Vol 82 Issue 04

Previous article in this series can be found in the November 1, 2004 issue, p. 52 The origins of the Standard Bearer shaped the character of the magazine. It was born out of the controversy in the Christian Reformed Church over common grace. The original writers intended their new publication to be doctrinal and polemical, setting forth the truth and exposing the lie. To this purpose the SB has remained true for eighty years. Through the years, a host of articles critical of the CRC have been published in the SB. Sometimes the writers picked apart a Banner article, or...

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan.   Mission Activities There was a farewell program on October 14 in our Hull, Iowa PRC for Rev. Rodney Miersma and Sharon, his wife, whose work as missionary to Ghana ended with the closing of the field earlier this year. We also add here that there was a special welcome to Rev. Miersma and his wife to the pulpit and fellowship of the Edgerton, MN PRC on Sunday, October 16. Plans called for the Miersmas to be in Edgerton for four Sundays. Rev. Angus Stewart and his...

September 14, 2005 Faith Protestant Reformed Church Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at the Faith PRC. All the churches were represented by two delegates. Rev. R. Van Overloop was the chairman for this session. The business of classis was, with one exception, routine. Classical appointments were given to Covenant and Holland. Pulpit supply was also granted for the Pittsburgh mission and for Edmonton. The exception in the routine business of the day was a consideration of a request to increase censure to the second step for a member of a local congregation. Once the...

Rev. Key is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa. Having seen that the Holy Spirit works, sustains, and nourishes faith by the use of means, we have noted that the preaching of the gospel is the chief means of grace. Many times we have heard of the high calling of a minister of the gospel. It is a calling intricately connected with the salvation of God’s people. Isaiah emphasized that tremendous calling when he said in Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good...

Rev. Smit is pastor of the Immanuel Protestant Reformed Church in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. When explaining how Psalm 119:161 teaches us to read and study Scripture, the Reformer Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) wrote: I would advise you all, that come to the reading or hearing of this book, which is the Word of God, the most precious jewel…, that ye bring with you the fear of God, and that ye do it with all due reverence, and use your knowledge thereof, not to vain glory or frivolous disputation, but to the honour of God, increase of virtue, and edification both of yourselves and...

Rev. Key is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa. The substance of this article was the keynote address given at the Officebearers’ Conference of Classis West in Randolph, Wisconsin, on August 1, 1004. The speech has been adapted by the author for publication in the Standard Bearer. Previous article in this series: November 1, 2005, p. 57. Having considered together in our last article the basis for Christian education, we now turn our attention to the goal and fruit of such dedicated instruction of the church’s children. The Goal In the instruction of our children we strive...

Prof. Hanko is professor emeritus of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Previous article in this series: October 1, 2005, p. 9. Address and Blessing “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) and all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia.” Galatians 1:1, 2 The attack that the Judaizers in the Galatian churches made on Paul’s apostolic credentials was a vicious and subtle attack. If it could be proved to be true, Paul’s credibility was undermined...

Rev. DeVries is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Wingham, Ontario, Canada.   Honorary Degree for Canadian Hero??  We seem to be digging very deep, scraping the bottom of the barrel, to come up with Canadian heroes these days. At least that is the case with the senate committee of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. Let’s see—who would be a worthy recipient of an honorary doctorate of laws degree? The obvious choice: notorious Canadian abortion activist and lawbreaker, Dr. Henry Morgentaler! In 1968 Morgentaler opened Canada’s first freestanding abortion clinic in Montreal. Over the next twenty...

Rev. Langerak is pastor of the Southeast Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The table is an outstanding picture of the rich life God’s people enjoy within the covenant. It is where the lord of the house feeds family and friends, and they share sweet communion. In the covenant home, “children [live] like olive plants round about thy table” (Ps. 128:3). The Old Covenant house of God prominently featured a pair of golden tables (Ex. 25:23ff.). In the New Covenant, the congregation gathers regularly to worship at the Lord’s table. Covenant life, Christ promises, is “that ye may eat...

Prof. Engelsma is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. *The text of the sermon preached at the combined seminary convocation/installation service (for Prof. Ronald L. Cammenga) on August 31, 2005. “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” Titus 1:9   Introduction  The purpose of our special worship service is the installation of the Rev. Ronald Cammenga into the office of professor of theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. This office is included in the authoritative position...