Volu 100 Issue 09

Rev. James Slopsema, minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches and member of First PRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Romans 12:9 In the preceding verses Paul gives instruction concerning the use of our gifts in the body of Christ. Each believer is wonderfully gifted by Christ. Paul gives a sampling of these gifts. There are the gifts of prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, ruling, and showing mercy. Whatever gifts believers have, they must use them cheerfully for the welfare of the other members of the...

Prof. Barrett Gritters, professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary and member of Hudsonville PRC Churches need to fight for the Sabbath. Battles are not pleasant but they are important, and God’s Word makes clear that the Sabbath is always at risk, either of being lost from neglect or being destroyed by hypocritical legalists. Both the “do-what-you-want-because-Jesus-fulfilled-the-law” Sabbath breakers, and the “you-may-walk-slowly-but-not-swiftly-on-Sunday” legalists are enemies of the Sabbath, worth battling fiercely. It does take fights to preserve the Sabbath. And it is worth noting that, although we must warn against both—Sabbath neglect as well as Sabbath formalism—Jesus’...

Rev. Justin Smidstra, pastor of First PRC in Holland, Michigan When the snow flurries fall at this time of year, we are often not very happy to see them. The cold can be unpleasant. The shoveling can be a nuisance. The roads become slippery and travel treacherous. The snow causes some extra parental anxiety as the new drivers in the family head off to school. As the winter months wear on, one way for us to be more cheerful is to think upon the snow in a different way and look at it through the lens of God’s Word. In...

Rev. James Laning, home missionary in the Protestant Reformed Churches and member of Zion PRC in Jenison, Michigan Beginning with this article I plan to follow a little different approach. There have been discussions recently about the need for something like a curriculum that could be used with those who express interest in the Protestant Reformed Churches. With that need in mind, I plan to go through the doctrines at a more rapid pace. I begin with the study of the church, and do so for a couple of reasons. First, I have written some articles in the past on...

Mr. Tom Cammenga, member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan It is safe to say that each one of us has cried at some point in our lives. It is equally safe to say that each one of us has cried many times. Certainly, when we were babies, this was the case. But even as we matured as young children, teenagers, and even now as adults, there are occasions upon which we cry. And those occasions vary greatly; sometimes there is sadness, other times physical pain, and still others when there is happiness and great joy. All of these can...

Prof. Cory Griess, professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary and member of First PRC, Grand Rapids, MI Previous article in this series: January 1, 2024, 182. Introduction Now that we have thoroughly studied the Bible’s teaching on sex and gender, we are facing transgender activism’s “biblical” arguments that attempt to undo all that we have seen of the Scriptures’ teaching. Last time we dealt with the argument that appeals to Galatians 3:28. This time we face the argument that attempts to explain away Genesis 1:27, “male and female created he them.” _____________ In order to argue...

Rev. Martyn McGeown, pastor of Providence PRC and secretary of the Contact Committee of the PRC The Contact Committee (CC) exists because the Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC) confess “one holy catholic church.” It is, as we read in the preamble of the CC’s Constitution, “the sacred duty” of the PRC “to manifest the true unity and catholicity of the church on earth in as far as possible…with all churches which have obtained like precious faith with us, both domestic and foreign.” Scripture urges that we should “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph....

Rev. Joshua Engelsma, translator, pastor of Crete PRC in Crete, Illinois From A Brief Explanation of the Church Order by Johannes Jansen Article 74: “If anyone, having been admonished in love concerning a secret sin by two or three persons, does not give heed, or otherwise has committed a public sin, the matter shall be reported to the consistory.” This article was already incorporated in the church order by the Synod of Emden (1571)1 and has been maintained until now. It deals with reporting a sin to the consistory. We point out: In what cases should sin be reported to...

Mr. Charles Terpstra, member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan and full-time librarian/registrar/archivist at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary and SB book review editor The following book is reviewed by Robert P. Swierenga, Research Professor, A. C. Van Raalte Institute, Hope College, and Professor of History Emeritus, Kent State University Through Many Dangers, Books 1 and 2, by P.M. Kuiper, illustrated by Paula Barone. Jenison, MI: Reformed Free Publishing Association, 2021. 408 pages, $23.95. Paperback. The Civil War never ceases to fascinate Americans. This gem of a book tells the many dangers faced by the “Holland Rangers” of Company I...