Vol 40 Issue 01

The congregation of Redlands has called the Rev. J. Kortering of Hull, from a trio which included the Revs. J.A. Heys and G. Vanden Berg. 

REFORMED ECUMENICAL SYNOD Many of our people have probably been wondering what happened at the Reformed Ecumenical Synod that was held in Grand Rapids last month. The reports that have appeared in Church periodicals have, thus far, been rather sketchy, but a brief report can be made.

Assisting the Poor The committee of the Christian Reformed Church that some years ago drew up a proposed revision of the church order saw fit to exclude altogether from this revision the matter of Article 83 of our church order. The reader will recall that this article deals with the matter of the deacons providing assistance to the poor who, for sufficient reason, see fit to remove from the congregation. The deacons are to provide according to their discretion an amount that is adequate to enable these poor to reach their new place of residence.

The Godhead of the Holy Ghost 

A very strong refutation of the Romish conception of the Lord’s Supper is furnished by Hodge in his Systematic Theology, Volume III.

At a recent meeting of the editorial staff it was decided to add a new department on Missions in the Standard Bearer. At present this department will appear only from time to time, but in the future it may become a regular addition to our paper. Since I have been asked to write for this department, and since my recent trip to Jamaica gives me a splendid, ready-made subject with which to commence, I shall avail myself of this opportunity to tell our readers, something about this prospective field of mission endeavor. 

At the close of our former essay we were engaged in showing from Scripture that the term longsuffering is an attitude of God toward His people in Christ Jesus; it is a manifestation of restrained wrath because of His great love to them, His grace and His mercy!Longsuffering is not an attitude of God toward mankind in general, a certain “common grace” by which judgment is postponed over the wicked. 

     And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah; between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.  Judges 4:4, 5

When therefore we confess that the church is holy, we mean, positively, that both as to her calling and in respect to her nature she is consecrated to God. She is set aside for the service of God as a holy priesthood. And unto this service of the living God she is spiritually prepared. Her mind is consecrated to the Lord, to know Him. Her will is attuned to His will. Her heart is motivated by the love of God.

The trouble with those that hold a double track theology is that they claim that they are Reformed and, at the same time, they also agree with the doctrine of Arminianism. When the train of their doctrine runs on the one track they are Reformed; when, however, it runs on the other, they are Arminian. They claim that they believe the doctrine of predestination, election and reprobation; but they also defend and hold the error that God loves all men, as Prof. Dekker does: God wants and desires to save all men.