All Articles For Schipper, Marinus

Most of our readers know no doubt that Torch and Trumpet, a periodical published by a group of ministers in the Christian Reformed Churches, has decided to review the matter of Common Grace. It purposes to do this by publishing a series of articles written by representative men in various church groups who will express their views on this subject. We understand that even the Rev. H. Hoeksema has been asked to write an article in this series.

It appears that the Rev. H.J. Kuiper, editor of the Banner, is aware of the fact that there are some in his churches who are slowly waking up to the truth that there is a plain contradiction between the doctrines of Common Grace and Total Depravity. And because the Rev. Kuiper is a true son of the Christian Reformed Churches he is not going to allow the pet child, called Common Grace, born in 1924, to be tagged—illegitimate. The editor of the Banner attempts to defend both of these doctrines in a series of editorials.

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and fill of glory:  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6

“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.”  Genesis 13:10, 11

“As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings; so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.”  Deuteronomy 32:11, 12

Such is the title of an interesting and timely editorial appearing in The Bannerof February 5, 1960, written by ‘the Rev. John Vander Ploeg. 

“Reverend, my daughter came home from school the other day with a magazine she asked me to read, especially one article in it. She has to use this paper in her class in English literature in the Grand Rapids Christian High School where she attends. She herself was deeply shocked with its contents. And I confess I never read anything more sacrilegious than that article to which she referred. If I can get the magazine long enough for you to read, I wish you would.” 

Daane Versus Van Til on the Offer and 1924  In the October 1, 1956 issue of The Standard Bearerwe commented on an article written by Dr. James Daane which appeared in the September, 1956 issue of The Reformed Journal in which he complimented the Professors Murray and Stonehouse of the Orthodox Presbyterian Seminary on their pamphlet entitled: The Free Offer of the Gospel. 

Getting Personal A certain brother wrote to me last week calling my attention to an article appearing in the Reader’s Digest (February, 1954, page 63) which he thought pretty well describes what is going on lately with those who are in the consistory of the Rev. De Wolf. After reading the article, I agree with him.