Vol 31 Issue 10

How Rev. Kok Continues to Operate As again appears from the latest issue of “The Reformed Guardian” (Jan. 1955) Kok persists in quoting us out of connection and thereby persists in misrepresenting our views, what we held, and taught by the written and spoken word in the realm of Church Polity. On page five of the aforesaid issue of the “Guardian” he writes, “we quote the following from the writings of Rev.

In the last three issues of the Standard Bearer I have been commenting on an essay of the Rev. J. Blankespoor which appeared in Concordia of December 2, 1954. When we began this series we expected that Concordia would publish other “fine” essays that were delivered at the minister’s conference where Rev. Blankespoor’s essay was read. Rev. Howerzyl really promised that they would be forthcoming. But to date none have appeared except the one I have been criticizing. Perhaps the editor of Concordia has decided that they were not such “fine” papers after all.

“The office of the professors of theology is to expound the Holy Scriptures and to vindicate sound doctrine against heresies and errors.” Article 18, D.K.O.  It is not necessary in this connection to discuss the status of professors of theology. We wrote about this in connection with Art. 2, Vol. 29, pg. 381 of the Standard Bearer. Here we briefly reiterate the following points: 

It is in the light of what the fathers state as to the attributes of the decree of reprobation that we must also understand what this article states as to the relation between election and reprobation, and, in connection therewith, the purpose of the decree of reprobation. Of these two subjects the Coons surely speak in this 15th Article.

We concluded our previous article on a sketch of the life of Augustine with the remark that that Church Father became unwittingly, the founder of the Augustinian order, which gave the reformer, Luther, to the world. We may now continue with this sketch. 

At this time we will give you the complete advice of what at one time was called the Protestant Reformed Church of Chatham, Ontario. We say “was called” this because it was Protestant Reformed in name alone. 

In these verses Paul makes clear to his readers, the churches in Galatia, what our “new ought” is in Christ Jesus our Lord. We are indeed the free-born sons in Christ, born, from above, from the heavenly Jerusalem and therefore we ought to walk also with our conversation of the heavenly Jerusalem. Hence, the very earnest exhortation of Paul “only use not your liberty as a strategic point of attack foe the flesh, but rather by love serve one another.”  We are indeed not under law! 

Q. 116. Why is prayer necessary for Christians?  A. Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us: and also, because God will give his grace and Holy Spirit to those only, who with sincere desires continually ask them of him, and are thankful for them.  Q. 117. What are the requisites of that prayer, which he will hear? 

De Triomf der Genade in de Theologie van Karl Barth. (De triumph of grace in the theology of Karl Barth) by Dr. G.C. Bekhouwer. Published by J.H. Kok, Kampen, Nederland, Price f 12.50. 

Kok is a Hopeless Case The more I read what flows from the pen of Bernard Kok the more I actually receive the impression that he is a hopeless case.  As long as a man still reveals an inkling of understanding of what he is writing or talking about, you can, at least, discuss matters with him. But I now must conclude that this is no longer the case.