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 A   R E F O R M E D   S E M I - M O N T H L Y   M A G A Z I N E



~ In This Issue


          Meditation:
            The Cry of Thirst

         Editorials:
            Our Schools and Government Subsidy
            Nonsense Indeed, But Not Biblical              f

         Dissent and the Law

         Absalom's Treachery


                                                    Volume XL V / Number 12 /March 15, 1969


                                                                                            !                                          I
266                                                        THE STANDARD BEARER



                             CONTENTS:


Meditation  -
   The Cry of Thirst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .266

Editorials -
   Nonsense Indeed, But Not Biblical . . . . . . . . . . .269
   Our Schools and Government Subsidy (2)
         A Question of Justice or of Money? . . . . . . . .272

In His Fear -
   Something for Nothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 5

All Around Us -
   Moon Flights, Space Flights,
         Life on other Planets, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .277
   Varia..................................278

A Cloud of Witnesses -
   Absalom's Treachery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .279

From Holy Writ -
       The Book of Hebrews (7: 26, cont.) . . . . . . . . . . .281

The Strength of Youth -
       Dissent and the Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .283

Correspondence and Reply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285

Church News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288


Meditation


                                                                Rev. M. Schipper

                                            %fter this, Jesus knowing that all things were now
                                        accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled,
                                        saith, I thirst.  Now, there was set a vessel  -full of
                                        vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put
                                        it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. ".
                                                                                       John 19:  28,29
                                            "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my
                                        thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. "
                                                                                          Psalm 69: 21

   The great Patriarch and Captain of our confession is Scriptures. Of those patriarchs such as Jacob, we read:
about to die in the strength of His. father Jacob-!                           They gathered up their feet into the bed, and yielded
   Of this we are reminded when we consider the above. up the ghost. Death for them was more than a last
                                                                               .


                                                         Tl-iE STANDARD BEARER                                                               267



breath, and a separation of soul and body. It was a that justice of God. He had been in the darkness of the
conscious ending of life's course when the act of dying judgment hour. 0, to be sure, it was as He said the
was deliberate - when the dying bids farewell to the judgment hour of the world, when the world stands
world and goes to meet his God.                                                 face to face with, the awful reality of God's righteous-
   True, it is difficult to compare the cross with a bed. ness and is condemned. But let us never forget it, it
Yet, in a very real sense the Lord arranges His feet and                         was also at the same time the hour of judgment over
dispatches His business well. He gathers strength to against the sin and guilt of Christ's sheep - the hour
utter a parting greeting that re-ethos to all His spiritual when He in their stead hung under the vials of God's
progenitors - -`It is finished." And then yields up the holy wrath.
ghost, after commending His Spirit to the Father.                                     Into the depths of that darkness He was plunged!
   Indeed, He dies in the strength and after the pattern                        Silently He abode in it until He became aware of the
of father Jacob!                                                                severity and horror of being forsaken of God. This
   "After this." And the question follows: After what?                           consciousness He expressed in that piercing cry: My
   Apparently the apostle refers to the third word of God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken Me? Not as the
the cross which immediately precedes our text; the wicked who passively suffer the wrath of God in hell
word, namely, to Mary and John as they stood before did He suffer. But as God's covenant Friend-servant
the cross, and which was spoken before the three hours and as the Saviour of His people. He lovingly and
of darkness that then descended upon the scene at obediently is serving His God while He bears the
Calvary. But we know from the other gospels that burden of the wrath that was due to us. Out of the
there was another word intervening. After Jesus had cut                          abyss of hell He still recognizes His God Who for an
all earthly ties of flesh and blood relations, He entered                        eternal moment allowed Him to taste what it means to
the darkest moment of His suffering on the cross. And be forsaken of God, emphasizing at the same time the
at the end or very close to the end of the three-hour immensity of His suffering under that wrath. Having
period of darkness, -while He had descended into the endured that suffering which He knew could bring an
very depth of His suffering under the wrath of God,.He atonement and make satisfaction of God's justice, He
exclaimed with a loud voice: "My God, My God, why also knew that all was now completed.
hast thou forsaken Me?" Can it be then that John was                                  As we pointed out in our previous meditations, the
not present when the fourth crossword was uttered? Saviour was always conscious of His calling. Always He
Apparently this was the case. After Jesus had com- followed the lines drawn out for Him, not only in the
mended His mother to John's care, he must have left counsel of God, but also in the Scriptures. As the
his position in front of the cross; undoubtedly taking suffering Servant He was therefore always about His
Mary to a more remote place or even to his own house. Father's business. His office unto which He was
Hence, it is possible, seeing John records only what he anointed He would  fulfdl. And especially at the end
saw and heard, that he would omit to say anything of of that calling as it took Him to the cross, He was very
the fourth word Jesus uttered on the cross. So that the                         conscious of this. He had reminded His disciples of the
words "after this" refer immediately to the third approaching hour, and when that hour struck He never
cross-word. Yet we believe they have a deeper signifi- waivered, but entered willingly into it.
cance.  .They refer to all the work of Jesus accom-                                   But now all was finished!
plished on the cross, including also His descent into                                 And conscious of having perfoPrmed a perfect work, I
hell. This is substantiated we believe by the rest of the He could now begin to think of His own need - His
text, which declares: "Jesus knew that already all own physical grief. While He sank into the depths of
things were fulfilled or accomplished, that the Scrip- His suffering all He could think of was His God and His
ture might be fulfilled." It appears that only a minute people. He had forgotten His own suffering.
or two elapsed between the fourth and the.fifth words                                 0, how wonderful is this obedient Servant of God!
of the cross.                                                                         His God. was the object of His affection. Not one
   All things were indeed accomplished!                                         moment would He decline from consciously perform-
   That is, the bringing of the sacrifice of body and ing His will. The love of God was the center of all His
soul in perfect and loving obedience, and the paying of life. He was not like our first father who through
the price, set by God Himself, necessary for atone- disobedience took us down into death. He must ever
ment, which necessitated the dying of the Son of God have His God before Him, and even when the vials of
in the flesh. In one word, He had made satisfaction in                          God's wrath are poured out and emptied over Him His
harmony with God's justice. It was God's righteousness thoughts are Theo-centric. At the same time His
that must be satisfied. Sin and guilt had repudiated thoughts were with those whom the Father had given
that righteousness, and because God remains God His unto Him. Having loved.His own, He loved them even
justice .required  that this satisfaction be made.                             unto the end. Especially in the  .darkest hour He was
  Accomplished in the Sufferer on the cross!                                   conscious, not of His own sin, for-He had none; but of
  Only a mome-nt .ago He -had realized&he .aTFulness@ -the  4&  .if  3&s  pec&le  .for  w&&$He  must  bring  .an                                              j  .+.:
                                        z                        ._                                                                                 ..:
                               ,..      -'            -,  .__          .:, _. :-.. `.  -.                          I; :c~&+-q+:~       .,           ~_,         .`%
                               +- :          .-./                        z        .:  _'                     -`.:~~$q~~%&q.
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268                                            THE STANDARD BEARER


atonement.                                                   mean therefore that Jesus, the Suffering Prophet, knew
  When that was accomplished, He might think of that He had already fulfilled all that the Scripture had
Himself. At the very beginning of His suffering on the .prophesied  to this point in His suffering, and could
cross they had offered Him wine mingled with myrrh.          therefore afford to take time out to slake His thirst.
It was intended as an anesthetic to relieve His pain. But      0, it is true that all that Scripture had said of Him
He had refused it. He realized that not for a moment was not yet fulfilled. He must yet die, and He must also
might He become insensitive to His calling. But now it be buried, and He must rise again from the dead. He
was different. He had completed His work!                    must also ascend into heaven to God's right hand, 
  The Scriptures were accomplished!                                                                                    and
                                                             come again in the last day to judgment. But the word
  He may turn to His own need!                               "already" in the text, which-is important here, clearly
  Hence: "I thirst!"                                         shows that the Lord knew that to this point in His
  The suffering of the cross was both in body and suffering on the cross He had faithfully fulfilled all that
soul! The more terrible aspect of soul-suffering was was written concerning Him. He had followed in detail
past. But the closely related affliction in body He now God's prescription for suffering.
felt. It wracked His body with pain. The nails tore
mercilessly at the swelling wounds in His hands and His        And in order that He may also fulfill the Scripture
feet. His blood pounds through His fast emptying that prescribed His death, `and that He may not be
veins. His skin is dried to His bones. Lacerated,            overtaken by death, but willingly lay down His life in
bleeding, He hangs on the accursed tree. All the six the fullest consciousness that He is the obedient
hours had given Him not a moment of physical relief.         Servant of Jehovah, He must be refreshed also in body
Most likely high fevers which attended such executions by a drink.
brought cold sweat to His brow.                                As God's appointed Priest-Prophet He must bring
  0, for a small sip of liquid refreshment!                  the sacrifice of His body as well as His soul. That He
  Not spiritually, as some would interpret, but physi- had completely sacrificed the latter is clearly indicated
cally must this thirst be understood. His lips were in the fourth word of the cross. That He may now also
parched and dry. He would revive as it were to be lay His body on the altar in death, He must be alert
strong to the end. He wills not to have death overtake and physically alive. Hence: "I thirst."
Him, but to give Himself over into death. For this he          But what unspeakable suffering He had endured!
must be strong and not spent.                                Only once in all this last blast of suffering and
  That the Scripture might be fulfilled!                     humiliation did the Saviour find succor and relief. That
                                                             was when He was in the garden and an angel from
  Several questions may be asked here. What Scripture heaven ministered unto Him. Otherwise He had noth-
does the text refer to? Does John mean to say that ing to drink since the Passover celebration in the upper
Jesus said: "I thirst" in order to fulfill the Scripture? room. All through the trial which was accompanied
Or does John inform us here that Jesus knew that all with buffeting and ma&treatment; and through the
things had already been accomplished in which the crucifixion which was accompanied with burning fever
Scriptures had been fulfilled; and therefore could think and intense pain, He had nothing to drink.
of His own need, and so cried: "I thirst?"
  Without entering into the several different inter-           There can be no doubt that also -with the offer of
pretations given to explain our text, we would simply vinegar in response to His cry of thirst, there was an
point out, in the first place, that you look in vain for a element of devilish mockery He had to endure. Surely
literal prophecy as being fulfilled in the words: "I we cannot explain the offer of vinegar as a common
thirst." The nearest we come to this is in the text grace kindness on the part of the wicked at the cross to
quoted above and found in Psalm 69:2 1 where David alleviate His suffering. According to Matthew 27:47,
said: "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my 48, the giving of the vinegar was in response to the
thirst they gave me vinegar to.drink." But the giving of fourth word of the cross when Jesus cried, Eli, Eli,
gall and of vinegar in the context of Psalm 69 can only lama sabachthani. When one gave Him to drink, the
be interpreted derisively, that is, as acts of derision rest said, "Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to
against the Psalmist. But is that why the Lord now save him." Indeed, also here the tender mercies of the
said: "I thirst?" Was He at this point attempting to wicked were cruel.
evoke derision on the part of His adversaries in order         However, as the Captain of our salvation, He wills
then to fulfill Psalm  69? We think not. Fact of the not to be overcome by the power of death, but to
matter is that this derisive act was accomplished overcome. it triumphantly by laying as our  Priest-
already at the beginning of the crucifixion, -according Prophet His body on the altar as the atoning sacrifice.
to Matthew 27:34. At that time He would not drink. He must be refreshed with a drink to enter in a
But now when they offer Him vinegar He drinks moment victoriously into death.
greedily. (John  19:30). We understand. the text to            Herein lies the ground of our salvation!


