Having taken part very recently in the installation of a minister, we find our thoughts revolving still around the work of a minister and the problems that confront him, particularly in the matter of finding time for study and the preparation of sermons. MINISTERS ARE PASTORS One of the paragraphs in the “Form for the […]
We were greatly heartened by a number of decisions taken by the 1958 Synod of the Christian Reformed Church. We wish to mention two of them in this article. The one pertains to the issue of Christian Boys’ Clubs versus Boy Scouts. Three overtures were sent to Synod on the matter. Synod was asked for a […]
The Synod of the Christian Reformed Church, which met in Kalamazoo from June 18 to July 8, 1924, will always be remembered for its famous three points—the decisions on common grace. However, the Synod of 1924 was not a common synod. It was the Synod which rejected an overture from Classis Hackensack to print the Acts […]
In our September issue I suggested a change in our traditional school terms so as to allow for a winter vacation beginning with the Christmas holiday and extending through the month of January. This would bring the second semester to a close about the middle of July, leaving approximately six weeks for the summer vacation. And I […]
This then being the situation, the question must be put whether evolutionism can be harmonized with Scripture. Dr. J. Lever insists that this is possible. He rejects the theory of a mechanical or materialistic evolution. Says he, “…for a Christian there can be no question of an autonomous evolution of the one into the other, but […]
Read I Tim. 6:11–16; II Tim. 1:8–12* 1. STATEMENTS OF DIFFERENT AUTHORS WITH RESPECT TO MAN’S IMMORTALITY What do you think: Is man immortal or is he not immortal? Opinions differ. One author argues along this line: The idea that the New Testament teaches the soul’s immortality is a misunderstanding. The immortality of the soul […]
Read Hebrews 12:18–24 I. THE RELATION OF THIS QUESTION TO THOSE THAT WERE ANSWERED PREVIOUSLY In preceding Outlines it has been indicated that according to Scripture it is appointed unto men once to die. Also, that for the believer death is gain, and that this is true because of Christ’s substitutionary atonement. It has been […]
Read II Corinthians 5:1–8 1. SOUL-SLEEP, THE THEORY AND THE ARGUMENTS OF THOSE WHO FAVOR IT Sometime ago I preached to an audience other than my own. An observation made by one of the ladies after the service surprised me. What she said, in substance, was this, “I’m so glad that you cleared up this point about […]
Read Revelation 7:9–17 1. THEIR CONDITION Never can it be emphasized strongly enough that the redeemed in heaven between the moment of death and that of the bodily resurrection have not yet attained to ultimate glory. They are living in what is generally called “the intermediate” state, not yet the final state. Though, to be sure, […]
Man does not establish authority; he acknowledges it. This is the proper procedure, though seldom observed, Man wants to acknowledge only that authority which he himself establishes or at the least gives consent to, All other authority is offensive to his sense of autonomy and ultimacy, As a result, the claims of Scripture are particularly offensive to […]