The first SEMFEST and the first meeting of the board of trustees for the newly-organized MidAmerica Reformed Seminary Association took place in September. Both meetings were acclaimed as very successful. Borrowing the idea from the Reformed theological seminary in Kampen, the Netherlands, the new seminary steering committee organized a schooldag (“school day”) for Friday, Sept. […]
I don’t know Nick Overduin. I understand that he is a student of theology at Calvin Seminary. I understand also that he might not be “a regular student” (a Christian Reformed male member aspiring to serve in the ministry of the Christian Reformed Church). Whatever and whoever Mr. Overduin is, he does write editorials for […]
One of my earliest impressions as a lad growing up in the church was gained at a Dutch service on a Sunday afternoon in the old Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. The sanctuary was “packed out,” as the British say, the sermon was long and in a language which was quite foreign […]
1980’s Short, Efficient Synod From all reports the spirit and the efficiency of Synod 1980 was exemplary. There was little rancor, we are told, and the whole business was brought to the earliest conclusion (Wednesday of the second week) in my memory. Praise the Lord! For some this proves that the wrong people have been […]
Encounter with our “last enemy” (1 Cor. 15:26) is never easy. And so the news that our friend, Dr. Edwin H. Palmer, had died was not easy to absorb. Ed was healthy. He worked at keeping physically fit. And he looked it. Seeing him was pleasant for many reasons, among them the fact that the […]
Dr. R. De Ridder’s review of the year 1979 in the CRC Yearbook for 1980 commented on the “spectacular rise and unexpected success of new religions and cults. The tragedy in Guyana focussed world attention on the demonic forces behind such movements. It is still difficult to understand why the youth of conservative churches (including […]
It has become very obvious to many people that the confessionally conservative point of view does not do well at Christian Reformed synods in recent years. Dr. Lester De Koster, editor-in-chief of THE BANNER (the CRC’s “official” publication, still read by most members of the church) has signalized this in a series of recent editorials. […]
To experience a Christian Reformed synod as a delegate is a concentrated, complex and sometimes confusing business which makes a survey and analysis like this very difficult. This year’s synod faced more than the usual number of very crucial matters, and many delegates sensed that things were going on which might well have serious implications […]
The Bible says that there is a sin which humans commit which is absolutely and finally unpardonable, unforgivable. Sensitive Christians cannot help but be frightened by this most horrible revelation. Perhaps many of us know people for whom this fear became one of total despair. How well I remember a dear old saint who, because […]
Editorial Note: (to be continued) The following interview with a Christian High School principal appeared in a recent issue of a Christian Reformed Church parish paper. We think that it is definitely worth re-publishing! The problem discussed is not imaginary or over-exaggerated. And the discussion is of a very high quality. We have asked Rev. […]