All Articles For Gritters, Barry

Rev. Gritters is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. The letter arrived. You’ve been nominated for the office of elder. After careful thought, you let the deadline pass for declining the nomination. At the congregational meeting, the members chose you. I thank God for you. (The others were not elected. In His inscrutable wisdom, the Lord did not appoint the others, but appointed you to the work of elder.) Ordination has taken place. The questions have been asked: “Do you feel in your hearts…? Do you believe the books…? Do you reject the heresies…? Do you promise…...

Rev. Gritters is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. The elders’ office is to observe and supervise the doctrine and conduct of the minister. Last time (SB, Nov. 15, 2002) I pointed out that the minister’s life must be an object of scrutiny, and that, for the sake of the doctrine. The Form for Installation of Elders, the Church Order, and the Questions for Church Visitation all enjoin the elders to “have regard to the doctrine and conversation of the minister of the word.” Reformed and Presbyterian churches have always recognized the importance of elder-supervision of the...

Christ’s church needs ministers. With five or six vacancies in the churches, the PRC needs ministers. We feel that need here at the seminary. The students and professors have been busy supplying pulpits this summer, in August preaching almost sixty out of sixty possibilities. Not all of that is vacation supply. Another pastor is off his pulpit for health reasons. The churches feel the need for pastors. As classes at seminary begin again this fall, and God calls His people to “maintain” the schools, which includes the seminary (see Lord’s Day 38), the question is important: Who will come to...

I trust the alternatives spelled out in the title of this editorial do not need to be spelled out in most Reformed churches. But let us take nothing for granted, and be reminded of the significance of our responsibility in catechizing our children. Very soon, again, elders will be calling parents to send their children to catechism. From mid-September through the end of April usually, Protestant Reformed Churches conduct the crucially important and formal exercise of catechizing the covenant youth. First in Bible history, then in Reformed doctrine, the ministers indoctrinate (that’s not a dirty word) the children and young...

Prof. Gritters is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11, 12 Great gift to the church of Jesus Christ God gave in John Calvin. Great example for pastors is this unusual man, fit by providence to serve God’s church at such a time. Great inspiration for all God’s people, young people too, is Calvin, whose dedication and patient love for...

Rev. Gritters is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. After the shock of the first few consistory meetings is over, and the elder takes stock of his gifts and calling, he ought to be busy getting to know the flock under his care. He already knows them partially. Now the knowledge must increase in both breadth and depth. Aside from other essential labors to qualify himself for the work (see the following articles, God willing), he must come to know the sheep. Necessary knowledge No one will disagree that without this knowledge an elder is really impotent...

Rev. Gritters is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Byron Center, Michigan. The Problem is Real Suppose you have a close friend with whom you do just about everything. Melody, we’ll call here, doesn’t have much money because she has to pay a big part of her own school tuition and because she’s not able to take a job during the school months, since her parents want her to spend all her time concentrating on school. At first, Melody begins to take a few things at the store without paying for them. After a while, even though you don’t...

Rev. Gritters is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Introduction It should be a given in Reformed circles that all the members participate when the church gathers for the public worship of Jehovah God. Every heir of the Reformed tradition ought to know well the place of every believer in the worship services of the church. I would imagine that the Reformed officebearers present at this conference, because of their precious reformation heritage, simply assume that each member will be actively involved in the worship. This—participation of the pew—should neither be taken for granted nor assumed. For...

Rev. Gritters is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. The minister is a heretic. Or schismatic. Or walking in disobedience to one of the other commandments. What shall be done? Shall the next meeting of classis proceed to his suspension, and then deposition? Shall the synod exercise this discipline? May the classis and synod exercise this authority? . . . If the synod advises the minister’s consistory to discipline the minister, but the consistory ignores that advice, may the synod proceed to depose the whole consistory? These questions bring out the issues of church government involved in...

Rev. Gritters is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”  Isaiah 63:9 Does God see me in my affliction? Has He any regard for my trouble? Does He have any time for or interest in me in my distress? Does God see those who persecute me, who bring me to shame? Does He hear their mocking insults? Does He understand the...