All Articles For Editorial

Previous articles in this series: Oct. 1, Nov. 1 and Nov. 15, 2016 editorials. With this editorial we conclude our critique of Kenneth Stewart’s book, Ten Myths About Calvinism (IVP Academic, 2011). What Stewart’s book makes plain is that he wants to retain the right to be called a ‘Calvinist’ while he calls into question the very doctrines that were central to Calvin himself—in fact, doctrines that are fundamental to any theology that has the right to call itself ‘historically Reformed.’ In particular, doctrines that have to do with God’s sovereign will and grace (cf. the Oct. 1, 2016 editorial)....

Imagine with me the year of our Lord 2025, the year of the Protestant Reformed Churches’ centennial anniversary. Not that far away when you think about it—just eight short years. Now imagine seven or eight vacant PR churches at that time as well. Actually, not all that imaginary. Not when you consider how few college-aged men of our churches at present have indicated an interest in preparing for the gospel ministry—just three (3) at latest report. And they are only thinking of and prayerfully considering it at present—two in their second year of college (sophomores), one in his first year...

Previous article in this series: March 1, 2017, p. 244. How, then, can this be accomplished? The “it” is the goal set forth in the last eight editorials, namely, training that will equip young adults for teaching in Protestant Reformed schools. Training that will prepare them to stand in the place of Protestant Reformed parents; that will enable them to teach effectively and maintain proper (godly) discipline; that will set them on the road to giving excellent instruction with Christ at its center, and permeated with the Protestant Reformed world and life view. The desire and the need for this...

Previous article in this series: February 15, 2017, p. 220. Since the time that Protestant Reformed schools were proposed, there has been an awareness of the need for training teachers for those schools. And especially as school societies formed in various congregations and, one after another, schools materialized, teachers longed for training to equip them for giving distinctly Protestant Reformed instruction. The churches understood the need. It came into expression in the requests to synods for a Normal School, and for the Protestant Reformed seminary to give some instruction for the teachers. Synods reacted positively to those requests. Yet, the...

Previous article in this series: February 1, 2017, p. 197. The concept of an institution for training Protestant Reformed teachers was proposed in the late 1940s when the Protestant Reformed school movement was picking up steam. The congregation in Redlands, CA established the first Protestant Reformed school in 1934. Hope Protestant Reformed Christian School (Walker, MI) started in 1947, and three years later Adams St. Christian School (Grand Rapids, MI) and the Free Christian School of Edgerton, MN opened their doors. In other congregations, societies for Protestant Reformed education were being formed. Recall from the last editorial that the Synod...

Previous article in this series: January 15, 2017, p. 173. It has been the intent of this series of editorials to demonstrate the importance, yea, even the necessity, of having some institution to provide training that will equip men and women to teach in Protestant Reformed schools. This is not a novel idea. It has a pedigree, if you will. It can be traced to Herman Hoeksema. Recall (from the first editorial in this series, Nov. 15, 2016) that in 1920 Rev. Hoeksema, minister in the Christian Reformed Church, was promoting membership in a society for a “normal school.” Rev....

Previous article in this series: January 1, 2017, p. 148. Believing parents understand the weighty responsibility before God to train up their children in the fear of the Lord. When possible, Reformed parents band together to establish and maintain Christian schools to assist them in this high calling. The teachers are the heart of these Christian schools. This being the case, the importance of qualified—highly qualified—teachers cannot be overstated. The past couple of editorials have focused on some of the essential qualifications for Protestant Reformed teachers—natural, spiritual, and theological qualifications. The theme has been that Protestant Reformed schools need excellent...

Previous article in this series: December 15, 2016, p. 124. Good Christian schools are required of Reformed believers according to the Church Order of Dordrecht, Article 21. Good Christian schools need good Christian school teachers. The eighteen Protestant Reformed schools will continue to seek these high quality teachers. The training of covenant youth demands excellence from every point of view. School boards must be seeking teachers with “high marks” for their ability to teach well, effectively and interestingly. Schools must have teachers with doctrinal understanding of and zeal for the (Protestant) Reformed faith. As an aside, it should be obvious...

* Speech delivered at the recently held convention of our Young People’s Societies’ in Grand Rapids, Mich. It is needless to say that I consider it a great privilege which I value highly that at this fourth Young People’s Convention I have been invited once again to deliver the inspirational address. I gladly accepted the invitation, and only hope that the joy may not prove to be all mine. Those who conceived of the possibility of convoking this convention at this time and under the present circumstances deserve, I think, a word of commendation for their courage, and a vote...

From the Secretary of the C.L.A. I received the following contribution: THE C.L.A.’S CONCEPTION OF THE STRIKE Dear Mr. Editor, I have read with a great deal of interest your articles in the July 1 and, August 1 issues of the Standard Bearer concerning the C.L.A. and the Strike Question. I trust that my article, published in the August 1 issue, has in part at least answered some of your objections. However, upon reading and re-reading both writings I can well understand that there may be some who are still not fully satisfied. And, if I may be so frank,...