All Articles For Joostens M

Author’s note: The following article is the essence of a speech that I delivered to Hope School’s P.T.A. meeting on October; 7, 1977. I include this article under this rubric because I believe it is pertinent to parents who desire to educate the seed of the covenant “In His Fear.” 

At times one sees disharmony, bickering, and even hatred at evidence in the church of Jesus Christ as it is manifest here below. There is, perhaps, nothing that grieves the soul of a pastor more than to see such lack of love and mutual concern in the flock which he shepherdizes.

Our approach to the problem has to be covenantal. Now, I don’t intend to discuss with you this evening the idea of the covenant. You hear this idea explained to you from your respective pulpits and there is much written on it in our circles. And for those who desire to become more familiar with the idea of covenant education I recommend for your reading Rev. D. Engelsma’s little book, “Reformed Education.” 

We, as children of God, are called upon to live in the midst of an age and world that is permeated with the sin of anxiety. That such is the state of the world is clearly manifest in the unrest which the world exhibits at every level of society. In the midst of wars and rumors thereof, peace efforts are headline news. In the midst of crime and evident lack of justice we hear the cry for law and order so as to have safety in the streets. 

Classis East of our Churches met in regular session on Oct. 1, 1975 at the Hope Protestant Reformed Church. Each of our nine churches in Classis East was represented by two delegates. This session of Classis was short due to the fact that no new material appeared on the agenda and the matters treated were routine. Even though the session was brief, it afforded an opportunity for the officebearers to enjoy one another’s fellowship. We have reason to thank our God that He causes our congregations to flourish in peace. 

[Address delivered at the Annual RFPA Meeting, Sept. 18, 1975] 

(Note: The following is the substance of a speech delivered to the young people at Hope Protestant Reformed Church at their Thanksgiving Mass Meeting held on Nov. 23, 1975.)

James is pre-eminently the apostle who deals with good works from a practical, everyday point of view. He always speaks of good works as a vital and necessary function in our lives—so vital and necessary, that it is basic to our salvation. This is not to say, you understand, that James makes works a condition unto salvation. This is far from the truth. There is no discrepancy between Paul and James, although some think so. The misunderstanding is that it is not understood that both James and Paul approach the idea of works from a different viewpoint.

It is especially at this time of year that our thoughts turn to the future. As the old and well marked calendar is replaced by a new one, sporting an unfamiliar scene, we consider the things which may come upon us in the coming year. Perhaps it is the sudden and abrupt change from the old to the new that is to blame for this. Even as a sigh expresses the thankfulness that all has gone well in the past, our souls are gripped with fear regarding the future, and various questions of what lies ahead flood the soul.

Rev. H. Veldman led the classis in opening devotions and after reading the credentials declared classis to be properly constituted. Rev. C. Hanko, by order of rotation, presided over this classis.