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~
  A  REFORMED  SEMI-MONTHLY  MAGAZINE



~ IN THIS ISSUE


     Meditation:

        The Risen Lord Expounding The Scriptures

     Editorial:

        Something BAD Happened To The Canons

     Is The Christian's Calling Organizational?
        (see: All Around Us)

     Abhortions
        (see: In His Fear)





                                                                    Volume XL VII/Number 14/April 15, 1971


314                                                          THE STANDARD BEARER


                            CONTENTS:                                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER
                                                                                     Semi-monthly, except monthly during June, July and August.

Meditation  -                                                                        Published by the Reformed Free Publishing Association, Inc.
   The Risen Lord Expounding The Scriptures . . . .3 14                                    Second Class Postage Paid at Grand Rapids,  Mich.
                                                                               Editor-in-Chief:  Prof.  H.  C.  Hoeksema
Editorial  -                                                                   Department Editors::.  Mr. Donald Doezema, Rev. Cornelius Hanko, Prof.
                                                                               Herman Hanko, Rev. Robert C. Harbach, Rev. John A. Heys, Rev. Jay
   Something BAD Happened To The                                               Kortering, Rev. George C. Lubbers. Rev. Marinus  Schipper,.Rev.  Gise J.
       Canons - in the GKN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .316          Van  Baren, Rev. Herman  Veldman. Rev. Bernard Woudenberg
                                                                               Editorial   Office:  Prof. H. C. Hoeksema
Question Box -                                                                                    1842 Plymouth Terrace,  SE.
   As To The Form For The Lord's Supper . . . . . .3 18                                          Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506
                                                                               Church  News  Editor:     Mr. Donald Doezema
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Meditation

                The Risen Lord Expounding The Scriptures
                                                                 Rev. M. Schipper

              "Then he said unto them, 0 fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have
              spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And
              beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the
              things concerning himself "
                                                                                                                            Luke 24: 25-27.

  Then said He unto them . . .                                                 they should not know Him, and who therefore  con-
  The risen Lord about to expound the Scriptures!                              sidered  Him a stranger not only because they could not
  And to an audience which is berated by Him as recognize Him, but also because He impressed them as
fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets one who was entirely unaware of the events as they
have spoken; an audience whose eyes were holden that had transpired in and out of Jerusalem in the last days.


                                            THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 315


  It was an audience that consisted of only two men, these days?
the name of the one is mentioned as Cleopas. Shall we         Then the Lord, knowing precisely the subject of
conjecture that the name of the other was Luke, the their conversation; and Pedagogue that He is, Who,
physician? And that on the ground that he is the only knowing that the best way for them to resolve their
one of the gospel narrators who mentions this incident; problem was to state it clearly, asked them: What
and who, like John, would be reluctant to mention his things?
name?                                                         They reply: the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth,
  Not a prominent place did they occupy in the disci- . . . how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him
ple group, such as did Peter, James, and John; but to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But
disciples none the less who loved the Lord, though we trusted that it had been he which should have re-
they had great difficulty in understanding Him. Who deemed Israel . . . How could it be that the Messiah
believed in Him, though they could not always present must die in order to redeem us, and through this way
a clear dogmatic system of what they believed. Who to enter into His glory?
followed Jesus, not for the bread that perishes, but for      0 fools and slow of heart to believe all that the
the words which He spoke, though they were not al- prophets have spoken!
ways competent to comprehend all that He had re-              Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and
vealed unto them.                                           to enter into his glory?
  And they were troubled! . . .                               How is it that you do not yet understand?
  Events had happened all too swiftly for them.               Indeed, a stupid audience!
Though they most likely had not been present at the           And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he
scene of the crucifixion, they nevertheless had been expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things
thoroughly informed of the fact. And their hearts were concerning Himself.
filled with questionings. How could it be that the One        Most capable Expositor!
on Whom they had set their hope that He would re-             By no means was He the stranger they had thought
deem Israel, . . . how could it be that He gave Himself Him to be!
so submissively over to the will of His enemies? How          0, it is true that their eyes still were  holden that
could this be reconciled with His undoubted preten- they should not know really who He was. Presently
sions as a prophet, mighty in word and in deeds? If He their eyes would be opened, and they would know
was truly the Messiah as He so often led them to be- Him when just as wonderfully as He has appeared unto
lieve, how is it then that He had to die? This was, them He would also vanish from their sight. And so
indeed, the heart of their problem!                         long as they remained the fools and slow of heart to
  But there is more. On this very day they had heard believe, so long also would their eyes be holden, not
that He was risen from the dead. Certain women of only to behold the risen Lord, but even more impor-
their company had reported to them that they had tantly their hearts would be unable to understand the
gone to the tomb and found it empty. Also they had things concerning Himself. When, on the other hand,
said that angels had revealed to them that He was alive. their eyes would be opened to behold Him, then also
That the grave was empty, they had no difficulty in would they be able to say, as they did say, "Did not
believing, because others of their company had gone to our heart burn within us while he talked with us in the
the grave and reported that it was even as the women way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?"
had said. But Him they had not seen! And so long as           The Expositor is, of course, none other than the
they themselves had not seen Him, what were they to risen Lord Himself!
believe?                                                      He Who was the subject of their conversation, the
  Such were the troubles that filled their aching very One Whose work they could not understand,
hearts, and that brought sadness to their faces. This Whose death proved to be the enigma - the stumbling
was the subject of their conversation as they were question, the puzzle question, that did not seem to fit
walking from Jerusalem to  Emmaus, and. as they anywhere in the general lay-out as they were trying to
argued in the way.                                          piece it together. He is about to point them to that
  It was at this point that the Stranger met them! puzzle-piece that will make the whole picture to be-
Hardly had they noticed that He was walking with come beautifully complete and reveal to them at the
them, so deeply were they involved in their argumenta- same time the whole of the counsel of God concerning
tion. It was He Who interrupts their line of reasoning their redemption.
with the question:                                            And beautiful method of exposition He uses; for He
  What manner of communications are these that ye begins by asking them their own question. "Ought not
have one to another, as ye walk and are sad?                Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into
  Almost instantaneously Cleopas retorts with a faint his glory?" As soon as that question is asked, you must
rebuke: Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast revert back to God from Whom all necessity must pro-
not known the things which are come to pass there in ceed. Simply because nothing has any right of  exist-


316                                          THE STANDARD BEARER



ence without Him, and all things proceed out of His forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Jesus -
eternal will and decree. No less is this true with respect Jehovah Who saves His people from their sins.
to Christ's suffering and death. In one word, it was        In answer to the question: Ought not the Christ to
God's eternal purpose to glorify Himself, and to do have suffered and thus to enter into His glory? He step
this precisely through the way of sin and grace, the fall by step leads them through the Scriptures, which from
and redemption of His people: through the suffering beginning to end reveal that divine necessity for Christ
and death of Christ to lead His people to glory.          coming into our world to suffer and die for the salva-
  A burning exposition!                                   tion of His people. And that He could rise again and go
  He expounds unto them in all the scriptures!            to glory only after He had first laid down His life for
  Beginning with Moses!                                   His own.
  Surely they must remember how this secondary              Why must He die? . . .
author of Scripture in the very first book of his           Because it was necessary, in the first place, from the
Pentateuch, and in the opening chapters of that book, point of view of God's counsel and purpose. Secondly,
spoke of the so-called Mother Promise, how God the historical necessity was our sin and guilt, for which
would set enmity between the seed of the serpent and atonement could be made in no other way than the
the seed of the woman, which would climax in the death of the Son of God in the flesh.
crushing of the serpent's head and the bruising of the      Indeed, a burning exposition!
heel of the seed of the woman. Never should they            Here was no appeal to their sentimental and
forget how this same Moses gave the dispensation of emotional feelings, though no doubt they were at the
the law which magnified our sin and guilt, and which moment emotionally beside themselves  - for their
compelled us to flee to Christ Who was to come and faces were sad. Here was no display of human philoso-
become a curse for us. Mindful they should also be phy with its mere play on their human reasoning facul-
how that in ceremony and sacrifice, in altar and taber- ties.
nacle that prophet of God was showing to them, as it        Rather, it was a clear, authoritative setting forth of
were in pictures, precisely how the. Lord was going to the Word of God, which alone has appeal to faith
save His people - not by the blood of bulls and goats which had been implanted in their hearts.
- but by the blood of the Lamb which taketh away            The things concerning Himself! . . .
the sin of the world.                                       0, how well He knew them! For it was precisely this
  And all the prophets! . . .                             Divine plan as set forth in the Scriptures which He had
  As a golden thread, what Moses said, was woven into followed to the minutest detail. Always He was deeply
all that was spoken and written by all the seers God conscious of His calling to fulfill the Scriptures. And
raised up. Undoubtedly the Lord reminded His audi- therefore no one better than He could expound to
ence of especially the Psalms of David which etched in them that which concerned Himself.
various shades and hues the portrait of the dying,          And now He does it as the risen Lord! Because the
rising, and ascending Saviour. And because the Word so Scriptures were fulfilled, and all that He had accom-
minutely described the suffering, dying, and exalted plished met the requirement of the Word of God, He
Redeemer, He more than likely recited for them most could rise again and minister that Word unto those for
of Isaiah 53. He must have reflected on the night whom He died.
visions of Daniel, who beheld the Son of man coming         When the slow of heart to believe hear such exposi-
on the clouds of heaven in His glory, crowned with tion of the Word of God, their hearts must burn within
dominion and glory only after He had first deeply them.
humbled Himself. And we can almost hear Him repeat-         Then their foolishness turns to true wisdom, which
ing the words of Micah  - "But thou Bethlehem is that grace of God in us that is able to see the divine
Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands purpose in all of its wonderful implications.
of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me,      By the grace of the risen Lord!
that is to be ruler, deliverer of Israel, whose goings


