“Denominationalism” is the existence of more than one denomination or organization of churches side by side. It is found practically throughout Christendom. The conviction that it is wrong and contrary to Scripture is quite general at present. Many. yes, doubtless, the great majority appear to be convinced that the situation calls for a radical change, and […]
From the point of view of a historical observer the idea and the growth of the World Council of Churches might be considered under the aspect of a historical necessity. Two motives, two trends which should be sharply distinguished from each other, lead in the same direction from the beginning of the days of the great […]
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS We are living in a truly wonderful age. During the last few decades man has greatly increased his knowledge of the physical universe and his control over it. Although we may justly view with alarm our meager progress in the moral and spiritual realm, we must admit that science has opened our eyes […]
Have you ever noticed a change in your church’s youth group right after attending a Reformed Youth Services (RYS) convention or participating in a Reformed Mission Services trip? In addition to gushing with enthusiasm for their favorite memories of the week or the countless new friends they made, there’s often a euphoria that’s harder to […]
Several years ago I wrote an article for the Mid-America Messenger entitled, “No Room on the Denominational Plane” (7/9, August, 1989). The article commented on the decision of Synod 1989 of the Christian Reformed Church not to include Mid· America Reformed Seminary on the denominational list of approved causes for offerings in the churches. Since […]
God’s Word defines a number of ways in which we are united as believers. The foundational unity of the people of God is the fact that we are united to Christ. John chapter 15 gives us a beautiful illustration of this unity as it describes the believer as the branches and Jesus Christ as the […]
In the early afternoon of January 11, I, as a close friend of Henry Vander Kam, received notice that our brother, Henry Vander Kam, had the day before departed this life to be forever with the Lord in glory. He was born on November 8, 1917, to Cornelius […]
The 1996 Synod of the CRC had as one of its buzz words: “Unity.” The delegates wanting women in the offices of elder and minister in the CRC argued for unity again and again, along with using such words as: peace, love, brothers and love for the church. Those opposed to the ordination of women […]
In the September issue of The Outlook, contributing editor, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey, wrote an article entitled “A Reformed Dream” in which he expressed a call to unity between Reformed denominations. He proposed that the Reformed denominations which he listed “join together under one general assembly (or general national synod) with each denomination becoming a […]
READ GENESIS 11 After the flood there was only one family on earth. It reminds us of the situation in early Genesis after God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. But in the “generations/account” of Noah’s three sons, this one family expands to many families. It becomes evident that God’s blessing enables […]