Klaas Runia: REFORMATION TODAY, 147 pp. London: Banner of Truth Publishing Trust, 1968.
All who have read Runia’s excellent treatise I believe in God…will eagerly welcome this book which deals with the challenging issue of being living members of a living church in our day. In eight chapters he discusses the rise of heresy which is so rampant even in churches with sound confessions, the call to true unity in Christ which must come also to visible manifestation, union discussion as they are now being carried on and the World Council of Churches. But all this is done in such a pointed and practical way, on solid Biblical ground, that the sensitive reader is compelled to face the question: What is my responsibility in this today?
Here, then, the way is opened to a discussion-in-depth of inescapable issues.
May a believer remain in a church which doesn’t champion the teaching which is according to godliness? On what legitimate bases may the World Council be judged? How shall we answer those who remain in churches tending towards apostasy on the grounds that they seek to stem the tide there? Just how important is the visible organization of the church? Is it permissible to content ourselves with remaining in churches not true to God’s Word while seeking fellowship on a personal level across denominational boundaries? Is it ever warranted to separate from the visible church? How can evangelical, Bible-believing Christians and churches ever come into closer fellowship, when such matters as predestination, infant baptism, church government, etc., seem to divide them so sharply?
All these are considered. And although not all readers will agree with everything found here, they will be greatly challenged and inspired. Runia proposes the writing of a new confession for the churches today, even presenting a tentative “first” article. This is the kind of book heartily recommended, not just for casual reading but for hard thinking and vigorous discussion. Why not use it in at least eight after-recess discussions in your society? Every member would profit from these pages.
PETER Y. DE JONG
SCRIPTURE UNION BIBLE STUDY BOOKS. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1966, ’67, ’68.
These small paper-bound books, selling for $1.25, are intended “to provide basic study material for the Christian who wishes to have a mature and organized guide for the whole of the Bible…Each volume is divided into the right number of sections to make daily use possible.” We are further informed that they have been used by nearly one and a half million people throughout the world and arc published in 140 languages.
The volumes on hand cover Joshua–II Samuel; Ezra–Job; the Psalms; Mark; Luke; John; and Acts. Each is written by a competent evangelical scholar who introduces the Biblical material with brief but helpful notes. The list of writers includes H. L. Ellison, J. Stafford Wright, E. M. Blaiklock, and R. P. Martin, British scholars who are not unknown among evangelicals in our lands. A careful use of this material will open up new perspectives for the believer as he turns to God’s precious word. Parents with children of junior and senior high-school age would do well to read these comments in connection with Scripture reading as the family gathers around the table for devotions. No one would then have cause for complaining that such Bible reading is routine and meaningless.
PETER Y. DE JONG
All who have read Runia’s excellent treatise I believe in God…will eagerly welcome this book which deals with the challenging issue of being living members of a living church in our day. In eight chapters he discusses the rise of heresy which is so rampant even in churches with sound confessions, the call to true unity in Christ which must come also to visible manifestation, union discussion as they are now being carried on and the World Council of Churches. But all this is done in such a pointed and practical way, on solid Biblical ground, that the sensitive reader is compelled to face the question: What is my responsibility in this today?
Here, then, the way is opened to a discussion-in-depth of inescapable issues.
May a believer remain in a church which doesn’t champion the teaching which is according to godliness? On what legitimate bases may the World Council be judged? How shall we answer those who remain in churches tending towards apostasy on the grounds that they seek to stem the tide there? Just how important is the visible organization of the church? Is it permissible to content ourselves with remaining in churches not true to God’s Word while seeking fellowship on a personal level across denominational boundaries? Is it ever warranted to separate from the visible church? How can evangelical, Bible-believing Christians and churches ever come into closer fellowship, when such matters as predestination, infant baptism, church government, etc., seem to divide them so sharply?
All these are considered. And although not all readers will agree with everything found here, they will be greatly challenged and inspired. Runia proposes the writing of a new confession for the churches today, even presenting a tentative “first” article. This is the kind of book heartily recommended, not just for casual reading but for hard thinking and vigorous discussion. Why not use it in at least eight after-recess discussions in your society? Every member would profit from these pages.
PETER Y. DE JONG
SCRIPTURE UNION BIBLE STUDY BOOKS. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1966, ’67, ’68.
These small paper-bound books, selling for $1.25, are intended “to provide basic study material for the Christian who wishes to have a mature and organized guide for the whole of the Bible…Each volume is divided into the right number of sections to make daily use possible.” We are further informed that they have been used by nearly one and a half million people throughout the world and arc published in 140 languages.
The volumes on hand cover Joshua–II Samuel; Ezra–Job; the Psalms; Mark; Luke; John; and Acts. Each is written by a competent evangelical scholar who introduces the Biblical material with brief but helpful notes. The list of writers includes H. L. Ellison, J. Stafford Wright, E. M. Blaiklock, and R. P. Martin, British scholars who are not unknown among evangelicals in our lands. A careful use of this material will open up new perspectives for the believer as he turns to God’s precious word. Parents with children of junior and senior high-school age would do well to read these comments in connection with Scripture reading as the family gathers around the table for devotions. No one would then have cause for complaining that such Bible reading is routine and meaningless.
PETER Y. DE JONG