All Articles For Editorial

What is the proper attitude of the Christian with respect to the wars of the world, to war as such; may the Christian ever actively participate in war; may he ever refuse to serve in war when his country calls him? On these questions we wrote a few articles in our Standard Bearer about four years ago. The practical interest and significance of them appears much more real today, now another war broke out in Europe, and we do not know as yet how the conflagration may spread. And now we learn from The Calvin Forum that the Synod of...

At the time of the writing of this article there still is something about the present European war that makes one wonder and creates a feeling of suspicion and doubt. Whether or not a general European conflict is in the offing is somewhat doubtful. From the very beginning there was something strange about this war. The bone of contention or, at least, the immediate occasion of the outbreak of the war was Poland. Germany demanded Danzig and a passage through the “Corridor.” Poland refused. She formed an alliance with England and France, who encouraged her in her stand against the...

Under the heading “Confusion” the editor of The Banner recently wrote the following: “Those who know what Professor L. Berkhof has written and believes on the subject of common grace and also read De Reformatie must have smiled when they read a recent article in the latter, written by its editor-in-chief, in which Prof. Berkhof is represented as having doubt, to say the least, whether there is an attitude (“gezindheid”) of favor in God toward the reprobate. “A quotation from Prof. Berkhof’s book on common grace is supposed to prove that strange contention. The statement was found that there is...

In its “Testimony” with regard to membership of worldly unions the Consistory of the First Protestant Reformed Church of Grand Rapids also inserted the following paragraph: “In view of the present industrial conditions, the gigantic corporations and mass production, the Consistory recognizes the fact that the individual laborer can hardly have a position and collective bargaining and organization are often necessary. And, therefore, although we cannot in every respect agree with the existing C.L.A., we would advise you to support it and use your influence with that organization.” A few parties expressed their disagreement with this advice of the Consistory....

The editorial in The Christian Labor Herald to which we referred in the preceding number of our paper, continues as follows: There are a number of reasons for that mistaken idea, a few of which we shall touch on. First of all such a position is due to the old idea of rugged individualism, according to which each man has to look out for himself, should not be influenced or interfered with by others. That totally unscriptural idea is still popular among certain people today. But, there is a very plain teaching of Scripture which says that we are our...

Our Synodical Stated Clerk received a second letter from the consistory of the “Protesting Christian Reformed Church” of Kalamazoo, Michigan, the purpose of which is, evidently, to repeal the first letter in regard to the same matter. The Stated Clerk, Rev. D. Jonker, delivered the letter to undersigned as chairman of the committee in this matter, appointed by our Synod; and undersigned hereby gives notice to the other members of the same committee of the receipt and contents of this letter. I do not consider it necessary to convoke the committee. However, if they should think otherwise, let them inform...

Recently we wrote an article on “Banner Ethics.” It was in connection with The Banner’s refusal of the reply of our home missionary, the Rev. Kok, to insinuations which the editor of that paper published against our missionary. I now wish to call attention to Banner manners. Manners and ethics are more closely related than many people would be willing to admit. Bad manners are often rooted in bad ethics. Take, for example, the treatment accorded Dr. Schilder by The Banner. We all remember what was done before this distinguished theologian had left the old country to visit our shores....

In my report, in the last two numbers of our paper, of the conference that was recently held of some Christian Reformed and Protestant Reformed brethren, I promised that I would write a few words about the objections which were urged by the Rev. Mr. Hendriksen against my essay, read at the conference. The reader will remember that I stated how that the brother in the noon-hour had hastily written down some objections, read them in the afternoon session, and when asked by undersigned to motivate them, refused on the ground that he had to leave the meeting. Since then...

The above title will probably lead to expect a lengthy and profound treatise, for such could, indeed, be written on that subject. But be at ease, reader, for at present I have no such purpose. I merely intend briefly to answer a question I received from Mr. K. H. of R. Calif. The brother read my article on “The Vaunting Axe” and became somewhat confused by the following sentence: “It teaches that God did not forsake the works of His hands, as is the doctrine of the Deist; that He did not surrender them to the whims of fortune or...

The Banner, official organ of the Christian Reformed Churches, published in its editorial columns the following paragraph: “Third, we feel that the unbrotherly propaganda which the so-called missionary of the Protestant Reformed Church is making especially in some of our Western churches must cease before there can be any consideration of ecclesiastical union or ecclesiastical fellowship with those brethren. We are wondering whether all the members of the Protestant Reformed Church are aware of the deplorable tactics employed by its “missionary.” This minister moves into one of our communities and seeks to create dissatisfaction among the members of the Christian...