                                               THE STANDARD BEARER                                                             269


Editorials

                    Nonsense Indeed, But Not Biblical
                                                Prof H. C. Hoeksema

  The timid voice of supposed conservatism in the ocal, fearless, conservative leadership left in that
Christian Reformed Church,  Torch and Trumpet, denomination. I say: I have great sympathy for such
rather regularly carries a department called "Believe It people, because they are as sheep without a shepherd.
or Not." And sometimes "Believe It or Not  - by And for that very reason I am extremely critical of the
Edwin Palmer" is indeed harder to believe than theology and the theological implications of Dr.
"Believe It or Not  - by Ripley." An example is the Palmer's article.
contribution of this department in the February, 1969           And now let me explain.
issue of said magazine, entitled "The Bible Is Non-             The article begins with the blunt statement: "The
sense. "                                                      Bible contains pure, unadulterated nonsense." A more
  Now even if I make every conceivable concession to blunt statement could hardly be imagined. The state-
literary license and to the author's attempt to find an ment is not only untempered by any softening
eye-catching title which would be in harmony with the qualification such as "apparently," but it appears to be
believe-it-or-not character .of his rubric, I cannot come intentionally emphatic: ". . . pure, unadulterated non-
to any other conclusion than that a statement of this         sense." I make bold to say that at the moment anyone
kind is nothing less than blasphemy. The author would proves to me, - from the Bible itself, of course, - that
have done far better to keep the statement and, in fact, this is true, at that moment I will abandon the Bible,
the entire article in his pen. An article of this kind does my office, and the Christian faith. Nonsense I cannot
the cause of the Reformed faith no good, but brings believe; nor does God expect me to believe it.
reproach upon it. As sensational as the title may be            As might be expected, Dr. Palmer gives three
and as clever as some of the statements in the article supposed examples in support of this statement which
may seem to be to the undiscerning, the article does are rather familiar.
the already woefully weak forces of conservatism in             The first example is that of election and human
the Christian Reformed Church no good. For what, I responsibility. With Palmer's statement of unconditional
pray you, is the basic difference between saying that election I can very -well agree. He proves it with some
the Word of God is nonsense and the Bible-denying familiar Scripture passages which are well-known to
position of liberals like Kuitert et al? What is there to any Reformed man. But then he continues as follows:
prevent the latter from employing a  reductio ad                     On the other hand - and here is the nonsense -
absuvdum  against those who claim to hold to the                  the Bible continually holds all men responsible for
truths of the infallibility and authority of Scripture,           what they do. Its teaching about predestinatjon never
and to say, "Behold, now, these conservatives would               once allows man to blame God - even in the slightest
have us believe illspired,  authoritative, infallible non-        - when man refuses to believe. Never does it permit
sense?" Nor does this kind of writing really strengthen           the suggestion that God is at fault for having
the rather lonely conservative man-in-the-pew in the              ordained things in a certain way. On the contrary,
Christian Reformed Church who is looking for trust-               the Bible continually  exhorts man to repent, believe,
worthy, dependable, fearless leadership. On the con-              grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, pray, not
trary, it leaves him thoroughly befuddled. And the                faint, acquit himself like a man, and be strong. And if
                                                                  he doesn't, it is 100% his fault and not God's.
basic reason is that he is asked to do what is utterly              How in all the world can anyone reconcile these
impossible for any rational being, namely, to believe             two contradictory statements? On the one hand, God
that which is nonsense.                                           elects and reprobates; and, on the other, man -is
  Before I explain, and lest anyone think I am being              responsible. Logic demands that it be one or the
too hard on Dr. Palmer, let me hasten to state that I             other: either God elects and man is a puppet, or man
am not at all implying that  Palmer intended to                   elects and God sits idly by hoping man will elect him.
blaspheme, nor that he intended to deny the doctrine              But it is foolishness to say that God elects uncon-
of Scripture. Let me further emphasize that I have                ditionally and that man is still responsible. It is utter
great sympathy for the conservative man-in-the-pew in             folly to speak of the responsibility of a fore-ordtiled
                                                                  thief.
the Christian Reformed Church, who has been largely                 The Arminian sees the irrationality and tries to
abandoned by his own leadership, sold down the river,             correct the contradiction by eliminating one of the
and who in some cases is beginning to wake up to the              contradictory statements: God's unconditional elec-
fact. that there is very, very little consistent, unequiv-        tion. On the other hand, the hyper-Calvinist sees the


270                                                 THE STANDARD BEARER



       irrationality of holding to both statements. Contrary    moral acts of man, both good and evil. This is a
       to the Arminian, he solves the problem by elimi-         thoroughly Scriptural proposition, as are the two
       nating the other side of the coin, human responsi-       above.
       bility .                                                   Now I challenge Dr. Palmer to demonstrate that
          Yet the Bible teaches both sides - divine sover-      there is any logical contradiction between the above
       eignty and human responsibility - and therefore the
       Bible talks nonsense.                                    two statements. Remember, the question is not
                                                                whether there is any problem here. It may very well be
  In general, I can agree also with Palmer's statement of that we cannot fully answer the question how God is
human responsibility, although it is not very adequate able sovereignly to elect and reprobate men and to
and clear as a theological statement. With all the rest of determine men's moral deeds without destroying man's
what he says, however, I am in violent disagreement. responsibility. This I gladly concede. But whether or not
His characterization of Arminianism is absolutely false. we can understand the sovereign operation of God is
His characterization of so-called hyper-Calvinism (what not the question. The question is whether the two
is that, more Calvinistic than Calvin,  perhaps?)   is propositions are contradictory.
totally imaginary. I would guess, incidentally, that he           And by no rule of logic can they be declared
has in mind people like the Protestant Reformed contradictory! The basic reason is that these two
(because we have frequently had this label pinned on propositions assert something about two entirely dif-
us, though I would assure Palmer, if he does not know ferent subjects. Proposition 1 asserts something about
it, that we have never denied human responsibility) God. Proposition 2 asserts something about man.
and perhaps also a man like Gordon Clark (shades of               The two statements would indeed be contradictory
the Clark Case in which the men of Westminster if the first denied what the second affirms. But this is
Seminary were Clark's chief antagonists; and is not not the case. The first affirms something about God:
Westminster Dr. Palmer's  alma mater?);  and  .who He sovereignly and unconditionally elects and repro-
knows what others? Hyper-Calvinists, you know, are bates men. ,The second affirms something about man:
somewhat mythical ogres.                                        he is responsible for his moral actions. The first does
  But my basic criticism is that Dr. Palmer's alleged not deny that man is responsible. It has always been
contradiction in this first example is not a contradic- the claim of the enemies of God's sovereignty that to
tion whatsoever. Palmer's logic is faulty. And it is this assert that God is sovereign even over the moral
faulty logic which leads him to say that these two creature is the same as saying that man is not
truths are contradictory, that they cannot be recon- responsible. But no Reformed man will ever say this.
ciled, that it is "foolishness" and "utter folly" and Nor is this either expressed or implied in the first
"irrational" to maintain both. Mark you well, this is proposition. Hence, in the two propositions man's
brash language! Dr. Palmer is talking about what God responsibility is not confirmed and denied at the same
and His Word say! And to the latter he applies this time. There is no contradiction.
radical description!                                              The two propositions would also be contradictory if
  Let us put this to the test.                                  the second proposition denied the first. Then the
  What is a contradiction? A contradiction consists of sovereignty of God with respect to the moral creature
two propositions which mutually exclude one another, would both be affirmed and denied. But also this is
so that the one denies the truth of the other. Briefly neither expressed nor implied, unless it can be shown
stated, the principles of logic with respect to contradic- that to say that man is responsible is to declare that
tions are as follows:                                           God is not sovereign over the moral creature. But this
1) That a thing cannot at the same time be and not be.          cannot be shown. Hence, in the two propositions
2) That a thing must either be or not be.                       God's sovereignty over the moral creature is not denied
3) That the same property cannot be affirmed and and confirmed at the same time. Again, there is no
denied at the same time of the same subject.                    contradiction.
In other words, the following formulae apply: A is A.             There is no "believe-it-or-not" involved here. If the
A is not Non-A. Everything is either A or Non-A..               two statements were really contradictory, they could
  In order to apply the above rules to Dr. Palmer's not both be true. We would have to believe either one
example, let us put the two truths which he claims are or the other. But since they involve no contradiction,
contradictory in the form of propositions, as follows: and since both are clearly revealed in Scripture, we
1) God is the God Who sovereignly and uncondition- believe both. And we do so without involving ourselves
ally elects and reprobates moral, rational creatures.           in any nonsense.
2) Man, a moral, rational creature, is a creature who is          But let me be positive as well as negative. And then,
responsible before God for all his moral actions.               without at all claiming to solve every problem in-
  I would even be willing to go Dr. Palmer one better, volved, let me suggest that the fundamental solution to
and state what is undoubtedly implied in Proposition the difficulty connected with these two truths lies
1: God is the God Who sovereignly determines the along the line of defining the freedom and  responsi-


                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER                                                       271


bility of the moral, rational creature as falling within there would be some excuse for them. But their
the compass of God's all-comprehensive and sovereign problem is spiritual. And the antithesis is never one of
decrees. It is not difficult to find Scriptural proofs and faith. and reason, but of faith and unbelief,
examples of this, both of elect and reprobate, right-            But how, - here is the practical side of it - how can
eous and wicked. I will leave that to Dr. Palmer. But you help those who love the Reformed faith and want
let me point out that unless we go in this direction, we to  maintain it over against today's tidal waves of error
not only lose the truth of God's sovereignty, but we and apostasy, when in effect you say to them: "Pike
also lose the truth of man's responsibility. For the very and Ferre and all other deniers of Biblical truth make
idea of responsibility implies a sovereign to whom one sense, but don't follow them.  Follow the Bible's
is responsible.                                                nonsense."
                             ***                                                             *;**
  The second example of Dr. Palmer is as follows:                The third example furnished by Dr.  Palmer is as
                                                               follows:
       Or, to take another example, the Bible tells us               Finally, to mention but one more example of
    such apparently contradictory facts as: 1. God is all          Biblical nonsense, the mystery of limited atonement.
    powerful and all loving; and, yet, 2. God ordains              The Bible says - and the Reformation taught - that
    napalm war, volcanic death, and the cancerous                  the Father sent Christ to die for his people and not
     suffering of a young mother of five. Foolish! says the        for all the world and that Christ went to hell to make
    logical person, such as theologians Nels Ferre and             a substitutionary sacrifice for them alone.
    James Pike. An all-loving and all-powerful God would             Yet - and here is the contradiction - the Bible
    not. allow such heartaches.                                    tells us that God sincerely loves all, even those who
                                                                   are hell-bound, and desires the salvation of all,
  It is quickly disposed of. Even if we overlook, for              reprobate as well as elect.
the sake of argument, the totally un-Biblical statement
that God is "all loving," it is evident that Dr. Palmer          Everyone will recognize at once that here there is an
commits the same logical error as in the first example, obvious contradiction. Palmer makes no logical error
that is, he finds contradiction where there is, according when he speaks of a contradiction here. But he might
to every rule of logic, no contradiction whatsoever. have  stated the contradiction more succinctly. From
And behind this error lies another, that of begging the the viewpoint of God's love, he might have stated it as
question: Dr. Palmer assumes what he ought to prove follows:
(but what he cannot prove) that God's ordaining of 1) God is a God Who loves all men.
war, death, and suffering constitute a denial of God's 2) God is not a God Who loves all men (for the
omnipotent love.                                               reprobate are by definition those whom He sovereignly
  But I must confess that I stand rather amazed, that hates). The logical fallacy is: A is non-A.
Dr.  Palmer would even present this as an example. Or he might have stated it from the point of view of
Much less than a contradiction, there is hardly even a God's will:
problem here. At least, if this is a problem, the answer 1) God is a God Who desires the salvation of the
to it is written many times in Scripture. That answer, reprobate.
as far as God's people are concerned, is this: God 2) God is a God Who does not desire the salvation of
ordains all things for His people in His sovereign love the reprobate, but their damnation. Again the logical
and with a view to their eternal salvation; and He also fallacy is: A is non-A.
causes all things to work together for their good. What          Here is a genuine contradiction. There is not a
Reformed Christian is not thoroughly acquainted with rational being in the world who can deny it.
that answer? And the answer, as far as the reprobate             And contradictions are nonsense!
ungodly are concerned is this: God ordains all things            What, then, is Palmer's mistake? The contradiction
for the reprobate in His sovereign hatred and with a           is not a  Biblical  one. For nowhere in all of Scripture
view to their. eternal damnation; and He also sends can one find the proposition that God loves the repro-
them all things in His wrath, setting them in slippery bate or that He desires the salvation of the reprobate.
places and casting them down to destruction.                     Indeed, Dr. Palmer furnishes three examples of
  Moreover, it is a very serious mistake to ascribe the nonsense. The nonsense in examples one and two is the
wicked conclusions of theologians like Nels Fen-e and nonsense of his own fallacious logic. But the nonsense
James Pike to their logic. If they truly have logic on of the third example is the nonsense of a genuine
their side, then we should all say "Amen" to their contradiction.
conclusion. Nay, then God Himself says "Amen" to it.             But none of this nonsense is Biblical. In fact, it is
For  our God is not a God of confusion and of nonsense,        distinctly contrary to Scripture: in the first two
but a God of order. No, let us call it by its right name:      instances as far as method is concerned, and in the
unbelief!  The problem of men like this is not an third instance as far as content is concerned.
intellectual one, not one of logic and reason.  Then             The Bible always makes sense!


