I would like to give a few personal impressions of the synod of 1982. Remember, these are personal impressions, and not a complete report or analysis. I must begin by saying that I was once again encouraged by the many good things in the CRC. There are a lot of things for which we can […]
As schools open again this month this review of the individual Reformer’s educational views and practices, done by Mrs. Pronk in study at the Reformed Bible College (Grand Rapids, Michigan), places our present Reformed educational efforts in historical perspective. Next month’s concluding part of the article highlights common basic principles in the Reformers’ views of […]
Comforting as the return of the Lord Jesus Christ is for the believer, it is not a subject regarding which all believers agree. The disagreement is over what is normally called the Millennium Since this millennium is central in understanding the scheme of things, we must now turn our attention to it. The Word, Itself […]
For this child I prayed . . . So I dedicated him to the Lord. I Sam. 1:27, 28. It was in the period of the Judges, in the Old Testament. It has been described as the period of the five R’s regarding Israel. Relapse into sin, Retribution (punishment), Repentance, Release and Rest At this […]
One of the searing issues of the day is, “What role, if any, should the Christian Church play in modern politics and social action?” Here there is a sharp division of opinion. In general it may be said that the liberal wing of Protestantism is convinced that the church as an institution should involve itself […]
“Mikey LIKES it!” This is the surprising discovery of some children in a TV commercial. Sure he will reject a new cereal they haven’t even tried, they give it to him, and have the shock of their lives: “Mikey LIKES it!” Some will be just as shocked when they find out some elders and ministers […]
Church Oligarchy Dr. L. Praamsma in his The Church in the Twentieth Century (p. 216) calls attention to the common criticism that the World Council of Churches is run by a few leaders (an “oligarchy”). More than once the oligarchic structure of the World Council has been criticized. Essentially, the government of this global […]
Lesson 3 Psalm 16 THE BELIEVER’S REFUGE Strictly speaking, only a small part of this Psalm may be called Messianic. However, in order to understand that part which is definitely Messianic, the Whole Psalm has to be studied and reviewed. The Psalmist is writing about his own experiences but his experiences do not exhaust the […]
CATECHISM WITHOUT LEARNING Dear Sir: This evening I read the article in the Outlook, June 1982 issue entitled “Catechism without Learning” by Jelle Tuininga. I would just like to express my views on Rev. Tuininga’s remarks concerning the Bible Way Curriculum. Before my retirement I had taught 7th and 8th grade classes using Bible Crossroads […]
THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA Illustrated. In Four Volumes. Volume Two: E-J. Fully Revised. 1175 pages, 1982. Eerdmans Publishing Co. $35.00. Reviewed by John Vander Ploeg. Its reputation being clearly established as a scholarly reference for well over three score years, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) is definitely a must for the library of […]