Vol 41 Issue 14

Classis West met in Hull, Iowa on March 17-19, 1965. For several reasons this classical gathering will be one long remembered by the delegates (and the host church). First, it was the first meeting of Classis in the Hull Protestant Reformed Church building since the “split” of 1953. Secondly, it was the longest classis in the west in recent years. Finally, it was the only classis, in my memory at any rate, which was held during a raging blizzard.

First Church, of Grand Rapids, has extended a call to Rev. H. Hanko, of Doon, Iowa, to be their minister; and, as calling church, has also called Rev. D. Engelsma, of Loveland, Colo., to be Home Missionary of our churches.

A common feature of many false cults is that the founders of them are women. Ann Lee was the founder of the Shakers. Mary Eddy was the founder of Christian Science. Theosophy was cast upon the world by Madame Blavatsky and Annie Besant. Spiritism in this country goes back to the Fox sisters, Margaret and Kate. Astrology enshrines its Evangeline Adams, Myrna Kingsley and Nella Webb. Baha’ism “is a ladies’ cult like Christian Science.” And Seventh-Day Adventism has its leader and prophetess in Ellen G. White. 

These lines were suggested after seeing a film produced and presented by the Elim Christian School here in the Greater Chicago area.  Elim teaches that exceptional child and our appreciation for the work done and better understanding of it was obtained by the viewing of the film in full color and sound. 

In the December issue of the Reformed Journal, Harry R. Boer writes about the importance of election in the preaching of the gospel on the mission field as well as in the church. He points out, and correctly so, that when Paul told the Ephesians that he had not shrunk from declaring to them “the whole counsel of God,” he meant all the essentials of the gospel, including the doctrine of election. He goes on to say that “Election, in Paul’s view is a part, and a very necessary part, of the gospel.

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 

In our preceding article we were discussing the truth of plenary inspiration. Plenary means “full, complete.” Plenary inspiration is opposed to partial inspiration. Plenary inspiration does not mean that these holy writers were imbued with plenary knowledge of all things, so that they were thoroughly acquainted with science, philosophy, history, astronomy, etc; it does mean, however, that, as they spoke or wrote concerning God as the God of our salvation in Jesus Christ, they were fully and completely inspired.

Ezekiel 38, 39, Revelation 20:8  The Israel Of God Fully Restored In The Land 

The baptism of adult persons is always preceded by the expression or, confession of a conscious faith. This confession marks the subject of baptism as a spiritually mature individual who consciously takes upon himself the obligations of baptism. This, of course, an infant is not able to do and it is therefore the parent that presents the child in baptism and assumes for it the responsibilities of the baptism vow.

For a while after the Synod of 1964 it seemed as though the various Christian Reformed journals were intending to keep silence about what has come to be known as the “Dekker Case.” And, for the most part, this silence has been maintained. The two official papers of the Christian Reformed Church have not editorially dealt with the matter. Torch and Trumpethas made a couple of editorial references to the matter; and just recently it has called in help from Prof.