This is the season of Christmas. Many of you are sending and receiving Christmas cards. Perhaps the most recurring theme on these cards is “Peace on earth.” This is a popular phrase with believers and unbelievers alike for a reason. “Peace” is something all human beings crave even though they may differ substantially on their definition of […]
During the early fifties, I read a pamphlet by Roland Allen, a British missionary with long years of experience in the Far East, dealing with education in the mission field. In his critique of educating children of unbelievers in mission schools, he wrote: Christian education is far more the teaching of Christians than teaching given […]
Lip service to creedal statements regarding the authority of Scripture is too common and meaningless. Counseling is one arena where the contest for the sufficiency of Scripture is being waged most fiercely. Contenders for the faith find great allies among truly Biblical counselors. 959 such counselors came together in Lafayette, IN, in October for the […]
In a recent editorial in The Banner (“Inerrancy: Let’s Not Use the Term,” October 3, 1994), Rev. John Suk echoed a position that has been stated frequently in recent years, but which often is left unexamined. This position argues that the Reformed tradition affIrms the infallibility, but not the inerrancy, of the Bible. The idea of […]
In this article I intend to challenge the position of the editor of The Banner (CRC), John Suk, as he states it on p. 30 of the July 4 issue last summer. He writes: The grounds of the decision synod adopted to keep women out of the offices of elder, minister, and evangelist…were …disturbing. They […]
Judges 4:1–9, 23–24 …I Deborah, arose…a mother in Israel. Judges 5:7b (NASV) The Bible assigns to mothers many domestic tasks. But that is not all. There are times when mothers have to expand their role as did Deborah—the wife, mother, prophetess, poet, singer, judge, patriot and military expert. There was a need in Israel for […]
Dr. Godfrey concluded his first article by describing Luther’s theology as a “personal theology.” Luther began as a monk, a devotee of the church; he became a student of Scripture and subsequently became strongly convicted of the truth of salvation was to be found only by grace through faith. LUTHER’S WRITINGS Now that experience led Luther into a public path […]
Over the years of my ministry, I have prayerfully tried to be a teacher. In previous congregations, I was grateful to have been able to teach most, if not all, the catechism classes for the students who spanned the range from Grade 3 through Grade 12. I was grateful for the opportunity to establish good and […]
It is wonderful to hear the president of Calvin Seminary assure our readers that Its professors are champions of Reformed orthodoxy. But, in spIte of this ringing testimony, it was certain professors from Calvin Seminary, along with others, who In the past pushed for women elders and ministers from the very earliest days of the discussion They did […]
Dear Editors: You “Open Letter to the Leaders in the CRC” deserves an open response from me in your pages, particularly since a significant portion of it is addressed to our denominational seminary. Your (implied) call to obey decisions of synod is well-taken and enthusiastically endorsed by the Calvin seminary faculty. Such obedience has been […]