272                                           THE STANDARD BEARER



   Let me conclude by pointing to the implications of that throughout the Bible there runs a clearly  dis-
all this.                                                     c~ernible and consistent line of thought, in the light of
   After once more calling these examples "`unadulter- which more difficult passages must be explained. And
ated Biblical nonsense," Dr. Palmer tries to escape the appiying this principle, we will interpret those passages
plain implications by an appeal to the truth that God's of Scripture which at first sight seem to be in favor of
ways are higher than our ways and that the foolishness the Arminian view in the light of the current teaching
of God is wiser than men, and thus by claiming that of God's Word that salvation is of the Lord, that grace
God "can reconcile what seems to man to be contradic- is sovereign, that the atonement is particular, that the
tory statements."                                             natural man is not free to do good, etc. And while,
  This is not only a perversion of Scripture; and it is not then, we may not be able to solve every problem, we
only very weak and unconvincing; but it is also will not discover contradictions in the Word of Him
essentially a denial of the truth of revelation. Palmer's Who cannot lie.
position implies that a proposition does not have the           If we do not hold fast to these sound principles, we
same meaning for God as it has for man. For man it is will always find ourselves powerless to oppose false
a contradiction; but not for God. If this is true, this doctrine in the church.
simply means that we can never know the truth about             A clear example of this is the "Dekker Case." Why
anything. For it is certain that the meaning which any        were the so-called conservatives completely impotent
proposition has for God is the true meaning; and if           over against the position of Dekker? There is one
then it has another meaning for us, we simply have not        fundamental reason: they were ham-strung by their
the truth. And this is a fundamental denial of the truth      own doctrine of contradictions as concretely set forth
of revelation (and, of course, of the doctrine of Holy        in Dr. Palmer's third example and in the First Point of
Scripture's infallibility, authority, and clarity). For if    1924. The conservatives felt this. That is why, while
what God revealed to us of Himself and His work has a         they attacked Dekker, they all had to be very careful
different meaning for Him than for us, God is essen- to pay homage to the First Point and the well-meant
tially unknowable. His revelation is not. true and            offer. That is why Prof. Dekker's doctrine could not be
reliable. And this destroys the very foundations of condemned as false. That is why Synod had to settle
theology.                                                     for "ambiguous and abstract."
   We must rather proceed from the truth that God is            And that is also the deepest reason why, when I
One, that He cannot deny (contradict) Himself, and recently mentioned "conservatives" among the Chris-
that His revelation (which is always His Self-revelation)     tian Reformed clergy, a good Christian Reformed
is also one, and does not contradict itself. Following        brother said to me: "The conservatives? Who are
this fundamental truth, we must in our exegesis always        they?"
apply the rule of the  regula  Scriptzwae,   which means        That is a good problem to ponder!


             Our Schools and Government Subsidy (2)
                                        A Questiou of Justice or of Money?

                                               ProJ: H. C. Hoeksema

   In this discussion of what has been. nicknamed phrasing of the subject is designed to express that the
"parochiaid" I have intentionally phrased the subject decision ultimately rests with our schools, and that
as you find it above, "Our Schools and Government these must be prepared to express their attitude
Subsidy." By "our schools" I mean our parentally toward and acceptance or rejection of such subsidy. To
established and operated covenantal schools; and I assist in the latter is the purpose of these editorials.
have in mind especially our school  societies,  upon The Justice or Fairness Argument
whom rests the privilege and responsibility of operat-          It is well known that one of the arguments adduced
ing the schools, and with whom .rests the obligation to in support of the drive to obtain adherence for
take a responsible decision about any eventual govern- government support of non-public schools, both
ment support, a decision based upon Scriptural and among the people and with our lawmakers, is that of
Reformed principles. To subsidize, whether at state or justice, or fairness. In fact, with some this appeal to
federal level, is to aid or promote a private enterprise what is right and what is fair as far as the disbursement
with public money; and a subsidy is a government of tax money is concerned is virtually a slogan. In one
grant to assist a private enterprise which, obviously, is form, it is an appeal to the "freedom" concept, so that
also deemed advantageous to the public. And my this idea of freedom (which is supposed to be so


                                              THE STANDARD BEARER                                               273



thoroughly "American") has even found its way into celebration already set. Now all this does not leave the
the name of an organization like "Citizens for Educa- impression upon me of a genuinely holy crusade and of
tional Freedom." In another form, this argument a  .movement that is dedicated to principle and that
embodies supposedly an ordinary sense of what is fair rests its case purely upon justice. On the contrary, it
and equitable: accordingly, so it is argued, if we all pay leaves the impression that some people have learned
taxes on an equal basis, we should all have an equitable well a lesson in worldly politics, have learned to "know
return, a fair share, when government money is the ropes" as far as political in-fighting and political
disbursed.                                                   maneuvers are concerned. They have learned the lesson
  Now no one will deny that some of these slogans that if you make enough noise and organize enough
and campaign arguments have a certain popular appeal, voters into a group and exert enough pressure, you
and even have an appearance of rightness. And might well succeed in gaining your goals by persuading
especially in our day of emphasis upon such ideas as legislators that it is politically expedient to listen to
that of "equal rights" it is rather easy to be attracted-I your demands. And when I observe these phenomena,
would say "misled'`--by these battle-cries. In fact, these then I am inclined to conclude that there is very little
very slogans are calculated to make the supporters of solid principle and real justice at the foundation of this
non-public schools feel that. they play the part of the movement and its claims. The claim of justice is belied
persecuted, under-privileged, unfairly treated under- by the clamor and the political pressure-tactics. It is an
dog. They are calculated to give the movement which attempt to justify and furnish with a cloak of
is campaigning for government subsidy the image of a respectability that which is not really concerned about
kind of holy crusade.                                        principle and about justice whatsoever. From a Chris-
  Personally, I am always a bit skeptical about such tian point of view, if our claims are a matter of
claims, and especially about a movement which tries to principle and justice, then we should quietly and
have the public image of a holy crusade. And I believe firmly make our case and let justice and principle
that I have objective reasons for some healthy skepti- speak, let the outcome rest with God the Judge, and
cism. In the first place, any movement of this kind is not imitate the world and its methods.
going to claim that it has right and justice on its side.      It is considerations like those stated above which
You may depend on this. What else would one expect? make me very reluctant to accept at face value the
Surely, no movement is going to advance its claims for argument that government subsidy is a matter of
this or that (especially in the political realm), and at justice and fairness.
the same time openly admit that those claims are               Nevertheless, because this argument has been raised
contrary to right and justice and that the claims are in the past, and because it is still used and defended, I
made  in spite  of this fact. This would be political want to examine it as thoroughly as possible, in order
suicide! All of which means that before we allow that we may discover just how much justice and
ourselves to be stampeded into backing any such principle, if any, is involved.
movement and accepting its claim that justice is on its        The argument which appeals to what is fair and just
side, we ought to take a calm, hard look at those claims takes several forms. Let me mention some of the chief
and their alleged justice. In the second place, I am points which are made in this connection.
unfavorably impressed by the clamor and the pressure           1) Private school supporters as well as public school
tactics and the "hard sell" of the entire movement. supporters are compelled to pay taxes on the same
These, to my mind, do not belong to the image of a basis; therefore, if tax money is used for education,
movement that is solidly based upon justice and private school supporters are entitled to a fair share.
righteousness, upon principle. Apart from anything Private schools, in the eyes of the government, should
else which may be wrong with that organization, a be on an equal footmg with public schools.
group like the Michigan Association of Non-Public              2) Since education is compulsory, and since private
Schools is a pressure group. There has been campaign schools are legitimate educational institutions, there-
pressure applied to our legislators. Last year the fore they should be financed by the government just as
schools were in some cases used to distribute literature well as the public schools.
to the parents urging them to exert pressure upon              3) Since private schools through their education
government officials,--not, mind you, the pressure of a contribute to the general public welfare (whatever that
simple and quiet appeal to justice and principle, but may be, HCH), therefore  it, is legitimate and proper
the pressure of a concerted letter campaign, the that they receive government subsidy.
pressure of a pile of letters, the pressure of numbers.        Perhaps there are other versions of this fairness
This year it has been publicly charged in the daily argument, but these are the main ones; and the others
newspapers that the forces in favor of government will not be essentially different. I will overlook the fact
subsidy have been organized into a well-organized and that to these arguments is frequently added the
well-oiled political machine, with campaign strategy attempted economic "squeeze play" to the effect that
well-planned and even with the date of a victory if private schools are not granted subsidy, there will be


274                                                      THE STANDARD BEARER



a drain of private school pupils to the public schools, substantially the same points. In the "Public Pulse" df
and thus the public school costs (and therefore the the Grand Rapids Press he argues: "One df the laws of
taxes) will increase. This, surely, is not justice, but the state says children must be in school; hence, dne
coercion. For the time being, I will also pass by the can only conclude that the state not only can but must
questionable concept of freedom which speaks of  a finance their education." In  The Banner  (Feb. 28,
pluralistic society and pluralistic education. Perhaps we 1969) he argues: "Because the non-public schools are
can return to this item at a later occasion. Neither of educating children and serving the public welfare under
these two items is germane to the justice argument as the supervision of the state, the children attending
it deals with the present system of government these schools ought to have support from the state." In
financed public education in our country today.                    the same article he argues that "Public education is a
  This is the argument made by the Legislative Study free choice only if alternative  choi`ces  are available
Committee in Michigan. They state (p. 4, RJLC):                    without economic penalty." And after erroneously
          The Committee finds that our non-public schools          appealing to a Supreme Court decision which only
       serve a very valid public purpose and make a real           states that no one can be forced to accept instruction.
       contribution to the general welfare. These schools          from public teachers only, he states: "Parents have the
       not only serve as a very valuable resource in assisting
       young citizens to receive a secular education, but          right to send their children to religiously-oriented
       these schools also make a tremendous financial              schools, yet when they exercise this right they are
       contribution to the general tax-paying public.              deprived (He should say: they voluntarily give up.
  The Committee then goes on to cite a statement by HCH) of all public educational benefits. It is in this
Walter Lippman claiming that non-public schools are connection, by the way, that he finally speaks of a
part of the "American system of education," and also pluralistic society,--something which we do not consti-
a statement by the 1967 Michigan School Finance tutionally have in the realm of education.
Study to the effect that "the state could hardly                     Finally, the Editor of De Wachter joins the fray-not
pretend not to notice if non-public schools were able surprisingly-with the claim that this is indeed not a
to underwrite only  .grossly inadequate programs for money question, but a question of justice. He is
nearly one-sixth of all future citizens."                          incensed at the suggestion that this is a money
  On page  5 the same Committee argues from the question and that the supporters of parochiaid are driven
financial contribution which the non-public schools by the fear that the existence of non-public schools
make, claiming that Michigan's non-public schools are would be doubtful if government subsidy is not
saving Michigan taxpayers approximateljr $220 `million forthcoming. He appeals to the school struggle in the
this year. On page 7, while the Committee does not Netherlands (which to my mind was a great deal
make a direct argument, it nevertheless mentions the different) and to the position of the great Abraham
fact that  "all  taxpayers have contributed through  in- Kuyper. Now while I do not believe that the situation
creased state and local taxes" to the rising costs  .of in the Netherlands was by any means the same as it is
public schools, thus adding to the "financial squeeze" in our country, and while I am not prepared to accept
in which non-public school supporters are caught. And the idea that there was no strange fire on the altar in
finally, in its Summary (p. 28, RJLC) they state the Kuyper's school struggle in the Netherlands, this is not
following:                                                         my point at present. I wanted to point out that Editor
                                                                   Haverkamp also takes the position (without further
         The Michigan Legislature, having continually ex-
       pressed concern through vastly improved support of          definition or proof) that it is a matter of justice that
       public education in recent years, must concern itself       non-public schools be on an equal footing with the
       with all children in this state. The very fact that         public schools. Nor does he think that there is any lack
       education is a constitutionally granted responsibility      of principle manifest in the present struggle for
       of the state, and that we have compulsory education         government subsidy.
       requirements in Michigan, dictate (sic) that the              This is the position of those who argue in favor of
       Legislature must concern itself with the education of       government subsidy with an apparent appeal to justice
       all children.                                               and fairness.'
  Dr. John Vanden Berg, Dean at Calvin College, and a                I will state my position in the next issue,
leading spokesman of parochiaid supporters has made D.V.