Editorial

         Something BAD Happened To The Canons  - in the GKN

                                              Prof. H. C. Hoeksema

  In the Reformed Journal of February, 197 1 (pp. 2 1, ments about my editorial of May, 1970 concerning the
22) Dr. James Daane makes a few of his typical com- repudiation of the Canons by the  Gereformeerde


                                                 THE STANDARD BEARER                                                         317


Kevken  in the Netherlands. In said editorial I made the          really believes in heaven and in God.
point that the GKN principally repudiated the Canons            Now apart from that little inaccuracy of speaking of
when they repudiated sovereign reprobation.                  belief "in" hell and the devil (I believe in God and in
   Daane writes under the title, "Something Happened Christ), I would certainly contend that the man who
to the Canons."                                              does not believe the existence of hell  ,and the devil
   And as usual, he is right, but dead wrong.                does not truly believe the existence of heaven and does
   This is true, first of all, as to his title. It is correct not believe in God: for all of these are revealed truths
that something happened to the Canons. But it of Scripture. But I deny Daane's analogy. For when
happened to the Canons only in the Gereformeerde you speak of God's predestination, you speak of His
Kerken. And besides, something happened, but it was decree with respect to the members of the one human
something BAD: the Gereformeerde Kerken principally race. He elected His people  out of  the whole human
cut the heart out of the Canons.                             race. Speak of it in infralapsarian terms, if you will;
   But this is true also as far as the contents of Daane's but this surely means that He did not choose, or passed
article are concerned.                                       by,  the others. If He sovereignly chose some, then it
  I believe Daane is right, first of all, when he writes follows that He equally sovereignly did not choose,
that the  Standard Bearer  offered the only critical passed  by, the rest. And if You deny that He did the
coverage of the decision of the GKN in the American latter, then it follows that you necessarily deny the
religious press: at least, I also know of no other cover- former. This, by the way, is why I emphasized that
age. Daane is correct, too, when he expresses  agree- historically the two have always stood and fallen  to-
ment with my criticism of the failure of the GKN to  gether and that traditionally it has been sovereign
consult other Reformed churches. He  tempers  the reprobation which has been so distasteful and which is
latter element of agreement, however, by adding: "Had the first object of attack and the evidence that men do
this occurred, however, nothing would have been not really want sovereign election. This is true in the
achieved if the immediate response would have been GKN, so that either the doctrine of election is silenced
that the Synod was about to  repudiate  the Canons." or it is corrupted into a conditional election. Moreover,
To the latter remark I can only reply: elementary! And I make bold to say that if Daane himself wants condi-
I would assure Daane that if the Protestant Reformed tional reprobation, he also wants (though he probably
Churches had been consulted, we would have been at will not admit it) conditional election.
pains to  demonstrate carefully  and  with thorough             In the second place, Dr. Daane is wrong in the
Scriptural   proof  that the position which Synod was following quotation:
contemplating was incorrect and that it would result                . . . Hoeksema contends further that one does not
principally in a repudiation of the Canons. If any church        truly believe in a sovereign reprobation unless he be-
wants to consult us, we would surely be ready to con-            lieves in an eternal reprobation, that is, in a reproba-
sult! However, in my editorial I was reflecting upon             tion that is not conditional, or contingent, upon
the accomplished fact of Synod's decision, not upon a            something that happens in time and history.
contemplated action. And then I insist that the  atti-         The above quotation is followed by a long and in-
tude of the GKN - which vaunts itself for its ecumen- volved piece of confused reasoning about God acting
icity to the extent that it joins the WCC - was one of sovereignly within the conditions of temporality and
haughty conceit and proud highhandedness; and I will against the contingencies of history. I must confess in
add to that: highly un-ecumenical, as well as inconsid-      regard to the latter that I do not understand Daane at
erate! What king of ecumenicity is it when they do not all; I wish he would clarify what he writes.
even consult sister denominations about their common           But in the above quotation Daane is wrong. He
ecumenical heritage, the Reformed creeds? And what misses the point. In the first place, the language
kind of consideration is it, even from their own  point  equating "sovereign" and "eternal" is not mine, but
of view, when the GKN, supposedly having new  in- Daane's - though I gladly accept, of course, the truth
sights into the Canons, does not even share these that God's predestination is both eternal and sovereign,
insights with and consult sister churches in the  Re- as God is eternal and sovereign. But, in the second
formed family?                                               place, Daane misconstrues the problem. The problem is
  But for the rest, Daane is dead wrong.                     really very simple: how can God's decree of reproba-
  He is wrong, first of all, in the following quotation . tion be sovereign if it is not unconditional, that is, if it
      Hoeksema believes that reprobation concerns the        is not dependent upon man's sin and unbelief? Daane
   very heart of the Reformed faith because "the crucial     must not simply say, "contingent upon something that
    test of whether one actually believes the truth of       happens in time and history." The question is this: is
   sovereign election is in the question whether he be-      God's decree of reprobation contingent upon man's sin
   lieves the truth of sovereign reprobation." This test     and unbelief? If so, then it is by definition not
   would seem to be on a par with a contention that          sovereign, not free and independent. As everyone
   belief in hell and the devil determines whether one       knows, this was the issue with respect to  election  in


318                                                     THE STANDARD BEARER


the Arminian controversy. There the question was: is stumbling-block to men like Berkouwer and Polman?
God's decree of election dependent upon man's (fore- Has not Berkouwer long been twisting the so-called
seen) faith and obedience and perseverance?                         non eodem modo  in the Conclusion to the Canons
   In the third place, Dr. Daane is wrong on the subject precisely in order to teach a conditional reprobation
of infralapsarianism when he writes as follows:                     and to destroy the teaching of the (infralapsarian)
          Moreover, if, as Hoeksema suggests, reprobation is        Canons on reprobation? Secondly, what Daane sets
       only sovereign and eternal because it is not a response      forth as the infra- position (reprobation contingent
       to the condition of human sinfulness, then the               upon sin) is nothing but Arminianism. And the
       infralapsarian position is heretical, for infralapsarians    infralapsarian Synod of Dordrecht exactly rejected
       wanted nothing of a reprobation that is eternal in the       Arminianism.
       sense that reprobation is in no way contingent upon
       sin. But infralapsarianism generally characterizes all             But I would suggest two things: 1) Let Dr. Daane
       Reformed creeds.                                             demonstrate that the Scripture passages cited by the
   Daane is right, of course, when he writes that Canons (and other similar passages) do not support
infralapsarianism generally characterizes all Reformed sovereign (unconditional) reprobation. 2) Let him
creeds. This is true of the Canons also. And to these explain what these Scripture passages do teach.
Canons I subscribe. But if the above is the infralapsar-                  One more item. Dr. Daane writes:  ". . . `eternal'
ian position, and if the position of the Canons is the does not simply mean `timeless' (Agreed!  HCH);
position of infra-, then why, pray tell, did the  GKN `eternal' carries a connotation of the relationship of
reject the Canons on reprobation? Polman and eternity to time and to the conditions of history."
Berkouwer and their kind have been for years attack- Please explain what you mean by that last statement,
ing the Canons on reprobation. Now the GKN have and then demonstrate its truth from Scripture. In addi-
repudiated precisely the position of the Canons on tion, please furnish a good working definition of
                                                                    _.        .  _.  -
reprobation; and Polman and Berkouwer are glad. l *etemltY," - based, of course, on Scripture-
Why?  - if the Canons teach a reprobation which is                        Perhaps then we could continue this journalistic
contingent upon sin? Has this not  aiways been the exchange.


