinion, are the very antithesis of each other. Law and liberty differ as much as day and night, in fact, they are at variance, they clash. Law is the antonym of liberty. Never has human understanding been able to harmonize the two; where there is law there is no liberty, and where liberty is the law is done away with. The cause of being unable to harmonize the two...

In the category of Christian doctrines that of Christian Stewardship is not the most difficult to apprehend mentally. In no way does it require mental exertion to understand its fundamental principles. Neither does it require a genius to comprehend its practical significance and exercise. However, simple though this doctrine may be, I cannot think of another doctrine which is wider in scope and involves a greater portion of our Christian life. Christian stewardship is so wide in scope that it completely covers our entire relation with respect to God, to man, to the world, to time and to eternity and...

One of the most beautiful gifts in Christ Jesus is ^prayer; there is no gift greater, none more sacred, more intimate and holy. Upon the divine injunction: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God”, the Christian in prayer withdraws himself from the world about him and stands face to face with God to Whom he pours out the thoughts of his heart, and in it finds the fullest expression for his soul both in sorrow and in joy. In discussing the subject “Prayer for peace” we are,...

Our subject is one which has often been the cause of much debate and perplexity. Every now and then someone is bound to ask whether or not the temptations of Jesus were real and genuine in character in the sense of being effective. Whenever this question is asked the one enquiring does not necessarily doubt the holy record of Scripture that Christ was tempted by Satan (Matt. 4), or that the evil one employed his means of temptation as in Matt. 16:23, and many other instances recorded in Holy Writ. In general the enquirer is most willing to accept Scripture’s...

Some years ago it was no uncommon sight to see little and larger groups of people, on various street corners of the down-town areas of larger cities, listening to some persuasive or emotional singing or to some speaker doing his best to bring, or pretending to bring, the Gospel. Practically every denomination known put forth its efforts in this direction. Whether it was considered a very effective method of bringing the Gospel is hardly conceivable but it was at least a good vent or venture for so-called mission enthusiasm. Every corner with its group seemed to offer another creed or...

It is characteristic of our Protestant Reformed Churches that we adhere rigidly to our Reformed Church Order. This is also true with respect to our congregational singing in public worship. Barring a few exceptions, mentioned specifically in article sixty- nine of the Church Order, our singing in public worship is restricted to the Old Testament Psalms. Most all of the various denominations of Reformed persuasion have either altered the sixty-ninth article of the Church Order or have ignored it altogether and have introduced hymn singing in their public worship. The reason for such action is based on the fact that...

Although Scriptures record of the great event of Pentecost is simple and brief, Pentecost is, nevertheless, the most significant event in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ. Of all Christian holidays it is the most glorious. Its benediction is of eternal value. Its significance is far-reaching. Without Pentecost the day of Christmas is meaningless; without it the joys of Easter are vain and the hope of the resurrection is deceptive. Undoubtedly, Christmas, Easter and the Ascension are indispensable to our salvation, yet, without Pentecost and its gift of the Holy Spirit we are yet in our sin, we...

For the past year we have spent a great deal of time among the Holland immigrants in Canada. More particularly our contacts have been with those of the Gereformeerde Kerken (Art. 31), who are more popularly known as the “Liberated”. Our work has taken us from the St. Lawrence River in Eastern Ontario through all the Canadian Provinces to the West Coast. We have met people from every walk and position; farmers, laborers, professional people, married and single, young and old. These have also constituted a cross-section of their brethren in the Netherlands since there were representatives from almost all...

We have found, especially in our latest contacts with the Immigrants in Canada, that the “Declaration of Principles” proposed by our last Synod has been construed by them as a stumbling-block to affiliation with our Churches. Undoubtedly, much of this fear is due to misunderstanding and misuse which has been made of that document. There has been little actual discussion of the content while a great deal has been written and said about what its power might be and how it might be used. Hence, it usually has been attacked as an already adopted and binding document and warnings have...

During recent months at least four issues of the Standard Bearer have referred to the undersigned in connection with what he has said, written or implied with reference to current issues among us, or more explicitly: The Declaration of Principles, and our position over against the so-called “Liberated” brethren. These references have somewhat put us in a rather peculiar (if not questionable) light. For this reason it might be well for us to give an account of ourselves in as far as this is necessary. First of all, we wish to refer to a statement of the editor, the Rev....