          Don't put off  till tomorrow what you can do today.  Your  copy of "Behold, He Cometh!" can be
          obttiined  for $7.95 postpaid, - if you order before April 1.


                                                THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 275



In His Fear

                                Something for Nothing
                                                   Rev. John A. Heys

       There are some things that we get for nothing.         That cross stood on a parcel of land that is His in the
       In fact we get some of the most important things of absolute sense of the Word. He furnished the torment
life for nothing.                                             of our punishment that had to be poured out on this
  We get the rain and the sunshine, without which we His Son. And He has never sent us a bill for any part of
could not live, entirely free of charge. No man yet paid it. He never will send a bill. Indeed He will send a bill
God for a drop of rain or a beam of sunlight. We may for "damages" to those who nailed Him to the tree,
pay our water bill to the city and our electric light bill and to all those who crucify Him afresh today. And He
to the utility company. But no man ever paid God for will be collecting for these "damages" everlastingly in
either of these.                                              the lake of fire. But of those who are benefited by that
       Then there is the life-giving air which we breathe. It cross; of those for whom His Son died on the cross, He
is there every day in abundance. And although there will not present at any time in the everlasting
may come a day when we have. to buy the oxygen in             continuance of the kingdom of that Son, a claim for
our hospital bed to ease an injured heart or help the recompense or remuneration. Salvation is free!
congested lungs, we do not buy a mouthful or nostril            And salvation would have to be free.
full from God. He supplies it every day entirely                We have nothing to use in order to buy from God.
without our help and without any reimbursement from We have nothing to trade or exchange. We are utterly
us.                                                           penniless before He gives us of the riches of salvation.
  And above all we get life itself entirely free of And when He makes us rich with salvation, He bestows
charge. The child does not buy it from his parents. The       on us His own possessions. 0, indeed, Isaiah saw all
parents do not charge the child for it. God gives it this when he cried in Chapter 55 : 1, "Ho, every one
through the parents; and although some parents may that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath
expect that their children in gratitude will take care of no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea come, buy wine
them in their declining years of old age because of this and milk without money and without price." Salvation
gift of life, it comes from God as a free gift for which      is prepared for the penniless that God may be rich in
we cannot even repay Him. What we would try to use            glory. None of His glory must be given to man. And
to clear ourselves of this debt is already His. If the ob-    therefore salvation must from beginning to end be His
mining  of earthly, physical life were conditional, there gift to us and must not  ,include  anywhere along the
would be no life in the physical, earthly sense. An ad-       way a gift on our part to God as the requirement.
vertisement in the paper may give a suggestion as to a        There shall be the gift of praise in sincere gratitude but
gift to "The man that has everything." And usually never as a payment.
something can be and is suggested that he does not have,        But we live in an age when men want something for
even though he has money to buy himself what he               nothing from each other. Yea, even this can be good. A
wishes without practically any difficulty. But God is gift is not a gift unless it is given without any desire for
The One Who has everything! You name it, it is His.           reimbursement. If we give something in order to get
And then will you give it to Him for this rain, sunshine, something, we are only performing a business trans-
oxygen and life itself?                                       action and are not doing a work of charity. We are
       Will you then do so foolishly also with all those bargaining and not really giving. It is not an act of love
benefits of spiritual life and with that very life itself? but of shrewd earthly wisdom. It does not come from
Here, too, we always receive all things for nothing. the heart but from an advantage-seeking mind. On the
That is, as far as our works and our gifts are concerned part of the giver it should always be giving because he
it is received for nothing. It is a costly gift. We do not wants to give and not because he wants to receive
buy it, but God had to purchase it - and not from the penny for penny, service for service.
devil, but from His own righteousness. The cost was             From the viewpoint of the receiver, however, so
the death of His Son. The price was the precious blood often it is seeking something for nothing, enrichment
of His Son. Nothing less would do. In no other way at the expense of someone else's expense, advantage at
could God's justice be satisfied. Only so would His someone else's disadvantage. One refuses to work,
righteous demands be met.                                     refuses to part with money for a coveted object and
       And He  gave  His Son. He furnished that tree that demands something for nothing. They are all for a
became the cross. The- nails were made from His iron. "Share the Wealth" program, provided they get some-


276                                           THE STANDARD BEARER



one else's goods but need not give any of their own The envelope is even arranged for you so that it will
away for less fortunates. Sometimes also to soothe the not even cost you the price of a stamp. It becomes so
conscience, Scripture is quoted to the effect that it is easy to get something for nothing. One would be
more blessed to give than to receive, and therefore we inclined to say, "My, we surely have a wonderful
ought to give others the opportunity to give so that we world, so many people looking out for our good and
may receive. We give them the opportunity to give us interested in having the lust of our flesh, the lust of
our coveted items; and we get something (these items) our eyes and the pride of our life satisfied!" You do
for our nothing (a mere giving of the opportunity, not even have to be there for the drawing. For the
which costs us nothing and really is not giving to these, little effort of signing your name and address and
but putting ourselves in a position to receive.)         giving your phone number, you will get word by phone
  Witness much of the action in the ghetto, the slum or letter that you are the "lucky" one. Men's lusts are
district, the underprivileged and  pla@ "have nots." fed. The Word says, "Thou shalt not covet thy
Among them there are those who desire an oppor- neighbour's house . . . ," and the world says, "But we
tunity to work and to better their position in an will tempt you to covet this and that and the next
hon'est, industrious way, but with so many it simply is thing." You see what the neighbour has. NO, you do
a matter of getting at once what others have, by not want him' to lose it so that you can have it. You do
getting it from these others through no honest effort not hate him THAT MUCH! But you do not like the
of their own. No, but by looting during riots and fact that he has it and you do not. You ought to have
seizing by force the goods of those who obtained these one like it. You must keep up with the Jones family
by  labour and industry, they would hurdle all these next door. You cannot, because God has not given you
obstacles and get something for nothing, something the same talents and the same job and its opportu-
without their own sweat and toil, something through nities. But here comes that letter! There is that sign in
the sweat and toil of others.                            the grocery store! Loud and clear over radio and
  No different is it with those who do have but lust television comes the message of a way to satisfy your
for more. The whole  labour movement, here in our lust and get this something you covet for nothing.
country at least, is operated ori a, "Get-Something-for- Maybe you can even turn your nose up at the Jones
Nothing" basis. That, in years gone by, management family next door. They went to Hawaii last week while
.did abuse the worker, no one will deny. The shoe was you had to stay quite near home  - or maybe spend
on the other foot, and the employer sought to get your vacation painting the house to cut financial
something for nothing from his employees. This corners. But by bowing before Lady Luck, feeding
produced the occasion for the rising of the  labour your lust, you can win that trip around the world and
unions. We will not deny that labour had a large room include Hawaii on the list. That will make the
for complaining of unjust and merciless treatment. But neighbour look up and respect you! Aha! a way to get
must the pendulum swing completely over to the other something for nothing and at the same time get to be
side today so that the employees get so much for something!
nothing? Extended coffee breaks when no work is            The manufacturer also will get some of your money
done, payment of this fringe benefit and that, shorter for nothing. He will deliberately produce an inferior
working hours with more pay, less work - the amount product that looks good but will not work well after a
determined by union leaders - with raises in pay, all short period of time and use. But he will still attach
pile up as  labour's attempt to get something for the same price to his product that is fair for a good
nothing. And is the end in sight?                        product. The dairy will water down the milk. The
  Where is the incentive anymore today? Where is gasoline station will set the pumps to give a short
there any initiative on the part of the worker? Where is gallon. The department store will mark up the price
there careful craftmanship and the desire to do a good and then put a tag on the object listing this marked up
piece of work? Men care not what kind of work they price plus a new price that still is higher than the
produce as long as they get that check at the end of regular price to lure some uneducated buyer, so that
the week. And management is helpless to get rid of the store gets something for nothing. And thus we
such workers who give only a part of their time to       could continue.
work, who do the job with poor workmanship because         But what shall we say of all this?
                                                           Is all fair in love and business? "Everybody does it."
the union  will defend and insist that this worker get One who is wise expects it. Is it so ver& wrong - or is
something for nothing.                                   it wrong at all  - to get  sbmething for nothing? Does
  Almost every week you get a letter through the mail Scripture have anything to say about this? We would
urging you to trust to luck and "get something for like to continue this thought next time. But for the
nothing" by bowing before Lady Luck. "You may moment let us examine our own lives and hearts to'
have won $10,000 already," so the catchy leading lines observe how common this is among us who profess to
read. Here is a "chance" to get something you always ggi;fl;oyal priesthood, who have'a calling to do all
wanted, your lust coveted, and it is all for nothing!


                                                    THE STANDARD BEARER                                                       277



All Around Us

           Moon Flights, Space Flights, life on other Planets, etc.
                                                                Vakia
                                                           Prof H. Hanko
MOON FLIGHTS, SPACE FLIGHTS, LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS, ETC.
   It is perhaps time to weigh in with some opinions and                 some of the secrets as to how everything started.
comments of our own concerning the Scripture reading                 There is an irony, here. If Genesis 1: l-l 0 does not
of the astronauts of Apollo 8 in their recent  moon-               tell us in no uncertain terms "how everything started"
flight. These astronauts,  circlirig the moon on  Cbrist-          then this information is forever unattainable; and
mas eve, startled the world by sendtig back a message certainly not to be found on the moon. The fact of the
from  d space on Christmas eve which  was chiefly a matter is that apparently also the astronauts cling to
reading"of Genesis 1: l-10; Reactions to this Scriptural the firm Wish of many scientists that further knowl-
readink has filled countless columns in the religious edge of the moon will enable men to make more
and secular press. Almost everyone was thrilled.                   accurate guesses as to the evolutionary origin of the
Madalyn Murray, the professional and blasphemous earth and the universe. But if this is the purpose,
atheist, registered a sour protest.                               .evolution has already been accepted and Genesis 1
   I have no intention of judging the legal aspects of does not tell us anything about the origin of things.
Madalyn Murray's case that the Scriptural reading was But then the question is: Why read it? .Any other book
a violation of the First Amendment. Nor do I have any will do as well. A vague and undefined reference to
desire to judge the genuineness of the personal faith of God is of no importance.
these astronauts. Yet a little reflection might be a                 Whatever may have been in the minds and hearts of
healthy thing lest we be carried away with it all.                 the astronauts, many back on "good earth" were not
   There were many who were under the impression so modest. Perhaps Eric Sevareid, a news commentator
that this  Scripwral reading was completely unre- on CBS, summed up the general feeling of most. His
hearsed and unplanned. In this case the whole thing remark was: "What man imagines, he can do." It was
was a spontaneous outburst of praise to God which the reminiscent of another CBS news commentator who
sight of the earth from the spaceship orbiting the covered the first attempt of this couniry to put a man
moon roused in these men. This was not the case. Here in space. At the moment of lift-off, this comment&or
is the explanation given by Air Force Colonel Frank parodied a well-known Christmas carol which refers
Borman at a Washiqgton  Press Conference shortly after specifically to Christ. He sent the astronaut on his way
the flight was over.                                               with the words: "The hopes and fears of all the years
       We were, of course, aware that. we were going to            are met in you today." At the time it was like a cold
     have television on board the spacecraft . . . Having          hand on my soul. He was probably more correct than
     had television, we said we wanted fo do something             even he realized.
     significant, because here we are around the moon on             Sevareid's comment came uncomfortably close to
     Christmas, and so on.
       We consulted with friends. We thought among                 God's words of judgment and wrath upon a wicked
     ourselves. We first thought perhaps it would be more          world at the time of Babel: "And this they begin to
     of the `one world' theme where we would tell                  do: and now nothing will be restrained from them,
     everyone on earth that, gee whilliker, we are living on       which they have imagined to do." Genesis 11: 6.
     one earth. But then one of the suggestions was to               And this is the point. Man is building once again his
     read the first ten verses of the Bible; and that seemed       Babel. His Babel is built with the rock of scientific
     so appropriate and so simple that we adopted that.            achievement held together by the mortar of man's
  The suggestion to take Bibles along on the spaceship atheistic pursuit of an earthly kingdom. His achieve-
was first made by a representative of the Gideons. The ments are in the service of sin. Nothing will be
passage chosen was one of several suggested by a restrained from them which they have imagined to do.
minister with whom the astronuats conferred prior to                                          a****
their flight.                                                        There were few ministers who did not make the
  When, at the same press conference, Borman was moon-flight the subject of a Sunday morning sermon.
asked concerning the religious significance of the Most of these sermons dealt with the glories of the
flight, he responded:                                              flight and the marvelous panorama of human accom-
       The religious significance of the flight; at least          plishment held out before man by the success of it all.
     personally to me, was the -opportunity to view                Some dealt with the many theological problems which
     firsthand this mass of matter that perhaps will unfold        the flight once again raised. "(The flight) might open