Question Box

                   As To The Form For The lord's Supper

Question                                                            letter, my questioner is referring to the practice of
  "I have several questions concerning the Form for reading the entire first section of the Form on prepara-
the Administration of the Lord's Supper.                            tory Sunday, and reading only the second section,
  "First of all, where did it originate to read the first beginning with the words, "Let us now also consider to
part of the form for preparatory, and then just the what end the Lord bath instituted his Supper . . .," on
second part for the actual communion service?  It is                communion Sunday. About this practice my corres-
true that the first part., dealing with the examination of pondent has several questions.
ourselves, is a part dealing with preparatory, and that                   In answer to the first question, to the best of my
the form consists of two parts; but it is my feeling that knowledge this practice originated with some of our
they should not be separated. Have the Synod, Classes, consistories in the Grand Rapids area. It did not origi-
or local consistories originated this?                              nate with any  classis, nor with Synod. As to possible
  "Another thing: if the first part of the Form, deal- reasons for this innovation, I can only guess, not
ing with preparatory, is read the previous Sunday, isn't having access to the minutes of any consistory which
it proper to read the part dealing with the institution introduced the change. My guess is that the reasons
again as part of the communion service?                             were two: 1) The desire to abbreviate the communion
  "Do you have any thoughts on this matter? I've long service (possibly especially in churches where there are
thought about this and would desire an answer to these two communion services) by reading part of the Form
questions.                                                          on the previous Sunday. If the minister reads rather
                                     Your brother in Christ,        leisurely, this first section of the Form takes perhaps
                                                           N.       ten minutes. 2) The (mistaken) idea that this so-called
                                                                    preparatory section belongs properly at the beginning
Reply                                                               of preparatory week rather than at the end of it.
  First of all, for the information of those who are not.                 As to the second question, my answer is affirmative.
acquainted with the practice referred to in the above I believe that if the first part is read the previous Sun-


                                                 THE STANDARD BEARER                                              319


dav, it is indeed proper to read theinstitution again on of our Lord Jesus Christ through his Holy Spirit.
communion Sunday. In fact, when occasionally I Amen." Then follows the second main section, the
officiate at the Lord's Supper in churches in which the ritual section, consisting of the Prayer, the Admonition
Form is divided, I have done so. My reason is that I "to lift our hearts on high in heaven," the Communion
believe this to be liturgically sound. That institution proper, and the Thanksgiving.
belongs properly to the celebration of the sacrament,         When we divide the reading of the Form, we break
and, in fact, forms the basis of its celebration. Besides, up that first main section,  - something which was
I always feel that it is very abrupt simply to begin with never intended and which was never practiced in the
the words, "Let us now also consider. . . ."                past. The first, or didactic, section of the Form con-
   As to the third question (Do you have any thoughts sists of the following sub-divisions: a) The institution;
on this matter?), my answer is: Yes, several.               b) the self-examination; c) the positive and negative ex-
   1) I believe that the practice of dividing the Form is ercise of the keys of the kingdom, in which the faithful
historically incorrect. I have several source-books in are encouraged and admonished to partake and the
my library about our liturgy. I have consulted them in wicked and impenitent are warned that this com-
the past, and I checked them again before answering munion is not for them; d) the exposition of the
this question. In none of them can I find any reference meaning of the Supper.
to this practice of dividing the Form ever being              But the question is: what about that section on self-
intended or followed - going all the way back to the examination? Is not our preparation to take place
time when this Form was first adopted in the Nether- during the preceding week, and is it not therefore
lands in the 16th century. This is also evident from the altogether too late to talk about self-examination at
language of the Form: it is not designed to be divided. the very service where communion is to be celebrated?
It is not two forms, but one. It does not have two And does it not make good sense to read that part of
addresses, "Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ . . ." but the Form a week earlier, at the preparatory service?
one. Technically, if this Form is divided, the minister       As I have already indicated, the negative part of my
ought to say at the end of the first section on prepara- answer is that this was never the intention when this
tory Sunday, "To be continued."                             Form was composed and adopted. It  could  not have
  Of course, this historical reason all by itself is not been the intention: for then our fathers would have
sufficient. They may have been wrong in the past. made provision for this in the very language of the
Nevertheless, I believe we ought to have a healthy re- Form, something which they did not do. Then we
spect for history, and that long-standing practices would have had two forms: a preparatory form and a
ought not to be lightly ignored and overthrown. communion form. And besides, this has never been
Usually one discovers that there was some sound practiced in the past.
reasoning at the basis of the practice. At any rate, if       What then? Did our fathers actually expect the
one overthrows three or four centuries of history, he spiritual work of preparation to take place at the very
had better first do some good basic study and have service when communion was celebrated? No, they
some good reasons.                                          knew better than that!
  2) I believe that the practice of dividing the Form is      This is the intent of the Form: a) On the Sunday
liturgically incorrect and based upon a mistaken under- preceding the celebration of the Lord's Supper there is
standing of the Form. Perhaps you have already to be a preparatory sermon. The purpose of this is to
noticed that part of this misunderstanding unintention- admonish God's people that they may only come to
ally crept into my correspondent's letter. He writes: the Lord's table as proper partakers, to examine them-
"It is true that the first part, dealing with the examina- selves, and, if there is anything "out of the way" in
tion of ourselves, is a part dealing with preparatory, their life, to remove it. Hence, the work of self-exam-
and that the form consists of two parts." But this is ination and preparation goes on indeed in the preced-
incorrect. The section which is usually read at the ing week. For this reason the rule of having a prepara-
preparatory service consists of three parts, only one of tory service has been observed since the 16th. century.
which may at all be classified as "preparatory." Those And besides, in by-gone years family visitation was
three parts are: 1) the institution; 2) the self-examina- always conducted by the elders before every celebra-
tion; 3) the exercise of the key-power, sometimes tion of the Lord's Supper with a view to having the
wrongly called "the excommunication," (beginning congregation prepared to partake. b) Then on the Sun-
with the words, "All those, then, who are thus dis- day of communion also the section on self-examina-
posed, God will certainly receive in mercy. . . .").        tion is read, - not to initiate self-examination, but to
  Properly speaking, there are two main sections in conclude it, to summarize it. It is necessary to come to
this Form. The first main section is the doctrinal, or the Lord's table in the right attitude and the right
instructional, section. The conclusion of this section spiritual "mood." To this end, it is necessary to per-
and the transition to the second section is in the form the spiritual deed of testing one's own heart and
words, "hereto assist us, the Almighty God and Father soul - as a conclusion of the week's preparation - in


320                                                     Tl%E STANDARD BEARER


order, positively speaking, to stimulate the heart to scribed by the Church Order (the Forms for Baptism
come to the Lord's table in the proper attitude, that and the Lord's Supper, for instance) and which can
attitude which is demanded by the character and only be changed by  synodical decision, i.e., the  agree-
purpose of the Supper.  c) And it is in this connection, ment of all the churches in common.
thirdly, that the next section of the Form fits in beau-                    Why, then,  - I hear someone say  - do you not
tifully: those who, having examined themselves and protest this illegal practice? My answer personally is, in
who are prepared, are then admonished and encouraged the first place, that this is no great matter of principle
to come to the supper; and those who, having, applied for me. Secondly, things of this kind are sometimes
the three-fold test of the section on self-examination, better changed by instruction and by overture than by
find that they are in a wrong way (not a way of sin, protest, appeal, and decree. But these matters are
but a way of walking in sin and of impenitence) are worth considering; and they certainly ought to be care-
warned to abstain.                                                        fully considered by consistories. Moreover, I think that
   3) I believe that this practice of dividing the Form is if any consistory thinks that our Form should be
technically contrary to the Church Order. The Church divided, or that other revisions  are. necessary, they
Order (Art. 62) prescribes that "at the conclusion of should give all the churches the benefit of their think-
the  sermon and the usual prayers, the form for the ing, so that changes may be achieved in the proper
administration of the Lord's Supper, together with the way, and so that proper liturgical uniformity may be
prayer for that purpose, shall be read." It does not say maintained in the churches.
"part of the Form" or "the second part of the Form,"                        I   h o p e   t h a t   m y   c o r r e s p o n d e n t   a n d   o u r   r e a d e r s
but, "the Form." But, I hear someone say, is not the                      generally may now at least see some of these problems
order of worship a matter for local decision? Correct,                    a bit more clearly.
with the single exception of such matters as are  pre-


All Around Us

                 Is The Christian% Calling Organizational?
                                                        Rock Music
                                                              Prof H. Hanko

