Since the beginning of the war in Lebanon back in 1975, I have often been asked: are the Lebanese Christians truly Christian? Many Christians in the West did not even know of the existence of Christians in the Middle East prior to the tragic events associated with Lebanon. My response to the question often took […]
One of the major issues, if not THE major issue at the 1984 C.R. Synod, was that of Women in Ecclesiastical Office. After more than a dozen years that this issue has been before the church and after a number of study committee reports, we were to deal with the matter again. This issue provoked […]
The Synod of 1984 has become history. It was a synod of strong emotions, of procedural maneuvering (or was it, manipulating?), of many challenges to the chair, of numerous roll-call votes, of close decisions, of a number of apologies, both “in house” and public, and of an unprecedented number of “recorded” negative and positive votes. […]
Introduction I realize that this document is called a “Testimony,” and is not meant to be a Creed in the usual sense of that term, and therefore is not meant to be in “competition” with our present creeds. Nevertheless, it is said to “augment” the present creeds and may eventually receive creedal status. That makes […]
Another key doctrine of the Reformed faith is that of irresistible grace. The salvation of sinners is a work of the Triune God. Each of the Three Persons of the Trinity participates in and contributes to that work. The Father, before the foundation of the world, marked out those who were to be saved and […]
Many current developments in our churches highlight our need to rediscover and practice the principle that Reformed church government is representative. The Bible clearly teaches that the Lord entrusted governing authority in His church to elders who act collectively in local consistories and through representatives in broader assemblies, classes and synods. Thus these assemblies, as […]
An old saying has it that the mountain heaved . . . and brought forth a mouse! We have thus far observed that Liberation Theology (hereafter L T) claims to engage in brand new “theological reflection” and . . . brings forth old-line Marxism! We also noted that to accomplish this unique performance, LT robs the […]
Our recent comments on the life and achievement of Dr. Martyn Lloyd–Jones have provoked less adverse reaction than we feared. However, several correspondents have written asking for clarification of one point: What did we mean by saying that in his attitude to evangelical Anglicans and to church unity the Doctor was quite simply wrong? The two […]
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Ps. 61:3b. A man of God has great difficulties. David is almost overwhelmed with adversity. He cries to the Lord. And the Lord seems to be far from him; he is crying “from the ends of the earth.” Many Christians have had similar experiences. The […]
“THE AGONY OF LEBANON” In last month’s News and Views I called attention to an article in The Reformed Journal by Dr. Bert De Vries giving information on the religious groups that exist in Lebanon, whose differences contribute to the turmoil in that troubled country. In the same magazine for March, 1984, he continues to […]