In 1981 the state of Louisiana passed a law, called the “Balanced treatment for Creation-Science and Evolution-Science Act.” This law says that if teachers deal with the topic of the origin of man, of life, of the earth, or of the universe, they must give a “balanced treatment” to the theories of creation and evolution. […]

It seems almost unnecessary to speak on the topic, “The Duty of Being Concerned.” Both the history of the Church, of Old and New Testaments, as well as the continuing history of the Church since the time of the New Testament, seem to demonstrate the need for God’s people to be vigilant in their care […]

My Hebrew name is Hadassah, which means myrtle. I am an orphan. I am of the tribe of Benjamin, a descendant of Kish. My father is Abihail. I was raised by my cousin. I am lovely in form and features. I was placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch. I saved my people […]

    During especially the last two years news reports have been making us aware of the ever increasing number of big businesses, some of them with long established reputations for producing dependable products, that have been bought by new owners or are threatened with what are sometimes called hostile “takeovers.” This process suddenly got […]

  “Good morning, Mr. Jones.” “Good morning, Reverend Schnitzel.” “That’s Sch-l-i-ss-el, Mr. Jones.” “Er, uh, sorry. It is a nice day, isn’t it?” “Yup. God sure gave us a beaut today.” “Maybe we ought to keep to the weather. I know you’re a religious man, but I’m pretty much convinced that we’re on our own […]

The August 1986 Reformed Journal featured a 6-page article by Nicholas Wolterstorff entitled “Why Care for Justice?” While it never defines what it means by “Justice,” it stresses throughout that God has a special concern for the weak, the defenseless, the excluded, the miscasts, the outcasts, the outsiders, defining them particularly as the economically disadvantaged. It […]

“When the men came to Jesus they said, ‘John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’ . . . So he replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive […]

Ten years ago, had I been asked to write an essay on the value of systematic theology, I might have submitted a blank page. Since then, I’ve had help from friends-and now can offer some explanation for a study of theology, not just for a future pastor or a candidate for the ministry, but for […]

“Vision 21”—a real nightmare! A concerned member and ex-elder of another congregation phoned me and said he couldn’t sleep after be had read this document. Little wonder.     The late Dr. K. J. Popma in his seven-volume work on the Heidelberg Catechism often wal’ns against hierarchy and over-organization in the church of the Lord […]

Is it really that easy? In the Jan. 5, 1987 issue of The Banner our denominational pundit, Rev. William Buursma, answers a question which ought to strike at the heart of any sincerely Christian Reformed Church member. The question deals with the reasons for our existence as a church. The questioner says that “open communion; […]