All Articles For Bring the Parchments

Prof. Engelsma is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. *reprinted from Beacon Lights, Feb., March, and April, 1983. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 Music has always been an important part of the worship of the church. Its place in the worship of the early church after the apostles comes out in the earliest description that we have of a Christian worship service. Speaking of the...

Prof. Engelsma is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. *reprinted from Beacon Lights, February, March, and April, 1983. The Importance of Music in the Church The importance of music in the church is indicated when the apostle of Christ writes, in Colossians 3:16, that by our singing we teach and admonish one another. Probably this is not a familiar thought to us; perhaps we are not conscious of this when we sing. We are well aware, of course, that we all should teach each other, and admonish each other, as the opportunity or need arises (although...

Standard Bearer, Volume 10, January 15, 1934, pp. 174-176 Through the window of my study, one Sunday morning, I saw a young man aimlessly walking the street, both hands in the pockets of his overcoat, coat collar up, evidently very uncomfortable; for the weather was chilly and a fine drizzle was falling. It was eleven o’clock. I had conducted the first (the Dutch) service, and so happened to be in my study during the second morning-service, which begins at ten-thirty. That young man was playing truant! He should have been attending the service, listening to the preaching of the Word...

* One need not agree with every sentiment in this article, “When a Soul Waits,” to appreciate that it illustrates the conviction that marriage is a calling. The power of the article is that it demonstrates that this conviction can be, and was, lived, in adverse circumstances. The article first appeared in the June 27, 1997 issue of Christian Courier. It is reprinted here with permission. —Ed. As the clock struck midnight, all the couples at the New Year’s Eve party kissed, except Greg and me. Finally, my friend said, “Come on, Greg, give your wife a kiss.” So Greg...

A third reason why all Protestant Reformed people should faithfully support and read our paper, and that too in close connection with the preceding, is that our calling as Protestant Reformed Churches is to be very specific, and that the Standard Bearer is the sole representative in print of this specific calling. We may not be satisfied with a sort of general gospel. We may not even be satisfied with a vague and general confession of the Reformed truth. It is very evidently our calling as churches to be very specific, to cross all the t’s and to dot all...