                                      he



                                 I          earer

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:
          Walking By The Spirit

       Editorial:
          Pluralistic or Antithetical?

       Differing Views on the W.C.C.
          (see: Examining Ecumenicalism)

       Luther and Calvin on Missions
          (see: The Lord Gave the Word)





                                                Volume XL V / iVumber I7/ June I, 1969


386                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER


                           CONTENTS:                                                             THE STANDARD BEARER
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                                                                        Editor-in-Chief: Prof. H.  C. Hoeksema
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       Our Schools and Government Subsidy (6) . . .388                  Herman Hanko, Rev. Robert C. Harbach, Rev. John A.  Heys, Rev. Jay
                                                                        Kortering, Rev. George C. Lubbers, Rev. Marinus Schipper, Rev.  Gise J.
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Meditation

                                Walkin-g- By The Spirit
                                                           Rev. M. Schipper

                                    "lf we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. "
                                                                                         Galatians 5 : 25.


   Walk in the Spirit!                                                  understood and now almost wholly forgotten fact
   The Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ!                                 which Christ promised would be fulfilled in His church
       The Spirit of Pentecost!                                         as she waited in the upper room, when, according to
   Pentecost, as you most probably know, has refer- the prayer of Christ, the Father would send the
ence to that marvelous experience of the early, new Comforter, "that He may abide with you forever."
dispensational church when the Holy Spirit, as the                            The idea of Pentecost, however, is not peculiar only
Spirit of Christ, was poured out in the church which is to the new day. Already in the old dispensation
in heaven and on earth. It refers to the little Pentecost constituted. one of the three major feast


                                                  THE STANDARD BEARER                                                387



days. Along with the feasts of the Passover and suggests .that the Spirit is the means through which we
Tabernacles the church of the Old Testament also are to walk. Rather, we could paraphrase thus to see
celebrated the feast of Pentecost. Always Pentecost the meaning of the text: "Let us also walk the line
was observed seven complete weeks or fifty days after which the Spirit has laid." Accordingly the Spirit is
the feast of Passover. It was sometimes called also the first. He maps out for us the way we should walk. He
feast of harvest, and the day of first fruits.              lays down the standard or norm for our whole life and
  In the new dispensation Pentecost falls on the walk.
fiftieth day after the resurrection of Jesus from the         It is the calling of the church to heed this standard.
dead. On that day the Spirit, as the Spirit of Christ, the She is to fashion her walk according to it. Thus to be
Spirit of Promise, the Blessed Comforter, Who would orderly, not confused, not mixed, not double, in all
lead the church into all the truth, and abide with her her conversation. And this standard of the Spirit can
forever, was poured out. Poured out on the  church-         be nothing more or less than the mind and will of
not that which was assembled in the temple, where the Christ. We must not forget that the Spirit here is the
rent veil had been repaired and the sacrifices according Spirit of Christ. The Holy Spirit therefore will have us
to the law were being offered-but that which was do nothing but the will and mind of Christ.
assembled in the upper room, where a hundred and              Walking by the Spirit!
twenty were gathered with the disciples according to          Already in verse 16 the apostle had given exhorta-
the commandment of Christ, where, said He, they were tion as to our walk, when he wrote: "This I say then,
to wait for the promise of the Father.                      walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of
  Pentecost-when the Holy Spirit made His strange the flesh." Also here the original has: not, "walk in the
but wonderful appearance as with a sound from heaven Spirit," but, "walk by the Spirit." However, the word
as of a rushing, mighty wind; and as with cloven "walk" has a different connotation than the word in
tongues like as of fire, resting upon each of them our text. In verse 16 the term means literally: to walk
gathered there. With the result, that they were all filled about, and refers to one's outward conversation and
with the Holy  ,Ghost, and began to speak with other manifestation in general, without any specific direc-
tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. The Spirit tion. It simply looks at the matter of one's walk
which now dwells in the church, and whose work it is without any special specifications. The word in our
to apply to the church all the graces of salvation text, on the other hand, means literally: to proceed in
merited by the perfect obedience of Christ. The Spirit a row, go in order; hence, to direct one's life. It implies
which is given to the Mediator in His exaltation negatively that our walk is not to be careless, without
without measure, so that as the Head of the body He is direction; and positively, that it is to be regulated by a
filled. Thus He is equipped and qualified to function as certain standard or norm. A good illustration of this
Head to give to the church all His benefits. Given in we have in the military, where soldiers under the
turn by Christ to the church, not only on earth, but direction of a sergeant are drilled to walk, not
also in heaven, according to which He blesses her with      aimlessly and helter-skelter, but according to com-
all spiritual blessings of true knowledge, righteousness, mand.
and holiness, and Who works in the believers the fruits        Such is indeed the meaning of the exhortation in
of grace - regenerating them, and shedding abroad in        our text!
them the love of Christ, and filling their hearts with        The church is to fashion her walk after the Spirit!
joy and peace, and all other Christian virtues, men-          -But why is this necessary? Why must this needs be
tioned by the apostle, in the context, such as,  long-      done?
suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and          The apostle answers to this in the first part of our
temperance.                                                 text.
  It is by and according to that Spirit we are exhorted       If we live by the Spirit!
to walk!                                                      Not, you must understand, does the apostle here
  Such is the meaning of the text! The Revised introduce the element of doubt, as the translation
Standard Version is much more correct `than the King might imply. It is not his intention to leave the matter
James. The former has: "If we live by the Spirit, let us    open, so that accordingly we may or we may not live
also walk by the Spirit." The latter, as stated above, by the Spirit. This is not a question at all in the mind
has "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the of the apostle. Fact of the matter is the very opposite
Spirit."                                                    is true. Again, we could paraphrase the first part of our
  We are not to understand the Holy Spirit as being text thus to get the proper meaning: "Since we are
the sphere wherein the church is to walk, as the living by the Spirit," or, `Seeing that we do live by the
expression "walk in the Spirit" would seem to imply.        Spirit, let, us also walk by the Spirit." The apostle is
Nor is the Holland translation which has: "zoo laat ons emphasizing the truth that the Spirit of Christ is the
ook door den Geest wandelen" i.e., `(SO let us also walk very principle of our life. 0, `it is true, as the words
through the Spirit," the idea of the text, which            "live in the Spirit" would imply, that the Spirit is the


3      8    8                                   THE STANDARD BEARER


living sphere of our life; the sphere in which we live. illustration .of the military: who would ever conceive
But this is not particularly what the apostle has in of a company of men being drilled by a sergeant as a
mind. Rather, the Word of God here underlines the mere puppet show? Anyone who has ever served in the
principle of our new life. Christ is the source of our military knows that those men on the field are not
life. By the Spirit Christ lives in us. Thus we live by the mere robots, but living, in-the-flesh men, who willingly
Spirit of Christ. By the Spirit we are constantly or unwillingly, but nevertheless most consciously are
adapted to the conditions of the spiritual life of Christ. marching according to orders. So it is also with the
Life in this sense of the word is the constant Christian who lives by the Spirit, by the Spirit he also
adaptation to and appropriating of the Christ and all walks. The trouble with those who come with the
His benefits. This is life!                                   `stock and block' accusation is that they,want to deny
     Hence, our walk must conform to this principle!          the sovereignty of God in the matter of our salvation,
     Not to conform; constitutes a contradiction!             And frankly they do not understand either what true
     If our walk is contrary to the Spirit, it is dishonest! responsibility is. As the word literally implies, it refers
     It is against this dishonesty that the apostle Peter to the ability to respond. Applied to the subject at
warns (I Peter 2:  12), when he says: "Having your hand, it implies that those who live by the Spirit have
conversation honest among the gentiles." Practice what also the ability to respond subjectively to the working
you profess, or you prove to be dishonest.                    of the Spirit in such a way that they walk by the
     Surely the life of the Spirit is to do the things of Spirit.
Christ. So also the church and the individual believer           And how blessed it is so to live and so to walk!
must do the things of the Spirit, as the Spirit of Christ.      Then what the apostle writes in the preceding
     And conformation in walk proves the Spirit is context is also true.
indwelling!                                                      Then they that are Christ's will have crucified the
     They who walk in darkness show plainly they are flesh with the affections and lusts (verse 24). Then the
possessed of another spirit, the spirit of the lie and of works of the flesh will not be performed (verses
darkness. They walk according to the principle that is        19-21); such as, adultery, fornication,  uncleaness,
in them. But they who are born of the Spirit will live lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,
out of and according to the Spirit.                           emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings,
     And what the Spirit works in, He also works out!         murders, drunkeness, revellings, and such like: for they
Not so, that we become mere stocks and blocks. Such that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of
is the charge often raised against those who believe and God.
profess that all of our salvation is of God. They say            Being led by the Spirit we shall experience the fruit
that when we maintain that all is of God and nothing of the Spirit in our lives: such as, love, joy, peace,
of man, that we make man an automaton, a robot, or longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
a puppet in the hands of God, and we deny thereby temperance. Against such there is no law.
the responsibility of man. But how wrong is this                 Blessed fruit we experience now in principle, and
charge. The elect and regenerated sinner is not a mere presently in heavenly perfection in glory! That is, this
puppet, but he is a new creation in whom Christ's is our experience when we live out of the principle of
Spirit has established His throne, and so governs him the Spirit of life, and practice the walking by the Spirit
t%at he lives subjectively and consciously according to in our daily life.
His will and word. If we may revert once more to that


Editorials

                 Our Schools and Government Subsidy (6)
                                              Pluralistic or Antithetical?
                                                 Profi H. c. Hoeksema

     The aspect of "parochiaid" which I am about to quently by advocates . of government subsidy, and
discuss, as well as the position which I will set forth in because this argument has the appearance of logic, and
connection with it, could well have been considered because it is an argument fundamental (at least in their
under the previous question which I raised, namely, own  t~hinking) to the entire position of "parochiaid"
"Justice or Money?" However, because the argument advocates, I am devoting.special consideration to this
of a so-called "pluralistic society" is  .raised so fre- question.