I S   T H E   C H R I S T I A N 'S   C A L L I N G   O R G A N I Z A -        has to take over from the individual Christian as well
TIONAL?                                                                       as from the state, society, etc. Although we have re-
   In the March                                                               peatedly written about this in previous years, we will
                      6  issue of the  Canadian Reformed                      again try to make ourselves clear. We must, then,
Magazine  there appears a review of the book "Out of                          keep in mind that the ideas about Christian organiza-
Concern for the Church." In this review, the author                           tions of the A.A.C.S. men must be evaluated against
touches upon some criticisms of the A.A.C.S. and the                          the background of their concept of the `body of
C.L.A.C. and other Christian organizations which we                           Christ' and the (modest) place of the `society struc-
consider valid and which we have ourselves long felt to                       ture of the `institutional  church'.It all boils down to
be justified. The proponents of separate Christian                            this: the `body of Christ' encompasses  much more
social organizations and the authors of the book re-                          than what we call the (true) Church. This  `super-
ferred to above have long insisted that the real essence                      temporal' body becomes visible, not only in the
of the Christian's calling in manifesting the kingdom of                      church . . . but also and with similar impact in `other'
                                                                              Christian `societal structures', such as political, edu-
Christ here upon earth is the organization of a Chris-                        cational, scientific, and artistic organizations.
tian political party and a Christian labor union espe-                             . . . In previous years we have maintained  over-
cially to subject these spheres of life to the rule of                        against the writings of Mr. VandeZande,  Dr. Seerveld,
Christ. The author of the article to which we refer                           and others, that Christian organizations never can nor
criticizes this position on the grounds that a Christian                      may take over from the individual Christian his
organization takes over the calling of the individual                         kingdom calling, i.e., to be a readable letter of Jesus
child of God. A few quotes from the article will give                         Christ in the family, in the neigbbourhood, in the
the  general idea which the author states.                                    store and on the job, in conversing with fellow-citi-
         The booklet under discussion (Out of Concern for                     zens. The authors gave the impression (by that time
       the Church) made the impression on us that, in the                     they were writing for the C.L.A.C.) that you cannot
       mind of the five authors, the Christian organization                   be a good Christian labourer if you are not a member


                                                          THE STANDARD BEARER                                                    321


    of the C.L.A.C. Because in the C.L.A.C. the `body of            about this. There is nothing in this which will bring
    Christ' is revealed and we have to appear on the scene          him face to face with his calling: "Let your light so
    of  labour unitedly, communally as not only members             shine before men. . . ." Even if one should commit
     of that body but as the body proper. We agree, of              himself wholeheartedly to such a Christian organiza-
     course, that a Christian organization may  help  me in         tion, it is infinitely easier to crank out position papers
    the various callings  -1 have but it is not supposed to
    take over                                                       on a mimeograph machine than face the world every
                  from me my Christian duty and responsi-
    bility. I do not enter the plant as representing the            day in the grim realities of the shop and street and
    C.L.A.C. nor does the C.L.A.C. with me, enter the               maintain the cause of Christ in word and deed. And
    plant. I enter there as an employee who, whether                this latter is after all, the heart of the Christian's
    organized or not, has to work there in such a way               calling. And let no man despise the many faithful
    that others can notice that I am a member of Christ, a          people of God who, day after day, do this in their own
    child of my heavenly Father.                                    humble and simple way.
       The same goes for my `political calling'. . . .
       On the other hand, the above-mentioned authors               ROCK MUSIC
    give the impression as though, if only all members of             A couple of issues ago we began a discussion of rock
    all churches understand their calling, the Kingdom of           music, which has become so popular in the world today
    heaven will be established upon earth. Or, in other
    words, our goal seems to be that several  organiza-             and which is so attractive also to covenant youth. In
    tions-of-Christians  will, or will have to, take over from      that article we were making two assertions: the one
    the government, from the social structures, from the            was that, while all the music of the world is basically
    department of education, etc.                                   sinful, there is something uniquely wicked about rock
  Then, in  connection  with these last remarks, the music. It stands in a class by itself in the midst of the
author states:                                                      music of the world as something particularly devilish.
       In the first place it is unwarranted optimism to             The other assertion was that rock music itself is this
    envisage "all denominations' as taking part in this             kind of music altogether apart from the words which
    movement. The authors . . . should learn to speak               may be sung. The music is, of course, particularly
    more in the terms of the Reformed Confession  with              adapted to themes which are sinful; and we shall
    its distinction of the true and the false church. Scrip-        examine this question a bit later. But for the present,
    ture speaks about a (small) remnant that will remain            the point which needs to be stressed is that, even if no
    faithful in these last days. The authors do not deserve         words are sung, the music is harmful and does bad
    the consent and cooperation of the Reformed  chris-             things to those who listen.
    tians as long as they do not drastically change their
    concept of the Church.                                            We quoted, in this connection, a couple of men, one
       In the second place it is unwarranted optimism to            of whom has himself written and played rock music,
    draw a picture of the future with such bright colors as         but who, after his conversion, rejected it as being
    they use. Christ's kingdom is not of this world. We             extremely evil. We quoted these men because they are
    must not try to make people believe that, if only               the ones who ought to know. I do not know enough
    everyone cooperates, we can create a Christian world,           about music to be able to form an independent judg-
    a Christian state, etc. . . .                                   ment; nor would my word count for very much. But
       It is `the last hour'. Christian organizations must          one who himself participated in rock groups ought to
    not be expected to take over from the individual                know. We noticed that they invariably come back to
    Christian his `cultural mandate', nor should they act           the matter of rhythm when they discuss the evils of
    as though it is their calling to take over the life of the
    nation and whatever other `sphere of life'. We are and          rock. And their contention is that the peculiar rhythm
    we remain strangers in this world....                           of rock music produces wicked physical responses in
   With these criticisms we concur. It seems to us that the bodies of the listeners. A couple of more quotes
they are very much to the point. Not only do Christian from these writers will illustrate this.
organizations take over the individual calling of the                 In his book, "Music? Does It Make Any Differ-
Christian, but they run the grave risk of leaving the ence?" Bob Parks is quoting another writer, Bob
impression with the individual child of God that he has Larson:
fulfilled his calling when he has joined such an organi-                   Some argue that there is no such thing as an evil
zation. He need no longer witness in.his own station                    rhythm, I must differ with them. Because of the
and calling in the home, the shop, and  the world at                    rythmic  nature of the human body, and the close
large; the organization which he has joined will do this                association that rhythms have with the biological
                                                                        drives of the body, certain tempos will inherently
witnessing for him. His very membership in it is sup-                   evoke certain reactions, particularly in accompanying
posed to be such a witness, for it is the essence of the                dances. This is a partial explanation for the erotic
Christian's life.                                                       body movements of dances  w>h syncopated rhythm.
   And this is, after all, the easy way out. There is                 The author himself then goes on to say:
nothing so very difficult or soul-stirring in joining an                  He is saying that there are rhythmic patterns that
organization. There is nothing so exceedingly pious                     by the very peculiarity of the arrangement of the


322                                                     THE STANDARD BEARER


       accents and pulsations will naturally produce wrong                  T'here are good and bad rhythms. Good rhythms
       responses in thought and action. . . .                            fulfill the purpose and intention of God for Es gift
          Continuing to answer the original question about               of music. . . .
       good and bad rhythms, we still need to find out                  I am not sure that I agree precisely with everything
       what makes rhythm good or bad, so we'll be able to            which the above author writes concerning rhythms and
       tell the difference. Let's get one misconception              syncopation. It is difficult for me to tell, but the
       cleared up first; it's not the speed or tempo of a            general gist of his thought is very much to the point.
       rhythm that brings the greatest offense. . . . Most of        And that is that the rhythm of the music itself is of
       the problem comes in the use of altered or synco-             such a kind that it does evil to a person. This is sub-
       pated rhythms.
   Then after discussing the whole subject df syncopa- stantiated strongly by an article which appeared some
tion, the author continues:                                          time ago in Newsweek in which the whole field of rock
          Broken, jerky rhythms that are emphasized even             music was discussed at length and was  commented
       above the melody itself call for strong physical reac-        upon favorably. The gist of the article was that the
       tions. Contemporary dances such as the Frug,                  force of rock music is precisely its physical impact
       Watusi, and the Monkey represent various physical             upon the listener along with its emotional and psycho-
       reactions to individual rhythmic patterns of syncopa-         logical influence. We quote one paragraph in which the
       tion. The displacement of accents or their omission           article is talking about a rock group by the name of
       can cause the body to respond with a form of shock            Jagger and the Stones.
       at the misplaced accent (where it is not expected), or               "I'd say they are the greatest rock `n` roll group in
       it can cause the body to "lunge" physically to fill in a          t h e   w o r l d , " says rock producer Glynn Johns.
       missing. beat. In listening to the various styles of              "They've done things to an audience no one else has.
       syncopated rhythms in many pop rock songs heard                   Mass hysteria is an understatement." Seldom under-
       over the radio today, the perceptive ear can pick out             stated, the Stones precipitated a turned-on frenzy and
       certain identifying earmarks of each respective                   unleashed a submerged rebelliousness in both boys
       style. . . . Could they possibly restrain their desire to         and girls as no other group did. Where the carefully
       react? Certainly they could. That's not what they do,             groomed Beatles came across in the beginning as
       however. Even if they did restrain themselves,                    kicky, sassy boys next door to be swooned over by
       emotionally they would be going through the same                  crush-ridden teeny-boppers, Jagger and the Stones
       response they would physically but chose not to                   immediately homed in on the deeper, fugitive malaise
       express. This, by the way, is one reason why it is                bubbling in the more sophisticated youth of both
       impossible to listen to rock or syncopated rhythms                sexes.
       without being affected. You  can  hold yourself back.            It is apparent from all this that rock music is evil
       You  can  comply with your parents' wishes by not             and devilish and can have nothing but disastrous conse-
       going through the contortions you might express
       physically. But you will never escape the emotional           quences in the life of those who listen to it. We shall,
       and psychological tension generated by the -rhythm.           the Lord willing, return to this later.
       That's why I cannot accept the defenses of Christian          (The quotes from Bob Parks' book are used here with
       teenagers who say they listen to rock music but do            permission.)
       not "turn on" to it.


