Vol 72 Issue 07

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Young People’s Activities The young adults in the Grand Rapids, MI area met in late November for their monthly meeting at the Faith PRC in Jenison, MI. Pastor-elect Doug Kuiper spoke on the topic, “Remembering the Sabbath Day.” Our First PRC in Holland, MI hosted a Young Adult Retreat at the Days Inn in Benton Harbor, MI on November 17 and 18. The topic for that retreat, was “What Do You Do With Your Talents?” There is a Young Adult Class which meets on a regular basis...

November 9, 1995 in Edgerton, Minnesota On November 9, Classis West met in Edger-ton, Minnesota for the purpose of examining Candidate Allen Brummel, who had received and accepted the call to serve as pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Edgerton. A special worship service was called by Edgerton’s consistory for the evening of November 8, at which time Pastor- elect Brummel expounded Scripture from Genesis 17:7. In attendance were not only the members of the congregation, but the 28 delegates of Classis West, as well as three ministers from Classis East who were in attendance as synodical deputies. The...

Mr. Lanting, a member of South Holland Protestant Reformed Church, is a practicing attorney. “Illinois closes its schools on twelve holidays. Nine are purely secular. Two are religious in origin but secularized: Christmas and Thanksgiving. Only one of the holidays is a purely religious holiday, Good Friday, the holiday celebrated only by believing Christians. School districts are free to close their schools on the major holidays of other religions, but all public schools throughout the state are forced to close on Good Friday regardless of the preference of local school districts and no matter how small the number of students...

More on “Promise Keepers” The Christian News, a paper produced by a Lutheran minister, continues to present articles which treat of the “Promise Keepers.” In its issue of Nov. 6, 1995, it quotes from a statement made by the American Council of Christian Churches (ACCC), an association of conservative churches. Their concern is expressed thus: Resolution 955 —  Promise Keepers While we acknowledge it to be God’s will that Christian men provide biblical leadership in the home and in the local church, the American Council of Christian Churches stands diametrically opposed to Promise Keepers. This ecumenical movement is both unscriptural...

Rev. Woudenberg is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The following letter was received in response to our recent articles: Dear Editor: I have some questions concerning Rev. Woudenberg’s views on the covenant expressed in the Standard Bearers of Sept. l/95, p. 493 and Oct. l/95, p. 13. It is not at all clear to me how he understands the baptism of children born into a covenant home. Are they baptized as children in the covenant as heirs of the promise? Or does baptism only signify that they are members of God’s church? Can we make such...

Rev. Key is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Randolph, Wisconsin. Having considered the magnificence of the Creator, and how He created, we have yet to consider the time element in His creative handiwork How long did God take to form His creative handiwork? We immediately state our answer on the basis of what we read in Genesis 1, and what is confirmed by many other Scripture references. God performed His wonder work of creation in only six days. And those days are to be understood literally. They were, without question, twenty-four hour days just as we know the...

Mr. Schipper is a member of and former deacon in Southwest Protestant Reformed Church. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”  Acts 6:3 Once each year the men currently holding office in our churches meet together as council and consider who among the men in the congregation best meet the qualifications for deacons as mentioned in Acts 6 and in I Timothy 3. The office bearers consider these qualifications in light of the unique duties Christ calls deacons to perform. The...

Another year has just begun — Another year my earthy race to run. How shall I run? What is my goal? Where shall I find rest for my soul? “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ ]esus. Philippians 3:14 Another year -again a year of war — A year to fight the evil at my door. How do I fight? What is my strategy? What my protection? What refuge is for me? “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the...

Rev. Haak is pastor of Bethel Protestant Reformed Church in Itasca, Illinois. This memorable and beautiful sermon on Christ as the Bread of Life is directly connected to the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. For the Jews this was the greatest miracle they had ever seen, and in their carnal zeal they see Him as the perfect king, able to supply them with earthly bread. The Lord wasted no time in announcing to them that He can be and will be the Bread of Life to His own, only through His death on the cross for their...

Singing Psalms I would like to express my appreciation for your editorials of May 1 and June 1, 1995 entitled “Music in the Church.” These articles deserve careful reading, so that the principle that underlies them, namely that the Psalms constitute the church’s songbook till the end of time, is clearly understood. We sing them, not first of all because it is required of us by the Church Order, but because it is required of us by God Himself. I do however have a question. In my study of the Psalm/Hymn question I have read that the original word-order in...