                                               THE STANDARD BEARER                                                         389


   A few introductory remarks are in order.                 available to us, or whether all other Christian. schools
   In the first place, we may note that this argument is are going to accept it, or even whether the refusal to
employed by many advocates of government subsidy accept it will involve us in financial sacrifice and make
to non-public schools, not so much by legislative it very difficult to operate our schools. The only
supporters of such subsidy. The latter usually argue on question is: is it right before God? This is the sole
the pragmatic basis that non-public schools are in question with respect to this pluralism-argument also.
danger of closing because of financial troubles and that Is this view that society is pluralistic the right view, -
it is cheaper to give money to private schools than to right spiritually, right from a Reformed viewpoint?
spend hundreds of millions of dollars in expanding the Then the question does not become one of a pluralistic
public schools so as to absorb a threatened large influx versus a non-pluralistic society, or of a pluralistic
of pupils from private schools. And they argue, versus a monolithic society and educational system.
further, that "non-public schools serve a very valid But the underlying question in all this talk about a
public purpose and make a real contribution to the pluralistic society is whether or not we are being
general welfare." Now also in the latter idea there are blinded to the real character of society. Are we in this
principles of education involved, principles which one description of society as pluralistic being led to
has to accept if he accepts any government hand-out. consider society merely from a formal point of view,
And I expect to return to this matter of the funda- from a purely secular point of view, from the point of
mental view of education involved in "parochiaid" at a view of what are really accidental characteristics,
later date. However, in the "Report and Recommenda- rather than from the point of view of its essential,
tions of the Joint Legislative Committee on Aid to spiritual character? For this reason I am discussing this
Non-Public Schools" .of the Michigan Legislature one subject under the question, "Pluralistic or Antithet-
does not find this argument of a pluralistic society. It ical? "
is employed rather by private school advocates of
government subsidy, especially, I have noticed, by The Pluralistic View
spokesmen of the organization known as Citizens for           Before we formulate an answer to the question
Educational Freedom, but also by others. These posed, it is necessary to take a look at this view which
spokesmen have used this argument in their pleas to holds that we live in a pluralistic society. What is this
the government as well as in their pleas for public view? And it is but fair that we allow its advocates to
support of their drive for government subsidy. And speak for themselves.
they have made it plain on more than one occasion             One who holds to this pluralistic view of society is
that this "pluralism" argument belongs to the very Dr. John  Vanden Berg, vice president and dean of
foundation of the entire "parochiaid" position, - even Calvin College. As an advocate of government subsidy
to the point that some legislators have become afraid for non-public schools, he prepared a statement for the
(and justly so) that ultimately the principle of  "paro- record in connection with a public hearing by the Joint
chiaid" will mean that private schools will have to Legislative Committee on Aid to Non-Public Schools in
receive equal government money with public schools. Michigan. This statement was published in the Banner
  In the second place, I want to point out that the of Feb. 28, 1969. After arguing (correctly, but
basic question in this pluralism-argument concerns the incompletely) that no education is neutral, that all
view of society involved in it. If you accept the view of education establishes "some position relative to the
society involved, then you must needs come to the significance of God," he continues by arguing that
conclusion that government subsidy of private schools "Given the compulsory and religious nature of educa-
(proceeding now on the basis that the government is tion, I believe that an equitable sharing of the
rightly involved in the business of education) is not educational tax dollar is to be defended on the grounds
only allowable, but  mandatory.  And therefore it is that it will promote freedom of choice in education
necessary that we carefully study this pluralistic view and in the process strengthen the `cause of freedom in
of society; and I mean study it in the light of Scripture all phases of social life." This idea of freedom he then
and our Reformed principles. One can also indeed ask proceeds. to press in connection with the point that the
the question -whether historically. and. constitutionally society in which we live is pluralistic. He writes as
our state and our nation recognize such a pluralism.        follows:
  But the fundamental question for us as Reformed                   In the field of education freedom is the oppor-
people is a spiritual one. I cannot stress this too             tunity to teach our children in a way consistent with
strongly. This is the sole question for us as people of         our ideals and values. In our society, a pluralistic
                                                                society.of some two hundred million people, citizens
God: is it right for us, before God, to advocate.and to         have different ideals or values to which they are
accept government subsidy of our schools? The ques-             committed. It is inconceivable that these two hundred
tion is not whether it is constitutional, or whether the         million people or the more than eight million people
legislature thinks it is right, or whether the courts            in the State of Michigan will all have. the same views
approve it, or whether such subsidy will be made                 on education. Because of this it is essential that the


     390                                                    THE STANDARD BEARER
I

            independent or non-public school exist; for freedom            exist in fact. This problem  `has been intensified
            requires alternatives from which to choose, including          because American society today is both complex and
            the alternative which is consistent with one's own             religiously pluralistic. Social complexity has created
            committment. A person who has no choice is not                 the need for upgrading and extending compulsory
            free. Public education is a free choice only if                education laws. At the same time, religious pluralism
            alternative choices are available, and only if these           was increasing in both scope and intensity. As a
            choices are available without economic penalty. Such           result of these and other factors, the one and only
            freedom does not exist in the `United States today.            system of education presently supported by govern-
              In 1925 the United States Supreme Court stated in            ment is required by Supreme Court decisions to aim
            the Pierce case that "the fundamental theory of                at complete religious neutrality. We question whether
            liberty upon which all governments in this Union               education can ever be completely and consistently
            reposes excludes any general power of the State to             neutral in its religious values and commitments (only
            standardize its children by forcing them to accept             question it? HCH). But it is not our purpose to
            instruction from public teachers only, The child is          discuss this point in this statement. For what is
            not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture          absolutely certain is that schools which are required
            his destiny have the right, coupled with the high              by law to attempt complete religious neutrality are
            duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional              compatible with the religious faith of  only some
            obligations."                                                  groups of American citizens. Other groups of equally
              Parents have the right to send their children to             loyal citizens, although they accept and support
            religiously-oriented schools, yet when they exercise           compulsory education laws as legitimate and neces-
            this right they are deprived of all public educational         sary, nevertheless cannot commit their children to
            benefits ("benefits" is used here in the sense of              such schools without denying some of the basic
            "funds," HCH). Professor Wilber G. Katz put it                 tenets of their religious faith. Such groups of citizens,
            bluntly but correctly when he said that "we exact a            be they Buddhist, Moslem, Jewish, Orthodox,
            price for the exercise of liberty."                            Roman Catholic, Protestant, or of some other faith,
              Liberty at a price - this is not liberty. This is the        face a cruel and inequitable dilemma in education
            suppression of liberty. A genuinely free society cannot        today. They must either suffer financial disability in
            impose on its citizens or demand from them, as a               paying the full cost of religiously acceptable educa-
            condition for receiving the benefits of public welfare         tion for their own children, or violate their religion
            legislation, any philosophic or religious creed. To do         and conscience by sending their children to schools
            so would be to ask one to violate his conscience and           which are required by law to aim at complete
        religious convictions. It also places the government in            religious neutrality. This arrangement .surely consti-
        a position to control the thought and belief of the                tutes significant social injustice, and seems also to
            people. Senator James Gray was absolutely right                infringe upon constitutionally guaranteed freedom of
            when at the August 21 hearing of this committee in             religion.
            Lansing he stated, "The power to educate is the              The request which follows upon the above state-
            power to control." This is precisely the issue. Who is     ment of position as a conclusion is as follows:
            going to be given the power to control? Is this to be
            the monopoly of the state or is it to be given to the            We request, therefore, immediate action by
            parents who, in my judgment, have the prior right              government to ameliorate the present inequities and
            and duty to control the education of their children?           injustices in education. We ask that quality education
            Today parents are being deprived of their right to             be provided on an equitable basis for citizens of all
            control the education of their children through the            races, religions, and social classes. We reemphasize
            economic coercion of the state. For, to paraphrase             that legislation to achieve this goal must provide
            Justice Hugo Black, "When the power, prestige,and              maximum freedom of religion in education and
            financial support of the government are placed                 equality of educational opportunity for all groups of
            exclusively behind (one philosophy of education) the           citizens.
            economic coercion" on all other philosophies of              This conclusion is then explained to mean that
            education is plain. In the field of education the          public schools and religiously oriented schools must be
            government, in effect says: "Give up your notions          put on equal footing by the government and must have
            that God is important in education, or forfeit your        the same rights and opportunities. Strangely enough,
            rights to the educational tax dollar."                     however, in the last paragraph of their statement they
       All of this is spelled out a little more clearly and do not press for government action to provide equal
     concretely in a "Testimony On Equity In Educational treatment, but what they call "greater equity." Now I
     Aid" by the Christian Action Group of Western do not profess to know  .what "greater equity'? might
     Michigan (Is this a branch of the Christian Action be. To me, equity is equity; and it is a contradiction in
     Foundation?). This statement appears in  Torch and terms to speak of degrees of equity. But it appears that
     Trumpet,  April, 1969, p. 11. In it we  find the this Christian Action Group of Western Michigan means
     following:                                                        not to press for equality of government support, but
              We would remind our government, however, that            only for partial support.
            full freedom and equality in education do not yet            One more brief quotation. This is from an article by


                                                  THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   391


Gordon Oosterman, of the National Union of Christian              Covenanters of a former time, taxpayers have the
Schools; and it is quoted from  Christianity Today,               choice of identifying with the favored established
March 28, 1969, p. 7.                                             institution or making the best of their lot.
       The substance of the matter (tax funds for               `Space does not permit an analysis of these state-
    religious education, HCH) is whether our society          ments in this issue. But let me suggest that the reader
    wishes to have a monolithic system of education,          study these quotations for himself. Analyze them.
    akin to the established church of bygone centuries,       Take note of the fact that the antithesis receives no
    or a pluralistic system, as we now have with our          mention, even when the opportunity to mention it is
    churches and press. . . .But when it comes to schools,    very obvious. And ask yourself the question: where are
    well, that is different. Everyone gets taxed, but only    the lines of light versus darkness  .drawn in these
    those whose children attend the public - that is, the     statements?
    state - schools may benefit from their own educa-
    tional taxes. Like the Dissenters, Baptists, and                               (to be continued)


Publication Ic'ews

                            "Behold, He Cometh!"
                                                              regular price of $9.95. The 726 pages of this volume
                                                              are well worth the price.
                                                                The R.F.P.A. - Permanent Publications Committee
                                                              is happy to announce that advance sales of this latest
                                                              book have enabled us to recover enough of our
                                                              investment to embark on two new publishing ventures.
                                                              The first is scheduled for early-fall publication. It will
                                                              be a popular-style biography of the late Rev. Herman
                                                              Hoeksema under the title, "Therefore Have I Spoken,"
                                                              by Mrs. H. C. Hoeksema. This book will be attractively
                                                              printed on high quality paper, and it will be furnished
                                                              with 35-40 pictures dating all the way back to Rev.
                                                              Hoeksema's childhood days in the Netherlands. Tenta-
                                                              tive price of this book will be $5.95. Watch for further
                                                              announcements.
                                                                Our second new venture will be a reprint of Rev.
                                                              Hoeksema's exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism.
                                                              Earlier plans had called for a l-volume reprint of this
                                                              original  lo-volume work; but this proved to be
                                                              impractical and prohibitive in cost. We now plan to
                                                              reprint this work in 3 volumes. The first new volume,
                                                              scheduled for publication as soon as all arrangements
                                                              and editorial work can be completed, will include the
                                                              original Volumes 1, 2, and 3. This will be followed as
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                                                              announced later.
  By the time these lines appear in print our latest            We take this opportunity to say "Thanks" to all
publishing venture, the late Rev. Herman Hoeksema's who assisted with the pre-publication sale of our
exposition of the Book of Revelation, "Behold, He newest book. A word of appreciation is also due to Mi-.
Cometh!" will have reached the market. If you are not Robert L. Kregel, of Kregel Publications, who rendered
one of the 435 people who took advantage of the invaluable assistance and advice in this venture and
prepublication  sale, we urge you to purchase this who is also acting as distributor of both "Reformed
worthwhile and attractively published book at its Dogmatics" and "Behold, He Cometh!"                              HCH


392                                         THE STANDARD BEARER


The Lord Gave The Word.. .

                             The History of Missions
                                       The Views of Luther and Calvin
                                                Rev. R. Decker