The Strength of Youth

                     Marriage,  A Divine Institution
                                                            Rev. J. Kortering

  Among the many institutions under attack in our portunity for women"; "Let me bloom"; "Housewife,
day, the home seems to bear the brunt. Ill winds blow blah, Freedom"; such placards are representative of
from every direction, some of them with tornadic force, their sentiments. Apart from the silly spectacle and
shaking the Christian home to its very foundation. fiery oratory, at least they indicate to us the crisis of
Let's spend a few moments evaluating this attack and identity. What is the expected role of a husband  0;
hopefully repelling it.                                               wife? Is there any basis for determination that a  wife
A CRISIS OF IDENTITY                                                  should be busy in the things of the home, to desire to
  The Women's Liberation movement has at least suc- have children and to care for them and the needs of
ceeded in stirring domestic waters. "Hang on gals, help               the family? Is it merely traditional that the husband
is on the way", "The vote wasn't enough, equal op- gets a job- and busies himself with his vocation, or can


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   323



he just as well care for the children and the wife work The creation of Adam was a distinct act from the crea-
out? Are these roles determined by the individual, by tion of Eve. God did not make both simultaneous:
society, or does God determine them?                          rather first Adam, then Eve. Adam was fashioned out
  Little wonder that if we separate ourselves from the of the earth, Eve was made from Adam's own flesh, his
moorings of the Word of God we find ourselves at- rib. From this we may conclude two things: Adam and
tracted to the whirlpool of relativism which is so com- Eve were distinct individuals who possessed their own
mon in our day. Sociologists are seriously proposing bodies, personalities, and individual characters. Yet
that the traditional family concept be abandoned. In they were both humans, they possessed a like nature in
place of the mother-father roles, each person should the midst of creation, and therefore needed each other
act as an individual. It's best that the husband and wife and could perfectly compliment each other. Man and
get jobs, find fulfillment in outside work and arrange woman became husband and wife. God made them
for day-care centers for their children. Some suggest able to share their whole life together. Adam appreci-
communal living in which more than one couple live ated this, for he said, upon observing his newly created
together, share their home and children. This sup- wife, "Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, she shall be
posedly eliminates the boredom of family life. Others called woman!" God had enabled them to enjoy a
suggest trial marriages, that permission be given to a communion of life and love.
young couple to live together but not to have children.         We may ask, why did God create Adam and Eve as
If this succeeds, they may have children later after husband and wife? Not to control their lust; they had
they would be officially married. The most radical sug- none, since they were both perfect. Not to bring forth
gest the elimination of marriage entirely; they advocate children immediately, as if God intended that they
free love on the broadest scale, preventing the birth of should bring forth the perfect human race, but failed,
children by birth control.                                    so now Christ has to make up for Adam and Eve's
  If we are to deal effectively with this issue, we have failure. Rather, within the state of perfection they
to go to the root of the question and ask, what really is could in their personal and individual life enjoy God's
marriage? Only after we see clearly that marriage is a covenant friendship. Since God's relationship was that
divine institution, will we be able to conclude that God of covenant friendship with them, they could experi-
also determines the roles of each member of the fam- ence first hand what that covenant meant to them
ily. This we hope to do now and in future articles.           while they enjoyed this covenant friendship within the
MARRIAGE IN THE GARDEN                                        bonds of marriage. At the same time the king of creation
  I well remember a professor I had for a course in had someone with whom he was able to share the
sociology who delighted in berating the Scriptural con- beauty of his rule.
cept of marriage. Time and again he quoted Paul in I
Cor.  7:9, "It is better to marry than to bum." He THE CURSE UPON MARRIAGE
would shake his head and say, "Is marriage an escape            The wages of sin is death. Adam and Eve and all
valve for sex? By lifting such a text out of its context, their children soon learned this through the hard road
it is possible to ridicule the Scriptures concerning its of experience. God had warned them of this before
teaching on marriage.                                         they disobeyed. Once they ate the forbidden fruit,
  If one looks honestly at the Bible, it is striking that they knew that God's word is always true. The curse of
two things have a direct bearing on the subject of mar- death also affects marriage.
riage. The first is that God created marriage, it was part      To understand this we must first consider a few
of that which God saw as good. The second is that God ways that it does not apply. Death, that is the corrupt-
raised marriage to its exalted height by joining His Son ing influence of sin, God's punishment for dis-
in marriage with the Church He loved.                         obedience, did not destroy man's desire to co-habit
  It is significant that the formula for marriage quoted with a woman. The desire to live with someone,
by Paul in Eph. 5 : 3 1, "For this cause shall a man leave whether we speak of this in terms of one's whole life
his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife or in the limited sexual sense, was not destroyed by
and they two shall be one flesh" is a reference to Gen. death. Neither should we say that the curse of death
2:24 where Moses applied it to the marriage of Adam abolished Adam's and Eve's marriage as if the institu-
and Eve. We sometimes forget that God did not only tion of marriage was broken by death. Rather, we must
make two individuals, Adam a man and Eve a woman; conclude that man, who is born in sin, cannot live
He created a husband and wife and joined them in properly within the sphere of marriage. Indeed, we ob-
marriage while they were still in the state of perfec- serve many marriages today; the newspapers are
tion.                                                         adorned with all the details. Nevertheless, if man apart
  Since this is true, we may examine the creative act from God in Christ marries, he has no proper basis for
itself and draw certain conclusions concerning the state that marriage. He has the natural instinct, he may be
of marriage. Marriage was not an afterthought on able to live in outward harmony, such a marriage may
God's part. He created Adam and Eve to be married. produce children, yet if the only thing attracting a man


324                                           THE STANDARD BEARER



and woman together in marriage is themselves, there is to her knees and causes her to repent of all her spir-
no foundation! It is no more than legalized prostitu- itual fornication and earnestly strive to be faithful to
tion. The reason is that there is no love! A loveless her Husband. The Church is now joined to Christ by
marriage cannot attain unto the height for which God the mystical union of faith. Christ calls His Bride, and
has created it. There may be mutual admiration and she answers. Christ assures His Bride that He is coming
respect, but apart from Christ there is no love.            for the perfect marriage union and urges her to watch
  The results are only too obvious. The history of and wait in faithfulness. The Church as the Bride re-
almost any family in the world is strewn with the sists all the flirtatious appeal of the devil and this
wreckage of one broken home after another. This is world and prayerfully listens to her Husband, receiving
increasing daily, until proud man finally has the audac- grace for grace and love for love. Such a marriage
ity to stand before the living God and say, we don't union is basic to true marriage among men.
need your institution any more! We can't make mar-
riage work, we will abandon it. This is the ultimate con- THE BLESSED MARRIAGE
fession of natural man's failure.                             God wills that man and woman be united in mar-
                                                            riage . "I will that the younger women marry," I
MARRIED TO CHRIST                                           Tim. 5: 14. Marriage is a divine institution that is or-
  In Eph. 5:32 Paul writes, "This is a great mystery; dained by God through Christ to be used by His
but I speak concerning Christ and the church." He has people. Not that all people are to be married. Paul
described this as follows, "Husbands, love your wives reminds us that it is also God's purpose in giving some
even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself the gift of continence, to enable them to work in a
for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the distinct way in His service, I Cor. 7. When covenant
washing of water by the word, that he might present it young people desire to enter into the state of marriage,
to himself a glorious church not having spot or they may believe that God has also given them this
wrinkle."                                                   state to be used by them in the service of God, for
  There is something basic here for our marriages. We their mutual enrichment and the bringing forth of the
may well ask, how is it possible for us, conceived and covenant children.
born in sin, to continue to enter into the estate of          It is also obvious that young people must seriously
marriage and live within it and still serve God? The consider whom they marry. We hope to comment on
answer is that the only basis for true marriage is this:    this in the next article. If marriage is to be rooted in
we must first be married to Christ and only then can a true love, that love must be fused in the love of God in
husband and wife live within the state of marriage to Christ by both partners. The power of God that is so
the glory of God. Why? It is only when a husband is necessary to enable us to live within marriage'is love.
married to Christ that he receives the love of Christ This love comes to us from a higher marriage, that is
which enables him to love his wife, and similarly, when our being married to Christ. Husbands and wives who
a wife is married to Christ, from that union she re- marry in the Lord appreciate this, others ignore this to
ceives the necessary love that will enable her to submit their own ruin.
to her husband and call him lord. The love which is           The perfect model for human behavior within mar-
basic for marriage is received by us when we are joined riage is seen in this union of Christ with His Church. As
in a marriage union with Christ.                            Christ loves His Church and gave Himself for Her, so
  This indicates to us that the marriage union which husbands must love their wives. As the Church is glad
the Church enjoys with Christ is not simply the model to call Christ her Lord, so the wife is glad to give honor
or example of true marriage by us; it is much more: it to her husband, Eph. 5 :22-30.
is the dynamics for our marriage. Without a living
union with Christ by faith, we cannot live properly           Only death terminates this earthly relationship of
with one another in marriage. The union with Christ marriage. As surely as Christ will never forsake His
produces the energy for such love.                          wife, even forgiving her for her unfaithfulnegs and for-
  What is this marriage union with Christ? It has its nication, so husbands and wives must seek each other's
basis in the unchangeable law of God. Marriage is legal; good in marriage. Divorce is wrong because it is a
it must be sanctioned by the judge through the court. breach of love, true love, the love of God for His
This is true among men because this is true with God. Church.
The marriage of Christ to the Church, His bride, is           Finally, though our marriages are temporal, and
rooted in the perfect will of God. From eternity, God there shall be no co-habiting in heaven between hus-
decreed this marriage. This is sovereign election. To band and wife, yet husbands and wives shall together
secure the license for such a union, Christ paid the enjoy the perfect consummation of marriage in that
fee; He had to die to atone for the sins of His unfaith- they shall be married to Christ in perfection. That love
ful bride. To make His bride fit for so great a union, life shall endure forever and God shall be glorified by
Christ sends forth His Holy Spirit Who brings His wife the marriage feast of Christ and His Church.


                                                THE STANDARD BEARER                                                    325



In His Fear

                                             Abhortions
                                                    Rev. John A Heys

  In actuality there is no such word as the one which            to form, when the brain begins to take on form, when
forms the title which we have chosen for this time. But          the arms and legs begin to appear, when the separate
there ought to be.                                               internal organs develop, and even when the fully
  And in the minds of those who walk. in His fear                formed heart begins to beat and can be heard. There-
there is such a word.                                            fore there is this wide difference of opinion as to when
  There was a time when there was no word Christian;             abortion constitutes murder, and when it does not.
and then a day came when the disciples were called                 From the theological point of view there is that in-
Christians. And a new word was formed.                           teresting question as to the origin of the soul. Does it
  In our day and age with its untold number of mur- pre-exist, and does God add it to the developing body?
ders of unborn children by-"legalized" abortion, what Were all the souls created before the creation of Adam
is happening before the eyes of those who walk in His            and in the beginning, and then in due time put in the
fear is that abhortions are being practiced. One who             right bodies by God? Does God create a soul after
walks in His fear can only abhor these abortions and conception or at the moment of conception and place
call them abhortions.                                            it in that body? Do the parents bring forth the soul as
  For it is the most dastardly and cowardly form of well as the body of that child? And in connection with
murder practiced in the world today. An abortion is an           this question of abortion there is in the church world
act of killing; and no one is in a position to deny that.        then a need (so it is claimed) to have knowledge of
If through the abortion a living creature (Let us for the        when that fetus becomes a living soul, becomes a hu-
moment be satisfied with that word creature) is not              man being and has a life as precious as that of any
destroyed, then why is that abortion sought and so               adult. Up until the third month after conception that
eagerly carried out? One wants to terminate a life, and          fertilized and growing egg is called an embryo as a rule.
therefore practices abortion. We speak of our antibi- After the third month it is called a fetus. And the
otics as wonder drugs because they kill the bacteria,            question is whether it is a human being with a soul in
germs or viruses that make us sick. These are so small those first three months of development or only after
that they can be seen only by a very powerful micro- the third month has passed? Do we murder when we
scope; and in the case of viruses often cannot be iso- take the life of that growing creature before three
lated and seen. Yet we call them living creatures, and           months have elapsed from conception? Is there a hu-
we set out to kill them. Just as surely that embryo or man soul there before the third month or after, or all
fetus, which is large enough to be seen with the naked           along the way?
eye, is a living creature, and destroying it is an act of          In His fear we have no problem with these matters
killing. It is not on the same level with destroying a           at all. That which from the moment of conception has
building. It is destroying life. In one clinic man seeks         been growing and developing is not a plant or an ani-
(foolishly) to create life in a test tube, .and even calls it    mal, is it? It is the beginning of a  human  being as
life. In another clinic life is deliberately destroyed by        surely as from the moment the seed of a particular
abortion. And who can number the thousands of mur-               flower is fertilized, it is the beginning of another plant
ders of the unborn children that are committed and               that bears that kind of flower. Men seek to destroy the
"legalized" today?                                               fertilized seed, because they do not want the plant,
  So far the unbelieving scientists and doctors will             and thereby they admit that the fertilized seed is that
agree. We are dealing with a living creature. That it is a       plant in its earliest stages of development. And that
human  being is a moot question, that is, among the              which in abortion is KILLED is a human being that is
majority of men it is. Therefore in some instances a not fully developed yet but in all honesty can only be
definite month of the growth and development of that             called a human embryo or human fetus.
fetus is set as the moment before or after which it                And we call it the most dastardly and cowardly
becomes a human being, and before which or after                 form of murder because it is inflicted on such a de-
which it would be or has become murder to end that               fenseless human embryo or fetus. Well do we remem-
life. Immediately after the fertilization of the egg there       ber repeated calls to us on the streets of Montego Bay
is a rapid process of growth and multiplication of the           and of Kingston, Jamaica as we rode through the heart
one cell into thousands upon thousands of cells in that          of these cities, "White Mon, go home! You kill women
living organism. There is a time when the bones begin            and babies in Viet Nam!" Our country is incensed, and


326                                              THE STANDARD BEARER



`court trials are being conducted at the very moment,      threatened with a curbing of its lusts.
because in Viet Nam women and children were mowed            The fear of the Lord has no problem either when
down in large numbers; and defenseless civilians, who there is danger to the life of the mother, or fear that
lifted no finger in opposition, nor even intended to do    the child may be affected by the mother's siege of
so, had their lives snuffed out. And here, before the German Measles. We do not say that the flesh has no
abortion, you have a developing human being that has problem in such instances. It surely does and has very
done no harm, can in no way defend itself, did not         difficult problems. But the fear of the Lord sings,
have anything to do with the fact that it is there in        In doubt and temptation I rest, Lord, in Thee;
that protected spot within its mother, to whom it is         My hand is in Thy hand, Thou carest for me. (Psalm
connected for its very life, torn away from its life-line 73)
and cast out and away not only as an unwanted thing,       If it pleases Him, mother's life will not be lost, and the
but as a detestable thing! And while we have court unborn child will not come into this world with de-
trials to decry what happened in Viet Nam, legislative     fects. We are not and may not assume to be in God's
bodies deliberate, and men try to build "strong" cases place to decide whether this deformed child is to be
to make it legal to kill these unborn human beings. Call ours to care for and to love, and whether part of our
them abortions, if you will. They are abhortions! Noth- reward of grace will not exactly be for deeds of tender
ing less!                                                  love and care for such a child. The fear of the Lord
   "In His Fear" does not legislate that if both parents recognizes all as having come about  - that case of
agree, it is to be allowed. "In His Fear" asks, "What German Measles at that critical moment also - by the
saith the Scriptures?" And the commandment says, hand of God in inscrutable wisdom. It also says that all
"Thou shalt not kill." It does not specify a particular things without exception work together for good to
age when this commandment goes into effect. It does those that love God. And the fear of the Lord certainly
not say "Until one is too feeble to enjoy life any- says to the believer in such circumstances, "Thou shalt
more." It does not add, "Unless the pains of a terminal not kill." Better that two die, mother and child, at the
disease make life almost unbearable." Neither does it hand of God, than that one die at the hand of one who
look at the other end of the life cycle and say, "From     would assume God's position. Better that one body
the moment of birth." What it says, "thou shalt not        come into this life deformed by the good counsel of
kill" it says, "Thou shalt not take away human life!" God, than that one human life be snuffed out by the
And that fertilized egg (call it embryo or fetus but call fleshly desires of one who is in a state of rebellion
it then correctly as we did a moment ago) is a human       against God's good counsel.
embryo and/or a human fetus. It is human life that is        Years ago we read of a doctor's confession that he
being snuffed out. A stop is brought to the growth of a was tempted to snuff out life by not bringing to the
human body by the drastic step of killing that very act of breathing a new born babe whose one leg was
small creature that has within it human life.              hopelessly deformed, but could not get himself to do
  We understand, of course, that the law is broad but      so. Years later when he was an old man, was retired,
also narrow. It does not forbid the authorities the right and as a lover of classical music went to a concert, he
to kill, and in fact demands it in so many passages that was thrilled by the skillful performance and rendition
we cannot take the time to quote them, and not sim- of a cello concerto, only to find out later on that this
ply in the Old Testament. Jesus said yet to Peter in the artist was the grown young woman whose life he was
garden," All they that take the sword shall perish with tempted to end at its beginning. Shall we "play" God
the sword." Matthew 26:52. But the law says that you and determine for ourselves His purpose with the un-
and I may not as neighbours take a man's life in hatred born? and what gift of patience He is going to build in
against him.                                               us, and what love He is going to give us, and grace, in
   We may not kill him to get him out of our way. To the trials which He will send? The flesh has a problem.
do so is to commit murder. David sought to get Uriah The fear of the Lord has the answer.
out of his way, and arranged to have others do it for        And a population explosion that will threaten our
him. But in humility he confesses bloodguiltiness in food supply again is the speech of the flesh, and is at
Psalm 5 1, and pleads for pardon for a sin against GOD. the same time ridiculous speech of that flesh. If we run
Abortion does exactly that. It kills to get out of its short of food it is not due to a population explosion
way that which it hates because it will bring shame, but to man's refusal to be God's steward and royal
inconvenience, hardship, more work, poverty, a life- priest. Even now farmers are being paid for not grow-
long stigma, and because of many other experiences ing and not using their land. The best soil in some
one does not want to endure. That little entity of hu- regions is being plowed up for housing projects; and in
man life (actually the mother's closest neighbor) is a the name of progress and convenience of living near
threat to the pleasure, fun, freedom, material wellbeing our place of work, valuable soil produces nothing but
of the parents. And that life must be snuffed out that luxurious lawns, and supports housing projects. Man's
the flesh- of man may be satisfied, or at least not be lack of planning, and foolish planning, and endeavours


                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER                                                          327


to live it high, not his real need for nourishing food            He abhors all killing for man's personal, individual
brings this fear of a famine of dainties. And before            advancement. And in His fear we better call them ab-
God this is no reason for killing the unborn.                   hortions as well as abortions.


Contending for the Faith

                                 The Doctrine of Atonement
                                               THE REFORMATIONPERIOD

                                                        Rev. H. Veldman

  In our last article we were busy with Calvin's presen-        The reformer believed that our Lord's descension into
tation of the atonement in his Institutes of the Chris-         hell  means  that He suffered the eternal horrors and
tian Religion, Book II, Chapter 16. We noted that he            torments of hell, as also set forth in our Heidelberg
does not emphasize the particular character of the              Catechism.
suffering and death of Christ, but also observed that             Calling attention to the words, "suffered' under
this was not a burning issue in his day. We did call            Pontius Pilate," Calvin writes:
attention to the fact that the  Genevan  reformer                      For the name of the governor is mentioned, not
stressed the elements of satisfaction and the vicarious             only to establish the credit of the history, but that
nature of the passion of our Lord. Calvin, when                     we may learn, what is taught by Isaiah, that "the
treating the death of Christ, follows the order in the              chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with
Apostles' Creed, namely that Christ suffered under                  His stripes we are healed." For to supersede our con-
Pontius Pilate, was crucifed, dead, and buried, and that            demnation it was not sufficient for Him to suffer any
                                                                    kind of death; but, to accomplish our redemption,
He descended into hell.                                             that kind of death was to be chosen, by which, both
  Incidentally, Calvin explains the expression,                     sustaining our condemnation and atoning for our sins,
"descended into hell," in the same sense in which it is             He might deliver us from both . . . . For when we are
understood by our Heidelberg Catechism, Question                    told, that Christ was sent from the tribunal of the
and Answer 44 of Lord's Day 16. He refutes the idea                 judge to the the place of execution, and suspended
that "hell" here refers to the grave, inasmuch as then              between two thieves, we see the completion of that
we would have mere tautology in the Apostles' Creed,                prophecy, which is cited by the Evangelist, "He was
and he also opposed the presentation that Christ,                   numbered with the transgressors." For what reason?
descending into hell, descended to the souls of the                 To sustain the character of a sinner, not of a righteous
fathers who had died under the law, for the purpose of              or innocent person. For He died, not for His inno-
announcing the accomplishment of redemption, and                    cence, but on account of sin . . . He suffered, then,
liberating them from the prison in which they were                  under Pontius Pilate, after having been condemned as
confined. Calvin writes, in his explanation of the                  a criminal by the solemn sentence of the governor;
                                                                    yet not in such a manner, but that He was at the same
words, "descended into hell:"                                       time pronounced to be righteous, by the declaration
       Therefore it is no wonder, if He be said to have             of the same judge, that he found in Him no cause of
    descended into hell, since He suffered that death               accusation. This is our absolution, that the guilt,
    which the wrath of God inflicts on transgressors. It is         which made us obnoxious (exposed, H.V.) to punish-
    a very frivolous and even ridiculous objection to say           ment, is transferred to the person of the Son of God.
    that by this explanation the order of things is per-            For we ought particularly to remember this satisfac-
    verted, because it is absurd to make that subsequent            tion, that we may not spend our whole lives in terror
    to His burial, which really preceded it. For the rela-          and anxiety, as though we were pursued by the
    tion of those sufferings of Christ, which were visible          righteous vengeance of God, which the Son of God
    to men, is very properly followed by that invisible             has transferred to Himself.
    and incomprehensible vengeance which He suffered              Also in these words of the reformed, the emphasis is
    from the hand of God; in order to assure us that not        laid upon the vicarious, substitutionary character of
    only the body of Christ was given as the price of our
    redemption, but that there was another greater and          Christ's death. He died, we read, on account of sin, was
    more excellent ransom, since He suffered in His soul        loaded with the guilt of others, having none of His
    the dreadful torments of a person condemned and             own. And he also writes that the guilt, which made us
    irretrievably lost.                                         exposed to punishment, was transferred to the person
  These words speak for themselves. Notice, in these of the Son of God. The death of Christ is therefore the
words, that Calvin writes that Christ's descension into         death of a substitute, is vicarious, suffering the sins and
hell must be explained as occurring before His burial. guilt of His own.


