The Banner of April 25, 1980 contained an excellent and informative guest editorial by Rev. W. Haverkamp entitled: “The Dutch Decisions Regarding Homosexuals.” The writer speaks of “appalling decisions” which the Gereformeerde Kerken of the Netherlands have taken concerning the matter of homosexuals and the failure of this denomination to consult with others, with whom […]
The other day I was catching up on reading some back issues of Gereformeerd Weekblad. I read an editorial by Dr. H. N. Ridderbos concerning the controversy surrounding Dr. H. Kuitert, and how a recent synod dealt with this matter (for the so-manyeth time). While reading the account of Ridderbos, I thought to myself: the […]
What is striking if one reads the addresses of the fraternal delegates of the CKN to our synods of the last number of years, is that, almost without exception, they make a strong plea for understanding, patience and a degree of acceptance for what is taking place in their churches today. Between the lines one […]
Dr. Herman Wiersinga is a campus pastor of the Gereformeerde Kerken in the Netherlands (RCN – Reformed Churches in the Netherlands). The doctrine of the Atonement is frequently referred to as “the heart of the gospel.” When Dr. Wiersinga attacked this doctrine and denied that the suffering and death of Christ was a payment for […]
“If the tremendous reality that Christ has become a curse for us is denied, then the entire preaching of the Scriptures shrivels to nothing.” THE OUTLOOK is indebted to Rev. John H. Piersma, pastor of the Bethany Christian Reformed Church of South Holland, Illinois, for complying with the request to make available to our readers […]
Three years have passed since the Board of Trustees of Calvin, as well as the Synod of 1968 were earnestly petitioned by a consistory and by two classes to declare themselves on alleged erroneous teachings set forth by professors at the Free University of Amsterdam. This University is supported by and influential in the Gereformeerde […]
The most recent news from the Dutch church scene to make the headlines in the larger news media concerns Pope Paul’s appointment of chaplain Dr. Simonis as the new Roman Catholic bishop of the diocese of Rotterdam. Dr. Simonis is known to be a conservative. The rest of the Roman Catholic leadership in Holland has […]
A review article of the book, “DE VAL VAN ASSEN,” by DR. J. SCHELHAAS H ZN., Uitgeverij Bolland, Vlaardingen, 1968, 92 pp., f 5.25. Perhaps a fair number of our readers have never heard of Assen, let alone its fall, which is the title of this book under review. Assen is a city of the […]
The Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk (Dutch Reformed Church) came into existence with the reformation of the Roman Church in the 16th century. Many of its fine buildings date back to before the Reformation and are historically and architecturally of great interest. During the 19th century fidelity to the Word of God deteriorated in the Netherlands, as […]
Thursday September 21, 1967 marked the end of a forty-one-year period in the history of the Gereformeerde Kerken in the Netherlands. On that day, their General Synod meeting in Lunteren declared that the literal interpretation of Genesis 2 and 3 advocated by the well-known Synod of Assen (1926) is no longer binding and that the […]