A Reformed Church Must Oppose Hierarchy For many years this periodical has from time to time highlighted a movement to develop over the churches a centralized bureaucracy of “administrators,” originally to “help,” but eventually to control their activities. The biggest and most threatening such effort at present appears to be that of the committee continuing […]
CR Ministers’ Institute In the past sponsored by the area classes by turns, this annual June ministers’ meeting has more recently become the project of the Calvin Seminary Alumni Association. This year daily programs began with various styles of worship, “a Praise (more or less Charismatic?) Service,” “a Healing Service” and “a Taize” (a French […]
General References: 1 Thess. 4:13–15:11; 2 Cor. 5:1–10; 2 Pet. 3 1. Introduction: The thrilling, difficult and neglected subject. Nowhere does the immeasurable difference that our Lord and His gospel create between believer and unbeliever come out more clearly than when we look ahead at the future. See the difference between a Christian and non-Christian […]
The month of October is often associated with the Reformation that occurred in western Europe in the 17th century. The Reformation gave to the church basically three important things. First was the truth of the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. Closely connected with this was the truth of salvation by faith alone in this Christ—not by […]
In these days of unparalleled prosperity and easy living it is almost unthinkable any more that as Christians we must accept trials, adversity, and attacks on our faith. When things are going so well in a material way why does the Bible repeatedly speak of suffering as a way of life? In Romans 8:17 it […]
For over three years now I have noted with interest the events which are occurring within the Christian Reformed Church. My interest has not, I’ll admit, been one of indifferent unconcern as my connections with that denomination have been, and remain, very close. Not only were my wife and I born and baptized in the […]
Reformed Fellowship lost a dear loyal colleague when the Lord took Bert Sevensma from us a few months ago. Not that he was short-changed so far as length of days is concerned. He had reached the biblical “three score and ten” with a little to spare. Bert lived a full life of Christian service. […]
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS In the summer of 1977, after Greg Bahnsen had been teaching at Reformed Seminary for a year-and-a-half, a resolution was presented on the floor of the General Assembly requesting that a study committee be appointed to examine the issue of theonomy. The General Assembly chose to refer the matter to a standing committee. […]
God’s Word to Israel in Amos 4:6ff. is equally applicable to our nation as it faces its worst drought in many years. Ancient Israel, blessed by God with unique privileges, bad deserted their worship of Him. Despite His many warnings, they had “not returned to” Him. Therefore He gave their cities “cleanness of teeth”—famine. He […]