All Articles For Editorial

It is not our purpose to discuss in detail the various decisions taken by our first Synod. All the decisions will be published in the Acta, which all that are interested may purchase and study for themselves. Only to some of the more important matters we wish to call the attention of our readers. To these belongs, no doubt, the address which our Synod decided to send to the Synod of the Christian Reformed Churches. Here it is: Grand Rapids, Mich. May 27, 1940. The Synod of the Christian Reformed Churches, assembled at Grand Rapids, Mich., June ____ 1940. Esteemed...

On the evening of May 22, 1940, a prayer service was held in the “Roosevelt Park” Protestant Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, with a view to the first Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches, that was to begin its sessions on the following day. On that evening the undersigned, pastor of the “calling church,” led the services, and in the ministry of the Word spoke as follows: To you and to me this is a glad occasion. For the first time our churches are to meet in synodical gathering. This means that we have made history. To us it signifies...

The Word of God is very severe in its condemnation of false teachers. And this condemnation does not only concern their false doctrine, but also their motives and methods. Many Christians often are inclined to assume a sympathetic attitude to the preachers of false doctrines, even though they do not agree with their tenets. We speak of having respect for the opinions of others, and forget that the doctrine of the Word of God is not a matter of opinion. Or we take the charitable view that a man may honestly err, and that, therefore, you cannot ascribe the teaching...

Recently I attended a meeting of the local R.F.P.A. convening in the basement of the First Protestant Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Mich. What impressed me most deeply at that meeting was the apparent lack of zeal and interest, both locally and generally in all our churches, in the cause for which The Standard Bearer was originally called into existence and for which it still stands. It was not the meeting itself nor the men that were present there that caused this impression, but rather the absence of the men that should have been present, and the reports concerning the...

Conscription in peace time is something new in our country. We are, of course, acquainted with conscription from the time of the World War, when for a time voluntary enlistment was replaced by the draft. But as a regular and permanent institution conscription was not known in America until recently. It is true that even now conscription was resorted to as something special, as a defense measure. We are told that the present war in Europe also threatens our shores, and that, if the Nazis should be victorious in their war with England, it is not impossible that they conceive...

At nine-thirty P.M., Sunday, Dee. 29 last our President broadcasted his views on the European conflict, the interests of our own country in that conflict, and the proper course for our government to pursue with relation to that conflict. The speech had been anxiously expected by millions in our own country and abroad, especially because it was expected that President Roosevelt would issue a frank statement as to his own intentions with respect to the limit of our aid to Great Britain. And in this respect no one could possibly complain of being disappointed. Clearly the chief executive outlined what...

The consistory of the First Protestant Reformed Church of Grand Rapids resolved to distribute the following “Testimony” among the members of their congregation: Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ! In view of the present trend of development in the industrial world it is to be feared that also in our community it will become increasingly difficult to secure or retain a position or job unless one join one of the worldly unions. Hence, many of us may probably be tempted to become member of such a union rather than lose his job. The Consistory, therefore, considered it necessary and expedient...

The Word of God is very severe in its condemnation of false teachers. And this condemnation does not only concern their false doctrine, but also their motives and methods. Many Christians often are inclined to assume a sympathetic attitude to the preachers of false doctrines, even though they do not agree with their tenets. We speak of having respect for the opinions of others, and forget that the doctrine of the Word of God is not a matter of opinion. Or we take the charitable view that a man may honestly err, and that, therefore, you cannot ascribe the teaching...

The apostle Paul writes to the church at Rome (Rom. 16:17, 18): “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” The context of this passage is peculiar. We would not expect such an exhortation here. It occurs in the midst of greetings and salutations and blessings. Admonitions to watch and beware of false teachers are, of course,...

In the same issue of The Banner from which we quoted above we also read the following item: “The discussion of the subject at the synod of Sneek led to an incident which will interest our readers. Prof. K. Schilder remarked that they should seek contact with the Protestant Reformed Church of the United States, especially because they correspond with ehurch.es with which they have much less in common, for instance the Reformed Church in America, which has Free Masons among its members. Prof. G. Ch. Aalders, who represented his Church at our synod this year, was of a different...