All Articles For Editorial

The Protestant Reformed Churches annually observe the “National Thanksgiving Day” with a special worship service. They have bound themselves to do so by Article 67 of the Church Order, which states: “The churches shall observe, in addition to the Sunday, also [a list of eight days, and] the National Thanksgiving Day.” The observance of special days has a Reformed tradition which can be traced back to the church order adopted by the great Synod of Dordt, 1618-19. We realize that there are differences within the Reformed camp on this matter. Even sister churches of the PRC do not observe all...

Personally, I am inclined to take the position that the distinction between “sequent conscience’’ and “ante­cedent conscience” is erroneous, that is, I am of the opinion that one cannot properly speak of “antecedent conscience,” and that, therefore, conscience is always sequent It is true, of course, that man is a rational, moral being, and that he has the power to distinguish between good and evil, so that he can make, and actually does make this distinction whenever he is confronted with alternative courses of action, alternative that is from a moral viewpoint, and that, too, antecedent to the actual choice...

I was surprised to find, in The Banner of March 24, 1944, a statement by Prof. D. H. Kromminga to the effect that Christ could sin. The statement is made in answer to a question sent to him, and we quote it here in full: In the discussion of which our brother makes mention opinion was divided. He was perfectly correct in taking the position that Christ could sin according to His human nature. If we view the human nature apart from His divine nature or Person it certainly can fall into sin, as our own case in Adam plainly...

The passage we last quoted from Romans is interesting with respect to our subject for several reasons, which we do not intend to discuss here, but which may be briefly mentioned. The conscience of the Gentiles is mentioned here in close connection with “the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” 2:5. Of this revelation of righteous judgment the entire context speaks. God will render every man according to his deeds: tribulation and anguish upon every soul that doeth evil, glory, honor, and peace to all that do good, Jews or Gentiles. Those that have sinned...

Of all the arguments and would-be arguments the opponents of the movement for schools of our own wherever possible adduce for their position, that concerning the moral obligation to the existing schools, is the weakest of all. As far as I can see, it is in this argument that they reveal that they are not interested in school education of our children along strictly Protestant Reformed lines. They do not admit the necessity of Protestant Reformed instruction also in the schools. They cannot see that the school has anything to do with Protestant Reformed principles. That the principles adopted by...

The contention of those that oppose the movement to establish our own schools is that such a movement is morally wrong, as long as we have not done all that is in our power to keep and support and improve the existing schools. In other words, they claim that we are morally obliged: 1. To join an existing school society, and to support an existing Christian school, wherever there is one; 2. To remain member of that society, and continue to support that existing school, even in cases where it is possible and preferable to organize a separate society; 3....

I take it for granted that all our readers, even those that thus far have revealed little or no enthusiasm for a school of our own, and among these even those who definitely opposed it especially by the “moral obligation” argument, will have to agree with me, that our obligation to the existing schools and school societies can be none other than, and is rooted in the obligation of the parents with regard to the education of their children. These school societies are, with respect to the instruction of our children only a means to an end. If parents were...

From the June issue of the Christian Labor Herald we learn that the annual business meeting of the C.L. A., held on May 13 in Grand Rapids, the proposal that the Alliance declare itself opposed to the use of the strike weapon was discussed, and rejected by an overwhelming majority. We quote from the Christian Labor Herald: “On one proposal there was considerable debate. That was the proposal of Building Trades Local 12 to adopt a policy that the C.L.A. will not use the strike weapon at any time. Altho[ugh] not worded thus bluntly that was the intent of the...

As we informed the reader last article, in 2014 Classis Grand Rapids (GR) East of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) appointed a study committee on human sexuality, giving it the mandate “to examine and summarize the biblical/theological support currently offered by Christian proponents of same-sex marriage.” In 2016 the committee submitted its report to Classis GR East, a report composed of “ten-strands of arguments woven together” of sufficient strength, its committee was convinced, to justify approving same-sex marriage in the name of contemporary Christianity. After twenty centuries of New Testament-age ignorance, man’s knowledge of biology has developed enough to warrant...