Vol 76 Issue 14

Mr. Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Denomination Activities The Psalm Choir, made up of members of many of our west Michigan PR churches, was once again able to give two quality and very enjoyable concerts this late winter. On Sunday evening February 27 they presented their selection of favorite psalms in the auditorium of our First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI, and then they followed that up one week later with a concert at our Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI. We could also add, by way of a reminder, that if you have...

Homer Hoeksema was professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Enoch’s Faith The book of Hebrews emphasizes in this connection that Enoch walked by faith. And the application ofHebrews 11:6, that without faith it is impossible to please God, is made in connection with the fact that Enoch pleased God. It is in itself impossible to please God without faith. For without faith we are enemies of God. Without faith we will not seek God, cannot and will not strive to be pleasing to Him. All that is not of faith is sin. But this is...

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Byron Center, Michigan. Having sketched the history and basis of the diaconate, we must now explain in more detail what this office is. Doing this will continue to impress on us that the office is necessary for the church and has a solid basis in Scripture. The nature of this office is well summarized by this definition of the term “diaconate”: the diaconate is that office in the church of Jesus Christ which is particularly devoted to works of mercy and the care of the church’s poor. But this raises...

Rev. VanBaren is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Gun Locks, Etc. One hesitates to add to the volumes of articles treating the sad killings that have taken place within the past year in the schools. Most recently, it was the killing of one six-year-old by another. It seems beyond comprehension that a six-year-old could actually come to school with a loaded gun and kill a classmate. Endless questions are asked: Did he know what he was doing? Is he morally responsible for his action? Can he be prosecuted for his terrible deed? But what is more incomprehensible...

Rev. VanderWal is pastor of Covenant Protestant Reformed Church in Wyckoff, NJ. The above-mentioned text presents an introduction to the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, as the Son of God incarnate. God has ordained Him for the work, by means of John’s baptism. Tempted by the devil, tried by God, He has demonstrated Himself equal to His weighty calling. Now His works must be recorded. The Darkness of Affliction The place of this work of Jesus Christ, according to Matthew’s gospel account, is the region known as Galilee. Galilee was located to the north of Judea, with the region of...

Rev. Laning is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Walker, Michigan. We ended our last article by asking why Christ told His disciples, who had already received not only the sacrament of baptism but also the spiritual baptism to which it pointed, that they could not go forth preaching the gospel to the nations until they had received the baptism in the Spirit, and were thus endowed with power from on high. Evidently there was a sense in which they had already been baptized, and a sense in which they had to wait until they were baptized. How is...

Prof. Dykstra is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. The Word of God plainly teaches that believers are called to a life of serving one another. Jesus told His disciples not to seek to be masters over one another, but rather to serve the others. Serving others follows a principle of God’s kingdom, namely that “whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matt. 23:12). Applying this principle Jesus admonished His disciples, “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matt. 23:11). Jesus demonstrated...

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of Southeast Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The word fear, as a noun, verb, or adjective, is found in Scripture over five hundred times; only ten books of the sacred canon do not mention fear. This is not surprising, since fear is basic to true religion, and its absence is true of all unbelief. Scripture distinguishes between the fear of the unbeliever and the fear of the child of God; and because we are by nature inclined to be fearful, it often calls us not to fear. The only proper object of fear is...

Mr. Lanting, a member of Cornerstone Protestant Reformed Church, is a practicing attorney. May the State of Vermont exclude same-sex couples from the benefits and protections that its laws provide to opposite-sex married couples? That is the fundamental question we address, a question that the Court well knows arouses deeply-felt religious, moral, and political beliefs…. We hold that the State is constitutionally required to extend to same-sex couples the common benefits and protections that flow from marriage under Vermont law. Whether this ultimately takes the form of inclusion within the marriage laws or a parallel “domestic partnership” system or some...

The Real Scandal I just read your editorial, “The Hillsdale Scandal” (Standard Bearer, March 15, 2000), and wanted to express my appreciation for a timely and perceptive contribution. I didn’t have a lot of data about all that occurred, World magazine being one of my main sources. I do, however, concur with your pointing to the “real scandal” and pray that it will be effective in pointing us to God’s holy requirements. Thanks. (Dr.) Carl W. Bogue Akron, Ohio