278                                                 THE STANDARD BEARER


up new dimensions in conceiving of God, of dealing                  agree about almost everything because they believed
with the enhanced mystery." "(The flight) may rein-                 almost nothing.
force the idea that man may not be the most                            They reminded me of a pub turn-out in my youth,
important thing in creation. Say that out there we find             with 10 or a dozen drunks holding onto one another,
persons  superibr to us, as we consider ourselves                   swaying to and fro, but managing to remain upright.
                                                                    Alone they would infallibly have fallen into the
superior to dogs."
  And this was, at bottom, the problem. Is there life               gutter.
                                                                       It was all tremendously reminiscent of the United
on other planets? And if there is, what are we to do                Nations, that tragically absurd assembly-stony faces
about it?                                                           between earphones, paper circulating in prodigious
  In the scientific world at least it is now quite                  quantities (the Swedish government allotted 10 tons,
commonly accepted  that there has got to be life on                 which got used up in the first two days), oratory to       .
other planets. If not in our solar system, then surely in           match, interminable discussions about the precise
our galaxy. And if not in our galaxy, then surely in                wording of statements of belief and purpose which
some other of the countless galaxies of  space. But                 few would read and none heed, a well-equipped but
again there is a basic presupposition. .That presupposi-            little-used press room, documents of no conceivable
tion is the evolutionary origin of all things. The                  importance or interest to anyone urgently rushed out.
argument is not difficult to follow and is basically this.          to choke the pigeonholes of absent journalists.
                                                                       If ever in human history there was a non-event,
If life evolved on this planet, there is no reason at all           this was it.
why life could not also evolve on another planet. But                  I cannot see how, apart from the desultory use of
the key word is "Evolve."                                           the cross as a symbol and `the garb of some of the
  It is worthy of note therefore that a Jesuit theolo-              delegates, anyone could possibly have known that
gian has the courage to challenge these assertions on the           the occasion had anything to do with the Christian
basis of Scripture. According to Time, Paul Curtin said:            religion.
          The only theology I know or can know is that of a            Institutional Christianity is quietly but inexorably
       revealed God in relationship to the children of Adam.        extinguishing itself.
       If there are beings on another.planet, then they must                                 *****
       be the object of another Providence. They are not          In the February 8, 1969 New  York Times  Walter
       the children of Adam and so they are not a part of       Sullivan wrote an aritcle in  wl&h he spoke of two
       our salvation history, which is that of a fallen and     University of Georgia geologists who had "conftimed"
       redeemed race.                                           the fact that the eastern coast of South America and
  There is a considerable amount of truth in this the Western coast of Africa were once joined. The
statement.  Surely it is true that, as far as we know confirmation was based upon the fact that the geolog-
from God's revelation, there is no other life on other ical layers on the two coasts of the continents match
planets anywhere in the universe.  And to assert that           perfectly in several areas. All this was supposed to be
there is creates insuperable problems as far as God's proof of a theory of continental drift.
revelation to us is concerned. Scripture teaches em-              While the geologists find in this additional proof of
phatically that all things in heaven and on earth are to        an earth which is hundreds of millions of years old, I
be united in Christ in the new creation. This is possible recall vividly that over thirty years ago this was already
because God reconciled all things to Himself in the called to our attention in Catechism class as evidence
cross of Christ. Supposing then that there is intelligent of the universal flood which God sent upon the earth
life on another planet; and supposing that there has in the days of Noah.
been no fall into sin among this race; at least this                                         *****
segment of the creation of God cannot be united into              In the Grand Rapids Press of February 10, 1969, an
Christ because it has never fallen. But problems arise editorial was written entitled "A Look at Parobhiaid."
also if we speculate that they too have fallen. They The editorial considered the question of Parochiaid
either perish forever or Christ went there after He left chiefly from the viewpoint of Constitutional law. But
our planet to be born in that race and atone for sin it also  bade some interesting comments concerning
there.                                                          state aid and state control of schools. We quote a few
  The conclusion has got to be that the only revela- paragraphs.
tion we know  -is the revelation of God Who through                    A campaign handbook gotten up by the  Michi-
Christ  accomplishes His purpose among men here on                  gan Association of Nonpublic Schools sets as this
this earth.                                                         year's goal the winning of state funds equal to
                                                                    one-half of the per-pupil money allocated to public
VARIA                                                               schools. The ultimate goal apparently is state aid for
  Malcolm Muggeridge, a well-known British writer,                  nonpublic schools equal to that which is being given
had some interesting things to say about the Assembly               the public schools.
of the World Council of Churches in Uppsala last year.                George Romney declared his opposition to non-
          At Uppsala, as one clearly saw, they were able to         public schools as he left office . . . .


                                                  THE STANDARD BEARER                                                       279



       Romney feared that state aid would bring state                 Contrary to popular belief, perhaps, not all non-
    cotitrol of non-public schools. It might not happen             public school people indorse the campaign for public
    right away; but no legislative body can appropriate             funds. Some are concerned lest their schools lose
    public funds to private schools or any other private            their identity and find themselves compelled to
    organization without insisting, for the public's pro-           accept state supervision.
    tection, that it have an important voice in deter-
    mining how the fimds are spent.                               This is also our fear. And it is not at all ungrounded.


A  Cloqd of Witnesses

                            Absalgm's Treachery
                                                    Rev. B. Woudenberg

                                  And it came to pass after this that Absalom prepared
                               him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before
                               him.
                                  And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way
                               of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had
                               .a controversy came to the king for judgment, then
                               Absalom called unto him, and said, . . . .
                                  Oh that I were made judge in the land, . . . I would
                               do him justice!
                                  And it was so that when any man came nigh to him
                                to do him obeisance, he @ut forth his hand, and took
                               him, and kissed him.
                                   And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that
                                came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the
                                hearts of the men of Israel.
                                                                          II Samuel 15: 1-6

  At last Absalom had been restored ,to official favor reign of his father David - that was, all efforts toward
within the court of his father David and within the personal ostentation. David simply had no interest in
kingdom of Israel. It had taken much longer than he the ordinary pomp and ceremony which was to be
had anticipated when first he thought to slay his expected of a king. No matter how great his accom-
brother Amnon, and the time spent had had its effect plishment and how great the honor people sought to
upon him. Through it, Absalom had come to realize heap upon him, all through his life he remained pretty
that his expectation to receive the place of Amnon in much the gentle shepherd who had lived for his sheep,
the line of royal succession would never be granted and the warm-hearted comrade who had lived with his
him by his father. As much as David loved Absalom, furtive band among the caves of the earth. Actually,
his sense of righteousness and justice was too keen to Absalom knew the reason for it, too. In all of his great
give the throne of Israel into the hands of one who was and tremendous accomplishments, David saw nothing
a murderer. David's own experience of recent years whatever for which he could take the credit himself; to
had brought him to understand how very difficult and him it was all and completely the work of his God. To
undesirable was such an arrangement. But Absalom the mind of Absalom this may have made good religion
was determined; and once he realized this fact, he and beyond question it did make his father a very
resolved to obtain the kingship by his own power, even warm and lovable person, but it was foolishness
if he could rely upon the cooperation of no other. nonetheless. It was impractical. Absalom knew from
Being a clever man, he laid his plans carefully his own keen observations in life that there are few
throughout; and, being now embittered, he did so in things the people like more than all the pomp and
complete ruthlessness with feelings for no one but ostentation which a king could possibly provide. It
himself. Now he was ready to act.                               gives to them a feeling of pride and accomplishment.
  Through the years, Absalom had noted that there By identifying themselves with their king in all of his
was one thing that was most unusually missing in the pomp and luxury, they feel themselves lifted up and


280                                             THE STANDARD BEARER


proud, too, because they belong to him. In fact,  Ab- man into his arms and kissed him with all the warmth
salom was quite sure that through the years there had of an eastern greeting. It was a devastating  combina-
developed an undertow of dissatisfaction in Israel just tion. First he established himself as someone great dnd
exactly because David refused to have anything to do important in the minds of the people through all of his
with this sort of thing. It was that which he determined pomp and grandeur; and then with `the warmth of a
to lay hold of and use to his own advantage.               dear friend he took these same people to himself as
  The first thing that Absalom did, therefore, was to though more than ready to share all of his greatness
obtain for himself a most beautiful chariot with a fine with them. In a very short time, Absalom- was the man
team of horses to pull it. Here was a sight that could to talk about through the length and breadth of the
not help but gain attention in Jerusalem and in all of l a n d .
the land of Canaan. Few things could be more                 One begins to wonder, however, how it was that
impressive than the sight of this most handsome man David allowed all of this to go on within his own
with his long flowing hair driving a beautifully decked nation and his own city by a member of his own
chariot between a team of high-spirited horses, and family, and a member at that of whom he had reason
particularly so because such a sight had never before to suspect the worse. But here is where something else
been seen in this land. The fact was that the law of had happened which seemed to work right along
God directly forbade a king in Israel to multiply horses together with Absalom's fondest dream. David had
to himself. It was a symbol of reliance upon earthly fallen- sick, desperately sick. We read of this from his
strength which Israel might never do. The result was own pen in Psalm 38:5-8. "My wounds stink and are
thus inevitably that there would be those who, holding corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled; I
close to the law of God, would be deeply offended by am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day
the sight. Absalom realized this; but he was also a long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease:
clever enough judge of human nature to know that by and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and
far the majority of the people would be thrilled and sore broken; I have roared by reason of the disquiet-
impressed by the daring which he showed in his ness of my heart."
willingness to challenge even the law of God. And they       For Absalom this provided many opportunities
would be pleased just to know that there- was one which ordinarily he would never have received. David
willing to bring to them some of the show and in his weakened condition was, of course, in no
spectacle which all other nations enjoyed in their position to be concerned with the behavior of his
kings. And then to make his appearance even more grown children or even to be aware of what they were
impressive still, Absalom took to himself no fewer than doing. But even more important than this was the fact
fifty of his father's servants and appointed them to run that it served to keep Joab occupied so that he was
before him, announcing his approach whenever he unable to become concerned about Absalom either.
passed through the city. It brought his presence to the Joab was, after all, a much more shrewd judge of
attention of everyone in the finest of royal style, people than David ever had been. It was because David
identifying him as p.art of the family of the king.        found it almost impossible to be suspicious of people,
  This, moreover, was far from the end of Absalom's particularly if they were members of God's chosen
cleverness in dealing with people. He recognized the nation, Israel. He wanted to think the best of them if
fact, that even though David had failed to please the he possibly could. It was this that made him the warm,
people as he might have with the use of personal, compassionate person that he was, but it also limited
outward show, he nevertheless `had drawn them very him in certain respects. On the other hand, Joab could
close to him through the use of warmth and friend- often be much more realistic. With him there was one
liness. If ever he was going to work himself in between strong, driving commitment  - that was a burning
his father and the favor of the people, he would have loyalty to David as friend and as king. He was always
to counteract this; and the ingenuity of Absalom was alive to anything that threatened the well-being of his
sufficient unto this also. Going through the city as he king. He was the one who had seen that the banish-
did with his beautiful chariot and fifty runners, it was ment of Absalom was troubling the heart of the king
inevitable that some would soon approach him and and had urged that he be restored. But he had also seen
seek to pay to him obeisance such as was usually given that the restoration had. been a mistake and had done
a king. It was here that Absalom's opportunity what he could to keep him from gaining undue
afforded itself, and few in an occasion such as that influence, Now, however, with David sick, he had to
have ever been able to handle it with the mastery take over many of the burdens of the kingdom and had
that Absalom did. The natural reaction to the prof- no time to concern himself with the activities of
fered obeisance would have been to accept it with all David's son even if he did observe them.
of its heady contributions to one's sense of pride. But      Above all, however, what the sickness of David did
Absalom knew -better. When anyone offered such for Absalom was to provide him the opportunity to
worship to him, he refused it, and instead took the establish relationships directly with the people. He did


