Many readers of the Christian Reformed Churches’ Banner were likely startled to find it’s September 17, 1984, issue largely devoted to the discussion of homosexuality. It appears that the successful effort to override the Biblical prohibitions of women in church office may now be followed by a comparable effort to break down the churches’ traditional […]
As delegates gathered for the 1984 RES meeting in Chicago it was generally recognized that the future of this organization was problematic. Despite faithful efforts by some member churches, it is our view that the future of the RES is still very much in doubt. We say this because the decisions taken in Chicago were […]
The Christian Reformed Church in the Dominican Republic (ICR-RD) began with missionary contacts there in 1975 and 76 and since then has grown dramatically. Missionary involvement has increased from bi-annual visits in 1976 to the presence of 11 missionary families, 1 long-term volunteer and 1 short-term volunteer; church expansion and the increase of missionaries have […]
How easy it is to quote the familiar passage, II Timothy 3:15: “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (NASB). At the same time, how easy it is to neglect some portions of that profitable Word. Sometimes it is the most famous Bible episodes […]
Are we in America, more and more, getting to be hollow men and women? By hollow, I mean void of true purpose—like a drum making much noise but empty. Let’s see why this is, even though we live in an age of sky–rocketing technological advances. Personally, as a published poet, every fiber in my […]
More than seven hundred fifty people filled the sanctuary of the Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center, Iowa, on Friday evening, September 14, 1984, for a meeting sponsored by the area chapter of the Reformed Fellowship. Featured as speaker was the Rev. Henry Vander Kam, professor-emeritus of Mid-America Reformed Seminary. The subject of his […]
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to ‘ return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go, your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:11–19). “Where are the nine?” This question has echoed throughout the ages and confronts us […]
I want to preface my remarks about the decisions of Synod 1984 in regard to the women’s issue with two observations: The first observation is that the issue is not liberal versus conservative and the second is not against women and the use of their gifts and talents. The real issue is, What Does the […]
Victory! That’s what the return of the Lord Jesus Christ will herald! Victory over sin and satan. Victory over death. With Christ’s return comes the resurrection—victory over death realized. In Scripture we read, Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling […]
Lesson 5 – Private Prayers Psalm 62:8, I Thessalonians 5:17, Matthew 6:6 In any study of the subject of the believers’ prayers we must distinguish private from public prayers. Sometimes the difference between the two is not sufficiently recognized. If we do not give adequate attention to the difference between these two forms of prayer, we […]