Vol 69 Issue 11

Rev. Key is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Randolph, Wisconsin. As officebearers at this time in history we have much work cut out for us when it comes to necessary pastoral care among our youth. Let me add to that: It is important first of all that we take our calling seriously as overseers of the whole flock, including (I dare say, especially) our youth. Secondly, in this day when many scriptural principles are forsaken for theories of modern psychology, I would emphasize that we can only provide proper and profitable pastoral care by strict adherence to the...

Rev. DeVries is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Edgerton, Minnesota. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4 In a talk given in our Protestant Reformed Seminary several years ago on the subject of “Sick-Visiting” Rev. C. Hanko, a veteran pastor, remarked regarding terminal cases, “You walk with them down the valley. You must stay behind. Sometimes you’ll envy them. The grace of God will amaze you.” To a student, the truth of those...

Mr. Brands is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Loveland, Colorado. It is in keeping with our theme, “Shepherding God’s Flock,” that we now consider the involvement of the elders and deacons in the labors of pastoral care. I take it for granted that you are all agreed that the elders and deacons have a definite responsibility in regard to pastoral care. What we must determine is to what extent we are to be involved in this work, and what is the precise character of our work. Although our ministers especially have been given the title of pastors,...

Rev. Dykstra is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Doon, Iowa. The question posed by the title of this article is not academic. It is faced by every pastor who counsels depressed, troubled, hurting members of his flock. A little reading reveals a variety of views on the matter. A few writers almost entirely rule out the use of psychiatrists by Christians. On the other end of the spectrum are pastors who seem more interested in “preaching” the psychology of the world than they are in bringing God’s Word to their flocks. In practice, many other pastors are quick...

Rev. Haak is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Lynden, Washington. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.  Psalm 42:11 Spiritual depression is an involved and complex condition. In dealing with the depressed we must be prepared for great anguish and heartache in the work, as well as for the richest blessings when God grants uplifting to the troubled soul. Here we weep with those who weep, call upon God out...

Rev. Cammenga is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Loveland, Colorado. Has the emphasis on pastoral counseling gone too far? Has the emphasis on pastoral counseling gone too far in our churches and among our ministers? My answer to that question is that I firmly believe that it has. I firmly believe that we have been so influenced by the “counseling revolution” that pastoral counseling has lost its proper but limited place in the work of many of our ministers. I am personally convinced that, for many of us, the work of pastoral counseling has begun to take up...

Rev. Hanko is missionary-elect to Northern Ireland. Pastoring in the church of Jesus Christ is a work that has many different facets. As nearly everyone knows, the word “pastor” means “shepherd.” Pastoral work, then, has to do with the work of church officebearers as shepherds. This calling to be shepherds, as we will see, really involves all the work of all the different offices. A complete study of pastoral work, therefore, would involve nothing less than a complete study of the offices of the church. Because the subject is so large, this article will have to be limited to a...