In November 2025, three members of the PRCA’s Committee for Contact with Other Churches traveled to Beaver Falls, PA to attend the annual three-day meeting of NAPARC: the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (this year was the 50th anniversary). The council is ecumenical, meaning interdenominational in this case, and comprised of 13 member denominations, which range in size from very small—only five congregations with 275 members and two active pastors, to very large—about 1,700 congregations with 400,000 members and 5,000 ministers. Size differences notwithstanding, all express determination to maintain the Reformed (Three Forms of Unity) and Presbyterian (Westminster Standards)...
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When ChatGPT3 made its appearance three years ago in November 2022, a friend of mine (not a minister) quickly and eagerly tested its ability to make a sermon. “For kicks and giggles,” he said. ChatGPT, if you do not know, is the internet-based “software” that is called “Artificial Intelligence” or AI. Within 12 months of ChatGPT’s release, there were over 100 million users, making it the fastest growing computer application in history. And even that is old news, because on August 8, 2025 (less than one month ago), ChatGPT released version 5, described as light-years ahead of version 3, and...
former editor of the Standard Bearer, professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Hudsonville PRC Previous article in this series: May 1, 2025, p. 279. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell...
former editor of the Standard Bearer, professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Hudsonville PRC Luther reportedly once said that if he were told the world would end tomorrow, he would still plant an apple tree today. Some have taken from this Luther’s love of gardening, or of his care for the environment, but if Luther indeed said this, I take him to be teaching that Christians ought to be faithful today, planning for the future, even if they believe Christ will return tomorrow. The Protestant Reformed Churches (and the whole church of...
Dear Professor Gritters, I am writing in response to your article in the February 2025 [SB] issue, entitled: “If My Brother Sin… The Potent Medicine of Matthew 18 (4).” Under the heading of “Who are the ‘Witnesses?’” you wrote, “In 1 Timothy 5:19 Paul uses one of these when he warns not to receive an accusation against an elder without two or three witnesses. These are witnesses of the elder’s sin.” You then went on to explain that Matthew 18, on the other hand, does not require witnesses to the offender’s sin, but only to establish the words and facts...
former editor of the Standard Bearer, professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Hudsonville PRC Previous article in this series: March 2025, p. 214. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto...
Introduction I was not always onboard with those opponents of common grace in the Protestant Reformed Churches in America (PRCA) who, it seemed to me, were concerned about very little else. That is not to say that I ever embraced the doctrine of common grace, for I was well taught in catechism and seminary what it was all about. I understood and agreed with the PRCA’s opposition. But it is to say that I did not think incessant pounding of that drum was necessary. I imagined that there were bigger fish to fry, and that in our opposition to the...
Previous article in this series: February 2025, p. 183. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a...
former editor of the Standard Bearer, professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Hudsonville PRC Previous article in this series: December 2024, p. 124. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto...
former editor of the Standard Bearer, professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Hudsonville PRC Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church,...
