Vol 50 Issue 10

Rev. R. Harbach has received the call to labor in the Houston area, as home missionary of our churches. Rev. J. Kortering is considering a call from Loveland to serve as pastor there. And Rev. R. Moore has declined the call extended to him from our Prospect Park congregation. 

THE WORLD THAT PERISHED, by John C. Whitcomb, Jr: (Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1973, 155 pp., $1.95 pb). Reviewed by Prof. H. C. Hoeksema.  The author of this little book is, perhaps, better known as the co-author, with Dr. Henry M. Morris, of The Genesis Flood, published in 1961 (and still one of the best books on the market concerning the Flood and related subjects). 

Believing that the Scriptures are the infallible Word of God, given by divine inspiration, one must come to the conclusion that they alone serve as the sole standard for what is truth. For something to be true it must have its basis and its source in God’s Word. When we speak of the organism of the truth, then we refer to doctrines or dogmas which are elicited out of that Word of God by the Church. The Church then develops and organizes those truths into a systematic form. 

By now most of our readers are aware that our churches have, adopted, at the Synod of 1973, a limited budget for foreign missions. This limited budget has come into being as a result of a limited activity in the field of foreign missions. For many years we have not had the opportunity to labor in this field because of our limitations of size and priority of activity. However, it has pleased God to give to our churches the opportunity to conduct a limited labor in the field of “foreign” missions.

Tongues are wagging, ears are tingling and credibility is being tried. The “citizen’s band radio” is so very busy these days that it is becoming more and more difficult to sort out the rumor-news from the true-news. The Mission Committee thought it expedient to tune up the “official band radio” to give you more of the Jamaican mission news — hence this installment that had been promised you. Some of which you heard on the citizen’s band was true, of course, but the deductions and analyses are being stretched to the “I can’t believe it” stage.

(The above title appeared in the Standard Bearer of February 1, 1936, Vol. 12, pages 198 and 199. The Dutch title can be translated: “Deserting Protestants” or, “Protestants Who Run Away”. The article, of course, was also Dutch — as were many others in early volumes of the Standard Bearer. But the editorial is very pertinent to any age of the church; it speaks to us yet today.

It was with great wrestlings that our Standard Bearercame into being and continued to exist by the grace and tender mercies of our God. In this wrestling, conflict and labor and trials the Lord gave His blessing. It was ever a rising in and above the conflict in faith; it was indeed luctor et emergo (I struggle and I emerge). Did not Jacob cry, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me”? Thus it was also with our paper during these fifty years of its existence! 

As To Bible Study Groups  Question  From a Grand Rapids reader I received the following question of a practical nature: “Would you please comment on neighborhood prayer groups and ‘Bible study groups’ held in various homes, involving so-called Bible study, discussion of personal experiences and discussion of personal problems. Thank-you.”

The Protestant Reformed Church of Prospect Park, New Jersey Except in some news items, there has been no account given in our columns of what, I believe, is not only newsworthy, but also an historic event. I refer to the organization of the Protestant Reformed Church of Prospect Park, New Jersey. Why do I call this an historic event? 

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6