Vol 70 Issue 09

Mr. Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Evangelism Activities “The Reformed Bookshelf,” the book store in the basement of the South Holland, IL PRC, is off to a very encouraging start. As of the end of November, over $2,300 worth of books have been purchased by visitors as well as members of South Holland’s congregation. Obviously, South Holland’s congregation is taking the advice of their Evangelism Committee to stop in and browse through all the books which now fill up the west wall of the church basement. Each book has a card in it...

The Gnostic Empire Strikes Back: An Old Heresy for the New Age, by Peter Jones. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 1992. 112 pages. $6.95 (paper). [Reviewed by the Editor.] Presbyterian theologian Peter Jones makes a convincing case for his contention that the New Age movement is the reappearance of the ancient heresy of Gnosticism. The apostles themselves and the early post-apostolic church opposed and condemned Gnosticism. “The New Age,” writes Jones, “is in fact a modern form of ancient Gnosticism” (p. 7). The reader learns something both about the old Gnostic error and about the New Age error. Both deny...

Rev. Bruinsma is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church of Holland, Michigan. (At the September 1993 meeting of the Eastern League of Men’s and Ladies’ Societies, Rev. Bruinsma spoke on the above topic. The substance of his speech will appear in this rubric in two installments, the first of which follows here.) A different spirit prevails in the world today as compared to, say, 40 years ago. Many who have lived through these years perhaps did not even notice the change. This is true because the change was gradual, and, more than these people realize, their own world-and-life view has...

Rev. Tomlinson is pastor of the First Congregational Church of Merrimack, NH. A close friend in the Lord died some time ago. Another friend and I were rejoicing over her homecoming in heaven, in spite of the devil’s attempts to discourage her at the end. The brother to whom I was talking, made a statement along this line: The devil is the most frustrated being in all the universe. Everything he tries, in his war against God, is taken up and used by God to advance God’s kingdom. This is a most important biblical doctrine. In every way, at all...

Rev. denHartog is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church of Redlands, California. Our dealing with marital problems in the church must center in maintaining and teaching authoritatively, but also compassionately and skillfully, the great biblical principles of marriage. The most basic principle is that marriage is an institution of God, not merely an invention of men. Because marriage is an ordinance of God, God Himself has given to us a definite order and pattern for marriage in His Word. That pattern is good and wise because it was established by the good and wise God. That basic pattern is the...

Rev. Terpstra is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of South Holland, Illinois. “But the God of all grace, who hath called you unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, . . . make you perfect…” I Pet. 5:10 “… The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious… “ Ex. 34:6 “One thing have I desired of the LORD, . . . that I may dwell in the house of the LORD…, to behold the beauty of the LORD…” Ps. 27:4 “Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation” Ps. 106:4 “For by...

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of Southeast Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The harp has a solemn sound which soothes the restless spirit; the trumpet’s call has the unique ability to quicken and excite. Who is not stirred by the trumpets of a military band, or by the trumpet solo that precedes the bass recitative of I Corinthians 15:52 in Handel’s Messiah? The trumpets of early Israel were made of ram’s or goat’s horns. Moses was instructed by God to make two trumpets of silver (Num. 10:12) to be blown at certain ceremonies. All these instruments (variously translated trumpets, horns, or...

January 7,1994 Dear Friends in Christ: We continue to enjoy God’s blessing in our life and work at the seminary. We are thankful to God for the harmony which prevails and for the good progress being made by the students at all levels. The January interim class, taught this year by the undersigned, is a seminar on pastoral care. In this class we are dealing with some of the problems the students are likely to face in the pastorate, such as alcoholism, eating disorders, depression/anxiety, and marriage problems. Two of our ministers and an elder made presentations to the class....

Prof. Hanko is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Introduction Without question the Heidelberg Catechism is one of the most beloved Confessions of all time, if not indeed the most beloved. Those who cherish the heritage of the truth, and who turn to the Confessions of the church to learn it, will rejoice in the Heidelberger as a precious gift of God through the Spirit of Truth whom Christ promised the church. Not only those who belong to churches which have made the Catechism their theological basis, but God’s people from any tradition and...

What is this “Common Grace”? I have been a subscriber to the Standard Bearer for nearly a year now. I want to express to you my great satisfaction with this magazine. It has been a great spiritual and doctrinal encouragement to me. I hold, without reservations, to that doctrine expressed in the Westminster standards. I have not studied the Dutch standards as thoroughly, but in my study so far I believe I am in absolute agreement with them as well. (It appears to me to be the same understanding of the truth, with slightly different emphases at a few points.)...