  It has often been alleged that the Reformers, reference to Luther's writings so we have no way of
particularly Luther and Calvin, had little interest in checking this statement in its context.)
and, in fact, no understanding of the mission mandate        "Sending out missionaries to non-christian nations
of Christ to His Church. An example of this thinking is was ruled out by Luther. Only when someone should
found in the book, De Geschiedenis Van De Zending,         happen to come into contact with a pagan or a
by a certain Ds. H. A. Wiersinga. This same charge has Mohammedan was it proper to let him hear the Gospel.
been leveled repeatedly at the Protestant Reformed Even in 1651 the theological faculty of Wittenberg
Churches. We have been labeled as  "non-mission-           expressed that the great commission was addressed
minded." We want to quote Wiersinga at length and only to the apostles.
then examine the writings of the Reformers to                "Luther's attitude was influenced by his reaction to
determine whether what Wiersinga says is true. It is our Rome in the fear that too much emphasis would fall
contention that he grossly misrepresents the Re- on the work of man. Overagainst the Roman Catholic
formers, does them an injustice. We believe that the idea that everything depended on the effort of man,
Reformers had a keen interest in missions and a Luther emphasized that God will see to it that those
Scriptural view of the Church's calling. We also believe who must be gathered in will be brought in. Mission
that the Protestant Reformed Churches stand squarely endeavor was above all God's work.
in  the. line of the Reformation when they say: "We          "Among those who opposed Luther in this was
believe that this missionary activity includes the work Erasmus. . . he wrote: `Europe is the smallest part of
of church extension, and church reformation, as well the globe, but what does the Christian Church possess
as the task of carrying out the Gospel to the in Asia, which is the greatest part of the earth, or what
unchurched and heathen. However, we are convinced in Africa? In those wide expanses there are barbarian
that our present duty lies primarily in the field of tribes that could readily be drawn to  christendom, if
church extension and church reformation." (Church we were to send men there to sow good seed.' . . .
Order of the Prot. Ref. Churches, 1961 edition, p. 43)     Certainly Erasmus expected too much from human
  This is what Wiersinga says (translation by Rev. C. activity, but he saw the mission calling of the church
Hanko) : "Luther and Calvin did not clearly recognize better than Luther did. It is true that in 1523 Luther
the mission calling of the church. They failed to see pleaded for a Christian attitude toward the Jews and
almost entirely that Christ's church is a mission for preaching the gospel to them. . . but he later took
church, and therefore must be. Luther never escaped quite a different attitude toward the Jews and poured
completely the idea of the Roman Catholic Church out some pretty strong invectives against them . . . .
that the mission calling was laid by Christ only on the      " . . . Calvin, even as Luther, was of the opinion that
apostles. He proceeded from the assumption that the the mandate of Matthew 28 was principally,carried  out
apostles had carried out that mandate in principle. The by the apostles. He considered it a moot question
nations had heard from them the Gospel and had whether God would still call someone to the mission
chosen for or against. Since that time the world field . . . . And even though he laid more emphasis on
consists of Christian nations and hardened peoples. the fact that we must wait for God to give an open
The mandate of Matthew 28 does not apply to the door, more than Luther, he did not consider it the
church anymore, was not a mission commission. There specific calling of the church to carry out mission work
is no demand to go out for the very purpose of in heathen lands.
bringing the Gospel to outlying nations. Those               "Both of these reformers failed to understand that
heathen that still come to repentance and salvation the promise of Matthew  28:20: `And behold, I am
are the  .ripples that follow from the great wave of with you alway, even to the end of the world,' belongs
mission  p.erformed  by the apostles, like ripples that with the mission mandate, and is inseparably united
appear when a stone is cast into the water. `Many with it. Then they would have seen that not only the
imagine,' he says (Luther-R.D.), `that the ingathering promise but also the mandate is `unto the end of the
of the other sheep from the other fold has not yet world.' They regarded this passage as a conclusion to
happened, but I say: No, it has happened in the the entire Gospel according to Matthew, rather than
apostolic times.' (Wiersinga does not give us the the promise of the ascending Lord that He would


                                               THE STANDARD BEARER                                             393


 remain with His church even until He comes again. what Luther concluded from Col.  1:23 and Mark
- Thus not so much as a promise for the mission church.    16: 15 and Psalm 117: "the Gospel and Baptism must
   "How different the churches of the reformation traverse the whole world." p. 386. And from Hagg. 2
 would have been if their organizers, Luther and Calvin, he concluded: "God wants to bless not two or three
 had understood the Word of God better in this respect. nations but the whole world." p. 386. When Luther
 These churches would have been mission churches sometimes speaks as though the Gospel had already
 from the outset. That even now so many'lutheran  and fulfilled its mission in all nations - as Wiersinga notes
 Reformed churches have so little zeal for mission - it doesn't mean that he had no understanding of the
 endeavor today is the result of the attitude of the idea of missions. This for Luther was the simple
 reformers. `(Does not this unwarranted and unfounded conclusion to be drawn from the universal validity of
charge make one bristle with indignation? R.D.)            the Gospel. Luther believed that if the Gospel is
   " . . . Many arguments have been raised to try to preached at all it is preached for all nations. The course
 defend the stand of the reformers. Mainly:                of the Gospel to all nations is an act in progress in
   1. How could the protestants do mission work Luther's conception, "The Kingdom of Christ passes
 when the mission fields were closed to them? These through the whole world." p. 387. Did he really
 countries, namely America, Asia were under the believe that the mission mandate was intended only for
 control of the Roman Catholics of Spain and Portugal. the apostles and carried out by them alone? Listen:
 To go out into these lands meant gaining permission "The preaching. of the Gospel  was begun  (emphasis
 from Lisbon, and this was not given to a non-Catholic. mine, R.D.) through the apostles and continues, and is
 There could only be an attempt at mission work by the carried farther through the preachers here and there in
 protestants after 1600 when England and the Nether- the world, is driven out and persecuted; yet it is made
 lands gained control of many colonies. In answer to known farther and farther to those who have never
 this, let it be said that it is not a question of whether it heard it before. . . . Or, as the saying goes, when
 was possible to perform mission work by the protes- someone sends out a message, the message has gone
 tants, it is a question of whether they had zeal for it. out, even though it has not yet come to the intended
   2. The reformers were much too busy with the place or the specified location but is still under way."
 work of the reformation in the churches of Europe to p. 387. And again he says: "For the church is in
 be engaged in mission endeavors elsewhere. All atten- constant use to convert others to faith and to call them
 tion and effort had to be focused on the establishment to repentance." p. 388. Luther believed that the
 of the purified church life. The reformers were entirely Gospel even against those who do not want to hear it,
 absorbed in that work. Again the same objection holds,    "For the Lord does not want a flatterer as a preacher,
 did they see their calling? (A remark by Werner Elert, since He does not say: `Go around the village or past it'
 in The Structure  of  Lutheranism,  p. 385 is to the No, do not go around or past; go in; approach them
 point: `The poor man! - Luther - Instead of founding boldly, and tell them what they do not want to hear."
 a missionary society, accompanying Cortez to Mexico, p. 388. In this same connection conderning preaching
 or at least assuring himself a professorship of mis- to the heathen Luther states: "This has not yet been
 sionary science he devoted himself, of all things, to the done. This time is in progress, inasmuch as the servants
 reformation of the church!'                               are going into the highways;  the apostles made a
   3. Our conclusion must be that the century of the beginning (emphasis mine, R.D.) and are still calling us
 reformation did not much more than put forth a very together." p. 389. In other words in Luther's thinking
 meager effort toward mission endeavor, while the the apostolic mission to the heathen (Malt. 28: 19,20)
 Catholic  church was working very hard at that time. is continuing in us today. Luther thought of this in
 The idea of missions hardly troubled the church at that very practical terms as a duty and obligation of every
 time. There was not real interest."                       child of God. "Christians should also bring forth much
   Does this serious charge stand in the light of what fruit among all the heathen by means of the Word,
 the reformers themselves said? Let's see. What did should cpnvert .and save many by eating about them-
 Luther say about mission work? It must be understood selves like a fire that burns amid dry wood or straw;
that if we search for a well-worked out theology of thus the fire of the Holy Spirit should consume the
missions in the writings of either of the great reformers heathen according to the flesh and make room
 we are going to be disappointed. They simply didn't everywhere for the Gospel and the kingdom of Christ."
 address themselves to that question as such. But we `p. `389.
 can. glean various statements from their voluminous         In addition Luther had a very high regard for
works which indicate how they stood on the question. missionaries and the mission calling of the church as
All of our quotations from Luther are taken from the is evident from. these words: `YThus it is the best work
book  The Structure  of  Lutheranism,  by Elert which of all that the heathen have been led out of idolatry to
quotes from the.Weimar edition of Luther's Works and the- knowledge of God."
 hereafter only page references will be cited. This is       And finally Luther was aware of the fundamental


394                                          THE STANDARD BEARER


importance of the preaching and of the fact that not          Now it is true that not one of the above statements
societies or individuals but the church does mission of Luther and Calvin contains a theology of missions,
work: "For if all the heathen are to praise God, it must not even all of them taken together. But it ought to be
first be established that He has become their God. If equally plain that they indicate exactly the opposite of
He is to be their God, they must know Him and believe what Ds. Wiersinga suggests. Luther and Calvin cer-
in Him . . . . If they are to believe, they must first hear tainly were aware of the mission mandate of Christ and
His Word . . . . If they are to hear His Word, preachers believed in it, taught it. It simply cannot be said of
who proclaim God's Word to them must be sent to them that they had no interest in or understanding of
them." p. 390.                                              the church's calling in this respect.
  Admittedly one finds very little in the writings of         Why then were virtually no missionaries sent out in
Calvin that bears on this subject. This is not at all those days of the  1500's? Simply because the church
strange. There are many subjects that Calvin never at that time was in no position to do so! That ought to
dealt with. Calvin says virtually nothing in all his books be plain. This was the period of upheaval and turmoil.
on the second coming of Christ. Does that mean that God was calling His Church back to the firm founda-
he didn't believe it or understand it? Nonsense! The tion of His Word through Luther and Calvin and the
same applies to the idea of missions. Just because other reformers. The church was being freed from the
Calvin says nothing specific on the subject doesn't oppressive chains of Rome and the pope. There was no
mean he had. no understanding of the mission mandate time, no opportunity to do mission work in the sense
of the church as Wiersinga so unjustly claims.              that it is being done today. The front line of the battle
  When we consult his commentary on Matthew of faith in the sixteenth century lay between the
28: 19, 20 we find that Calvin nowhere suggests that he reformers and Rome, not on some far distant mission
felt that the mandate was given only to the apostles field. After the church settled upon calmer times she
and finished by them so that the church no longer has turned her attention to carrying out the mission
the calling to do mission work. In fact, that Calvin had mandate of Christ. This was especially true in the 18th
a correct understanding of the significance of the century as Rev. Hanko will no doubt show us in
promise of verse 20 (contrary to Wiersinga's charge) is subsequent articles.
plain from these words in his commentary: "It ought           Finally, we quite agree with the remark of Conrad
to be likewise remarked, that this (the promise, "even Bergendoff, "The charge sometimes made that . . . the
to the end of the world")  was not spoken to the            church of the reformation showed no interest in
apostles alone;  (emphasis mine, R.D.) for the Lord missions is no longer considered valid, for the reforma-
promises his assistance not for a single age only, but tion itself was a tremendous mission effort opposed by
even to the erid of the world (Calvin's emphasis). It is formidable forces."  (The Church  of  the Lutheran
as if he had said, that though the ministers of the Reformation,  p. 187.) It should never be forgotten
gospel be weak and suffer the want of all things, (note,    that the Reformation of the Church continues even to
not just the apostles but the ministers of the gospel,      the end of the world. And, when the Protestant
R.D.) he will be their guardian, so that they will rise     Reformed Churches say: "We believe that this mis-
victorious over all the opposition of the world. In like    sionary activity includes the work of church extension,
manner, experience clearly shows in the present day,        and church reformation . . . ", (preamble, Constitution
-that the operations of Christ are carried on wonder-       of Mission Committee) they are only asserting anew
fully in a secret manner, so that the Gospel surmounts a soundly Reformed truth in the spirit of Luther and
innumerable obstacles."                                     Calvin.


In His Fear

                              WISDOM THAT EXCELS
                                                    (Continued)
                                                  Rev. John A. Heys

  Your little believing children have more  under- have more understanding than all my teachers: for Thy
standing than the most learned of the unbelieving testimonies are my meditation." Psalm  119:99. And as
philosophers and professors, scientists and educators. we pointed out last time, he is speaking here of
  We have the Word of God as the basis for this truth. unbelieving teachers who are enemies, for they do not
For the psalmist, a believing child of God, declares, "I meditate in God's testimonies, nor keep His precepts.


