Vol 87 Issue 04

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Psalm 68:19 Psalm 98 is a Psalm of David. It was written in celebration of a great victory over Israel’s enemies. In this Psalm David called upon Israel to rejoice before the Lord and sing praises to Him. In keeping with all this, David emphasized three things in the verse we use for this meditation. He described the Lord as the God of Israel’s salvation. He pointed out that the Lord daily loads His people with benefits. And he called the Lord blessed, that...

Previous article in this series: November 1, 2010, p. 52. Dear Reformed Christian Young People (and their parents), How should a student respond when his religion professor asks the students to reflect on this statement: “Martin Luther King Jr. (and other civil rights advocates), influential economists, and Nobel Peace prize winners, can do as much to advance God’s kingdom as the Calvins and Luthers can.” Or if the professor praises preachers who resign from the ministry to run for political office because they can more effectively promote God’s kingdom as civil rulers? Or maybe the professor of “Social and Political...

I praise God for your article [October 1, 2010, p. 4] on the dangers which abound in Christian colleges! Thank you, brother, for your clear, insightful article. Your article is “dead on” in its assessment of the minefield which exists in Christian colleges today. One rightly expects a hostile environment in a public college/university. The danger today, like hidden reefs below otherwise placid waters, is the rapid erosion of adherence to the sufficiency, perspicuity, and authority of Scripture. The plethora of non-24-hour views on the days of Creation is an example of enormous compromise, which portends of even further and...

Previous article in this series: September 15, 2010, p. 490. For a creedal, biblical critique of postmillennialism as it has appeared in the Reformed tradition, it is necessary that we recognize the fundamental elements of this doctrine of the last things. An Earthly Victory within History At the heart of postmillennialism is the conviction and desire that there will be an earthly realization of the victory promised by the gospel to the kingdom of Christ. The Messianic kingdom will enjoy an earthly triumph within history. There must be a “golden age” for the church before history ends with the coming...

Having concluded our treatment of the office of deacon, we will examine various aspects of the office of elder, as God permits. My goal is not to treat every aspect of the office of elder in as much detail as I did the office of deacon, but to focus more particularly on various aspects of the work of the elders. We begin by noting the nature of the office of elder: it is the office of rule in the church of Jesus Christ. Scriptural testimony That the office of elder in the church of Jesus Christ is one of rule,...

Previous article in this series: September 1, 2010, p. 464. “Churches whose usages differ from ours merely in nonessentials shall not be rejected.” Church Order, Article 85. The Same, but Different Article 85 of the Church Order prohibits the Protestant Reformed Churches from rejecting other churches and denominations “whose usages differ from ours merely in nonessentials.” Churches that differ from us in essentials are to be rejected. But churches that differ from us only in “nonessentials” are to be received. And with such churches official relationships are to be established. The mandate of Article 85 arises out of the marvelous...

Previous articlle in this series: October 1, 2010, p. 18. Children obviously go through stages of growing up. At the beginning they have little or no knowledge or wisdom of their own. They must therefore be taught unquestioned obedience to their parents, before they are able to understand. This is a beautiful thing when it is the fruit of the Spirit’s operation in their hearts. Also we who are adults must, finally, obey God with childlike faith and trust, even when we do not understand God’s infinite and absolute truth and wisdom. His wisdom far transcends our puny wisdom, and...

Previous article in this series: August 2010, p. 451. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 7 Question 20. Are all men then, as they perished in Adam, saved by Christ? Answer. No, only those who are ingrafted into Him, and receive all His benefits, by a true faith. Question 21. What is true faith? Answer. True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel in my heart; that not only to others, but to me...

Special Session, October 13, 2010 First PRC — Holland, MI Classis East met in special session on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 for the purpose of examining Daniel Holstege, the Pastor-elect of First PRC, Holland, MI. Rev. H. Bleyenberg was the chair of this session. Pastor-elect Daniel Holstege successfully sustained his examination, and a Classical Diploma was presented to him certifying this accomplishment. The consistory of the First PRC, Holland was authorized to ordain and install Pastor-elect Holstege into the office of the ministry of the Word and sacraments in the Protestant Reformed Churches. These are joyous occasions for our churches...

Evangelism Activities The Evangelism Committee of the Hudsonville, MI PRC sponsored a personal-witnessing conference on consecutive Tuesday evenings, September 28 and October 5. Each session followed the same format. First there was a short speech, followed by splitting into smaller groups to discuss various aspects of witnessing, meant to encourage those who attended in their own personal witnessing. On September 28 Rev. A. Spriensma spoke on “Personal Evangelism: A Duty and a Delight,” and on October 5 Rev. R. VanOverloop spoke on “Seeing and Entering Open Doors in Evangelism.” The Evangelism Committee of the Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI invited...