All Articles For Gritters, Barry

Previous article in this series: November 15, 2010, p 76. Dear Reformed Christian Young People (and their parents), By now I hope it has become clear to you that, although the issue of church and kingdom is important for Christian college students, it reaches far beyond the Christian colleges. The new views of God’s kingdom affect everything. These views, which make church narrow and kingdom wide, and make church of importance only as it serves kingdom causes, affect all spheres of life. They drive mission works and church planting efforts: churches are needed to redeem culture and transform society, and...

Previous article in this series: November 1, 2010, p. 52. Dear Reformed Christian Young People (and their parents), How should a student respond when his religion professor asks the students to reflect on this statement: “Martin Luther King Jr. (and other civil rights advocates), influential economists, and Nobel Peace prize winners, can do as much to advance God’s kingdom as the Calvins and Luthers can.” Or if the professor praises preachers who resign from the ministry to run for political office because they can more effectively promote God’s kingdom as civil rulers? Or maybe the professor of “Social and Political...

(Seminary convocation was held in Southwest PRC on September 15. SW PRC is right next door to the seminary, which was opened for visitors after the convocation program. The students and professors showed the newly remodeled building to many interested guests and friends of the seminary—more than the parking lot could hold. We are thankful for the interest of those who live in the area. At the suggestion of the Theological School Committee, we print the speech given at that occasion by Prof. Gritters, revised only slightly for publication.) A minister is very much like a physician; and the seminary...

Previous article in this series: October 1, 2010, p. 4. Dear Reformed Christian Young People (and their parents), Beware. My pastoral but very sharp warning last time was to look out for, in many Christian colleges and universities, a view of God’s kingdom that trivializes God’s church. This view makes the church merely a tool (only one of many) to establish the kingdom. For those who hold that view, God’s kingdom is far broader than the church, becomes something altogether different from God’s church, and is actually God’s real and supreme purpose in the world. In my judgment, this teaching...

This volume year is the 85th year that Protestant Reformed men and women have produced our semi-monthly magazine, dedicated to the promotion and defense of the Reformed faith. Over the course of 85 years, much has changed, and yet much has remained the same. What has changed is not essential: a new generation of writers, more writers, a wider variety of subjects, and a more modern appearance. What remains unchanged is our commitment to the development and defense of Reformed doctrine, the fresh exposition of Scripture, and the clear application of truth to the life of the church and the...

Previous article in this series: September 15, 2009, p. 484. When I left this subject in September, I had written that Christ’s church needs ministers. Our churches have the pressure of vacancies, and we feel that pressure here at the seminary. Who will present himself to be prepared for the ministry? The ministry is hard work—the toil of a slave, with the hardships of a soldier in battle, and the threats of wild beasts. No exaggerations, even if they are figures of speech—Scripture’s own figures. Then, when the ministry often also is accompanied by sorrows, who would dare train? Sometimes...

It’s Saturday morning, Labor Day weekend. Next Tuesday, the third week of school begins here on “the hill” (our beautiful setting, where we’re surrounded by bucks and doe and their now-still-spotted fawns, and wild turkeys). The third week already! Classes began earlier than normal this year—on August 24, two weeks before Labor Day, because the calendar required this for a fifteen-week semester before the winter holiday break and the interim. So on August 23 the students and professors gathered for opening chapel, for giving out assignments, and to offer Christian greetings to students old and new. At the chapel, Prof....

This October 1 issue begins the 87th year that the Lord permits us to publish our magazine, dedicated to promoting and defending the Reformed faith of the Scriptures. If you are reading this, you are probably an SB subscriber. We are thankful for your subscription, not because writers like to be read, but because it shows your interest in the Reformed faith, the rich faith of our fathers, “once delivered unto the saints,” as that faith is laid out in the Reformed and Presbyterian creeds. As editors, we pray that many more may be finding profit from the articles, which...

Previous this series: November 1, 2009, p. 53. In this anniversary year of John Calvin’s birth, we hold forth the man of God as an example for our pastors. Pray for your minister, that he may offer his life to God’s church as Calvin did. Few have the gifts and capacity of Calvin (although may God give us men of great gifts and ability!). But all can be useful in their place. Last time I showed that Calvin 1) was personally upright, 2) suffered willingly and patiently, 3) was a wise and sympathetic pastor, and 4) was devoted to the...

Dear Reformed Christian Young People, When you attend public or state universities, I trust that you are prepared for a hostile reception and an assault on your Christian faith and life. The antichristian vehemence may be hurtful, but it is not surprising. You expect different from a Christian college. If you do, or hope to, attend a Christian college, you may be thankful for what Christianity, even Reformed Christianity, and Christian morals there are in the institution you choose. I speak from experience, both personally and as a father. My own education was in both secular and Christian (Reformed) institutions...