                                              THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 395


   In considering this wisdom, wherein even our little leave them without excuse in the day of days. But the-
children excel, we may, first of all, retain that word, believer has also the Holy Scriptures as an added
"more." It is quite proper to translate it that way. The revelation of God' which causes him to understand
unbeliever has certain natural knowledge and under- what He sees of God in creation and enables him to
standing. The believer has an added knowledge and believe in this God and to glorify Him.
understanding. Because of his world-and-life view the         And yet we have not said enough when we say that
believer does not always search the areas that the the believer has  more  understanding, or an added
unbeliever will explore. He, the believer, has his understanding. For what the unbeliever has is actually
affections set on the things above and seeks the things misunderstanding. And we ought to translate the text
where Christ is seated at God's right hand. The to read, "I, rather than my teachers, have under-
unbeliever, however, has nothing but this life and this standing; for Thy testimonies are my meditation." Or,
earth. He has only its gold and silver, houses and land; if you will, "I and not my teachers have understanding;
and he has these for such a short time. He, therefore, for Thy testimonies are my meditation." 0, that God's
must try to get as much out of them as he can and people would only recognize that fact and not swallow
strive in as many ways as he possibly can to squeeze everything that comes from the ungodly, unbelieving
out of them a few fleeting and deceiving pleasures. He scientist! They may know something. They may know
will, then, explore all creation with a vehemence not about matters that we do not know. They can teach us
known to the Christian and with a sense of desperation many facts about which we have no knowledge. But
from which the believer is free.                            they do not understand the facts that they know. They
  Nevertheless, the believer, because He knows and have not wisdom and understanding. They are fools
loves God and knows himself as God's royal priesthood and nothing lessthan that! The fear of the Lord is the
and steward, will seek to serve God with all this earthly beginning of wisdom; and what a fool that man is who
creation, and will learn many truths. He will not close denies this fact! He does not even understand his own
his ears either to the facts of creation which the folly.
unbeliever may have discovered. The psalmist of our           Quite often in Scripture the word translated as
text quoted above did not cast from him all that which "more" ought to be translated as "rather." We have a
his unbelieving teachers had shown him. And we do classic example of this in Hebrews 11:4. Abel did not
not shut our ears to the reports of the ungodly about offer up to God a more excellent sacrifice. Cain's
their achievements and discoveries. We listen carefully sacrifice was not pleasing to God at all. It was as
and analyze the knowledge of outer space that is Solomon says in Proverbs 15 : 8 "an abomination to the
reported even by a man who will in his report Lord; but the prayer of the upright is His delight."
blaspheme God and say he did not find God out there There is nothing pleasing in the sacrifice of the wicked.
in outer space, and who then concluded that there is It does not contain something excellent or even
no God.                                                    approach that which is excellent. But, Abel rather than
  But we have an added, spiritual, knowledge and Cain brought a sacrifice that was acceptable to God,
understanding that controls us in our evaluation and because Abel came in faith. Turning back now to
interpretation of what the unbeliever reports and knows. Hebrews 9: 14 we have the same idea so that we ought
And that is what the psalmist means, for that is what to read, "Ho'w much rather (not more) shall the blood
we obtain out of God's testimonies. The Netherlands of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered
Confession very beautifully sets forth the truth of our Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience
knowledge of God in its second article when it states from dead works to serve the living God." In the
that we know Him by two means: "First by the preceding verse the author had stated that the blood of
creation, .preservation  and government of the universe; bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkled the
which is before our eyes as a most elegant book, unclean and sanctified them to the purifying of the
wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many flesh. Now we know that the blood of these did not in
characters leading us to contemplate the invisible any way save us and could never be the basis for our
things of God, namely His power and divinity, as the confidence of salvation. But rather did the blood of
apostle Paul saith, Romans 1:20. All which things are Christ do all this. The statement of Paul in II Timothy
sufficient to convince all men, and leave them without 3:2 ought to read, "Lovers of pleasure rather than
excuse. Secondly, He makes Himself more clearly and lovers of God." Ye cannot serve God and mammon. It
fully known to us by His holy and divine Word, that is is either God or mammon. And it is a case of loving
to say, as far as is necessary for us to know in this life, God or the pleasures of the flesh. And so it is a case of
to His glory and our salvation."                           having the fear of the Lord and being wise; or it is a
  In that sense also we can understand the words of case of not having that fear of God and being a fool in
the psalmist that he has  more understanding than his spite of all the facts of which one may have knowl-
teachers. They had only the elegant book of the edge.
creation and preservation of God. This is enough to           Just consider one example of such folly. The devil


396                                         THE STANDARD BEARER


knows more about the events of the life of Christ here instruction for our youth is not a little Bible explana-
on this earth than you and I. He can answer some of tion and memorization. It is not a few or even many
the problems that still perplex us. He knows, for lessons in the doctrines of the Church as they apply to
example whether the genealogy listed in Matthew 1 is our salvation. We come to -this next time, the Lord
that of Mary or of Joseph, and whether the one of willing, but meditating in God's testimonies is far more
Luke 3 is again that of Mary or of Joseph. He had been than tracing the salvation that God has wrought for us
watching the royal line of David for a long time and in Christ. This is essential; and this the Church will
understood at least that much from prophecy, that strive to teach until the unbelievers in their folly will
here was where he would have to be keeping his eyes. establish their kingdom of opposition to Christ and
He can explain just how matters went when Matthew forbid that we preach and teach the Christ of the
states that Mary Magdalene came with the women to Scriptures. The day will soon be here when we may
the grave on the first day of the week, and when he only preach the Antichrist, as the modernist church
leaves the impression that she was also there when the does, and as the merged factions, who throw away the
angel appeared. While John presents Mary Magdalene truth to be big, are striving to realize in their own
as coming alone after running to tell Peter and John circles. But in the school where the child is taught the
that Jesus' body was stolen. The devil knows all the matters of his earthly life, he must be taught all things
texts in the Word of God that stress the cardinal truths in the light of and by the light of those testimonies of
of Scripture, as well as what texts can be twisted and God.
taken out of context to militate against these cardinal      If we have no understanding of the matter, we are
truths. He knows much; and in his deviltry he is wise. going to let the State pay us or our teachers for giving
And yet place him next to your child who believes; instruction in history, mathematics, science and the
and the devil is a big fool. And hell is the place of fools like apart from God's testimonies; and we are exactly
and`for fools. All those who enter its portals will also going to mislead our children into misunderstanding
acknowledge that they are fools. In Jesus' parable of rather than into wisdom and understanding. It is to be
The Rich Man and Lazarus the rich man admits his understood that the unbeliever thinks that you can
.folly and pleads for one to turn his brother from that teach these apart from the Word; and therein he only
way of folly. What will all the detailed knowledge and makes it plain that although he knows fact, he has no
skills which our children might learn from the world.of understanding and wisdom. But an honest meditation
unbelievers, or from teachers who sit at the feet of the in God's testimonies will soon make plain to us that
unbeliever and pass on their philosophies to these this is folly and that our little children with the fear of
children, do for them in hell? How will it assure them God in their hearts have a wisdom that excels that
of escape from that and point to them the way to natural wisdom and knowledge of the world.
God's kingdom?                                               Well, once again, it is a matter of a few weeks and
  As we stated a moment ago, the unbeliever has mis- your children will have to be enrolled or will return to
understanding rather than understanding. He has folly school. What will it be this time? Will their teachers be
instead of wisdom, even though he may have a head those who do not understand the principles of wisdom,
full of truthful fact. And teachers with misunder-         or will they be those who meditate in God's law? We
standing of their subject can only mislead those whom      seek always as far as natural things are concerned to
they teach. Shall the blind lead the blind? Jesus asks.    seek that which excels. The inferior we pass by and
Shall the fool make your children wise? Shall those reject. Why not do this with the matter of the spiritual
who do not understand life and their calling here below instruction of your children? It is In His Fear to seek
impart to your children a true understanding of these the fear of the Lord for them. It is folly to deny them
important matters?                                         this privilege when it is within reach.
  And understand it well then yourself, that Christian

A Cloud of Witnesses

                        THE FLIGHT OF DAVID
                                             Rev. B. Woudenberg

            And' when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of tee family of
         the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still
         as he came . . . .
            And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold,. my son, which came forth of


                                              THE STANDARD BEARER                                               397


          my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone,
          and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
                It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me
          good fo; his cursing this day.
                                                                            IISamuel16:5,  11, 12

  There was something about David by which even the able to make the arduous trip which was lying before
greatest disaster could become for him an experience them: but the loyalty of his old friend was enough to
of deepest spiritual importance. Such was his flight comfort the heart of David nonetheless.
from Jerusalem.                                               Moreover, it also brought to the mind of David a
  As David turned from his palace and passed out plan by which he might be able to offset the evil
through the gates of Jerusalem, he was conscious of effects of Ahithophel's treachery, for Ahithophel
the fact that it was not primarily the treachery of the could be expected to be an extremely effective advisor
people that lay behind this. In fact, it was not even to Absalom. Thus David said to Hushai, "If thou
primarily the wickedness of his son. It was God's hand passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto
that was visiting him because of the evil which he had me: but if thou return to the city, and say unto
committed in Israel. It would have been easy to allow Absalom, I will be thy servant, 0 king; as I have been
his mind to dwell upon the two former aspects of what thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy
was happening, thus excusing himself even though servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of
leaving his heart bitter. But for David, God was always Ahithophel. And hast thou not there with thee Zadok
first in every consideration. Because of it, what might and Abiathar the priests.7 therefore it shall be, that
well have been a frantic flight of bitter despair was what thing  soever thou shalt hear out of the king's
subtly transformed into a sort of pilgrimage of sad but house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the
meaningful penance.                                        priests, Behold, they have there with them their two
  As David left the royal city and climbed the mount sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's
of Olivet toward the ridge surrounding the city, there son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing
were two visits which could not but strengthen him. that ye can hear." It was a daring plan and not without
First there was the approach of Ittai the Gittite seeking risk for Hushai; but he saw immediately the advantages       ,
to join him even though he and his company were of it and turned quickly to return to the city before
entirely new to the city and the nation. It was an offer Absalom should enter it. He must be waiting for the
that David finally accepted. And then there came traitor when he arrived in Jerusalem.
Zadok the priest with his company and bearing the ark         Still, this was not all who came out to meet David in
of the covenant upon their shoulders. There was his flight. Hardly had he passed over the crest of the
warmth and encouragement in this gesture too, even hills separating him from the view of Jerusalem than
though David felt compelled to reject their offer and there appeared Ziba, a servant of Mephibosheth the son.
send them back with the ark to its proper resting place. of Jonathan whom David had befriended when first he
But the appearance of new reasons for sorrow had not came upon the throne of Israel. The sight of this man
ceased. It was just as he was passing over the ridge was extremely welcome from a purely practical point
which would block Jerusalem from his sight that the of view, if nothing else, for with him he  bnought  a
news was first brought to him that Ahithophel had number of riding asses and a vast amount of food, two
joined Absalom also. It was a painful blow, one of the hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins,
most painful of all, for Ahithophel had been to him, he a hundred bunches of summer fruits, and a large skin
thought, a trusted friend.                                 full of wine.
  Often he had confided in him in complete confi-            David was quite astonished. Not knowing quite what
dence, trusting that all of Ahithophel's advice was to make of it all, he asked, "What meanest thou by
from a heart of love and faithfulness. And now, even in these?"
this, there was painful disappointment. Undoubtedly it       Quickly Ziba replied, "The asses be for the king's
was this that gave rise to the anguished cry of Psalm household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit
41, "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as
which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel be faint in the wilderness may drink."
against me."                                                  Still David did not understand clearly, so that he
  Nevertheless, David was not left without a compen- inquired further of Ziba, "And where is thy master's
sating comfort. Hardly had this news come to him than son?"
there appeared his other intimate counselor, Hushai          It was then that the true nature of his reasoning
the  Archite. He was the picture of sorrow and came out. He replied, "Behold, he abideth in Jeru-
mourning as he came with his clothing tom and earth salem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel
upon his head. He was an elderly man, and one hardly restore me the kingdom of my father." Actually what


