Vol 64 Issue 07

Ben Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. It has been a couple of months now since we have had a church profile in our news. Let’s change that by looking at the history of Randolph Protestant Reformed Church in Randolph, Wisconsin. In 1942 the Mission Committee of our churches came to work in the Randolph area. Rev. C. Hanko, with his consistory of the Oak Lawn, IL, congregation, was instrumental in these beginnings. In Sept. of that same year, the interested group rented the Congregational Church in town, using it Sunday afternoons and evenings....

Nag Hammadi, Gnosticism, and Early Christianity, Ed. by Charles W. Hedrick & Robert Hodgson, Jr. Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, Massachusetts; 1986. 332 pp., $14.95 (paper). (Reviewed by Prof. H. Hanko.) Gnosticism was a heresy which appeared in the early church and against which the church had a long and bitter struggle before victory was achieved. Its basic character was its synthesis of Christianity, Oriental mysticism and pagan philosophy; and because of this character, its threat was a synthesizing of Christianity with pagan thought, which would have destroyed Christianity. In many respects, it is similar to today’s more liberal ecumenical movements which...

Thomas C. Miersma is pastor of the First Protestant Reformed Church, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The principle of rationalism by which man, by his own reason and thought can come to a knowledge of the truth without divine revelation, led, as we have seen, to the making of an idol, of a philosophical god, after man’s own imagination. Thus it led to the worship of the creature and not the Creator. It is not surprising therefore that it would also lead to the resurrection of old heresies rooted in pre-Christian paganism. This tendency manifested itself in the philosophy of Leibnitz. In...

Ronald L. Cammenga is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Loveland, Colorado. “No one, though he be a professor of theology, elder, or deacon, shall be permitted to enter upon the ministry of the Word and the sacraments without having been lawfully called thereunto. And when anyone acts contrary thereto, and after being frequently admonished does not desist, the classis shall judge whether he is to be declared a schismatic or is to be punished in some other way.” Church Order, Article 3. The Importance of this Article Article 3 begins the treatment by the Church Order of the office of the...

Ronald H. Hanko is pastor of Trinity Protestant Reformed Church, Houston, Texas. 4. The divine Person of Christ. In speaking of the two natures of Christ, it is necessary not only to speak of these natures, but also of the Person of Christ. These terms, “person” and “nature,” are not so much biblical as theological terms, and are also used in connection with the doctrine of the trinity. The use of them arose out of the need to express and define the truth of Scripture concerning God Triune and concerning Jesus Christ as clearly as possible over against various heresies...

Cornelius Hanko is an emeritus minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches. One of our faithful readers asks some questions about liturgy and liturgical practices. Question #1 When the invocation is spoken, the minister addresses the congregation as “you”, but at the end of the service when the salutation is given, some ministers conclude with “you all”. Is the “you all” correct? Reply Obviously our reader, who is a good listener, has more in mind than might appear on the surface of his question. He seems to imply that when the congregation meets in public worship on Sunday as church institute,...

Arie den Hartog is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Randolph, Wisconsin.

John A. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. The first time that Ruth met Boaz she made a striking and significant confession. Boaz had told her not to glean in another field of some other Israelite; that he had charged his young men not to touch her; and that she might drink of the water which his servants had drawn for themselves. Then Ruth not only confessed that she was a stranger unto him but also that she was “not like unto one of thy handmaidens.” Doing this she confessed being a Moabitess and a stranger...

George C. Lubbers is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. This portion of the prophecy is very “profitable for reproof, for doctrine, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work!” For it is indeed a part of the sacred Scripture, which is given by inspiration of God. The prophet Micah belongs to the holy men of God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Indeed, it is the more sure word of prophecy whereunto we do well to take heed, as unto a...

Standard Bearer Recordings. If I remember correctly, this has been mentioned in our News column some time ago. However, recently I had occasion to follow up on it and to obtain further information. The Evangelism Society of Southeast Protestant Reformed Church makes available cassette recordings of The Standard Bearer for the blind and those who have poor eyesight. These recordings are free, and no postage is necessary. If you are among those who could benefit from this service, send your request to: Mr. Ken Rietema, P.O. Box 8343, Grand Rapids, MI 49508. Or telephone: 616/455-2791. Children’s Treasures. The Hope Male Quartet (Hope...