Vol 70 Issue 16

Divorce and Remarriage: Biblical Principles and Pastoral Practice, by Andrew Cornes. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993. 528 pp. $24.99 (paper). [Reviewed by the Editor.] This is a careful, thorough treatment of Scripture’s teaching on marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Although concentrating on marriage, the book does justice to the single life as a blessed, preferable way of life for some Christians. Following the 300- page section of biblical exposition is a 200-page section devoted to instruction of officebearers and congregation concerning pastoral practice. Anglican minister Andrew Cornes demonstrates that it is the doctrine of Christ and Paul, that...

Mr. Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Minister Activities Subsequent to the writing of our last news column, both of our vacant churches (the newly-organized Georgetown PRC in Bauer, MI and the Hudsonville, MI PRC) met in congregational meetings to call a pastor. Both these congregations have extended calls to Rev. C. Haak, presently serving as pastor of the Lynden, WA PRC. In a matter somewhat related to the above, Rev. G. VanBaren has chosen Sunday, May 8th, as his farewell to the Hudsonville congregation, which he has served for over 16 years. Plans...

Mr. Doezema is secretary of the Domestic Mission Committee. Northern Ireland Reflecting on his first year as missionary in Northern Ireland, Rev. Ronald Hanko noted that “things have gone so well that it is difficult at times to see anything negative.” What was Rev. Hanko talking about? About his work as missionary, surely – for he wrote the above in connection with his observation that the Word had been eagerly received, and that the Lord had opened many doors for him and for the Covenant Reformed Fellowship (CRF). But we think he intended more. In fact, from the monthly reports...

Prof. Hanko is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Introduction In this and subsequent articles we intend to write sketches about certain leaders in the Reformation which God brought to the Netherlands. This is of particular concern to many of our readers who trace their ancestry to the Netherlands and find in the work of God in the Netherlands their own spiritual roots. While there are several important men whom we wish to discuss, our first articles will deal with Peter Datheen. I have given these articles the title: “Peter Datheen: Father of Reformed...

Rev. Miersma is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of New Zealand. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 10:32 Today there are, as in the past there have been, those who oppose the use of creeds in the church of Jesus Christ. Their familiar cry is, “No creed but Christ.” It is their claim that creeds are but the work of men, while the Scriptures are God’s infallible Word. Therefore, according to them, one should turn from creeds to the use of the Bible alone, for...

Rev. Terpstra is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of South Holland, Illinois. II. ITS MESSAGE When one examines the message of the modern church growth movement, he soon finds some disturbing things. While they claim that they do not undermine or alter and compromise the gospel message, the fact is that in the interests of reaching the masses and enticing them to believe and join the church they do undermine and alter and compromise the gospel message. This is evident from those who advance “power evangelism” through signs and wonders. Apart now from the error of believing the continued...

Rev. Bekkering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Pella, Iowa. The mission field is a very difficult place on which to work because the missionary may encounter people from many different backgrounds and with many different theological presuppositions and views. The missionary must be as open and undefensive as possible. That is not easy because people may throw all sorts of questions at him, which may cause him to feel threatened, vulnerable, and insecure. The missionary must be very sure of the foundation upon which he stands, so that if someone asks a question for which he has...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Serious Repercussions This is what is being felt by the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC), largely as a result of her recent decisions concerning women in office and the creation account of the Bible. The 1994 Yearbook of the CRC indicates that the CRC has suffered its second consecutive year of decline in membership. According to the Yearbook the CRC now numbers 300,320 members. In 1992 the CRC reported 316,415 members, and one year later the church had 311,202 members. The total loss over two years,...

This series of editorials gives a warning. The approval by a Reformed church of women voting at the congregational meeting permits the nose of the camel of feminism to enter the ecclesiastical tent. The occasion for the warning is the recent decision by the “liberated” Reformed Churches in the Netherlands allowing participation by women at the congregational meeting as voting members. In support of this warning, the previous editorial began quoting the esteemed Dutch Reformed theologian, Dr. H. Bouwman. In his authoritative work on Reformed church government, Gerefomeerd Kerkrecht, Dr. Bouwman demonstrated that the election of officebearers at the congregational...

This meditation by Herman Hoeksema appeared in the SB 50 years ago — June 1, 1994. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.  Romans 8:15, 16 Blessed Spirit! It is through Him, the Parakleet, the Comforter, whom the Lord had promised to send from the Father, and whom He poured forth into His church on the day of the firstfruits, that we become heirs and partakers of...