398                                               THE STANDARD BEARER



Ziba said was not entirely true, although he apparently him and curse him as though he were some mean and
believed that it was. It had been his work to take care vile creature. "Come out," he shouted, "Come out,
of the lands which David had assigned to thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: the LORD
Mephibosheth while his master remained in the palace hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of
and ate of the king's table. When, however, Ziba had Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD
heard that David had had to flee from Jerusalem, he hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom
had looked for his master to flee from the city also. thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief,
But Mephibosheth had not come, and Ziba had jumped because thou art a bloody man."
to the conclusion that he had joined the revolution                  Actually, it was still for Shimei a risky and
also in hope of some personal gain. So angered had he dangerous thing to give vent to his feelings as he did.
become at the very thought of this that he had packed Although David had not had sufficient fighting men
t o g e t h e r   w h a t e v e r   f o o d   h e   c o u l d   f i n d   o n with him in Jerusalem to defend the city, he had not
Mephibosheth's estate and had brought it to David.                been without them entirely, and those which he did
   For David his actions were extremely opportune, for have were now with him. They were not the kind of
in leaving the city they had hardly had opportunity to men who thought lightly of anyone ridiculing the king
make proper provisions for food, and the asses were as whom they honored and loved. One of them, Abishai,
Godsent for his family. Neither did David have any real the brother of  Joab, was quick to jump to the king's
reason to doubt Ziba's conclusion. In gratitude for defense. Standing before David, he cried out, "Why
what Ziba had done and incensed by his claims about should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go
Mephibosheth, David said to him, "Behold, thine are over, I pray thee, and take off his head."
all that pertained unto Mephibosheth."                               It was, however, exactly in circumstances like this
       Overwhelmed by this sudden turn of events, Ziba that the truly spiritual nature of David's heart came
could only answer, "I humbly beseech thee that I may most beautifully to the fore. Defense of his own name
find grace in thy sight, my lord, 0 king." And with and reputation was not to him a matter of prime
that he returned to take possession of his suddenly importance; and it did not astonish him ever that there
acquired wealth.                                                  should be people who disliked him and reacted against
   All of this, however, seemed only to prepare the him. After all, he was a sinful man too with faults
way for the next one who came out to meet David. He against which men might rightly rail. But this was not
was of the household of Saul also, Shimei, the son of his primary concern. Always he remembered that
Gera; and the bitterness that Ziba had wrongly claimed behind every circumstance in life there was a God who
to exist in the heart of Mephibosheth had long had designed those circumstances with a purpose much
dominated this man's life completely. He had been more just and important than any of the motivations
born and raised as a member of the royal family only of man. And in this hour David knew full well what
to fall down to the level of an ordinary member of the God was doing in all of these bitter events that had
nation when David had been made king. It was a arisen  - God was visiting him for the sins he had
reversal of fortune which he had never been able to committed. Although Shimei may not have understood
accept, so that his heart had burned with bitter one bit of what he was doing, the curse which he
resentment all through the years of David's reign. Until expressed was no more than what he, David, deserved.
now, moreover, it had seemed utterly futile and even The humble penance of his heart expressed itself most
dangerous to so much as voice the hatred of his heart beautifully in the answer which David gave to Abishai,
within the nation, for David was generally acclaimed as "What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so
a far more excellent ruler than Saul had ever been. But let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him,
now suddenly it seemed that everything was reversed, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou
or at least that David, whom he hated with all of the done so? Behold, my son, which, came forth of my
passion of his soul had fallen into disfavor too, just as bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this
had Saul's house. At last, the gaul of bitterness which Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for
he had held pent up within his soul for so many years the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD
could express itself, and he was more than willing to will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will
have it so. No sooner did David and his company requite me good for his cursing this day." What did the
approach the town of Bahurim where this Shimei lived motives of men's hearts matter to David when he was
than he came out to stand on the hillside overlooking sure that he rested in the hands of the Lord.
the road upon which David traveled to throw stones at


        Following custom, The Standard Bearer will appear only once per month during June, July and August.                           ~


                                                      THE STANDARD BEARER                                               399


Studies in Depth

                           THE WALDENSIAN MOVEMENT
                                                       Rev. Robt. C. Harbach

  "Turn off the main highway at Morganstown or                       The Waldensian movement began with an attempt to
Hickory, if you plan to visit Valdese. Take the road              spread the knowledge of Scripture in the common
down into the valley. The little North Carolina town, language of the people. Though outlawed from 123 1,
as you approach it, looks for all the world like a the Waldensians were found in every land by 13 15.
picture of northern Italy. There are the white houses, They survive the Inquisition and every form of
the red tiled roofs; the rolling vineyards. But it is an          persecution throughout history to this day. Though
American town, too, with prosperous farms, com- regarded as heretics by the Roman Catholic Church,
mercial bakeries and a thriving hosiery industry."' they were not mystically inclined, nor Manichean, as
There are also Waldensian colonies, about 20,000 the Cathari (or Albigenses), nor pantheistic as some
strong, in Uruguay and Argentina. Especially are these others, nor in any sense a product of Arianism, but
Valdese people, as they are known, to be found in the were evangelical, "the strictly biblical sect of the
Piedmont Valley of Italy. John Milton immortalized Middle Ages . . . a body of believers which has come up
them as a result of their persecutions in his sonnet, On          out of great  tribulation."4 They translated the Bible
the Late Massacre in Piedmont:                                    into the vernacular of the people before 1179, then
     Avenge, 0 Lord, Thy slaughter'd saints, whose bones          went about preaching the gospel, two by two, as street
       Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold,                preachers and open-air evangelists, as they still do in
       Ev'n them who kept Thy truth so pure of old                Riesi, Sicily. They have carried out this work despite
       When all our Fathers worship? stocks and stones,           many hindrances from the hierarchical church. They
     Forget not: in Thy book record their groans                  rejected the claims of the Romish church, its totalitar-
       Who were Thy sheep and in their ancient fold
       Slain by the bloody Pietmontest that roll'd                ian government and mummery, designating it The
       Mother with infant down the rocks. Their moans             Beast, and as having become the false, antichrist
     The vales redoubl'd  to the hills, and they                  church in the time of Constantine. They rejected all
       To heaven. Their martyr'd blood and ashes sow              the Romish institutions, as, monasticism, mysticism,
       O'er all th' Italian fields where still doth sway          candles, palms, holy water, Christmas, Easter, fasts and
     The triple Tyrant' : that from these may grow                feasts. They condemned images, relics, the blessing of
       A hundred-fold, who having learnt Thy way                  such material things, saint worship, the Mary cult,
       Early may fly the Babylonian woe.                          purgatory, and prayers for the dead. They regarded
  "Whittier . . . (in)  his  poem.  . . The Vaudois themselves as a true church, with elders and deacons,
Teacher . . . speaks of the Waldenses as going about as within an apostatizing church. They formed a practi-
peddlers to the houses of noble families and offering cally organized secret church, of necessity so because
first gems and other goods, and then the richest gem of of persecution, considering themselves the only Church
all, the Word of God."3 For peddlers they were, but at of Christ. They denied they were ever heretics de-
the same time, Bible smugglers. As a result of getting the parted from the historic church, but  trace their
Word of God into the hands of men in this way, many               beginnings to primitive apostolic Christianity, claiming
were converted to the Gospel; Whittier put it this way: to have preserved the purity of the faith down through
    0 lady fair, I have yet a gem which a purer lustre            the ages, while the Romish church was the degenerate
       flings                                                     church full of the corruptions against which they had
    Than the diamond flash of the jewelled crown on the           always protested from the first. Beza, intimate friend
       lofty brow of kings;                                       of Calvin, taught that the Waldensian Church was
    A wonderful pearl of exceeding price, whose virtue            founded by Paul on his way to Spain, and was the one
       shall not decay,                                           true church that had preserved the faith of the New
    Whose light shall be as a spell to thee and a blessing        Testament church.
       on thy way.                                                   This bit of history will help us to understand the
    . . . And She hath turned from the pride of sin to the        Waldensian motto, not only inscribed over the portal of
       lowliness of truth,
    And given her human heart to God in its beautiful             a Valdese church in Rome, but pervading the very
       hour of youth!                                             spirit of the denomination, viz.,  Lux  Zucet in tenebris
     . . . And she bath gone to the Vaudois vales by lordly       (a light shines in a dark place). Romish sources attempt
       feet untrod,                                               to enervate the thrust of  this aphorism by implying
    Where the poor and needy of earth are rich in the             that only a coarse wit would refer to it as the place
       perfect love of God!                                       Protestantism plays in Romish Italy, and that


400                                            THE STANDARD BEARER


Waldensian leaders would themselves be the first to              In the year of that credal adoption, "Cromwell
repudiate such harsh humor in connection with under- rescued them from total destruction . . . and instituted
standing their church motto. But when it is taken into a collection which  .reached the amount of 38,097
account that as to religion, Italy and Sicily are 99.8 pounds,  ,he himself contributing 2,000 pounds."
percent Romish; as to politics, fascist, socialist or Milton remembered them not only in poetry, but sent
Communist; as to economics, in many places stricken the suffering Protestants 2,000 pounds. "William of
with the worst squalor, filth, poverty, ignorance, Orange. . . a s s i s t e d   t h e i r   g r a n d   r e t u r n   i n
illiteracy, superstition and crime to be found anywhere 1 6 8 9 . .   . Holland in 173 1 . . . collected 308,199
in the world, right in the shadow of the bastion-like florins" for their aid. So "they were especially
buildings of the Roman church and under the noses of cherished and shielded by  sympathetic  Protestant
the priests, then the meaning of this motto, no matter Europe, because they were commonly looked upon as
how papists interpret it, is well understood the world the only survivals of the Evangelical primitive Chris-
over. It is also universally known that the papal power tians of apostolic times . . . "7
could not tolerate the existence of the Waldensian              Present history of the Waldensian Church indicates
churches. For ages it tried ruthlessly to destroy the that for the most part, at least, it has had its day. For
truth. "Not less than five times through the centuries it there are indications of modern ecumenical com-
instigated terrible persecutions and massacres against promise which reveal involvement in the current
this obscure and peaceable people, and it also perpe- stream back to Rome. For example, a news bulletin of
trated uncounted individual martyrdoms upon them!"5           the America1 Waldensian Aid Society carries not only
  In days when copies of the Bible were scarce the on its letterhead the names of such religious liberals as
Waldensians made it popular and prevalent by having John A. MacKay, Ralph W. Sockman, Eugene Carson
among them men who had whole books of the Bible Blake and John Sutherland Bonnell, but a statement
committed to memory. "This period was devoted to to the effect that the Protestant program of the
committing the New Testament to memory, as well as Waldensians has its problems in an overwhelmingly
other books of the Bible."6 Memorized portions were Roman Catholic country,-a statement made in con-
then frequently orally repeated. As a result, even the nection with another statement that the movement has
illiterate could repeat from memory the entire four World Council of Churches (finance) connections. It is
gospels and even the book of Job. In this way the Bible a notorious fact that the WCC is leading the dead,
was smuggled from heart to heart under the stress of apostate Protestant churches back to Rome. Then
persecution. Forced thus underground, these living there is the fact that the Waldensians had representa-
Bible depositories disguised themselves, as many of the tion in an official observer at the Vatican II Council,
Reformers later did, as artisans, laborers, merchants in and representation, in the moderator, at the third
order to carry the Word of God and spread it abroad assembly of the World Council of Churches. This is like
everywhere. Every believer was regarded as an oral the sin of Jehoshaphat who made an alliance with
witness to the truth of the gospel. They defended their apostate Israel, which was to "help the ungodly, and
practice on appeal to Jas. 4: 17, "to him that knoweth love them that hate the Lord" (II Chr.  19:2).
to do `good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." That Waldensians also provide a home for Russian refugees,
Christian women have a place in teaching the Word of but they spoil this eleemosynary service by also
God was supported by appeal to Titus 2:3, "the aged providing a chapel for Russian Orthodox worship. This is
women . . . be . . . teachers of good things," and also like the sin of Solomon who built heathen shrines for
by appeal to Luke 2:36-38. They strongly believed in his heathen wives (I K. 11:7,8). This modernistic trend
preaching, regarding it their chief duty, but being is further evident in the ordination of lady pastors.
simple, uneducated men they inadvertently pro- There is also close cooperation, with the Methodist
pounded many errors. To correct themselves and keep church in Italy to the extent of joint publication of a
to pure doctrine, a catechism was used and transmitted monthly religious magazine and of exchange of pastors
orally from generation to generation.                         and pulpits. With such Arminian and anti-Calvinist
  They also adopted the doctrine of predestination, infiltration what meaning can there be in membership
taking up as Calvin did the Augustinian doctrine in the Reformed and Presbyterian Alliance? For
without Augustine's interventionist high church Waldensian history as such is not in the line of
teaching. In 1532 the Waldenses accepted the Calvinis- Pelagianism, ecclesiastical liberalism or Romanism.
tic doctrine, renounced everything Romish and agreed
to conformity with the principles of the  Genevan 1 American Waldensian Aid Society reprint, Christian
Reformer. Their French Bible translation was revised             Union Herald,  Feb. 26, 1956, "They Speak for
and improved with the help of Calvin's cousin, Robert           Liberty."
Olivetan. In 1655 they- adopted a confession of faith
based on and abridged from the French Reformed 2Reference to the pope's crown, the  triregnum,  im-
Confession of 1559 by Calvin                                    plying absolute sovereignty over the three spheres of


