All Articles For Decker, Robert D.

The October 15, 2007 issue of the Standard Bearer is outstanding. The articles are well researched and documented, instructive, and well written. Having now covered the Afscheiding of 1834 and the Doleantie of 1888, perhaps you and your colleagues will give us the history of the merger of these two in 1892 with the emphasis on an exploration of the influence of these two secessions on the Protestant Reformed Churches. We cannot live in the past, but we must live out of the past. To help us do this, continue bearing the standard of confessional, Reformed orthodoxy. —Rev. Robert D....

This is the last issue under my editorship. I plan to retire at the end of June 2006. My successor in the department of Practical Theology is the Rev. Barrett L. Gritters. Appointed to this position by the Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches in 2003, Prof. Gritters expects to receive the Master of Theology Degree from Calvin Theological Seminary in May of this year. This degree, along with nearly twenty years pastoral experience in two large congregations in West Michigan, will serve Prof. Gritters, the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and the Protestant Reformed Churches well. A great deal of...

Introduction In this essay we offer a brief critique of the Religions of the World. We are interested in the biblical/Reformed answer to the question: How must these religions be viewed in relationship with Christianity? This fundamental question implies several more questions. Answers are needed to the following if we are to succeed in giving the correct answer to the fundamental question: Are there elements of good in these religions? Are there remnants of truth in them? Do these religions contain elements of the truth that are not to be found in the Christian religion, but are unique to Islam,...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Some may think that the title of this article is a contradiction in terms. By theology we mean the doctrine of God, man, Christ, salvation, the church, and the last things. In other words, the true doctrine of Holy Scripture, summed in the Reformed confessions and taught in the Protestant Reformed Churches and their theological seminary. By the term “practical” we mean that which pertains to our everyday living, our lifestyle, and our morals. How can theology be practical? What have, for example, God’s attributes or Christ’s two...

The Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary opened its doors for the 2005-2006 school year on Monday, August 29. Two first-year students were welcomed, Nathan Dykstra (Hudsonville Protestant Reformed Church) and Cory Griess (originally from Loveland, CO Protestant Reformed Church and currently a member of the Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in West Michigan). Heath Bleyenberg is in his second year. Heath is a member of Hope PRC and was born, baptized, and raised in the PRC of Edgerton, MN. Nathan Langerak, a third-year student, is a member of Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, MI and a son of Hope PRC. The two seniors,...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. *Latin abbreviation of Verbi Dei Minister, “Minister of the Word of God” The Rev. Cornelius Hanko was born to Herman and Jennie (nee Burmania) Hanko on May 19, 1907 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He received his heartfelt desire when the Lord in His mercy took him to glory on Monday, March 14, in the year of our Lord 2005. Rev. Hanko was baptized in the Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church. During the common grace controversy in the 1920s the Hanko family followed Rev. Herman Hoeksema and the majority...

Truth For Life: A Devotional Commentary on the Epistle of James, by John Blanchard. Webster, New York: Evangelical Press USA, 2003. Pp. vii – 404. $16.99 (paper). [Reviewed by Prof. Robert D. Decker.]   In many ways this is a fine commentary on the Epistle of James. The author’s title accurately states that this is a devotional commentary. The author’s writing style is pleasing, nicely worded, and easy to read. The style is not at all cluttered with the technical language of Hermeneutics (rules for Bible exposition). This means that the commentary, though the author works from the Greek, can...

Roundtable: Evangelicals in Conversation with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, by Timothy C. Tennent. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002. Pp. 270. No price given. (paper). [Reviewed by Prof. Robert Decker.] To his credit Dr. Tennent rejects the notion that, “The Christian gospel is … one among many different paths to God. Christianity is ranked side by side with religions such as Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism…” (p. 9). The author believes that Christianity is the only true religion. He is an “Exclusivist.” Tennent does, however, believe that there must be honest, open dialogue with the adherents of the world’s religions. This honest,...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. *In the previous installment of this sermon (Nov. 15, 2003) we answered the question, “To whom must the truth be committed?” In this installment we answer two questions. The first is, “What must be committed to these men?” The second is, “How is it possible to commit the truth to these men?” Committing what To these faithful men who are able to teach others, the truth must be committed. The text says, “the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses … commit thou to faithful...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. II Timothy 2:1, 2 This text speaks of the task both of the professors and of the students. What the apostle says here to Timothy he says to the professors in the seminary. What you have “heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to...