Vol 66 Issue 02

Mr. Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Let’s start out this issue of the news with a look atMinisterial Calls. As reported last time, Rev. Kortering declined the invitation to go to help the saints in Burnie, Tasmania for a year. Rev. Arie den Hartog, along with his consistory, is now considering the matter. Our congregation located in Lynwood, IL, the Peace P.R.C., called Rev. Ron Hanko to be their pastor, from a trio of Pastors A. den Hartog, S. Key, and R. Hanko. Now a look at Congregational Highlights. On September 18 the Evangelism...

Classis West met on Wednesday, September 6, 1989 in Doon, Iowa. Classis met in two sessions and finished all its business at about 4:00 Wednesday afternoon. Rev. M. DeVries served as President of the meeting. This was the first Classis at which delegates from the new Congregation of Bethel, in Elk Grove, Illinois, were present. Most of the business of Classis was routine. Classical appointments were granted to the congregations of Hope, Redlands, California, Hope, Isabel, South Dakota, and Peace, Lynwood, Illinois, though Classis did decide to ask Classis East for help in supplying Peace’s pulpit. A request for additional...

WHAT MEAN YE BY THIS SERVICE?: PAEDOCOMMUNION IN LIGHT OF THE PASSOVER, by Richard Bacon; Presbyterian Heritage Publications, 1989; 42 pp.; $2.75. Available from Presbyterian Heritage Publications, P.O. Box 180922, Dallas, TX 75218. (Reviewed by the Editor) In recent years, men have introduced into Reformed and Presbyterian worship the novelty of child, and even infant, communion (“paedocommunion”). Three or four year old children of believers, or even infants in arms according to some, are supposed to be worthy partakers of the Lords Supper. Advocates of this practice argue that infant communion is required by infant baptism and that participation in...

Rev. Gritters is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Byron Center, Michigan. PARENTS! When I was leading discussion groups at the Young People’s convention this summer, I asked the young people in my group if they had read a certain article in the Standard Bearer. I was discouraged at the response; not one of them had. In fact, it was almost discouraging enough to conclude that I would not write any more. Parents, if your young people have been reading, thanks! And thanks to you too, young people! It was all worth the time and effort! But, parents, if...

September 21, 1989 Dear Board, Association members, and friends of the Reformed Free Publishing Association: Threescore and five years ago our spiritual forefathers brought forth in this our fair city of churches (Grand Rapids, MI) a new and much needed magazine named “The Standard Bearer.” The need was urgent to explain and defend their scriptural position regarding the Common Grace controversy of that day. A quote from the original statement of purpose says it best: “We are concerned to instruct and to help the Reformed child of God in the living of a full, deep, all-sided Christian life for his...

Rev. Cammenga is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Loveland, Colorado. “Among the ministers of the Word equality shall be maintained with respect to the duties of their office, and also in other matters as far as possible, according to the judgment of the consistory, and if necessary, of the classis; which equality shall also be maintained in the case of the elders and deacons.” Church Order, Article 17. Introduction This article concerns what is commonly referred to as parity of officebearers. Among officebearers there is to be parity or equality. The word for “equality” in the Dutch version of...

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Bethel Protestant Reformed Church in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Success is described as achieving fame, wealth, or rank, accomplishing one’s goal. The notorious “success story” is about someone who began small and insignificant, but became big, rich, and important. American culture has a carnal fascination with size and success. Our society appreciates everything that is big (except, maybe, the family). Success in business is identified with increased sales, advancement, and growth. Christians often seem to think in the same terms. “Success” also in the church is defined only in terms of new building programs necessitated...

Rev. Woudenberg is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. I Timothy 2:5, 6 Inasmuch as we are called by Christ to proclaim the gospel to every creature—that is, to “offer” it, in the historical Latin sense of the word,¹ but not in the modern colloquial sense²—there are a number of questions that arise: How are we expected to bring this gospel? To whom in real and practical terms...

Prof. Hanko is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Introduction The church of Jesus Christ, while in the world, is always in persecution. It is her lot in this life to suffer for righteousness’ sake. We ought not be surprised by this, for the Scriptures speak of it in countless places; and what Paul told the churches he organized on his first missionary journey is true for all time: “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). This incessant persecution has produced a list of heroes of faith, saints,...

Homeschooling . . . I was surprised and disappointed with the hostility expressed in the September 15 Standard Bearertoward home schooling (“Protestant Reformed Christian Schools—Covenantal Cooperation”).Deuteronomy 6:7-9 tells us to teach our children everywhere and whenever we can. I believe parents may delegate this responsibility to the teachers in the P.R. schools; but the Bible certainly doesn’t demand this! In fact, throughout the Bible, fathers are held responsible for the children’s upbringing. Some of these verses areProverbs 1:8, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1. The slam against programs used by homeschoolers may have been valid for some curriculums, but not all. Besides, parents can...