                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER                                              401



  earth, heaven and purgatory.                                  Church, The Churchman, "Waldensians Survive Cen-
                                                                turies of Persecution," Nov. 196 1.
3 Schaff, History of the Christian Church, V, 500.
                                                              6New Schaff-Herzog Relig. Ency., XII, 243.
4ibid., p. 493.
                                                              7ibid., p. 251.
5 Independent journal of the Protestant Episcopal


Examining Ecumenicalism

                   Differing  Wews on the  WCC.
                                                     Rev. G. Van Baren

  Many comments and criticisms have been made                 reason for this very possibly is not because that
about the World Council of Churches. Some of these            assembly desired to speak "according to Scripture,"
comments are interesting and instructive - and usually        but rather out of a desire to reach some sort of
reflect upon the person himself as well as that group of       "consensus."
people for whom he stands as spokesman. In view of               Secondly, he points out, the W.C.C. Assembly
this, I would consider two expressions on the W.C.C.          openly recognized that there were "many great differ-
that recently came to my attention. Both come from            ences in emphasis, in viewpoint, and in the message of
men who profess to be orthodox, both are Christian            the member churches and delegates."
Reformed ministers - but one reflects that liberal wing          Thirdly, "the main work of the Assembly was
which advocates union with the W.C.C., the other              non-theological. Much of it was also non-
shows rather a "middle-of-the-road" policy which              ecclesiastical." He points to the decisions and recom-
disapproves of union at present but is ready to change        mendations which deal with world economic
position if this is the desire of the majority.               development, balance of power, disarmament, justice
  Dr. Paul G. Schrotenboer, general secretary of the          and peace in international affairs, new styles of living.
Reformed Ecumenical Synod reflects the latter posi-           The Assembly formally approved of the Official
tion in a report he has presented on the W.C.C. after he      Report of the World Conference on Church and
attended the gathering of the W.C.C. at Uppsala. The          Society  - a report which is far from the teachings of
report is rather strikingly "middle-of-the-road," one         God's Word to say the least. Especially this trend in
might rather term it "hedging." He is not ready to            the W.C.C. marks it as part of that which is false.
approve  - but not ready to disapprove either. Writes         Without judging individual members or denominations
he, "Any true appraisal of the W.C.C. will have to bear       within the organization, one can readily see that the
in mind its world wide mosaic nature. By the same             W.C.C. places ever less emphasis upon the preached
token, just as one should avoid quick and easy                Word of Christ and more emphasis upon a "social
condemnations of the Council, lest he misrepresent it,        gospel." Even its "social gospel" becomes sometimes
so too he should avoid the facile approbation that            revolutionary and opposed to the law of God itself.
interprets every action and statement in such a               This can be shown without any difficulty from the
favorable light as to mean that all changes that occur in     reports and decisions taken.
W.C.C. ranks are a proof of the renewing power of the            In the fourth place, says Scbrotenboer, there "was a
Holy Spirit. The truth of the matter would appear to          marked trend away from the `vertical' to the +horizon-
be somewhere between these two extreme positions." tal' ". He means simply that there was less concern
This position is reflected throughout the report: we          about God and His kingdom than there was about man
must not be too hasty in approving all that the W.C.C.        and his earthly needs. The theme of the Assembly was,
does - nor must we be too hasty to condemn all of its         "Behold I make all things new." That is a beautiful
actions. The article gives the impression that the            theme if interpreted in harmony with God's revelation,
reporter is willing to go along with any majority             but Schrotenboer reports that "in the working ses-
decision regarding the W.C.C.                                 sions . . . the theme was used to justify and bolster all
  Schrotenboer does point out eight items concerning          kinds of secular innovations, and seemed at times to be
the W.C.C. which are worth noting. In his opinion,            an excuse simply to justify change. The changes that
first, the W.C.C. has "become more noticeably biblical        were proposed (and often endorsed) were generally
and orthodox than its previous deliverances" when it          those that concern human relations . . . without orien-
speaks theologically. He concedes, however, that the          tation to God's salvation of man in Jesus Christ."


402                                          THE STANDARD BEARER


  In the fifth place, there "is an indication that the and conclusions, it would be wrong for any Reformed
World Council may be willing to discipline its member church to consider joining such an organization. He
churches." One of the complaints in the past against points out that its approach is "horizontal" rather than
the W.C.C. was that it did not demand that member "vertical. " He admits that the voice of the "evan-
churches adhere to the Basis  - such as it is. Now gelical" does not carry much weight. Why not
Schrotenboer reports that they did approve the sub- condemn it outright?
stance of a report which declared, "Because racism is       A second article concerning the W.C.C. and the
irreconcilable with Christian faith the churches should decision of the Synod of the Christian Reformed
continue to rebuke those churches which tolerate Synod of 1967 was written in the  Reformed Journal
racism, and make it clear that racist churches cannot by Dr. James Daane. Anyone knowing Daane under-
be recognized as members in good standing within the stands that here is a man who strongly advocates
ecumenical fellowship." Schrotenboer considers this an joining .the W.C.C. In his article found in the January
indication that the W.C.C. might be willing to exclude    1969 issue, he takes the C.R.C. Synod to task for its
some from its fellowship because of certain "heresy." decision rejecting W.C.C. membership. The article
Yet the example which Schrotenboer uses would seem reminds one of the teacher who strongly reprimands
to show rather that liberal and modernistic trend today the pupil for failing to do his homework properly.
to be concerned with every sort of "heresy" except Daane attempts to show the decision of the C.R.C.
that which is doctrinal. It may well be that the day Synod to be silly, foolish, absurd, and even contradic-
soon comes when the W.C.C. would exclude from its tory. The sad fact is, that to a large degree he is
fellowship "racist" churches  - but it will never correct. He points out that the C.R.C. decision declares
exclude churches or individuals who deny the divinity that the  W.C.C.`s activities in political matters are
of Christ or His cross. This is the trend within sometimes, even "frequently," but not always embar-
churches. The Christian Reformed Church also, in its rassing to a Reformed church. "The failure," says he,
last synod, was ready to declare that those who involve "of the Synod. . . to provide examples of what is
themselves in forms of racism would be worthy of embarrassing is regrettable. . . . As it now is, we are left
excommunication  - but Prof. Dekker continues to in the dark as to the kind of W.C.C. action which is
teach in their seminary in spite of his Arminian views. I embarrassing to a Reformed church." Again, he points
fear that the trend which Schrotenboer regards as out that the Synod declared that the W.C.C. admits into
somewhat favorable is but one more clear indication of. its fellowship churches to which the qualification
the goal and aims of the W.C.C. Such action is hardly "modernist" is "fully or partly applicable." Rightly he
encouraging.                                              points out, "If only the Synod had spoken forthrightly
  In the sixth place, Schrotenboer points to a "dis- and given the name of at least one church that is truly
cernible difference in emphasis and direction between so modernistic it could not without dishonesty have
the Staff and the constituency of the non-Western subscribed to the W.C.C. Basis!" He adds in conclu-
countries." He refers to the fact that the Staff of the sion, "Nor do I know how, after the Synod had
W.C.C. seem always to emphasize the social, economic decided to do these things,, it could then decide to send
and political affairs but that some of the churches two official observers at the Fourth Assembly of the
definitely lean toward the evangelistic position. And W.C.C. at Uppsala. This constituted a very limited but
though this might well be true, the question can not be nonetheless real act of official fellowship with a 
silenced: who elects this Staff?                          `fellowship of  _ churches' against which it had
  Next, he declares, "Evangelicals  can freely speak at marshalled a series of arguments climaxed with an
the World Council, but the influence they exert upon anathema! Is this the way in which the  C.R;C.
the Council can easily be overrated." He adds, "Evan- maintains its own basis and theological position in a
gelicals were not encouraged that they could make a `meaningful way' "?
meaningful contribution to the work of the Council by       It is -indeed sad that the Synod of the C.R.C. could
the words of the General Secretary about the critics of not have formulated its decision far more definitely
the W.C.C."                                               and positively as well as without compromise. But it
  Finally, Schrotenboer states that the W.C.C. "has did not. The result is that opponents to that decision  `-  ~
stressed some of the most pressing concerns of can easily point out its logical fallacies and thus seem
Christianity today, namely, the relation of church and to prove that opposition to the W.C.C. itself is logically
society and the Christian's attitude to the world."       fallacious. This is what Daane does.
  The R.E.S. secretary concludes by stating the             He indicates that the C.R.C. Synod actually opposed
self-evident: the W.C.C. is too great to ignore; but he the W.C.C. on only two grounds (though they listed
adds, "There is no reason. . . why the R.E.S. should more than two): first, that the social, economic, and
change its advice to the member churches not to join political activities of the W.C.C. are "frequently" of
at this time the W.C.C." He could, I think, have rather such kind as to be "an embarrassment to a Reformed           1
emphasized that on the basis of his own observations Church." The second, says he, is that the W.C.C. is not


                                              THE STANDARD BEARER                                                403


merely a "forum for the discussion of differences" but       decision taken on the W.C.C.  - and then properly
is a " `Council of Churches' which defines itself as -a overture it to take an intelligent decision guided
`fellowship of churches' and thus claims to be at least a    perhaps by his own recommendations. Secondly,
provisional manifestation of the unity for which Christ though he may have done this in the past, I would like
prayed (John 17)" Daane then seeks to demolish these to see an article by Daane showing positively why he
grounds. I am not interested at this time in all of the would advocate union with the W.C.C.  - giving
argumentation he presents in opposition to the synodi-       scriptural, confessional grounds as well as showing the
cal decision. I would have, however, two suggestions to      wisdom of his advice by quoting the decisions of the
Daane. First, instead of revealing the puerility of his      W.C.C. itself.
own synod in print, he could better protest to it the


From Holy Writ

                                  The Book of Hebrews
                                                  Rev. G. Lubbers

