Vol 71 Issue 19

Revival and Revivalism: The Making and Marring of American Evangelicalism (1750-1858), by Iain H. Murray. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1994. 455 pp. $27.95 (cloth). [Reviewed by Prof. H. Hanko.] Added to the list of important books which Iain Murray has written is this current volume on revival. Murray’s thesis is that the revivals of the 17th century, which began in New England at the time of Jonathan Edwards and were common on the Eastern Seaboard of America during the visits of George Whitefield, were genuine outpourings of the Spirit of God. They were, however, followed by revivals sparked...

In our two previous articles we reviewed the history of the office of elder, as well as the necessary qualifications for those filling—or aspiring to fill—this very important office in the church of Christ. At this time I wish to take a very practical look at the work of the elder in the ruling and oversight of the church. I wish to state at the outset that when one attempts to be “practical,” his thoughts will of necessity reflect his own ideas and methodologies. Since every elder’s approach to his work will be somewhat different from that of other elders,...

Inasmuch as different languages are spoken in the churches, the necessary translations shall be made in the ecclesiastical assemblies, and in the publication of recommendations, instructions, and decisions. Church Order, Article 52 The original article Article 52 is the last article in the section of the Church Order that deals with the ecclesiastical assemblies. It concerns the matter of language—the language used at the assemblies, in the official minutes of, the assemblies, and the translation of the minutes. The original article did not deal with the language question itself. This was covered in the original Article 51. Early in the days of...

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. II Corinthians 3:18  We all….  In the old dispensation there was an occasion when Israel saw the glory of the Lord, but only as it shone on the face of Moses. Moses was with God on the mount and asked to see God’s face. He was eager to see the one who was speaking to him. But he was assured that this was impossible, for God...

The address given at the graduation exercises of the Theological School of the Protestant Reformed Churches on June 19, 1995 at Hull, Iowa. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is...

In the Scriptures, beauty is inseparably related to God and His salvation. The Scriptures speak of the natural ugliness of sinful man and of the beauty of salvation in Jesus Christ, while warning against false beauty in the working out of that salvation. The Hebrew word means bright, fair, comely, and glorious. The word in the Greek has the basic meaning of hour; then, belonging to the right hour, timely; and finally, flourishing and beautiful. The Lord our God is a beautiful God! The desire of the saints is “to behold the beauty of the Lord” (Ps. 27:4) and to...

Rev. Kortering is a Protestant Reformed minister-on-loan to Singapore. The public media here in Singapore have been enjoying a lively discussion on the relationship between morality and religion. It was prompted by a monograph written by two professors of the National University of Singapore in which they analyzed the responses of citizens in connection with the 1990 Census. People were asked questions about their religious practices. By comparing these answers with the ones of the census of 1980, the government learned what changes had taken place. They learned that Christianity had made the greatest gains—45,000 new adherents, making up 12.5%...

Introduction God has raised men in the history of the church who, though not orthodox in all their views, nevertheless have fashioned the thinking of subsequent generations. Such a man was John Bunyan, teacher of the doctrines of grace but a Baptist in his covenant theology. His influence is due to the one book for which he is known by millions: Pilgrim’s Progress. Children and adults in succeeding generations who have read this fascinating allegory of the Christian life have come to appreciate and cherish it; people of God who have not read it do well to do so. A brief...

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” Isaiah 46:10, 11 “Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed...

The CRC Synod 1995: Significant decisions On at least four important issues the Christian Reformed Church’s Synod of 1995 took significant decisions. These issues are: women in office, admitting of children to the Lord’s Supper, continuing relations with the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (GKN), and the second worship service on the Lord’s Day. Not only were the decisions taken significant, they were in all four instances wrong. Concerning women in office the synod was presented a majority report and a minority report by its advisory committee. The minority report retained the 1994 decision, but with altered grounds. It said, “the most...