All Articles For Vol 71 Issue 13 4/1/1995

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Minister Activities Rev. S. Houck, pastor of the Peace PRC in Lynwood, IL, had a recurrence of his heart problems. At first it looked as though he would have to have bypass surgery again. However, it now looks as though doctors may be able to treat him simply with medication. Let us remember Rev. Houck, along with all our pastors, either active or retired, in prayer. The congregation of the Edgerton, MN PRC has extended a call to Rev. R. Dykstra to serve as their next pastor....

March 1, 1995 in Loveland, CO The March meeting of Classis West was held in Loveland,CO on Wednesday, March 1. The customary Officebearers’ Conference was held the day before. The theme of the Conference was “The Truth of God’s Gracious Covenant.” The keynote address was given by Rev. Russ Dykstra, who spoke on “God’s Gracious Covenant: A Glorious Truth, A Blessed Experience. Sectionals were led by Rev. Mitchell Dick, “Setting the Record Straight on Pre-Supposed Regeneration”; Rev. Thomas Miersma, “A Critique of the Conditional Covenant”; and Rev. Arie denHartog, “Covenant Breakers.” Healthy discussion followed each paper, showing unity of thought...

Paradigms in Polity: Classic Readings in Reformed and Presbyterian Church Governments by David. W. Hall, Joseph H. Hall, editors. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1994. pp. xiii-621. $29.99. (paper). [Reviewed by Prof. Robert D. Decker.] This book ought to be in every minister’s library. The two introductory essays by the editors are must reading especially in our day. David Hall writes, As most quickly recognize, unfortunately many of us are led to our positions in church government not with forethought but in a posture of reaction. We often learn government only when threatened. It would be much...

Rev. Cammenga is pastor of Southwest Protestant Reformed Church in Grandville, Michigan. The general synod shall ordinarily meet once every two years unless there be urgent need to shorten the time. To this synod three ministers and three elders out of every classis shall be delegated. If it becomes necessary in the opinion of at least three classes to call a meeting of synod within two years, the local church designated for this purpose shall determine time and place. Church Order, Article 50

Mr. Lanting, a member of South Holland Protestant Reformed Church, is a practicing attorney. Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) gains visibility In November of 1993 President Clinton signed into law an important law insuring a significant degree of religious freedom under the First Amendment. Although the law was supported by post religious organizations, it nevertheless took two years of debate and political maneuvering before it passed both houses of Congress. The RFRA was passed lay Congress in response to the notorious 1990 Supreme Court decision in the case of Employment Division v. Smith. In that case a bitterly divided court held...

Rev. Haak is pastor of Bethel Protestant Reformed Church in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Our study this time is a sequel to the remarkable conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Two things stand out in the passage. First, Christ uses His labors with the woman as the ground-work for gathering a spiritual harvest among the Samaritans. This is a prefiguration of the spiritual harvest that shall be gathered out of all the nations in the New Testament era. Second, Christ instructs His disciples in their calling as reapers in this harvest. We should notice that the fruit of Christ’s...

Rev. Bruinsma is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan. What you see above is a Yin-Yang symbol. Along with the peace sign and the symbol of the cross, it has become a popular ornament today. It can be found in most pop jewelry stores. It can be worn around one’s neck, on one’s ears, or even as a pendant on his clothing. One can sew it on his pants, or buy a shirt with the symbol already on it. The more daring might even choose to have it tattooed on their bodies. What is this symbol? Where...

Rev. Woudenberg is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.  Revelation 3:12 As we have noted several times, in the eyes of the Liberated Churches, when the synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches adopted the...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Why I Signed It This is the title of a lengthy essay which appeared in the December 12 issue of Christianity Today by James I. Packer. “It” refers to the document,Evangelicals Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium (ECT), which was signed by a number of Roman Catholics as well as a number of evangelical leaders and theologians and concerning which we reported earlier in these columns. The 25 page document originated with evangelical leader Charles Colson and Richard John Neuhaus, a former Protestant who turned Roman Catholic. This...

“Common Grace” and Difficult Texts I have subscribed to the Standard Bearer for about two years, and have found the articles edifying and thought-provoking. I would like your comments on two verses in light of the Protestant Reformed Churches’ position on common grace. As I understand it, your position is that God has no gracious purposes with regard to the non-elect, either in providentially providing them with material benefits, or in permitting them to come under the preaching of the gospel.This position helps to explain many verses that would otherwise be difficult to interpret, e.g., Matthew. 13:10-15. However, two verses mentioned below seem...