Volu 100 Issue 12

Rev. Matthew DeBoer, pastor of Edgerton PRC in Edgerton, Minnesota And after him [Ehud] was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.  Judges 3:31   The history of the judges in Israel followed a certain pattern. Israel would fall into sin, serving idols. God would then cause an enemy nation to bring suffering to His people. Jehovah would use this trouble to lead Israel to sorrow over their sins and cry for deliverance from their enemies. Next, God would send a judge to save them....

Prof. Brian Huizinga, professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary and member of Grandville PRC in Grandville, Michigan The principle The simplest theological statement that can be uttered about God is the truism, “God is God.” We cannot define God in the strict sense of the word because we cannot assign Him to a class of beings to which He belongs in distinction from other beings in other classes, and then provide differentiating characteristics that distinguish God from others in His class. Suppose, for example, that Adam wanted to define what we know as a...

Rev. David Noorman, pastor of Southwest PRC in Wyoming, Michigan Conscription in Myanmar Civil war in Myanmar has brought much hardship to believers in that part of Southeast Asia. Many readers of the Standard Bearer are likely aware of recent developments through reports and correspondence from Hope Protestant Reformed Church (Walker, MI), which has maintained contact with Rev. Titus and his congregation in Myanmar for many years. Rev. Titus and members of his congregation have been preparing to flee if the warfare comes too close. The most recent news (as of early February) is the military government’s activation of conscription...

Rev. Ronald Hanko, minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches and member of Covenant of Grace PR Fellowship in Spokane, Washington Previous article in this series: November 15, 2023, p. 85. God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh...

Rev. James Laning, home missionary in the Protestant Reformed Churches and member of Zion PRC in Jenison, Michigan Previous article in this series: February 15, 2024, p. 250. [Note: The previous article was supposed to follow this present article. We apologize to Rev. Laning and the readers for this mix-up.] The first two articles in this series have been on the church as the elect body of Christ. The first one was on the church as the kingdom of Christ, and the second one was about the church as God’s one, chosen, covenant people. In this article we begin to...

Mr. Joel Minderhoud, science teacher in Covenant Christian High School and member of Hope PRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan Many readers of the Standard Bearer living in North America will have the opportunity to observe a total solar eclipse in a few weeks. On Monday, April 8, 2024, observers in specific locations across North America will witness this rare event (observable in locations across central Mexico around noon, and along a path from Texas to Maine and up to the Maritime provinces of Canada from 1:30 CDT to 4:30 ADT). Those outside this 115-mile-wide path in North America will experience...

Rev. Ryan Barnhill, pastor of Heritage PRC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota Let’s take a survey! Take out a pen and paper, and answer each of the following questions with a “Yes” or “No.” You are given an assignment or project in school. Or, you are told to prepare for a test. Do you find that you put off this schoolwork to a later time because you do not feel like doing it, instead of tackling it in a timely manner? You are at your part-time job after school lets out, or you are sitting in your bedroom doing your...

Mr. Martin DeVries, member of Randolph PRC in Wisconsin, has practiced law in California and Wisconsin For some time now, the Standard Bearer has published the occasional article about legal issues facing the church. More broadly, these articles discuss how the civil government’s actions affect the calling of the Christian and the function of the church in this world. In general terms, these governmental actions are initiated by 1) orders from our president or governor, 2) laws enacted by the legislature, or 3) decisions of the courts. Some of these developments are assurances, albeit temporary, that Christians in our country...