Vol 31 Issue 20

In our previous articles, dealing with the subject matter of the twenty-first Article of our Church Order, we have attempted to make clear the following: (a) The origin and history of this article, (b) That good Christian schools are those that thoroughly furnish the child of God unto every good work, (c) That requisite to the establishment of such schools and, therefore, the basic problem of Christian education, is the capable and properly trained instructor, (d) That the consistory is obliged to do its utmost to procure such teachers for the instruction of the youth of the church as well

The undersigned was going to write concerning his labors in Loveland, Colorado in this issue, but this will have to wait till the next issue of our periodical. At this time the writer of these lines is enjoying a few days of relaxation at home in as far as that is possible at a time when the entire family is busy with the activities of the Young People’s Convention held in Hudsonville, and also in the celebration of our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Our many thanks to all who have sent us their well-wishes and prayed God’s blessing upon our family...

These remarks by the board of the RFPA are only for those who appreciate The Standard Bearer as a witness of the Reformed truth. 

The Unbelief of Barthianism.  That is the title of a little booklet a friend sent to me to peruse. Its contents are an address delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Bible League by the Rev. W.J. Grier, B.A., and published by the Evangelical Book Shop whose address is 15, College Square East, Belfast. It purposes to be “A Criticism of the Views of Doctors Barth and Brunner.”

When one reads this description of the Arminian doctrine of election, it is not difficult to understand that the fathers felt constrained to add to their positive presentation of the truth a negative section. For the treacherous part of the Arminian position consisted exactly in this, that while they retained the word“election,” they did not at all retain the Scriptural and Reformed concept of election; and thus they were able to deceive and to confuse people. Their false doctrine, therefore, stood, and still stands, in need of being exposed. 

We concluded our preceding article with the observation that the bishop of Rome began to occupy the leading position in the whole church, and that this was not difficult to understand. Various circumstances united to bring this to pass. It is now our purpose to trace this amazing phenomenon, the rise and development of the papacy, as set forth by Philip Schaff in his History of the Christian church. However, before we begin with this a few general observations may be in order which will throw considerable light upon this amazing development. 

A Roman Catholic, given the opportunity to teach your children, will instruct them in Roman Catholicism.  There can be no doubt about that.  A Protestant, hired to teach your children, will give instruction that reveals the Protestant position.  And he will do so in opposition to the Roman Catholic position.  An unbeliever, having your children before him for instruction, will transmit to them instruction that is colored by his unbelief. 

No one can ever dethrone Him, or even for a moment successfully dispute His sovereign power and authority. He guides the sun and moon and stars in their courses. He causes the heavens to be covered with clouds, and the rain to satisfy the thirsty ground. He clothes the forest with foliage green, and gives to the lily its garments more beautiful than Solomon’s raiment.

Being asked by a committee of the staff of Torch and Trumpet to write an article for this magazine on the question of “common grace,” I gladly acceded to that request. And in this contribution I will set forth what, ever since about 1918, has been and still is my conception about what is called the problem of common grace. 

In one of my recent editorials I mentioned, in passing, that I had written an article on the subject of “common grace” for Torch and Trumpet which was never published. It is evident that the editorial staff of that paper took notice of my remark and of the Rev. Schipper in the same Standard Bearer, for now I received the following letter:  June 30, 1955  The Rev. Herman Hoeksema  1139 Franklin St, SE  Grand Rapids, Michigan  Dear Rev. Hoeksema: