All Articles For Huizinga, Brian

This issue of the Standard Bearer is very special as it focuses on special needs members of the Protestant Reformed Churches. I am confident that you will relish it from cover to cover, and as you hear the testimony of true faith, you will stand amazed at the power of God’s grace. We are indebted to all the contributors who put their heart and soul into each article submitted. As one of you wrote in an email, “This was a labor of love and lots of tears were shed yet again while we reminisced….” Thank you! Your superb efforts will...

TRUTH: BELONGING TO GOD’S COVENANT As my colleague, Professor Doug Kuiper, pointed out to me recently after he had read many different articles in various church magazines and books on the topic of special needs children, no one talks about the covenant! We have been given a precious heritage in the truth of God’s covenant and we need to consider it in connection with special needs members. The covenant of God is not a contract, treaty, or pact as has been widely taught (and what would that mean for special needs individuals?), but the warm relationship of friendship that God...

With excitement we present to you this year’s Fall Reformation special issue commemorating the 500th anniversary of two very significant works produced in 1525 (see cover): The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther and an English translation of the New Testament by William Tyndale. Tyndale’s Bible, which consists of the New Testament and some Old Testament books, was published in 1526 with a revision in 1534. However, he completed his masterful translation in 1525 and was planning to print several thousand copies in Cologne, Germany and convey them secretly back into his homeland of England from which he had...

It is always fascinating to study great figures of church history whom God raised up for extraordinary service on behalf of His covenant. It is also fascinating to try to determine what kind of personal relationship or communication giants of the faith who were contemporaries may have shared if they did not work side by side. For example, did Martin Luther and John Calvin know each other? How? To what extent? Or think about biblical figures like the Old Testament prophets Jeremiah and Habakkuk, did they have any direct communication? How about Adam and Enoch or Methusaleh, for Adam was...

NEW VOLUME YEAR We now enter volume year 102! To God be the glory for His preserving grace. With this new volume year much remains the same, but there are some changes to note. We bid farewell to two retiring writers, Rev. M. DeVries and Rev. A. Spriensma, whose contributions began four decades ago. Thank you, brothers, for your diligent labors! We are happy to welcome back some experienced writers. Rev. W. Bruinsma is returning to write some meditations for us, his first is across the page. Rev. N. Decker is also returning to write for “Strength of Youth,” and...

PRCA100, the centennial celebration of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America held June 2-6, 2025 on the campus of Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI, was enjoyed by nearly 2,000 registered attendees. The week was unforgettable, and for many of us one of the most enjoyable and spiritually enriching weeks of our lives. God has been humbling us through challenging times approaching our centennial but also causing us to cherish more deeply the faith, holiness, and unity of Christ’s church. Abundant thanksgiving goes to the Lord for giving us this week and all the reasons to celebrate. We who were...

professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Grandville PRC in Grandville, Michigan INTRODUCTION Grace is God’s attitude of undeserved favor in Jesus Christ toward elect sinners, and His power to make them beautiful like Christ. The topic for this opening article of our centennial is “Teaching Grace.” How do we teach grace? I am interested in the content of that instruction rather than the manner of teaching. Certainly, we must be gracious in our teaching of grace, but what do we teach? The answer to that question is simple for anyone who...

Below you will find responses from various individuals and couples as they reflect on what they enjoyed most about PRCA100 and what was most impactful to them. Names are omitted so that the focus is more on what is said rather than who says it. Each contributor is identified 1. as male or female (or couple), 2. by age if provided (specific ages are given for children, while for adults, categories are used: 20s, 30s, 40s and so on), and 3. home congregation. Thanks to all who submitted responses! Female, 30s, Hudsonville PRC (MI) As a mom of young children,...

professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Grandville PRC in Grandville, Michigan   Would you not agree that the hypocrisy of any Protestant Reformed man, woman, or young person who loves and lives like the wicked world is a double hypocrisy? All professing Christians who love and live like the wicked world must be sharply admonished, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (Jam. 4:4). All must be...

In the past we have tried to include in the July issue of the Standard Bearer (SB) some follow-up from the annual meeting of the PRCA synod, including the pre-synodical sermon, an article written by an editor recapping the decisions of synod, pictures, and the graduation address in the event of a PRC Seminary student commencement. Look for this material next month in the August issue. Moving forward, if we include material from synod, we would like to use the August issue. Our policy is that articles submitted to the SB are due one month before the scheduled publishing date...