UPON BOTH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL` AND UPON very nature of the New Covenant based upon better
THE HOUSE OF JUDAH (Hebrews 8: 8b-9) (con timed) promises. For it is not an earthly house, pitched by
  However, when we say upon both the house of man (Heb. 8  :2) but pitched by the LORD Himself.
Israel and upon the house of Judah, this must not be (Num. 24:6) And this better tabernacle is not earthly,
misunderstood. Often this is misunderstood and mis- but it is heavenly. Into these heavens our Savior has
interpreted by Jewish Millennialism. This prophecy is passed in his death, burial and resurrection. Israel is,
then made to imply that there would be a restoration therefore, all the tribes of the earth, the elect out of all
of Israel's theocracy in the land of Palestine and nations, and not simply from the natural descendants
Canaan after the order of'the former glory under David of Abraham. For the teaching stands, written by Paul
and Solomon. This prophecy then somehow awaits its in Galatians 3:`8 "In thee shall all nations be blessed".
fulfilment yet in the future. Christ will be the King of And this is interpreted by Paul as referring to those
the Jews, even as He is the Head of the church. The who belong to Christ. "And if ye be Christ's then are
kingdom of David, Israel's theocracy and the church ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the prom-
are not one; fact is, according to this conception, Israel ise." (Galatians  3:29) In this seed of Abraham there
and the church are two different entities.                   is neither Jew nor Greek, there are no national
  Now, I do not hold to this view of the matter in boundaries, nor is the Greek a Greek any more, nor is
regard to the New Covenant which God will make in the Jew a Jew, But they are "Sons of God," the new
"those days." We do not hold this view for the simple man in Christ, the greater Theocracy of God. Here the
reason that this is contrary to the teaching of the middle-wall of the partition is gone forever." (Eph.
Scriptures concerning the usage and application of the 2: 1 l-l 9) There is really no difference anymore be-
term Israel. The term "Israel" and "Jacob" sometimes tween those who are near and those who are far off.
refer to the two factions in Israel, but sometimes they (Is. 57: 11)
are also used interchangeably. I believe that a compari-       Israel and the commonwealth of Israel is the church
son of the usage of these terms here in the prophecy of of the living God both `in the Old Testament and in the
Jeremiah will bear this out:Thus in Jeremiah 3 1: 1 "At New Testament.
the same time saith the LORD, will I be the God of all         Besides, it ought to be noticed that the covenant
the families of Israel, and they shall be my people." will be brought to its ultimate completion and per-
Now certainly God is the God of all the earth. But fection in what Jeremiah calls "behold, the days are
Israel is God's people in a peculiar way. They are His coming." This took place at Calvary, in Christ's death,
people by choice, an elect generation, a holy priest- and in his resurrection and ascension and sitting at the
hood, a peculiar people unto God. Only because God right hand of God.
loved them in sovereign love are they God's people. THE NEW CO VENANT FINISHED IN 0 UR HEARTS
When God says: "and they shall be my people," it (Hebrews 8 : 1 O-l 2)
refers to their being the congregation, the church of          God will covenant a new covenant after those days.
Christ, gathered by the Son of God out of every tribe, It is a sure promise. It is "saith the LORD." That is the
people and nation. "All the families of Israel" refers to end of all contradiction. For He is faithful who hath
the gathering of the church in both the Old and the promised. (Hebrews 8: 10) And, therefore, it is sure in
New Testament. This ought to be evident from the Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.


                                                -..        _c
404                                          THE STANDARD  BEAdER


  Negatively this is expressed in that the covenant will blot me I  pray thee out of thy book which thou hast
not be like the covenant which God made with Israel written . -. . " (Exodus 32:31,32)
when they brought them out of the land of Egypt, and             Now God finds fault with this covenant.
brought them to the hill of Sinai which could be                 Moses dannot act as mediator. He is but a law-giver.
touched. There was something very wrong with that                The law was given through Moses, but grace and
covenant. It was that the "law" which was given by truth came through Jesus Christ. Only in Christ do we
Moses to Israel could not make a dead sinner alive. If receive grace for grace from. the fumess of grace and
such a law had been given which could make a dead truth.
sinner alive, then the law could have profited. But now          Moses can only plead upon the better promises.
the flesh profits nothing, and the law profits nothing These are the promises made to the fathers of yore, to
because it is weak through the flesh. (John 6:63) Yes, Abraham and to his Seed. Hear him plead in Exodus
circumcision profited,  if thou keep the law!  (Rom. 32: 12,13 "Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and
2:25) But none kept the law, and, therefore, the say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them
circumcision became uncircumcision!                        in the mountains, and to consume them from the face
  That was the principle of Israel's defeat. Yes, even of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent
when they tried to keep the law, they did not attain. of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham,
For Israel which followed after the law of righteous- Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swearest
ness did not attain to the law of righteousness. (Rom. by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply
9:3 1.) Why? Why did the Gentiles, which did not your seed as the stars of the heaven, and all this land
follow after righteousness, attain unto righteousness, that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and
even the righteousness which is by faith? The answer they shall inherit it forever."
is: it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that               Yes, Moses pleads upon the better promises; they
runneth, but of God who giveth mercy. (Rom. 9: 16) are better than the law in his hands, written upon
  This is the great enunciation of the failure of the old tables of stone. These cannot profit Israel because of
covenant which God made with Moses. It was doomed the weakness of the flesh. And his appeal is to the very
to failure because of the weakness of the flesh, and promises which God will fuh5.l according to Jeremiah
because it could not make the evil, stubborn and dead in the latter days. Presently Israel's life under the law
sinner alive and willing to love God. Fact is, that the shall have run its course. It will all have been to no
law could only be the power of sin. (I Cor. 15 :56)        profit at all. The law perfected nothing. The bringing
  God found fault with this covenant in Jeremiah. in of a better hope did. Well, here it is spoken of in the
Fact is, that when Israel is at the foot of the mount of prophecy of Jeremiah.
God, then already the covenant is clearly pointed out            .Israel-Judah indeed goes down into Babylon. But a
to be. a failure. For when Moses comes down the voice is heard in  Ramah, and shall again be heard in
mount with the lively oracles in his hand, the people Bethlehem-Ephraha. And God will call His Son out of
are busy in adultery and in idolatry, as they dance Egypt in Christ's death and resurrection. This is the
nakedly about the golden calf. (Exodus  32:8) They glory of Israel and the light of the nations.
turned aside. quickly from the way which the Lord had            Thus in Jeremiah's prophecy, quoted here in He-
shewed  them. And the cry of Israel is a cry of brews  8:6  f.f., the horizons lift, and the prospect of
covenant-breaking when they sing: "These be thy God, the fulfihnent of all the promises are set in full relief.
o Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of It is the announcement of the ushering in of the year
Egypt." That such was covenant-breaking, is  sym- of the LORD.
mbolised in Moses's taking the two tables of stone on            For this is not the law of commandments contained
which it was written "I Am the LORD, thy God, who in ordinances, which are written upon tables of stone,
have brought thee forth from the land of Egypt, the but this is the law, the glory of grace, which writes the
house of bondage . . .," (Ex. 20: 1) and dashing them in law in our hearts!
pieces! And what must Moses `now learn: that God will            Before we try to understand this matter of the law
make a new and better covenant. Moses fasted for being written in our hearts, in depth, let us notice how
forty days and forty nights, and then he arises from even at Sinai, in a sense, the covenant was renewed
the dust and desires the salvation of Israel. And when upon better promises. For it must not have altogether
God will destroy Israel in His hot displeasure and holy escaped the attention of every Bible-Christian, that the
anger, then it is that Moses pleads for Israel. Yes, table of stones which. were placed in the Ark of the
Moses knows that the people have sinned a great sin! Covenant by Moses, together with the pot of Manna
Cries Moses in his deep concern for Israel "Oh, this and the rod of Aaron which blossomed, were not the
people have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up same' tables which were broken. The reason is: this
unto the Lord: peradventure I shall make an atone- time the Lord gives tables of stone which are based
ment for your sin." And Moses returned unto the upon a covenant which cannot be broken. To see this
LORD, and said "Yet now if thou wilt forgive their sin, point we should attend to what we read in Exodus


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                  405


34:4-g, where we read: "And he hewed two tables of words of the Covenant which shall be placed in the
stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the inner sanctuary of God's throne of grace, the Ark of
morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD           the testimony, the testimony of the gospel of grace.
had commanded him, and took in his hand the two              For in that Ark of the Covenant were three things, and
tables of stone. And the Lord descended in the cloud,        these three are the earmarks of the true church in the
(Shekinah) and stood with him there, and proclaimed          desert and in every age and clime. For it ought to be
the name of the LORD., And the LORD passed by him, evident that we are here dealing with: word, sacraments
and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, merciftil            and discipline, as exemplified in tables of stone, pot of
and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness manna and the rod of Aaron, which was fruitful. Were
and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving these not all under the covering of the ark upon which
iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no the blood of atonement was sprinkled on the great day
means clear the guilty . . . . "                             of atonement, and the ushering in of the year of
     The underscored portion here in the above quota- Jubilee? (Lev. 25:8,9)
tion is definitely the better covenant words. For these        And thus we stand foursquare in the midst of the
are the words which Moses receives and his face shines.      ministering priest's work!
These are the covenant words connected with the glory          The law shall be written upon the tables of the
of Christ. Nay, these are not simply to be written upon      heart.
the tables of stone but upon the fleshy tables of the
.                                                              This is the covenant which is enacted upon better
heart.                                                     -promises.
     This is evident from the fact that these are the

Contending. for the Faith
                                    THE DOCTRINE OF SIN
                                     THE THIRD PERIOD - 730-l 517 A.D.
                                      PROTESTANT DOCTRlNE OF SIN
                                                Rev. H. Veldman
     Fourthly, what does this law of God demand? To cause of this principle, the following truths are  self-
this there can be only one answer, in the light of the evident.
Word of God. The law of God demands complete                   First, there cannot be perfection in this life. Every
perfection, or the entire conformity of the moral form of perfectionism is surely founded upon the
nature and conduct of a rational creature with the assumption that the law does not demand absolute
nature and will of the Lord. We are commanded to perfection in this life, a perfection that is in perfect
love the Lord our God with all our heart and mind and harmony with the law of God and as determined by
soul and strength. And we love our neighbour as the holiness and righteousness of the Lord.
ourselves. This obligation, of course, is limited to the       Secondly, it follows from this truth that there can
capacity of the creature. It is not limited to the ability never be attributed any merit to the good works of
of the creature. If a creature is not able to serve the men in the midst of the world. Fact is, all the good
Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, he is, of works of the people of the Lord are always corrupted
course, not excused from this perfect service of the by sin and are as filthy rags, unrighteousnesses.
Lord. But it is limited to the capacity of a creature.         Thirdly, it also follows from this truth that there
The capacity of a child is less than that of an adult can never be any such thing as works of supereroga-
Christian or of an angel. He can know less. He can tion. No man can ever perform above the demands of
contain less. Nevertheless, it is the absolute moral the law of God. Rome teaches that a man can merit
perfection of the child, of the adult, or of the angel beyond the law of God. But the Scriptures teach that
that the law demands. This is also in harmony with the if a man were to fulfill all the demands. of the law and
teaching of our conscience. The child of God knows do all that is required of him, he would still be an
that he sins or is sinful whenever and howsoever he unprofitable servant, inasmuch as he had merely done
comes short of this comformity to the image of God. what is his duty. Luke 17 : 10.
He surely knows' that coldness of affection, defect of         Fourthly, it also follows from this truth, namely
zeal, and the want of humility, gratitude, meekness, that the law of God demands complete and perfect
forbearance, and benevolence are in him of the nature obedience, that sin is not confined to acts of the will.
of sin. Augustine taught this. And the Lutheran and The majority of the schoohnen and, of the Roman .
Reformed theologians assert the same principle. Be- theologians. deny that anything is of the nature of sin,


