Vol 69 Issue 13

Mr. Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Evangelism Activities If you read the report of Classis East that appeared here a couple of issues back, then you no doubt are aware of Classis’ examination and subsequent admitting of Rev. Peter green, a retired Reformed Church of America pastor, to the office of minister of the Word and sacraments in our churches. Since that meeting of Classis, Rev. Breen has been able to preach for several of our churches in the Grand Rapids, MI area. On Sunday, February 14, Rev. Breen found himself preaching both...

Classis West met on Wednesday, March 3, 1993, in South Holland, Illinois. Classis met in three sessions and finished its business at about l0:30 Wednesday evening. Rev. C. Terpstra served as President of Classis. 

Rev. Gritters is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Byron Center, Michigan. I heard recently about a small group of Vietnamese families who were hiding out in the jungles of South Vietnam, thinking the war against the Viet Cong was still on. United States soldiers had promised almost 20 years ago to return to help these men fight against the Viet Cong. They were still waiting. A few retired U.S. soldiers accompanied a team from the United Nations and the Red Cross to retrieve these families and bring them to the U.S. When the Vietnamese were fold to lay...

Rev. Miersma is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In considering the doctrine of the Trinity it is important that we proceed from the unity of God’s Word and the fullness of His revelation. The doctrine of the Trinity, as has been pointed out, is not founded upon one text here or there but upon the unity of Gods Word as a whole. This is important especially when dealing with corruptions of this doctrine or with various cults who would point to one or two texts twisted out of their proper context and lifted out of...

Rev. denHartog is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Redlands, California. The conviction of sin is one of the first works of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. It is vital to salvation. There can be no coming to God, there can be no fellowship and communion with God, unless there is first of all conviction of sin. We need to pray for that work of the Holy Spirit in us. The conviction of sin is also indispensable for our progress in the life of sanctification. We have our sinful nature with us until the day of our death....

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of Southeast Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The believer today is a circumcised individual with a circumcision made without hands. “For we are the circumcision which worship God in spirit, and rejoice in Jesus Christ, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3). The Old Testament rite of circumcision, the cutting of the foreskin of the male child, was a token of the covenant (Gen. 17:11). The outward sign, administered to the eight-day-old man-child born in the house or bought with money of the stranger, portrayed in a striking way the truth that...

Rev. Mahtani is pastor-elect of Trinity Protestant Reformed Church in Houston, Texas. I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. I Corinthians 16:15, 16. By the amazing grace of God we have been delivered from the darkness of self-indulgence. We have put away drug addiction, drunkenness, gluttony, and all our former lusts. But we must remember that as new creatures in Christ we are...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. New Editor for the Banner The Rev. John D. Suk, 36, has been nominated to be editor of the Banner. Suk, co-pastor of the Ann Arbor (Michigan) Christian Reformed Church, is the only candidate Christian Reformed Church Publications Board is nominating. The synod will be asked to approve his nomination in June. In an interview with the board, Suk said he sees the Banner as a vehicle for keeping people informed and for changing their minds. “We want to move people along in their Christian life,” he said....

Head Coverings and Tongues Speaking I have two questions to which I have not been able to get satisfactory answers. The Netherlands Reformed Congregations, Free Reformed Churches, and some Presbyterian denominations require women to wear head coverings in worship. This they base on I Corinthians 11:2-16. To my knowledge, the Protestant Reformed Churches have no such requirement. Whereas I don’t believe the Bible is teaching that a woman’s head must be covered in worship I have difficulty explaining the meaning behind this passage. What are your views on women being required to cover their head in worship, and what is the...

A Supra, Pre-Trib, Pre-Mill Friend of the SB In your editorials, “The Kingdom has Come” (Feb. 1 and 15, 1993), your system of doctrine seems to be your final authority, not the Bible. Enclosed is a book by Tim LaHaye, No Fear of the Storm. I challenge you to read it thoughtfully and objectively. I like the Standard Bearer very much, and some articles in it are outstanding. I am a supralapsarian, pre-trib, and pre-mill believer in my Lord and Savior Jesus the Son of God, the Christ. I agree with the five points of John Calvin. I read his...