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   281



this by offering himself to serve as adviser and judge someone- else to take over the royal functions. Better
for the people during the period of incapacity on the they go undone. And they did, with the result that
part of his father.                                          soon many a troubled person found himself turned
  From the very beginning of Israel's existence as a away from the royal palace to return bitter and
nation, one of the prime functions of every leader and disillusioned to their homes.
ruler among them was to judge and advise the people            Here Absalom saw his opportunity. Quietly and
in whatever difficulties that arose. This is what Moses without ceremony he set himself up in the gate of the
did in the wilderness, and later the men which at the city, the customary site for judgment in the ages that
suggestion of Jethro he appointed to serve as judges had passed. One by one he called to him the people
under him. This is what the Judges did in that period returning in their disappointment from the palace, or
when Israel as yet had no king. And when Israel finally intercepted them before they went there if he could.
did receive a king, this is what he was expected to do, With every appearance of patient consideration he
too.                                                         explained to them, each one, that his father could not
  No doubt David had done this, too, as faithfully and hear them and that no one had been appointed to take
as wisely as a man ever could, for he was a man with a his place, but that he would be happy to serve that
deep sense of sympathy for everyone in spiritual need, function should they like.
while .maintaining  a strong sense of righteous indigna-       Handsome man that Absalom was, with his royal
tion against all kinds of sin. But now David was apparel, his chariot, horses, and servants standing by,
incapacitated and there was no one to take his place. few were able to resist him. To each he listened with
Ordinarily, perhaps, Joab as David's foremost assistant patience and sympathy, willing to compromise justice
should have taken his place; but Joab was not a itself if it would serve to please and gain favor. Pleased
sympathetic man and he had no patience for people and grateful people they were who returned from that
with all kinds of petty grievances. And neither was he gate to their homes scattered throughout the land.
about to appoint anyone else to take David's place. His Absalom was very effectively stealing the hearts of the
burning loyalty to the king would not allow for people. That was exactly his intent and plan.


From Holy  Writ

                                  The Book of Hebrews
                                                 Rev. G. Lubbers

THE TRANSCENDENT EXISTENCE OF OUR HIGH                       to bring a sacrifice for his own sins. Likewise, we never
PRIEST (Hebrews 7:26) Continued                              read that the Son was sanctified. He is the Sanctifier.
  And thus the Son is perfected forever; He is not as (Hebrews 2: 11) However, we repeatedly read of the
men, mere men, who were made or constituted high Son as being perfected in the flesh. He is made perfect
priests in the Old Testament. These were made priests through sufferings (Hebrews 2 : 10) and he "being made
having weaknesses; weaknesses of such a nature that perfect. . . . became the author of eternal salvation."
they required a sacrifice to be brought for their (Hebrews 5 : 9)
personal sins.-(7:28) But this High Priest, who is ours,       What does this mean?
was made a priest by a word of confirmation by oath.           The idea of perfection is that the Son is glorified
In Him all things are sure and firm; all God's promises with such an exaltedness and power and might at the
are Yea in Him, and Amen, to the glory of God the right hand of God, that nothing can ever be added to
Father.                                                      it. He is at the right hand of the Majesty of God. He
  He is perfected (teteleioomenon)  unto eternity!           now puts all things under his feet, and will give all
  The notion of being                                        things over to God, the Father, that God may be all in
                           perfected, in  the book of all.
Hebrews, we have noticed before. There are three terms                            CHAPTER 8
which are of kindred meaning which we ought to THE SUM OF THE THlNGS SPOKEN OF
notice. The first two are the terms "purge" and (Hebrews  8:l)
"Sanctify," and the last one is "to perfect." It ought to      The writer had spoken of many things, particularly
be obvious that we never read of Christ, the Son, as concerning the High Priesthood of the eternal Son of
being purged from sin. He had no sin; He was separated God. There was a danger that the reader would lose the
from sinners. He needed no purging, and he needed not fine point on which everything depended. There was in


282                                             THE STANDARD BEARER



 this matter of the preeminence of Christ's priesthood busy in the things of His heavenly Father (Luke 2:49)
 one point which must be singled out.                        Yes, He came to His own things. (John 1: 11) For these
   Yes, it is important to notice what the writer had were the things which God had by angels put in the
said in Chapter 7. The chief point concerning hands of the Mediator at Sinai; they were appointed
Melchizedek's priesthood was that he was "made like for the Seed to come. (Galatians 3: 19, 20)
unto the Son of God." (7:3) and therefore remains a            However, Christ is a minister not in an earthly
priest without end. It is also important to remember tabernacle, which is pitched by man, but he is a
that he is greater than Abraham, the heir of the minister in the true tabernacle which God pitched.
promises, and greater than Levi who proceeded out of           Here we find ourselves confronted with some ques-
Abraham's loins. (7:4) And, again, it is of the utmost tions which we ought to attempt to answer.
importance to cling to the truth that this Jesus is a          The first question is: what is the Scriptural teaching
priest after the power of an endless life, and not after a concerning the meaning of the tabernacle. The term in
mere carnal commandment. And truly, it is important the Greek is "skeenee," a tent. Really, this is what is
to remember that Christ is the High Priest which called the "tent of meeting." This does not mean
became us, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separated primarily that this was the place where Israel met with
from sinners and, therefore, also made higher than the God, but it is most emphatically the place where God
heavens.                                                     dwells with Israel his people, as they are his sinful, yet
   But the chief point to remember is that now we redeemed people in the world. Here we come upon the
really have such an high priest. He is not something very essence of the Christian religion. God has come to
simply for the future. We have him now. And he is make his abode with us. He is the High and Lofty One,
perfected, for he is seated at the right hand of the who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; He dwells
majesty of God. He is a High Priest in the true in the holy place of His tabernacle with the lowly and
sanctuary of God - in the very heavens itself. He is in with the broken-hearted, to revive the heart of the
the most holy place of God; He has passed through the contrite.
heavens of our galaxy into the third heaven, before the        Hence, the tabernacle idea is that God comes down
throne of God. We have such a High Priest, He is our to dwell with His people. Incidentally, this is the very
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous opposite of the idolatrous Pelagianism which posits
one!                                                         man finding God. All of heathendom and all paganism
   And this has stupendous implications for our salva- is a searching for God. But to no avail is such seeking.
tion!                                                        For God is only found in His own Self-disclosure, in
   This means that the place, the plane on which His own Self-revelation in His tabernacle.
Christ's priesthood is executed is that, of the Son,           The writer to the Hebrews says that our High Priest
through whom God has spoken unto us in these last ministers in the  true  tabernacle. The question here
days. His Priesthood is on a level and in a glory which arises: what is meant by  true  tabernacle? The term
God never gave to any of the angels. He never said to "true" here is not the word which the Bible uses to
the angels: Sit thou on my right hand until I make thy express that something is true and not a lie. On the
enemies thy footstool.                                       contrary, here a term is employed, which underscores
  But we have such an High Priest that He is accorded that a thing is not counterfeit, but is the real thing.
a place at God's right hand. He is made Head over all The term in the Greek is "aleetheenos." Accordingly,
things to the church. (Ephesians 1:22)                       we read in Luke  16:ll "Wherefore, if in the unjust
  This truth is the key-note of his entire epistle. All Mamuon  ye are not found faithful, who shall entrust
the heavens and the earth may wax old, but the years to  you  the  true  riches?" Christ, in distinction from
of this Priest shall have no end. And this truth is the      John the Baptist, is the "true light," which lighteneth
heart-beat of the things which will be expounded every man coming into the world (John 1:9) And Jesus
further in the Chapters 8: 2 through IO: 18.                 calls Himself the `"true Vine." (John 15 : 1)
                                                               Wherefore the true tabernacle here is not the true
THE MINISTER OF THE TRUE TABERNACLE                          tabernacle in opposition to heathen shrines and  idol-
(Chapter  8:2)                                               temples, but the true tabernacle is the real, heavenly
  Christ is a  minister.  All priests were ministers of tabernacle in distinction from the earthly. It is the
God. They were ministering servants in the temple. body overagainst the. types and shadows.
This was official ministry- at the altar. The term in the      Of this real tabernacle, the true tabernacle, we read
Greek for minister is `leitourgos" From this we obtain that this is not one which is pitched by man. 0, to be
our English term  "Liturgy', and the ministry in the         sure, the tabernacle which Moses ordered to be built in
service in the congregation is called "Liturgy." Priests the desert was pitched by man. It was none other than
were ministers of the holy things, which we set in the Bezaleel and Aholiab who were called by God and who
service of God. When Christ came to earth and when were given wisdom to build the tabernacle. (Exodus
he became a great Liturg in the temple, he came to be        31: l-l 1) But in this or a similar tabernacle the Son of


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 283



God does not minister. He ministers in a tabernacle the desert, resting about the tabernacle. Yes, he did see
which "the Lord pitched." (Hebrews 8:2)                     "Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes."
   It is an interesting question whence the writer to the On. the East he saw Judah pitched with Issachar and
Hebrews obtains this quotation from the Old Testa- Zebulun; on the South he saw Reuben with Simeon
ment Scriptures. More than likely this is a quota- and Gad; on the West he saw Ephraim and Manasseh
tion from Numbers 24: 6 as found in the Septuagint and Benjamin, and, finally, on the North he saw Dan
Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. If so, then this with Asher and Naphtali. What a goodly sight this was.
quotation is taken from what proceeded from the mouth It was in itself a photographic picture, a symbolic
of Balaam, who would have cursed Israel for Balak, but representation of the heavenly Jerusalem; it repre-
instead blesses Israel and utters a parable concerning sented the Holy City, the New Jerusalem as conceived
Israel's greatness and future. The passage in question by God, as He would dwell in the midst of the church
reads as follows in our KJV, and we quote "And he from out of the beauty of the holiness of his
took up the parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor tabernacle. Here is the picture of the city with the
hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said. twelves gates on which are written the names of the
He hath said which heard the words of God, which saw twelve tribes of Israel, and are based upon the twelve
the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but hav- foundations of the apostles and prophets of which
ing,his eyes open: How goodly are thy tents, 0 Jacob, Jesus Christ is the chief comer-stone.
and thy tabernacles, 0 Israel! As the valleys are they        And thus in the vision of the Almighty, Balaam was
spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of shown the pinnacles of the temple in the heavenly
lign aloes  which the Lord hath planted,  and as cedar Jerusalem! Yes, her king shall be greater than  Agag.
trees beside the waters. He shall pour water out of his The Lord loveth Zion. He is the Architect and Builder
buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his of the city four-square. Abraham had seen this city
king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall from afar, and had greeted her with faith and hope,
be exalted. . . . . . "                                     and wandered as a pilgrim on the earth, dwelling in
   It is interesting to note that Balaam here is speaking tents.
as a "Seer"; He is made a prophet against his will. What      And such is the Tabernacle in which the Son of
he speaks he speaks not because of what he sees before God, perfected forever, ministers!
him as a photographic picture of Israel in her tents in


The Strength of Youth

                                 Dissent and the law
                                                 Rev. J. Kortering

