Vol 46 Issue 19

It seems that the choir of Covenant Christian High, under the direction of Mr. R. Petersen is acquiring some renown. On May 26 they traveled to Kalamazoo to perform there in a program sponsored by the Kalamazoo Protestant Reformed Church. And on May 19 they went even further—out of state, no less. The Ladies Society of South Holland’s church sponsored a program in that church’s auditorium. The feature attraction was Covenant’s a cappella choir.

Recently a reader of The Standard Bearer sent me a copy of the Gospel According to John, A Contemporary Translation, produced by the Committee on Bible Translation, associated with the New York Bible Society. Some of our readers may already know that Dr. Edwin Palmer, formerly pastor of Grandville Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, is now associated with this project. This little booklet of the Gospel According to John is the first published portion of The Holy Bible: A Contemporary Translation (ACT).

REPORT OF CLASSIS EAST July 1, 1970 At Holland, Michigan  Rev. G.C. Lubbers, chairman of the April Classis, led in the opening devotions, and after the credentials were received, declared Classis properly constituted. All the churches were represented by two delegates each, except Kalamazoo. It was reported that they could not appear because of a death in that congregation, the funeral being held while Classis met. Rev. M. Schipper, following the order of rotation, then presided, while Rev. Lubbers recorded the minutes. 

Thus, finally, we also understand the fact that the apostles repeatedly address the congregations as the church of Christ. A congregation may appear to be never so bad, but the Apostle Paul addresses it as the church of Christ, as beloved in the Lord, as brethren in Him. That congregation may be divided by party-strife; it may be guilty of drunkenness and adultery; it may even deny or doubt the truth of the resurrection of the dead; it continues to be the church of Christ to which the apostle writes.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for (the sins, sin) of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. . . .”

Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself That the LORD may continue his Word, which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy...

NEWS FROM CHURCH ASSEMBLIE Spring and early summer is the time for the broadest assemblies of the various denominations to meet. The decisions which these assemblies take makes for sad reading. The decisions are the measure of the trouble, unrest, and spiritual weakness of the church world today. 

Last time we began to quote from the report we gave to the Mission Committee of our churches concerning the labors spent on the island of Jamaica and in our mission field there the months of February through April of this year. We began to point out how these children of God have received the Reformed Faith; and we continue now to show what has been accomplished by God’s grace among these of His children who differ from us in race, color, and temperament.

Dear Philip,  Thanks for your response to my recent letter. It was good to hear from you, and especially to know that the calling and work of the deacons has been also your concern. Maybe together we can look for some proper solution. 

Returning to one of the Apostolic Fathers, in connection with the doctrine of the atonement, we would quote (briefly from Polycarp. Polycarp was instructed by the apostles, and was brought into contact with many who had seen Christ. We have this information from Irenaeus, a disciple of Polycarp. In his epistle to the Philippians, its authenticity being unquestioned, Polycarp writes as follows: