Vol 64 Issue 01

Ben Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan.

Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, September 9, 1987 at the Hudsonville Protestant Reformed Church. Each church was represented by two delegates. Rev. J. Slopsema presided over this session. The business of classis was, for the most part, routine and adjournment was before noon. Classis did receive a protest from a brother against a decision taken regarding his protest to the May, 1987 classis. Classis declared the protest not to be legally before it on the ground that the protest violated Article 31 of the Church Order. In essence the protest was the same as that submitted to...

Classis West of the Protestant Reformed Churches met in Pella, Iowa on September 2. Fourteen elders and twelve ministers represented the churches of the West. Rev. R. Moore opened the meeting with a devotional speech on Psalm 127:1: “Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Rev. C. Terpstra presided over the Classis. Elder W. Linker (Lacombe), Elder J. Tolsma (Lynden), and Elder J. Wierenga (Lacombe) were present at Classis as delegates for the first time and signed the Formula of Subscription. In its...

George C. Lubbers is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. The Hope of Heaven and Earth The Cherubim in the East Gate—Genesis 3:24 It is of the greatest importance carefully to notice the text here in Genesis 3:24b what the Holy Spirit tells us concerning God’s placing these Cherubim at the east gate with their flaming swords. The text reads as follows: “. . . . and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” There...

Ronald L. Cammenga is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Loveland, Colorado. At least three reasons can be given for a study of theChurch Order in the pages of The Standard Bearer. In the first place, the Church Order occupies an important place in the life of our denomination. The labors of our consistories and broader assemblies are regulated by the Church Order. Next to Scripture and the confessions, the Church Order has to be the most significant and most consulted document among us. In the second place, it has been more than 30 years since a discussion of the Church Order took place in The Standard Bearer. In...

Ronald H. Hanko is pastor of Trinity Protestant Reformed Church, Houston, Texas. 1.The importance of this doctrine. The confession that our Savior is both God and man is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. It is fundamental to every doctrine of the Scriptures and to our confession of those same doctrines. Very obviously, everything that we believe about Christ Himself as Savior hangs upon the truth of His incarnation. Unbelief staggers at the doctrines of the virgin birth, blood atonement, and the resurrection, and will not acknowledge His miracles, because it does not know Who and what He is. For...

John A. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. In a sense we can call Naomi a prodigal daughter, for there is a unique similarity between her and the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable. No, she did not leave her father’s house with an inheritance. She did not go away to squander that inheritance in riotous living. But she did leave her spiritual Father’s house and lived for ten years in a place where He did not reveal Himself in His love in Christ. And she did return to Bethlehem-Judah, even as the prodigal son did return...

Ronald J. Van Overloop is a missionary-pastor of the Protestant Reformed Churches in Northwest Chicago. The calling to give witness of the Savior and of the salvation He earned is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian. Proper motivation is so important in the performance of any work or play, and that is equally true for witnessing and evangelism. Proper motivation for witnessing consists of the following: the glorification of God, gratitude for so great salvation of such a worthless sinner, conviction of and zeal for the truth, confidence and trust in the efficacious work of the Holy Spirit and...

Barrett L. Gritters is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Byron Center, Michigan. O blessed Father, the great God of spiritual Israel, of Thine elect over the whole world; we, raise this prayer especially on behalf of the youth of the church, who are Thy chosen, on whom Thou dost look with loving eyes of favor, for those in the strength of their youth—the covenant young people.  Their needs are great, Father—sometimes greater than the needs of others. And if not greater, yet the position and experience of the young people in the battle of faith make their needs...

Gise J. Van Baren is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. That there is deep concern among the “conservatives” in the Christian Reformed Church becomes obvious in reading some of the publications, as The Outlook, and Christian Renewal. Again and again, these magazines decry the signs of growing apostasy (though few seem to dare to use the word) in that church. A recent issue of The Outlook, August 1987, is an example of that great concern. Several articles give instances of disturbing developments. In an article, “Creation and Evolution at Calvin College”, the Rev. Randal Lankheet expresses his own great...