All Articles For Gritters, Barry

In the June 1 issue of theStandard Bearer, the editorial held out the admittedly sensitive proposal that minister and elders work together for the improvement of the preaching. In the summer meetings, when consistory agendas may be shorter, the men may take time to discuss calmly the preaching and how the preacher can bring the gospel to the congregation in the most edifying manner. The goal of these meetings is not to make the preacher popular, but to make his preaching edifying. More edifying. The goal is a well-fed and healthy flock who love their pastor. They love him deeply...

With thankful and humble hearts, the Protestant Reformed Churches and her friends may reflect on God’s goodness to her through the meeting of her annual synod. Under the able leadership of veteran president Rev. J. Slopsema (pastor of First PRC, Grand Rapids, MI), and witnessed by many visitors, Synod 2007 finished her work in five full days. The family of Trinity PRC (Hudsonville, MI) served as gracious hosts. Synods make decisions. And because all decisions are “by majority vote” according to the Church Order (Art. 31), Synod is a deliberative assembly. That is, all decisions are made after deliberation— careful discussion...

In the less hectic consistory meetings of summer, elders who do not include a regular discussion of preaching on their agenda ought to consider adding it. For it is rare that a young preacher becomes a good preacher without help and advice from his elders. Rarer that an old preacher becomes a better preacher without their assistance. The church needs good preachers. Every preacher wants to be a better preacher. By “good preacher” is merely meant a preacher whose labors God is pleased to make a rich means of grace. He may serve without fanfare. He may not have outstanding...

In this issue you will find the first article by Rev. Andrew Lanning on the life and ministry of Rev. H. Danhof, a man whose name “has a prominent place” at the beginning of PRC history. But it may well be that many of theStandard Bearer readers know very little about Danhof. You will find this, and the subsequent articles, to be a fascinating account of the life of one of the three ministers deposed by the CRC in 1924, but who never became Protestant Reformed. Along the way, Rev. Lanning points out important lessons that can be drawn from the...

Six-year-old Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, MI, is the home church of this year’s seminary graduate. She will be hosting the 2007 gathering of the Protestant Reformed synod. In the heart of old Hudsonville, Trinity’s sanctuary sits kitty-corner from the sanctuary of the old Hudsonville PRC that dates back to the early history of Hudsonville (Vos, DeJong, Kok, Veldman, Hanko).

If a denomination will survive as a true church of Christ, she will delight in keeping the fourth commandment. A denomination may perish for other reasons, but refusal to keep the fourth commandment will ensure it. She will perish, not because her permission to violate the Lord’s Day makes her unpopular among the people and she withers away. But she will cease to be true church because God will judge her. The Lord will not be pleased, even though her changed stance on the fourth commandment may well be met with praise by people. God’s judgment on Israel in the...

* This is the second half of the speech given at the convocation exercises of the Protestant Reformed Seminary, September 6, 2006. The last editorial (January 15, 2007) explained that Scripture draws a comparison between the labors of a minister and the self-sacrificing work of a mother. The editorial concluded with a call to the churches to continue holding before Christian mothers the calling to lay down their lives for their children. Lacking good mothers in the church, aspiring ministers will lack one great example for them in their ministry. As Calvin put it, explaining II Thessalonians 2:8: “a mother...

* This is the text of the speech given at the convocation exercises of hte Protestant Reformed Seminary, September 6, 2006. Ministers’ mothers have a keen interest in their minister sons. A minister’s believing mother has her son in her heart and a special interest in the ministry, its challenges, joys, sorrows. For that reason, you will often find ministers’ mothers in the audience of church functions, especially seminary functions: graduation exercises, synodical examinations, even convocation exercises. I dare guess that there are ministers’ mothers here tonight, and mothers of the seminary students—who are able to attend—and not merely because...

Jehovah God of Israel, in heaven above or on earth beneath there is no God like Thee. Great God and Father of Jesus Christ, Thy believing people beseech blessing for the year coming, year of our Lord, 2007, this many years into the age of the new covenant. We, the congregation of Israel, the “city” Thou hast chosen, are from different lands and federations of churches who seek to be faithful to Thee and walk before Thee with all our heart. Redeemed by strong hand and stretched out arm from the furnace of iron, we are Thine inheritance. Thou hast...

Prof. Gritters is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. The Protestant Reformed Churches are a Psalm-singing denomination. They sing Psalms in worship—and little else. The families sing Psalms (as well as good hymns) in their homes—many Psalms. Their children are taught the Psalms in the Christian schools—where Psalms have pride of place. The PRC are gladly Psalm-singing churches. They understand what an old preacher meant when, praising the Psalms, he said: “David has for ages subdued more hearts with his harp than ever with his sword and scepter.” And they believe that one of the instruments God uses to...