Vol 73 Issue 19

Mr. Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Minister Activities Highlights of this year’s Synod were many. But perhaps the one that will have the most impact on us as churches was the graduation of three seminarians: Mr. Daniel Kleyn, Mr. James Laning, and Mr. Martin VanderWal. We pass along our congratulations to each of them and add our prayer that our heavenly Father will appoint them a place in our churches. Rev. B. Gritters, pastor at our Hudsonville, MI PRC, declined the call he had been considering from the Hope PRC in Walker, MI...

Rev. Key is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Randolph, Wisconsin. In the past couple years there has been a stirring controversy in the Reformed Church of America concerning one of its ministers. Richard Rhem, a pastor in Spring Lake, Michigan, has taught publicly that faith in Jesus Christ is not the only way to salvation, and that Jews, Muslims, and those from other religious backgrounds may be as likely to enter heaven as those who profess faith in Christ. The periodical Christian Renewal reported in September of 1996 that the case had even drawn the attention of the...

Rev. Kortering is a Protestant Reformed minister-on-loan to Singapore. We should consider in a little more detail how we know if a person is actually demon possessed? This is necessary to consider in connection with the method of deliverance. There are so many far-out and wild-eyed books about demon possession and deliverance that I can understand why a Reformed man would simply throw up his hands and deny its existence. That is an easy way out of the mess. The Charismatic and Pentecostal movement has not helped in this regard either. We all know how they go about seeing demons...

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Byron Center, Michigan. A Reformed view of language must begin with the assertion that the ability to express thoughts by means of language comes from God. This means that the original language which Adam spoke was not invented or discovered by Adam, but was given by God to Adam. This means also that God created man with the ability to use language. That language is a gift from God is a matter of our faith. In the last article I mentioned three theories regarding the origin of language which do...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. * This is the text of the commencement address given at the seminary graduation of Daniel Kleyn, James Laning, Darren Thole, and Martin VanderWal on June 16, 1997. Delegates to the Synod of 1997, members of the Theological School Committee, esteemed colleagues of the faculty, graduates of the class of 1997, and fellow saints in Christ: Beginning with his first convocation service and throughout his four years in the seminary a student hears certain themes repeated over and over. Tonight I present without apology to you who graduate...

The Christian Reformed Synod There were several issues at the synod of the Christian Reformed Church, meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 14-21, which should be of interest and concern for those of us who observe from the sidelines. The first was the election of their president — and his comments about the situation in that denomination today. The following quotations are from the reports of the URNS of Darrell T. Maurina: In a highly unusual move, the Christian Reformed synod elected two Holland area pastors as its president and vice-president. Meeting yesterday at Calvin College, the broadest assembly...

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in Bauer, Michigan. *This is the substance of a speech delivered to the Parent Teachers Association at Heritage Christian School. It is difficult to live a godly life. It is difficult for all of God’s people, but it seems especially difficult for young people (and for their parents). It has been said that it is harder to be a godly young person today than it was in the past. From one perspective this is not true. The people of God in every age live in a spiritual battle. This battle began...

Andrew Fuller, No Calvinist Never before have I written a letter to the editor of any periodical, nor did I intend to do so this time, thinking that surely someone else would “take up the cudgel.” Having waited several months, however, with no one else having addressed the problem that troubled me, I felt I should write. I refer to the article in the April 1, 1997 issue of the Standard Bearer, entitled “If God Is Sovereign, Is Evangelism Urgent and Necessary?” I wish to make it clear that I have no problem with the theme of the article or...

Summer is the time of vacations. The people travel. They are gone from home for weeks. Some go abroad. Throughout the summer, families leave home on the weekends to camp in the parks and at the beaches. Especially is this true over holiday weekends. Others spend the weekends in their trailer or cottage at some distant lake. More and more, this is summer also for the members of the Protestant Reformed Churches. The Lord gives to many such riches and luxuries that they can be away from their work for weeks, travel widely, and live more or less comfortably elsewhere...

Rev. Hanko is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:1, 2 Blessed! Thrice blessed is the man whose delight is in God’s law! He does not consort with the ungodly. The ungodly are those who, according to the original, are careless, ruthless, filled with hatred against God and His...