  The vanguard of dissent is punctuated with the Christianity. Through the development of sin, the
rat-a-tat-tat of machine guns, the crack of the billy youth of the world repudiate the morality of the Word
club, the shriek of the defiant, and the slam of the        of God. In addition, modern youth charges the church
door of the paddy-wagon.                                    of the past and the ministry of that church with all the
  When  calm is restored, the debris and chaos form "sins" they may find in our present situation. To stay
ghastly exhibits that must be placed in evidence to relevant, the modem church is now emerging with a
testify against man and his "Great Society."                new image; she rejects old truths and morals and is
  There are no heroes, for there is no victory for those busy replacing them with up-to-date doctrines and
who follow the course of lawlessness. Dissent which morals that are more acceptable to depraved man,
arouses hatred, the root of murder, can only destroy; it especially the youth. Since present laws, whether in
can never build. Moral issues won by force are not government, church, home, school, or society in
won; the subjugated only wait for the moment of general have been framed by the past generation and
retaliation.                                                cannot, as they stand, conform to the dictates of
  Yet, in the eyes of many youth, the revolutionaries modern man, these laws must be replaced, they must
are extolled as saviors of society and the redeemers of be shown to be wrong and consequently changed. To
humanity. They appear as the last hope for freedom break these present laws in the cause of the evolution
and independence over against the despotism of the toward a "better" society is not considered wrong. On
present "establishment." The "now" generation is the contrary, it, is considered a necessary means to the
completely liberated from the shackles of historic desired end of the society which shall not be  in-


284                                          THE STANDARD BEARER



fluenced in the least by the law of God, but shall be society under existing laws."
thoroughly imbued with the spirit of human depravity.          Those who advocate breaking the law, have a wrong
  The present day spirit of lawlessness is one birth view of those in positions of authority. A deliberate
pang that shall very soon bring forth the "man of transgression of the law with a view to destroying the
lawlessness," the anti-Christ himself. This the Word of "establishment" is a direct attack upon those who are
God makes very clear, elf. II Thess. 2:6-12, II Peter 2     called to uphold the law. This holds true whether one
and II Tim. 3. The reality of this should caution thinks a law just or unjust. The seriousness of this
covenant youth. There is much more to the dissent by offense comes into focus when we are reminded from
the youth of the world than what meets the eye. Scripture that all those in government, whether legisla-
Sometimes it seems as if the reasons for dissent are tive, executive, or judicial branches, whether Christian
proper, yet the goal of the world is surely not to give or not, are servants, ministers of God, Rom.  13:4.
freedom to the church that she may continue to They are this not by virtue of their person, but their
proclaim the unsearchable truths of the Word of God; position, their office. Solomon declared that kings
rather, it is to build the kingdom of anti-Christ that has reign only by God,. Prov. 8: 15. This is true of all kings;
a form of godliness, but denies, the power thereof, II God's sovereignity is not limited to those who are
Tim.  3:5. It is this "church" that will persecute the Christian, but also exercised over those who militate
faithful church and occasion the great tribulation of against Him, Ps.  2:1-6. Even the heathen kings are
Matt. 24: 9-13.                                             made the unwilling servants of the sovereign God of
  We must exercise the same caution as we examine heaven and earth. Hence, we are not to speak lightly of
this aspect of the question, "May one ever break the them, nor to undermine their God-given place, but to
law in promoting the cause of  righteous  dissent?" pray for them, I Tim. 2: 1-4.
Granted there is room for dissent, and in fact this is        To advocate the breaking of any law in order to
true as it has never been before, may our methodology advance a so-called righteous cause is an act of
include lawlessness?                                        revolution and in flagrant violation of the Word of
  Two things are included in this problem. The one is God. This must be distinguished from breaking a law
the aspect of conscience. If one feels that according to which would require us to sin, e.g. a law banning the
the law of God and the Word of God that an existing Bible from our churches. In this connection, we must
law is wrong, immoral, and discriminatory, may he and exercise care in appraising a law, whether its observ-
must he violate that law .in allegiance to Christ? The ance demands  sin  or not. Calling a law immoral is
other aspect to this problem is that of token violation. serious business. There is indeed the possibility that a
One way to determine the validity of any law is to law demands one to sin, which law. the Christian
have it tested in the courts. May one deliberately break cannot obey. But, here is the difference between true
a law in order to be accused, tried, and if the verdict is Christian disobedience and that so common today. The
not in harmony with one's conscience to appeal it to Christian in disobeying a law does not try to overthrow
the highest court of the land?                              the established government; rather if it is necessary to
  We quote two sources that enunciate the right of disobey, he will always submit to those in authority. If
breaking a law to promote the cause of change. The one disobeys for God's sake, such disobedience is not
first is that of Dr. Martin Luther King, "I do feel there an attempt to destroy the entire system of law and to
are two types of laws. One is a just law and one is an do away with those in authority; rather such a one will
unjust law. I think we all have moral obligations to bear the consequences willingly, recognizing that he
disobey unjust laws. I think that the distinction here is then is suffering for righteousness sake.  This is not
that when one breaks a law that consciencetells  him is rebellion, this then is faithful obedience. Let us be
unjust, he must do it openly, he must do.it cheerfully, careful to note that this is the attitude advanced by
he must do it lovingly, he must do it civilly, not Scripture. Christ Himself recognized the place of rulers
uncivilly, and he must do it with a willingness to over Him, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things
accept the penalty," spoken at "Meet the Press," which be Caesar's and unto God the things which be
March 28, 1965. Closer to. home is the decision of the God's," Luke  20:25. He told Pilate, "Thou couldst
Reformed Church of America, Synod of 1965, "There have no power at all against me except it were given
may come a time in spite of efforts to correct it, when thee from above; therefore he that delivered me unto
a law prevails that keeps people from receiving justice thee hath the greater sin," John 19: 11. Even though
and thus conflicts with the purpose of God revealed in the government was corrupt, Christ did not try to
the gospel. At such a time. . . a Christian. . . may overthrow it; He recognized that they were the
engage alone or with others in an act of civil servants of God to do God's will. The disciples learned
disobedience. . . if. . his actions are taken in the spirit this lesson well. They too encountered injustice at the
of a faithful servant of his faithful Lord and in sight of hands of the Sanhedrin. In Acts 4: 19,20 we hear them
and knowledge of authorities and with a full willing- say, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to
ness to accept the consequence imposed upon him by hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye. For


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                  285


we cannot but speak the things which we have seen this to the moral issues of pornography, abortion, war,
and heard." They had to disobey, but they did not discrimination against the black American and you get
revolt! They did not try to destroy the office of ruier. the point. If it is all right to violate a lower law that
Paul respected the position of High-Priest and apolo- prohibits public demonstration in promoting a higher
gized for speaking evilly of him, Acts 23:3-5 and later, law of racial equality, the door is open to public chaos,
noticing that the government under Festus was so anarchy, and rioting.
corrupt that he, Festus, was going to play politics with      Rather, we should evaluate all laws within the
his life, Paul did not try to overthrow the government, framework of the existing government. None of the
butsought relief within the "establishment" by appeal- apostles advocated destroying or attacking the govern-
ing to Caesar at Rome, Acts 25: 9-12.                       ment that sanctions "unjust laws." Rather, they sought
  The philosophy that the end justifies the means as justice `within the context of the existing law and
applied to the sphere of government can only produce committed the safety of their souls to Him Who is
the state that characterized Israel, "In those days there Lord also of the heart of judges.
was no king in Israel; every man did that which was           Dissent is to be expressed within the framework of
right in his own eyes," Judges 21: 25. The advocates the law or it is improper dissent. The principle for this
of this philosophy of citizenship sound very `pious at is in Christ Who governs all spheres of life. Christ rules
times, It has a certain `ring of appeal to covenant in the sphere of the individual heart when the laser
youth.' If there  .are unjust laws which discriminate beam of the Word penetrates the cosmic depth of the
against the colored neighbor and the poor of our land, human heart and cracks open the stony heart and fills
these laws must be removed or changed. This is a `it with the warmth of His love. This He accomplished
righteous cause, a defense of a higher law of love for through the working of the Holy Spirit as He brings
the neighbor. In promoting the changing of these laws, His Word to all those whom He has known eternally in
it would seem entirely proper that any means be used. Christ Jesus. In the sphere of the home this love of
If it means that we break a law which bans a Christ is nurtured from infancy and when one comes
demonstration at a certain place, this we must do in to years of discretion, he expresses the Lordship of
obedience to the higher law. It sounds very religious. Christ in all relationships, including that with the
  Yet, if this is true, we have exposed ourselves to neighbor. There is no more powerful force in all of life
anarchy and chaos. The Christian citizen cannot join in than that which God works in the heart of the sinner.
this motley throng. This is true because allegiance to Only with this power can the people of God live in
Christ cannot demand of us to disobey Christ. Those daily observance of the whole law of God. The greatest
who promote this lawlessness place the Christian in an Christian witness to this generation is not to join in
impossible bind of conscience. We must obey all the attacking God-ordained institutions, but in living the
laws that are over us; this is demanded of us for full life of Christ in every sphere and working within
Christ's sake. How is it then, that we ma.y disobey one the proper channels open to us, influencing the
of these laws in supposed support for overcoming legislative, executive, and judicial branches of govern-
another law we deem unjust? The conflict should make ment so that the principles of the love of the neighbor
clear that this approach is not of Christ, but anti-Christ. for God's sake may be practiced.
  Besides this, pursuing this view to its ultimate end        Even then, we do not expect a Christianized
will lead to chaos in society. Let me illustrate. I believe America. Christ said, "My kingdom is not of this
that the law which permits stores and gas stations to be world, if my kingdom were of this world, then would
open for business on Sunday is wrong, the Sabbath is my servants fight," John 18:36. The Christian does not
the Lord's day. This is a higher law than the prevailing fight with swords to win the spiritual battle of faith;
law which allows it. So in allegiance to the higher law I rather he wields the Sword of the Spirit which
may violate a lower law to promote the overthrow of distinguishes his citizenship as that which is in heaven.
the immoral law. I decide the best way to do that is          Act then as followers of Christ.
burn down the stores that are open on Sunday. Apply

                                   CoFrespondence and Reply
Dear Editor,                                                position which placed the word of men above the
  In Professor H. Hanko's reply to me, he maintains Scriptures. Van Dellen and Monsma (pages 145 & 146)
that Article 3 1 supports his position that disobedience write, "The Reformation recognized no authority
to apostatizing leaders or to ecclesiastical decisions in above or beside the Bible . . . . If a conclusion proves to
conflict with the Word, are rebellion. To this I reply as be contrary to the Bible, the matter is not to be
follows.                                                    considered settled and binding . . . . For that which is
  Article 31 is a scriptural principle that applies to all contrary to God's Word . . . does not bind the believer."
ages. It was reasserted to oppose the hierarchical Rev. H. Hoeksema writes, (Prot. Ref'd Churches Pages


