The taping of, the 1,000th broadcast of the Reformed Witness Hour was accomplished in a public gathering Thursday evening, Jan. 25. Rev. H. Hoeksema preached the sermon and music was furnished by the Radio Choir and by congregational singing. Beginning with this broadcast, which will be aired Sunday, March 11, the program will be announced as being “sponsored by the Protestant Reformed Churches of America” instead of “sponsored by the First Protestant Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan.” All future programs will continue to be the responsibility and under the supervision of the Consistory of the First Protestant Reformed Church...

Although I do not believe that silence in regard to the proposal to introduce New Testament versifications into our singing in our public worship necessarily means that it must or will be interpreted as agreement with this proposed innovation, the undersigned wishes to offer a few remarks and comments with respect to this proposed change. First of all, a hymn-singing church becomes more and more a hymn-singing church and less and less a Psalter-singing church. I am aware of the fact that the proposal which now confronts our churches concerns only the versification of New Testament Scriptures. Rev. Vanden Berg...

THE BIBLE AND THEISTIC EVOLUTION   In the February issue of Torch and Trumpet appeared a very interesting and instructive article written by Dr. Henry M. Morris, head of the Civil Engineering Department at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. This article deals with the question of whether theistic evolution is compatible with the truth of the Bible. Theistic evolution is intended to be’ a Christian interpretation of the theory of evolution as first advanced by Charles Darwin. Although evolutionism always implied a denial of the existence of God, certain theologians in the Church and “Christian” scientists took over this view of evolution and...

We have taken cognizance of Rev. Hoeksema’s editorial comment in the January 15th issue of The Standard Bearer relative to our writing on the hymn matter in connection with Article 69 of the Church Order. We will not, however, at this time interrupt our present discussion to reflect upon these editorial comments but choose to continue to discuss the history of this question as it has been an issue before our Synod especially the last three years. Later we hope to comment upon all that our esteemed editor has written on this question during this same time. But this must wait until...

Moved by the Holy Spirit The positive side of the truth of inspiration is also set forth by our Confession very briefly and by means of a simple quotation of Scripture itself. For our Confession continues. with its quotation of II Peter 1:21: “. . . . but that holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, as the apostle Peter saith.” We may notice that our Confession adds nothing in explanation of this simple statement. And perhaps we wonder why? Certainly, this is not because there is no room for and no need of any...

In one of the better known magazines that can be found on today’s newsstand is an article with the title,What Not to Tell a Child About God. This definitely is the negative approach. And it seems as though modern child-psychology finds it quite difficult to avoid negative statements and negative instruction. It is not our purpose to criticize this magazine article, even though we certainly do want to teach our children some of the things presented in that article as damaging to the spiritual life of the child. We certainly intend to teach our children that God sees all that...

We now come to chapter 4 of Paul’s first epistle to Timothy. And, as so often is the case in the study of God’s holy Word, so also here a little thought and prayerful reflection, comparing Scripture with Scripture, nets a great gain of a better understanding of the meaning of the Spirit. It is not our intention to entirely bypass the verses 15, 16 of chapter 3 in our exposition. The careful reader will have observed that in our consideration of Paul’s instruction concerning the offices in the church of the living God, we incidentally did call attention to...

And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up . . .  Then a cloud covered the test of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  Exodus 40:17, 34 It was during the first forty-day stay on the mountain that God revealed to Moses the plan for His holy tabernacle. It was a wonderful plan for a beautiful tent constructed of the richest materials through which Israel would be able to worship its God in truth. With the plan...

CHAPTER II    THE CALLING (Continued)   And we may also refer to Romans 9:1, ff.: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning...

Pentecost and Missions by Harry R. Boer. Published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. Price $5.00. This book is written, as tie learn from a “Foreword,” by W. A. Visser ‘t Hooft, as a doctor’s thesis. But let no one, for this reason, be induced not to procure and read it. The book is written in a very lucid style and may readily be read by any intelligent reader. The author is at present a professor at “The Theological College of Northern Nigeria,” something which has been an object of criticism and a bone of contention by the...