Vol 90 Issue 14

Congregation Activities We here at the “News” have often felt that as congregations we do not express enough thanks to those who lead us in congregational singing each Lord’s Day. Some of these individuals have been playing church organs or pianos for many years. Do we ever take a moment to thank them for that? Well, one congregation did just that on Sunday morning, February 23, when the Southeast PRC in Grand Rapids, MI held a surprise celebration for Mrs. Mary Velthouse after their service. After the Council and Pastor shook hands, the congregation remained standing in their spots instead...

Two debuts characterized the March 5, 2014 meeting of Classis West. Rev. Cory Griess served as president for his first time, proving himself capable in leading the broader assembly in its work. And Heritage PRC of Sioux Falls, SD joined the list of churches that have hosted meetings of Classis West. Capably, graciously, with smiles, Heritage’s women put on a fine lunch. I shouldn’t be surprised if Classis accepts another invite to meet there some year. In September 1969, Classis West decided not only that its opening devotions should include Scripture reading and prayer, but also that its devotions should...

Previous article in this series: March 15, 2014, p. 278. The Form for the Ordination of Missionaries in the Protestant Reformed Churches is employed to ordain missionaries to be sent either to the heathen or to the dispersed. A mission work directed “to the heathen” has become synonymous with foreign mission work. A missionary sent “to the dispersed” labors in our own country or other Christianized lands. From the Form it is clear what is meant by those who are dispersed. They are the scattered (dispersed) sheep of Christ’s pasture. These sheep had ancestors that were faithful members of the...

Previous article in this series: February 15, 2014, p. 234. Since I wrote the first article on the above mentioned subject, my wife and I have read again through the book of Ezra for our family devotions. We were impressed especially by chapters 9 and 10, in which Ezra speaks of the serious crisis that occurred among the returned exiles when it was reported that many of God’s covenant people had committed the sin of giving their covenant sons and daughters in marriage to the heathen. Ezra grieves concerning this, saying: “For they have taken of their daughters for themselves,...

In past articles, we have looked at the trend in the law relating to society’s ever increasing acceptance of sins such as homosexuality. The law has changed from the point that homosexuality was illegal, to the point that homosexuals are a protected class. Individuals who refuse to provide goods or services to homosexuals on the basis of conscience may open themselves up to legal actions. The government also increasingly makes requirements that might conflict with the religious beliefs of citizens. In the past, lawmakers who were concerned about government imposition upon religion passed legislation aimed at protecting the freedom of...

Shame is a form of suffering. Shame is essentially the painful feeling, in one’s soul, of disgrace, embarrassment, disappointment, anxiety, and confusion. And there are many causes. Although we usually associate shame only with guilt, Scripture does not. As with all suffering, shame certainly does have its ultimate source in sin— without sin there would be no shame. But, biblically, one can suffer shame for many more reasons than guilt over sin or foolish deeds. All shame is basically due to humiliation—one’s lowly state or condition, especially when compared to any honor and glory had before, expected in the future,...

Previous article in this series: February 15, 2014, p. 222. Introduction A recent post on the Young Calvinists blog informed readers of the depths to which our godless society and the apostate church have sunk in their depravity. At the same time the post demonstrates the extent to which God’s Word is contradicted, corrupted, twisted, and thoroughly distorted by one of the most powerful self-interest groups of our day: homosexuals and lesbians. We have grown up in homes where God’s word is treated with reverence and respect. The Bible is received as God’s revelation to us His people…. Not everyone,...

“The supreme and, in a sense, the only task of the Church is to preach the Word of God. But if there is a Word of God to be proclaimed by the Church, it must needs be a Word which God Himself speaks, and which He speaks concerning Himself. And if God speaks concerning Himself, the basic and all-pervading note of that speech must inevitably be: I am God! Unless the Church proclaims this truth in all its implications, in all its purity and without compromise, she cannot preach, she has nothing to say. Unless she proclaims this truth, not...

Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. On the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion, several women left Jerusalem to see Jesus’ sepulcher. As they proceeded to the sepulcher, two unusual things happened....