406                                                  Tl-iE STANDAkd BEARER



but voluntary acts of the will. Evil motives and desires            this subject are (1.) That this corruption of nature
within us are only sin when we deliberately assent to               affects the whole soul. (2.) That it consists in the loss
them and indulge in them. But this is not the view .of              or absence of original righteousness, and consequent
the Protestant doctrine of sin. If the law of God                   entire moral depravity of our nature, including or
demands perfection, perfect conformity to its de-                   manifesting itself in an aversion from all spiritual
mands, then these impulses of evil are very clearly                 good, or from God, and an inclination to all evil. (3.)
sinful. And the Protestant doctrine which pronounces                That it is truly and properly of the nature of sin,
                                                                    involving both guilt and pollution. (4.) That it retains
these impulsive acts to be of the nature of sin is surely           its character as sin even in the regenerated. (5.) That
confirmed by the consciousness of the child of God.                 it renders the soul spiritually dead, so that the
He recognizes as evil in their own nature the first                 natural, pr unrenewed man, is entirely unable of
risings of malice, envy, pride, etc. He knows that they             himself to do anything in the sight of God.
spring from an evil or imperfectly sanctified' nature. He              This doctrine therefore stands opposed,-
knows that they constitute part of the burden of                       1. To that which teaches that the race of man is
corruption which he hopes to lay down in the grave;                 uninjured by the fall of Adam.
and he knows that as he shall be free from them only                   2. To that which teaches that the evils consequent
then when he shall have attained unto everlasting                   on the fall are merely physical.
perfection in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, these                 3. To the doctrine which makes original sin
imperfections never characterized the Lord Jesus                    entirely negative, consisting in the want of original
Christ. And our Heidelberg Catechism does not merely,               righteousness.
condemn the sins which the child of God commits                       4. To the doctrine which- admits a hereditary
                                                                    depravity of nature, and makes it consist in an
consciously, but also the corruption of his evil and                inclination to sin, but denies that it is itself sinful.
c o r r u p t   n a t u r e .                                       Some of the orthodox theologians made a distinction
   Finally, it also follows from this principle that the            between vitium and peccatum. The latter term they
law of God condemns all want of conformity to the                   wished to confine to actual sin, while the former was
nature of God, that it condemns evil dispositions or                used to designate indwelling and hereditary sinful-
habits, as well as all voluntary sins, whether deliberate           ness. There are serious objections to this distinction:
or impulsive. According to the Word of God, there is a              first, that vitium, as thus understood, is really sin; it
sinfulness as well as sins. The Word of God surely                  includes both guilt and pollution, and is so defined
                                                                    by Vitringa and others who make the distinction.
speaks of a sinful state, of abiding, inherent forms of             Secondly, it is opposed to established theological
evil, which are truly and properly of the nature of sin.            usage. Depravity, or inherent hereditary corruption,
All sin, therefore, is not merely an activity or act; it            has always been designated peccatum, and therefore
may be and is also a condition or state of the mind.                to say that it- is not peccatum, but merely vitium,
This distinction between habitual and actual sin has                produces confusion and leads to error. Thirdly, it is
been confessed by the Church of God throughout the                  contrary to Scripture, for the  Bible undeniably
ages. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself teaches us this                 designates indwelling or  heredirary corruption, or
distinction when He speaks of an evil heart as                      vitium,  as hamartia (sin). This is acknowledged by
distinguished from evil exercises, which are as distinct            Romanists who deny that such concupiscence after
as a tree and its fruits. The Apostle speaks of sin as a            regeneration is of the nature of sin.
law, or controlling principle regulating or determining               5. The fifth form of doctrine to which the
                                                                    Protestant faith stands opposed, is that which admits
his acts even in despite of his better nature. He declares          a moral deterioration of our nature, which deserves
that sin dwells in him. He declares that he does not                the displeasure of God, and which is therefore truly
what he would do and that he fails to perform what he               sinj and yet denies that the evil is so great as to
ought to do. Manis a sinner, in all his life and being.             amount to spiritual death, and to involve the entire
   Before  we.quote from the Lutheran and Protestant                inability of the natural man to what is spiritually good.
Confessions concerning the doctrine of sin, we would                  6. And the doctrine of the Protestant churches is
present the following quotation from Hodge, Vol. II,                opposed to the teachings of those who deny that
230-23 1, in which he presents a Statement of the                   original sin affects the whole man, and assert that it
Protestant Doctrine:                                                has its seat exclusively in the affections or the heart,
                                                                    while the understanding and reason are uninjured or
         From the above statements it appears that, accord-         uninfluenced.
       ing to the doctrine of the Protestant churches,                In order to ,sustain the Augustinian (or Protestant)
       original sin, or corruption of nature derived from           doctrine of original sin, therefore, three points are to
       Adam, is not, (1.) A corruption of the substance or          be established: I. That all mankind descending from
       essence of the soul. (2.) Neither is it an essential         Adam by ordinary generation are born destitute of
       element infused into the soul as poison is mixed with        original righteousness, and the subjects of a cor-
       wine. The Form of Concord, for example, denies that          ruption of nature which is truly and properly sin. II.
       the evil disposition of our fallen nature are created        That this original corruption affects the whole man;
       conditions within us. The affirmative statements on          not body only to the exclusion of the soul; not the


                                                    THE STANDARD BEARER                                              407


    lower faculties of the soul to the exclusion of the         so great as to amount to spiritual death, and to involve
    higher; and not the heart to the exclusion of the           the entire inability of the natural man to what is
    intellectual powers. III. That it is of such a nature as    spiritualiy good. Of course, we do not hesitate to elide
    that before regeneration fallen men are "utterly            the word, spiritually, here, and teach the entire
    indisposed, disabled, and opposed to all good."             inability of the natural man to do any good. Notice,
  We quoted this statement of the Protestant doctrine too, that the Protestant doctrine of sin is such that
from Hodge for obvious reasons. Notice how absolute original sin affects the whole man, including his
this presentation of the truth is concerning sin! The understanding and reason. And Hodge concludes with
Protestant doctrine of sin teaches that the corruption the remark that, according to the Protestant concep-
of nature affects the whole soul. It teaches that it tion of sin, fallen man, before his regeneration, is
renders the soul spiritually dead, so that the natural or utterly indisposed, disabled, and opposed to all good.
unrenewed man is entirely unable of himself to do It is good to read sentiments of this nature. This is the
anything good in the sight of God. Now, I suppose that teaching of our Protestant Reformed Churches, and we
this presentation of the truth can be thus modified may be assured that, teaching.the utter inability` of the
that the sinner, because of the operation of a common natural man to do anything good in the sight of God,
grace, is able to do good in the sight of the Lord. But we find ourselves in good company. Indeed, we are
notice how absolute these statements of Hodge are! surely in the line of the Augustinian conception of
The Protestant doctrine of sin teaches that original sin man's sin and corruption. Next time, the Lord willing,
is not merely negative, consisting in the want or lack of we will call attention to what the Lutheran and
original righteousness. We also read that the Protestant Protestant Confessions have to say on this subject.
doctrine is opposed to those who deny that the evil is





                IMPORTANT NOTICE!!                                          RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY
  Notice is hereby given to our subscribers, the                The Consistory of the Hull Protestant Reformed
societies of our churches, and all other groups and             Church expresses their sympathy to their fellow elders,
individuals that beginning with the July issue of the           George Hoekstra and Bert Van Maanen in the passing
Standard Bearer the cost of placing resolutions of to glory of their mother and mother-in-law,
sympathy, anniversary notices, and all announcements                         MRS. PETER M. HOEKSTRA
will be $3.00. Please bear this in mind when sending in         May they and the bereaved family be comforted with
your announcements to the Btisiness Manager.                    that greatest assurance, that in life or in death, we are
                                 The Board of the R.F.P.A. not our own, but belong to our faithful Saviour Jesus
                                                                Christ.
                                                                                             Wm. K. Kooiker, Gen. Alt.




On June 6, 1969, our parents
            MR. AND MRS. TOM ELZINGA                                       RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY
will, the Lord willing, celebrate their 50th wedding The Martha Ladies Aid Society of the Hull  Protestant
anniversary.                                                    Reformed Church expresses it's sincere sympathy to
   We are thankful to our God for the many years they two of it's members, Mrs. Gerrit Brummel and Mrs.
have had together, and pray that He may continue to Bert Van Maanen, in the passing  of' their mother
bless them and cause His face to shine upon them                            MRS. PETER M. HOEKSTRA.
 during the remainder of their sojourn here.                    May the bereaved be comforted by the Word of God
                                 Chikh-en   and Grandchildren found in Psalm 116: 15, "Precious in the sight of the
 Open House will be held at their home, 567 W. 19th Lord is the death of His saints."
 Street, Holland,  Mich., from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M.,                                                   Egbert Gritter, Pres.
 Saturday, June 7, 1969.                                                                 Mrs. John Hoekstra, Vice Pres.


408                                            THE STANDARD BEARER


                              News From Our  Churches
                                             May 14, 1969 special program in the church basement at 8 P.M.
  Jamaican  News. In a letter dated May 3 we learn The subject, "The necessity of enlarging our school"
that Rev. Lubbers had preached at five Sunday services will be introduced by Rev. Engelsma, after which
and conducted seven mid-week services, entailing some there will be an open discussion. All adults and
600 miles of Jamaican left-side-of-the-road driving. Our young people interested in this important subject are
emissaries were there at the end of the drought season invited to attend. Refreshments will be served immedi-
and experienced some torrential rains - one of those ately afterwards by the Ladies' Circle." The "enlarging
storms prevented them reaching Rev. Frame's church of our school" cannot mean that of.a building (for the
one Sunday. The travel involved in their work and the school is housed in the church), but can only mean
inconveniences appended thereto press them to say, adding a grade or more to their present six grade
"But the reward is so great when we see how gladly enrollment. To this observer this program is a sure
they receive the Word !" By the time you read this they indication of the Grace of God activating this small
will have come back to the States, and the Mission congregation in their consciousness of their calling to
Committee will be ready to give a full account of their instruct their children according to the vow at baptism.
labors in their behalf.                                                                 * *  *'
                           *  *  1                             The only news we have to date (May 14) concerning
  The Sunday School children of our Southwest the possible change in Manse occupancy is that Rev.
Church in Grand Rapids are happy to know that their Engelsma has a call from Hull, Iowa; that Pella, Iowa
collections for the balance of the season will be for the has extended a call to Rev. Lanting; and, that Rev.
benefit of the children in the Prot. Ref. Churches in Kortering did not accept the invitation he had received
Jamaica. This is a splendid gesture of children helping from South Holland, Ill. * * *
to supply the needs of other children in a real, tangible
way!                                                           An arresting paragraph found in Lynden's May 4
                           *  d  *                           bulletin : " We have received a request to supply at
  On the festive occasion of a "burning of the least 25,000 copies of a 16 page booklet of our "Studies
mortage" evening program, Southeast's congregation in Biblical Doctrine" for use in the churches of
presented Rev. and Mrs. Schipper with a new refrigera- Indonesia, well over half of which are of Dutch
tor as a testimonial of their appreciation his unselfish Reformed background. If we can raise about $600.00
labors among them.                                           to pay for the printing of these we do hope to go
                           *  * *                            ahead in supplying this request." And we might add
  In. a May 4 bulletin of one of our churches attention this observation: If this gives you people who read this
was called to the financial plight of our  Standard an idea  - you may send your contribution to:
Beaver; that only one half of the  $12,000.00 cost of "Studies in Biblical Doctrine; 8541 Depot Road,
printing is covered by subscriptions and that the other Lynden, Wash. 98264."
half must be raised by' free-will offerings. The con-                                   * *  *
gregation responded that evening with a generous               We just received additional detailed information
offering which takes care of almost 8% of the needed regarding the content of the above paragraph, and
subsidy. 92% to go!                                          herewith pass it on to you: "One of the fastest growing
                           8 *  *                            portions of the Christian Church is in the country of
  Redlands' Sunday School rendered an Easter Pro- Indonesia. In the past two years over  2% million
gram and invited the Young People's Society, the Moslems have been converted to Christianity, and
Choral Society and a Men's Quartet to take part. An there is a great need for study material so that they
added commemorative feature was a poem by Mrs. J. may grow in the knowledge of their faith. We have
Ekema and read by Miss  Jana Gaastra, entitled, "Tis been asked to supply them with a series of 16 of our
Resurrection Day!".        * *  Q                            studies, and we would like very much to do this if we
  Quiet Thought,  found in Southeast's bulletin: can find the financial means. By having these studies
"Some people flee from temptation, then wait around translated and printed in Indonesia 25,000 of these can
the corner for it to catch up with them."                    be supplied for less than $600.00." Now you can see
                           *  * *                            how our little congregation in Lynden can.. be of
  The April 27 bulletin of Hudsonville reminded the spiritual help to those converted Moslems in that far-
people of the birthday anniversary that week of their off land on the other side of the globe.
oldest member, Mr. C. Woodwyk  - age  96! What a                                        * *  8
tremendous development in the manifestation of The             "Heathen land and hostile peoples soon shall come
Man- of Sin this aged brother has seen!                      the Lord to know; Nations born again in Zion shall the
                           * *  *                            Lord's salvation show" Psalter No. 238.         --
  A sign of progress was noted in Loveland's bulletin        . . . see you in church
as follows: "On Friday, May 2, there will be a                                                              J.M.F.


