Vol 97 Issue 11

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 6:19-20 Are you struggling amid the storms of life—storms and trials that are so strong and fiery that they cause deep distress and threaten to overwhelm your sinking soul? Such strong storms and fiery trials are not “strange” for the pilgrim on his earthly sojourn (cf. I Pet. 4:12). When fellow pilgrim and inspired writer of Hebrews...

The ‘editorial’ in this issue is not what had been planned. Unexpected circumstances sometimes require change of plans. A schism in the church is such a circumstance. In place of editorial is lament. We are familiar with the book of Lamentations. Many psalms are laments also. These expressions of grief are models for the people of God, proper expressions of sorrow in times of trouble. Laments often follow a pattern. Study the Psalms of lament to see that pattern. Readers will also recognize the biblical and confessional language used to form this lament. The church has her vocabulary and expressions,...

How does the PRC grieve, Father! For almost 100 years Thy grace and mercy have kept these churches. In great weakness, but in the unity of the truth and the bond of peace, we have labored in the name of Jesus Christ. Now, we sit in distress. Distress deeper than most of us have known before. Brothers and sisters have gone out from us. Lovers have departed. Friendships are wounded. Families broken. Churches damaged. What has been so precious to us and which we have taken too for granted—unity and fellowship in the truth of our Lord Jesus—has been fractured....

Canada: Ontario church elders facing large fines A report from The Christian Post gives an example of civil governments using their authority in relation to the church in a seemingly unprecedented way.1 The circumstances, of course, are unique, but it gives Christians in North America pause when we see the long arm of the law going where it has not gone before, at least not in recent memory. The example arises out of a violation committed by Trinity Bible Chapel of Waterloo, Ontario by virtue of holding a worship service on December 27, 2020. The particular law violated was the...

Previous article in this series: January 15, 2021, p. 130. The main doctrinal issue that the Council of Constantinople addressed was that of the Trinity, including the question as to how Christ is truly God and man, and whether the Holy Spirit is truly God. In our last article we noted the decisions of the Council regarding this issue, and the creed that the Council produced. Most ecclesiastical assemblies that treat doctrinal issues also deal with other matters that pertain to the welfare of the churches. The Second Ecumenical Council was no exception. In this article we note two other...

It is universally recognized as the symbol of Christendom. If you walk through the arched doorway of a gothic cathedral, you will see a version of it in gold, encrusted with jewels, prominently displayed on the back wall. If you visit a military cemetery, you will see thousands of them in neat, white rows, casting shadows over manicured green grass. It dangles from silver chains or leather loops on the necks of men, women, and children all over the world. It marks arms, wrists, and ankles with the black ink of the tattoo. It is embossed in the leather binding...

It does not take long for a new mother to notice her work is never done. There are so many needs. There are diapers to change, feeding and burping the baby, giving baths, cooking, cleaning, washing laundry, ironing, fixing things that break, running errands, potty training, wiping noses…whatever the need is, and then some, as more children are added to the family. Perhaps a young mother’s most shocking realization is that the bulk of her work is routine and unglamorous. How do you, dear Christian mother, like doing those unpaid, lowly, menial tasks to meet the needs of others? Though...

We are all communicators. Already as babies we begin to communicate what we want by pointing, crying, and stammering our first words. As we get older, our ability to communicate becomes more sophisticated, and we spend a large portion of our days talking, texting, and tweeting. While it’s true that we are all communicators, it’s equally true that we are not very good communicators. To give just a small sampling of our communication errors, we say things that aren’t true, we say true things at the wrong time and in the wrong way, and we gossip and backbite. How many...

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. Colossians 1:16 When beholding the creation with the eyes of faith, we note that some of God’s works so obviously point to our Creator that any theories of origins that exclude Him simply become absurd. One example of this is biological information and the flow of biological information. The flow of information through biological systems is a foundational concept within the biological...

The member of the church struggling with a debilitating injury or terminal disease. The widow or widower coping with loneliness. The young person fighting against a particular temptation—drunkenness, immorality, worldliness. The young mother overcome by the demands of her calling in her home and with her children. The parents who are taking seriously their calling to bring up their children in the fear of the Lord. The couple whose marriage relationship is severely strained. The church member who has been wickedly deserted by an unfaithful spouse. The Christian schoolteacher discouraged because of harsh criticism by parents who do not much...