286                                             THE STANDARD BEARER



 165-167) "When decisions of the major assemblies are Supposing the individual member departs from the
plainly contrary to the Word of God one may not and Word of God and is the unfaithful one while the
 cannot submit." (page 214) "It is characteristic of Church federation represented in the various ecclesias-
 hierarchy to raise the authority of men above that of tical assemblies remains faithful. The individual mem-
 God . . . . "                                                ber is, of course, (as they all do) insisting that he
       The authority of the offices is derived from the stands on the basis of God's Word, and the Church
Word. Paul, in II Corinthians 5:20, calls officebearers itself in all its parts has departed. What then?
 ambassadors. An ambassador, when he speaks the word             This individual has attempted to prove, via appeal,
of his king, has the same  .authority as his king; but that his position is the correct one and that the
 when he speaks his own word, he has no authority. In assemblies are wrong. He brings his appeal all the way
The  ,Triple Knowledge,  Volume IX page 35, Rev. to Synod and finds no support. He remains however,
Hoeksema, writing about demands by officebearers in unconvinced. Would Mr. Elzinga maintain that he has
conflict with the Word of God says, "Disobedience to every right in the Church to make public propaganda
/them is in that case no rebellion against God-instituted for his position even though it is manifest to everyone
authority." (Also see Ursinus' commentary on the but himself that'his position is contrary to the Word of
Heidelberg Catechism, page 576 Calvin's Commentary God? Would he have the right to oppose the decisions
on Acts, Volume I page 176-l 78).                             of the assemblies within the federation and live in
       About Rev. De Cock, Prof. Hanko writes he did not constant disobedience to their directives? Remember,
agitate against acclesiastical  decisions and he submitted even though he is taking a ppsition contrary to the
to suspension. However, in the November. and Decem- Word of God, he is convinced that he is right.
ber 1964  Beacon Lights,  Prof. Hanko writes about               This would make an impossible situation.
Rev. De Cock as follows: "Since they could gain                  Hence, it still remains a question: What, in Mr.
nothing by appealing to ecclesiastical assemblies, they Elzinga's opinion, is meant by the "settled and bind-
took to the printing press to try to stem the tide of ing" of Article 3 1 ?
worldliness and false doctrine. It was these pamphlets           It will be recalled that in the controversy of 1953,
which brought matters to a head. When the National the matter of the Church property of First Church
Synod was condemned for its protection of heresy went to Court. In court the defendants in the case
       . . then the liberals rose to action to silence those argued long and loud that every man had the right to
who wrote them." He also writes, "In October of maintain positions contrary to the ecclesiastical assem-
1834, this minister was suspended from office and blies and remain within the Churches. To this position
deposed . . . . In spite of his deposition, De Cock (which is essentially Congregationalism) Rev.
continued to preach to his people who needed him." Hoeksema replied in testimony in court. I quote one
       Concerning Rev. Hoeksema, I gather Prof. Hanko brief part of the reply found on page 465 of the court
would maintain that he actually separated himself records. The question was put to Rev. Hoeksema:
from the Christian Reformed Church. Rev. Hoeksema             "Now, what about Article 31. Does that not give an
always maintained he was cast out, not that he individual a right to disagree with the decisions of
separated himself. (see Act of Agreement)                     classis and Synod?" Rev. Hoeksema's reply was: "No,
       In reply to Prof. Hanko's second paragraph I would sir, it does not. It does not at all, not in the sense in
say no one may ever promise to submit to all future which it has been testified here in court. That, too,
decisions whether right or wrong. This is done by lodge would be anarchy. Let me explain . . . . When anything
members but not by God's people.                              is decided contrary to the Word of God according to
                                             Louis Elzinga my conviction, I can never subscribe to it for one
REPLY                                                         minute, of course not. That's impossible. If anything is
  The chief thrust of Mr. Elzinga's article  -is the          contrary to the Word of God and to the Confessions, I
contention that there is no authority in the Church           will never subscribe to it for one minute. That's why I
above the authority of the' Word of God. That no one          was deposed in 1924. Same thing. But, nevertheless, if
(and I least of all) disagrees with this contention surely    that should ever happen, then either of two things will
goes without saying.                                          occur--not so as some of the witnesses have said here,
  But once again, the point of my original article is that I could stay in the Protestant Reformed Churches
badly missed in Mr. Elzinga's letter. The point of the        on the principle of the freedom of my own con-
original article was to discuss the relation in which an science--by no means. Either I will, I would have to
individual member stands to the Church federation of submit  ,for the time being until I could explain and
which he is a part. This relation is defined by Article       prove to major assembly the wrong of the decision, or
31.                                                           I would have to get out. That's what I did in 1924. I
  We have been discussing the relation of a faithful got out. I was expelled. That's all right. But there is no
believer to a church federation which departs from the view of church government that explains Article 31 in
Word of God. Let's turn the situation around  .once.          such a way that one  can have  the rights of  :his  ow.n
                                                                                             . .


                                                       THE STANDARD BEARER                                                  287


     opinion, even if he thinks it is in conflict with the decision is, in his opinion wrong, he has the right of
     Word of God, that he can have the right of his own appeal. If his appeal proves fruitless, he retains the
     opinion, and preach in the church of which he is a right to leave the federation without ecclesiastical
     member in the connection of the Protestant Re- penalty.
     formed Churches. No one ever does that."                                                                -Prof. H. Hanko
        Finally, it ought to be apparent to Mr. Elzinga that I         Note: This will conclude this discussion, unless
     never said anything resembling his assertion that a man something substantially new is contributed. It should
     must promise to submit to all future decisions whether not be overlooked that while Article 3 1 of the Church
     right or wrong. He promises to submit to the decisions Order embodies the sacred principle of reformation, it
     of the federation of which he is a member. If Article also clearly distinguishes reformation from revolution.
     31 does not say this, I do not know what it says. If a The latter is always wrong. -Editor

                   W E D D I N G   A N N I V E R S A R Y   '                    RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY
     On March 11, 1969, Mr. and Mrs. William Kamps                     The Mary-Martha Society of the  Redlands Hope
     celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary. We thank Protestant Reformed Church extends its sympathy to.
     God for them and our Christian home and training, two of its members, Miss Sue Porte and Mrs. Adrian
     and it is our prayer that they, with us, may continually Van Meeteren in the loss of their brother and
     be blest.                                                       brother-in-law,
         Their Children:                    Carolyn Kamps                               MR. JACOB PORTE
         Mr. and Mrs. H. Lange&             William Kamps,, Jr.        Our prayer is that our heavenly Father may comfort
         Patricia Kamps                     Henry Kamps              the bereaved family.
         Mr. and Mrs. C. Kalsbeek           Earl Kamps                                                  Rev. C. Hanko, Pres.
         George Kamps                       Grand Rapids, Mich.                                    Mrs. Wm. Feenstra, Sec'y.

                           IN MEMORIAM                                         ATTENTION OFFICE BEARERS!
       The Mary-Martha Society of the  ,Redlands  Hope                 There will be an Office Bearers Conference Tuesday,
     Protestant Reformed Church wishes to express its April 1, 1969, at 8 PM. at the Hudsonville Protestant
     sincerest sympathy to three of its members, Mrs. Reformed Church. All present and former office
     Meindert Gaastra, Mrs. Edwin Gritters, and Mrs. Otto bearers are invited to attend. Rev. M. Schipper will be
     Gaastra in the loss of their mother and grandmother,
                  MRS. CLARA VANDER WALL                             our speaker.
       May our God comfort the bereaved in their sorrow.                                                     J. Dykstra, Sec'y.
     "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
     Christ . . . who comforteth us in all our affliction." (II                           ANNIVERSAR Y
     Cor. l-: 3 & 4)                         Rev. C. Hanko, Pres.      The Lord willing,, on April 2, 1969, our beloved
                                     Mrs. Wm. Feenstra, Sec'y. p a r e n t s
                           IN MEMORIAM                                     MR. and MRS. DONALD DYKSTRA, SR.
       The Consistory of the Hope Protestant Reformed                    will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary.
     Church hereby expresses its heartfelt sympathy with               We are thankful that our Covenant God has spared
     our brother consistory member, elder Mr. Dick them for us and for each other these many years. Our
     Kooienga in the loss of his sister,                             earnest prayer is that they may continue to experience
                    MRS. MARTIN WUSTMAN                              God's loving kindness in their remaining years.
       Ps. 62:8, "Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour           In observance, an open house will be held at the
     out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us, Hudsonville Protestant Reformed Church on April 3,
     Selah."                            Rev. J. Kortering, Pres. from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M.
                                             John Kalsbeek, Clerk                Their grateful children:
                           IN MEMORIAM                                           Mr. and Mrs. Tunis Dykstra
        The Board of Trustees of the Covenant Christian                         Mr. and Mrs. Albert Dykstra
     High School expresses its sympathy to our custodian,                       Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Dykstra
     Mr. Dick Kooienga, in the loss of his sister,                              Donald Dykstra, Jr.
                    MRS. MARTIN WUSTMAN
       May the God of all grace comfort the sorrowing by                        Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dykstra
     His Word and Spirit.                    Dr. D. Monsma, Pres.                        24 grandchildren
I                                    Mr. D. Lotterman, Sec'y.                           2 great grandchildren

                   Take advantage of the prepublication sale! Order your copy of "Behold, He Cornet&!"


                           ,`";";"                 ii8
                      :                                                                                    THE STANDARD BEARER

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                ~ --1' -* _:                                                                    News From Our Churches
             .                                     d-Y.-
                .          :           .._.         2.
           : i ;. ,  ..L..                                                                               Feb.  28,1969  anent the financial status: "Many contributors have
          <.lJ.  :                                                                                                        already contributed more than the amount they have
   .:       =y,
)  _  LX.'  -
;;i,  y,`  a-                                                      In a special congregational meeting of Feb. 24 First pledged . . ; During the first months of operation some
r;.,+ ,,...:               .
;;; ;; ;:,:  .-; ;-                                 Church of Grand Rapids chose to call Rev. J.A.Heys, unforseen- expenses did come up. Even though these
$.I  2.  9.:                                        of Holland, Mich., to be Missionary to Jamaica.                       expenses were specifically not expected, they were
                                                                   This is a  First  for our denomination-a foreign paid, thanks to the special gifts of individuals and
                                                    missionary elect! Should Rev. Heys be constrained to groups and by those contributing in excess of their
                                                    accept this call, it will cripple our home front with pledges."
                                                    another vacant church; but this contingency, too, was                                            *****
                                                    taken into account by our Synod which appointed a
                                                    calling church to carry out their decision to place a                    In a true "eye for an eye" reciprocation (but in a
                                                    man in the Jamaican field.                                            good sense) Rev. Lubbers is teaching Hudsonville's
                                                                                                                          Wednesday evening catechism classes while Rev.
                                                                                       *****                              Veldman in working in Pella-as did Hudsonville's
                                                                   Young Men-you in high school, are  YOU  thinking pastor to oblige Southwest's pastor during his six-week
                                                    about the need for ministers in our denomination? stay in Pella.
                                                    Talk to your parents, your teachers, your elders and                                             *****
                                                    your pastors about this. It doesn't take a clairvoyant to                Hope's Feb. 10 bulletin announced that a member
                                                    see the many indications of future expansion and the of their Mr. and Mrs. Society was to introduce the
                                                    concomitant need for more ministers, both for our subject of their after recess discussion: "A Woman's
                                                    present vacant churches and for those to be organized Place In Life." Oh well, one doesn't necessarily expect
                                                    in the future.                                                        .to exhaust a subject in the time usually allotted to it.
                                                                                       *****                                                         ****c*
                                                                   Redlands is elevated high enough to escape the            South Holland has announced a new trio: the Revs.
                                                    devastation resulting from the heavy rains that have  C.  Hanko,  J.  Korterhg,   and  Mm  S&ipper.  The  COnsis-
                                                    plagued the lower parts of Southern California but tory has also introduced separate elders' and deacons'
                                                    they do share the rainstorms and cloudy weather which meetings according to the rule of Article 37 of the
                                                    is so rare there.  Redlands congregation is bracing for Church  Order.
                                                    another deluge-the deluge of over one hundred young                                              Sk****
                                                    people coming to the Convention. The big problem
                                                    will be where to house them. It probably will run the                    Rev. Lubbers tells that he has experienced a  very
                                                    gamut from haymows to motels.                                         enjoyable time in Pella, Iowa, preaching,. lecturing and
                                                                                       *  *  *  *  1:                     teaching catechism. During his stay two more families
                                                                                                                          were added to the church with eleven children between
                                                                   The Delegates to Classis West, to be held in South
                                                   Holland, March 5, will also provide other benefits for them- the first children on the register for many
                                                    our vacant churches. Rev. Hanko, of Redlands, will years. His replacement, Rev. Veldman also sends back
                                                   preach two Sundays in Hull, Iowa, and attend Classis encouraging reports.
                                                   between Sundays. Rev. Woudenberg, of Lynden, has                                                  * *  * *`*
                                                                                                                                                      -  -
                                                   been secured by South Holland's people to give a                          Southwest's societies' after recess  dicussions   cen-
                                                   lecture on some aspect of mission work on the level of tered  around, (Young People) "How must we  under-
                                                   the local congregation. Besides these activities, the S.H. stand Cain's punishment?"; (Men) Is it right or wrong
                                                   Ladies Auxilliary is sponsoring a Smorgasbord March to be a passive Christian concerning world events?";
                                                    I 4, and the after dinner speaker will be Rev. Heys giving (Ladies) "What about Parochiaid?"
                                                   his illustrated talk on the work of missions in the                                               *****
                                                   Island of Jamaica.                                                       College Students and High School Seniors: Scholar-
                                                                                       * * * * *                     ships are available for prospective ministers and
                                                                   Rev. R. Moore was on a classical appointment to teachers through the Young People's Federation
                                                   Forbes Feb. 9,  but  occupied   his own  pulpit  in the Scholarship  COlllrIlittee  . . . Obtain an  appbatiOn   from
                                                   evening. Isabel's morning service featured a taped your society secretary or your pastor and mail it
                                                   sermon in lieu of the erstwhile reading sermon.                        before May 1.

                                                                                                                          . . ..see you in church
                                                                  In the latest Newsletter from our Covenant Christian
                                                   High School we found this encouraging good news                                                                          J.M.F.


