All Articles For A Pamphlet Concerning the Reformation of the Church

In the third place, concerning ecclesiastical assemblies, the thoughts comes to us: 1)The consistories ought to be prepared to come to the help of churches of the second group and to work by mission activity in dead churches of the third group. 2)The consistories ought to strive to remove the non-confessing element from their midst and to break off all fellowship with unbelieving ministers. 3)The consistories ought to arouse their churches to a confession of guilt, to penitence and conversion, and to an improvement of life. To do this they must restore discipline. 4)The consistories must extend their church relationships...

(In the previous article Kuyper, in speaking of the present calling of his church to engage in church reformation, has made a distinction between three groups of churches which exist within the State Church. One group of churches has retained a somewhat Reformed character. Another group of churches has become truly the false church. And a group of churches which comprises the third group stands somewhere between these two extremes. Kuyper has insisted that this must be borne in mind as his church considers the need for separation.) What now concerns the question, in what way the reformation of the...

(In the last paragraph Kuyper has discussed reformations which took place in the time of special revelation and are recorded for us in Scripture, and reformations which took place in the history of the church of the new dispensation. He has done this to show the different kinds of reformations which have taken place and to demonstrate how these reformations have significance for the tribulations in which Kuyper found himself in the State Church in the Netherlands.) 64. Concerning the Reformation Which Ought Now To Be Undertaken In the Reformed Churches Of These Lands. Also the Reformed Churches of these...

[In this paragraph Kuyper is discussing reformations in Scripture and in history. In the last installment he has spoken of reformations in the Old Testament. He now speaks of reformations in the New Testament and in history.) After the fall of the kings until Jesus’ public ministry we read in Scripture of three more reformations. The first came about when Zerubbabel led the exiled church back to Palestine and was with Joshua instrumental in the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. The second happened when Ezra and Nehemiah rose up with fiery courage to stifle at its inception the corruption which once...

(Kuyper has been talking about the role which the magistrate must take in the work of church reformation. In the last paragraph he spoke vehemently against Article 36 of our Belgic Confession which gives to the magistrate the right to exterminate heresy. Although Kuyper does not deny that the magistrate is called to enforce both tables of the law, he insists that the magistrate has not the right to punish the heretic with capital punishment.) 63. Concerning Reformations Which Already Exist and Their Distinct Character. Because the Reformation of the sixteenth century is usually considered to be the Reformation, many live under...

(In the last paragraph Kuyper has distinguished between reformation and revolution by pointing out that reformation is always done in obedience to God.) 62. Concerning Reformation and the Magistrate. The question is also brought up and is of importance: does not a part of the work of reformation belong to the magistrate? The question is especially whether the magistrate is not called, authorized and obligated “to prevent and exterminate all idolatry and false religion.” Our conviction in this respect does not agree with that of our fathers. We do not make a secret of this difference. Only God’s Word, not...

(In the last paragraph Kuyper has argued against all wrong passivity by explaining in some detail the words of Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” In discussing this passage he has underscored the importance of active participation in the work of church reformation although in complete dependence upon the work of God.) 61. Concerning Reformation In Distinction From Revolution. Even when one introduces the work of reformation in a cautious though energetic way, objections are raised against what he does. One who is concerned for church reformation does not...

(The last paragraph dealt with the distinction between the true and the false church and the importance of distinguishing between the two for the work of church reformation.)

(Kuyper, in this paragraph, is discussing the marks of the true and the false church. He does this so that the child of God who is called to engage in church reformation may be able to distinguish the two from each other.)

(Kuyper is discussing the marks of the true and false church so that those who are called to engage in church reformation may be able to recognize the difference. He has criticized the view of those who hold to a pure-church ideal and who make the holiness of individual members a mark of the true church.)