Vol 73 Issue 05

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Congregational Activities As some of you may know, our First PRC in Holland, MI purchased seven acres of land back in 1995 for a future building site. Plans called for First to begin a building project sometime in the near future. Well, the future for First appears to have arrived sooner than they may have anticipated. On September 27 they finalized the sale of their church (minus parsonage) to the Lord of Life Lutheran Church of Holland. This gave First only 30 days to find a new...

Rev. Woudenberg is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. In the July issue of Christian Renewal there appeared two letters each in its own way accusing the Protestant Reformed Churches of following “human logic.” But really, what grounds are there for that? Let’s first, however, see the letters: Apparent Contradiction Please allow me to enter the fray once more. Rev. Woudenberg, in his response to Tim Gallant (May 27), says that “Tuininga is driven to claim that to be Reformed is to be neither a consistent Calvinist or an Arminian, but both:” The reason Woudenberg comes to that...

Rev. Terpstra is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of South Holland, Illinois. I express my thanks to the Board of the RFPA for the invitation to speak at your annual meeting. I have a deep appreciation for the labors of the Association and for the literature which the RFPA produces. I want you to know that I am a avid reader and promoter of the Standard Bearer and of the books which the RFPA publishes. And as you may know, South Holland PRC is a loyal supporter of this ministry as well, both through the congregation and through its...

Mr. Kamps is the retiring secretary of the RFPA. Dear RFPA Members and Friends, Greetings on behalf of the RFPA board. Once again, having a long-standing tradition spanning more than 70 years, we meet tonight as the Reformed Free Publishing Association in order to review the decisions and accomplishments of the past year, and to carry on the affairs of this association. At our last annual meeting, the decision was made to merge the PCPPRL book publishing arm with the RFPA organization so that we would be one board publishing both the Standard Bearer and book publications. This report will give...

Rev. Dick is pastor of Grace Protestant Reformed Church in Standale, Michigan. Jesus is in the temple, teaching (John 8:2). He had come early in the morning. And all the people had come unto Him. Beautiful picture here of true worship! People worshiping God in Jesus. No brass bands. No need of liturgical dancing. They worship through hearing His Word. And all come. There is no distinction. One and all who believe on Him, and who will learn of Him and His gospel – all these come. They come “early in the morning” — first thing. Worship is their priority...

Prof. Hanko is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Calvin in Strassburg After a brief stay in Basel, Calvin went to Strassburg, a city in southern Germany where the Swiss reformation had already taken root. The three years he spent in this city were probably the happiest years of his life. He had no need to fight a Council, no need to oppose a stubborn people at every turn of the way, no need to do battle with enemies on every side. He had peace and quiet, time for study and writing, opportunity to...

Rev. Key is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Randolph, Wisconsin. When we consider the truth concerning man’s sin and the total depravity of the human nature, we must also, recognize that there is progression, an ongoing development in sin’s manifestation among men. The corruption of the human race continues to become manifest in ever-increasing measure. We make a statement here that clearly touches on our view of the last times. We cannot develop that doctrine of the last things now. In the rubric, “Taking Heed to Doctrine,” we want to continue in an orderly progression through the whole...

Not Appropriate As well-meaning as MaryBeth Lubbers’ article was on her fond memories of Miss Reitsma (“The Reformed Family: Teachers,” Standard Bearer, 9/15/96), my wife and I were offended at the lack of personal purity that some parts of the article endorsed. Mrs. Lubbers made it a point to mention Miss Reitsma’s shapeliness and fashionable clothing, going even further to say that “she was a head-turner.” No mention is made that any heads that turned were turned in wickedness, as is made very clear in Matthew 5:28: “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust...

Jesus Christ is victor. He is victor already now. He is victor in this world. We do not see this yet. But we believe it as the clear testimony of the Bible. In His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, He has become the Lord. He sits now at God’s right hand. He wields the power of providence, upholding and. governing all things (Eph. 1:19-23; Heb. l:3; Rev. 5): Jesus Christ is victor as Mediator of the covenant and Head of the church. By His atoning death .and bodily resurrection, He has conquered sin, Satan, death, .and the ungodly world and has...