328                                                    THE STANDARD BEARER



  And Calvin continues in this same vein, when he                      broke, and destroyed all its power. Wherefore faith
discusses the species of death which Christ suffered                   apprehends an absolution in the condemnation of
and is fraught with a peculiar mystery. He writes that                 Christ, and a benediction in His curse. It is not with-
the cross was accursed, not only in the opinion of men,                out reason, therefore, that Paul magnificently pro-
but by the decree of the Divine law; when Christ is                    claims the triumph which Christ gained for Himself
lifted upon that cross, He renders Himself obnoxious,                  on the cross; as though the cross, which was full of
exposed to the curse. He writes, and we quote him at                   ignominy, had been converted into a triumphal
                                                                       chariot. For he says, that "he nailed to His cross the
length:                                                                hand-writing, which was contrary to us, and having
           Moreover, the species of death which He suffered,           spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of
       is fraught with a peculiar mystery. The cross was ac-           them openly." Nor should this surprise us; for, ac-
       cursed, not only in the opinion of men, but by the              cording to the testimony of another apostle, "Christ
       decree of the Divine law. Therefore, when Christ is             offered Himself through the eternal Spirit." Hence
       lifted up upon it, He renders Himself obnoxious to              arose that change of the nature of things. But that
       the curse. And this was necessary to be done, that by           these things may be deeply rooted and firmly fixed in
       this transfer we might be delivered from every curse            our hearts, let us always remember His sacrifice and
       which awaited us, or rather was already inflicted               ablution. For we certainly could have no confidence
       upon us, on account of our iniquities. This was also            that Christ was our redemption, ransom, and propitia-
       prefigured in the law. For the victims and expiations           tion, if He had not been a slaughtered victim. And for
       offered for sins were called by a word which properly           this reason it is, that when the Scripture exhibits the
       signifies sin itself. By this appellation the Spirit in-        method of redemption, it so often makes mention of
       tended to suggest that they were vicarious sacrifices,          blood; though the blood shed by Christ has not only
       to receive and sustain the curse due to sin. But that           served as an atonement to God, but likewise as a laver
       which was figuratively represented in the Mosaic sac-           to purge away our pollutions.
       rifices, is actually exhibited in Christ, the archetype       From this lengthy quotation it is very evident how
       of the figures. Wherefore, in order to effect a com-        John Calvin conceived of the atonement. It is true that
       plete expiation, He gave His soul an  atoning sacrifice     the reformer does not state specifically that Christ dies
       for sin,  as the prophet says; so that our guilt and        only for His own and not, head for head, for all men.
       punishment being as it were transferred upon Him,           But this is surely clearly implied in what he writes
       they must cease to be imputed to us. The apostle            here. No man can set forth the cross of Calvary in this
       more explicitly testifies the same,  whenhe says, "He
       hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;            light and also believe that the atonement of Calvary is
       that we might be made the righteousness of God in           universal in its scope, for all men, head for head. Calvin
       Him." For the Son of God, though perfectly free             writes that that Christ rendered Himself obnoxious,
       from all sin, nevertheless assumed the disgrace and         exposed to the curse. He speaks of the transfer of our
       ignominy of our iniquities, and, on the other hand,         curse to Him. He calls attention to the victims and
       arrayed us in His purity. He appears to have intended       expiations offered for sins throughout the Old Dispen-
       the same, when he says concerning sin, that it was          sation, and he calls them vicarious sacrifices, and that
       "condemned in the flesh," that is, in Christ. For the       Christ is the archetype of these figures. He declares
       Father destroyed the power of sin, when the curse of        that our Lord gave His soul an atoning sacrifice for sin,
       it was transferred to the body of Christ. This expres-      and underscores this expression. And we read that the
       sion therefore indicates, that Christ at His death was
       offered to the Father as an expiatory sacrifice, in         Son of God, though perfectly free from all sin, never-
       order that, a complete atonement being made by His          theless assumed the disgrace and ignominy of our in-
       oblation, we may no longer dread the Divine wrath.          iquities, and, on the other hand, arrayed us in His puri-
       Now, it is evident what the prophet meant, when he          ty, and this latter expression can be understood only in
       said, "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us         the light that the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ
       all"; namely, that when He was about to expiate our         was strictly limited and particular in its scope. And
       sins, they were transferred to Him by imputation.           there it is obvious from this quotation that Calvin con-
       The cross, to which He was fixed, was a symbol of           ceived of the sufferings and death of Christ as atoning,
       this, as the apostle informs us: "Christ hath redeemed      expiatory, vicarious, and as only in behalf of His own.
       us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for        Calvin, we know, was surely a believer in the uncondi-
       us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth     tional predestination of God. Indeed, according to Cal-
       on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham might come
       on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ." Peter alluded        vin, our salvation has become an established fact in
       to the same, where he said, "He bare our sins in His        Christ. Listen to him as he writes in Chapter 17 of
       own body on the tree"; because from the visible             Book II:
       symbol of the curse, we more clearly apprehend, that               For  I assume this as granted: if Christ has satisfied
       the burden, with which we were oppressed, was im-               for our sins; if He has sustained the punishment due
       posed on Him. Nor must we conceive that He sub-                to us; if He has appeased God by His obedience; in a
       mitted to a curse which overwhelmed Him, but, on               word, if He has suffered, the just for the unjust,  -
       the contrary, that by sustaining it, He depressed,              then salvation has been obtained for us by His  right-


                                                     THE STANDARD BEARER                                              329



    eousness, which is the same as being merited.               the atonement of Christ is also set forth in the Protest-
  This is the clear testimony of the reformer of ant and Reformed creeds and confessions, to which we
Geneva. And this same conception and presentation of will call attention in due time.


Studies in Election

                       Its Confessional Expression
                                                     Rev. Robt. C, Harbach

3. Its Confessional Expression (continued)                      lost, and only those with a true and living faith are
  We have noted something of the confessional sup- saved. Faith is the means ordained in the decree of
port for the doctrine of predestination as found in the election unto salvation, and unbelief the means
Heidelberg Catechism and the Belgic Confession. ordained in the decree of reprobation unto condemna-
Actually, the Heidelberg Catechism is rather permeated tion. The question is, Who hath believed our report?
with the high truth of predestination from beginning              Article 5 has to do with the proximate cause of or
to end, its whole standpoint presupposing it, and hints blame for unbelief. The sinner under the wrath and
of the doctrine appearing throughout; and, as every- curse of God is to blame, in no wise, God. Coming to
where in this catechism, its definite statements stand faith and the exercising of faith is of God. Who, or
out in sharp focus. (See HC, Q. 1, 26, 27,31, 52, 54). how any are determined to unbelief (as in John
As for our Canons of Dort, we agree with B. B. War-             12:36-43) is a matter not treated in this article. Faith
field, who wrote  (Studies in Theology,  p.  146), "The is a sovereign and free gift bestowed on some, not all.
whole constitutes the fullest and one of the most                 Article 6 brings us to God's eternal decree of elec-
prudent and satisfactory expositions of the Reformed tion and reprobation as the determining factor in who
doctrine of predestination ever given wide symbolical are recipients of faith and who not. The elect are made
authority."                                                     to believe. The reprobate are not given faith. They are
  The first chapter of the Canons of Dort has eighteen left in their wickedness. Grace and mercy are men-
paragraphs on predestination, plus nine paragraphs in tioned, but not as extending to the reprobate.  Infra-
repudiation of corresponding Arminian errors. There language is evident in God's leaving the non-elect in
you have a very full and very strong treatment of the judgment, and in speaking of all "men equally involved
doctrine of election and reprobation. We can now only in ruin." The infra view proceeds from the fall, but
touch briefly upon this section of the confession. Read does not trace backward to the other side of the fall in
this with the articles before you.                              God's eternal decree to show the purpose of the
  Article 1 begins with the historical fact that all men decree.
sinned in Adam, are therefore deserving of eternal                 Article 7 in infra-language speaks of God's immu-
death, so that God justly could have left them all to           table, eternal decree in which He chose a certain
perish. This is unquestionably true. The article views number from the fallen race, men "involved in one
men as sons of Adam in history, not from the stand-             common misery . . . to be saved." Here is a very high
point of God's decree. For in the decree man is viewed          view of predestination, election and reprobation, the
not in the fallen mass of corrupt humankind, but, as            whole cause of it in the sovereign, free will of God
also the angels, in the pure mass of creatureship. Even         alone. The Reformed man or Calvinist must hold at
so, man has no claim on God. (Rom. 9:l l-13, 20-21).            least as much as the high standpoint of this article.
Predestination is sovereign and free.                           There is a higher view. The divine decree of predestina-
  The opening But of Article 2 makes it plain that it tion of angels first sees them all as unfallen, for the
was not God's purpose to leave all men to the condem-           elect angels never fell. The destiny of the angels was
nation so justly deserved. God determined to save               determined as they were seen in the unfallen mass of
some in sovereign love through faith. Who they are,             creaturehood. Similarly it was with the predestination
how they get faith and how they believe is left to              of men.
following articles.                                                Article 8: God from eternity chose the elect to
  Article  3 states that God sovereignly sends the              salvation, chose the way of salvation, and ordained
gospel when and to whom He pleases, that men may be             their. perseverance all the way to glory.
brought to believe, and that the gospel ministry is an             According to Article 9, neither foreseen faith nor
act of mercy, without stating to whom it is so. God             foreseen unbelief are the cause of election and reproba-
calls men to repentance and faith through the gospel.           tion, respectively. God's decree is absolutely sovereign,
  Article 4 denies universalism, since unbelievers are free and unconditional.


330                                                                           THE STANDARD BEARER



   The cause of this gracious election,  according-~-to right to  leave the impression that it is so thick with
Article 10, is in God's eternal good pleasure. The ques- infra as he claims. This chapter is so great that we
tion is not, Does scripture teach election? but, What think  the& is no risk of boring the reader to quote it in
kind of election does scripture teach? The answer is, f u l l .
                                                                                                          I. God from all eternity did by 
Not one where man's will, but God's will is the sole                                                                                           the most wise and '
                                                                                                       holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchange-
determining factor. The infra view is again expressed in                                               ably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as there-
"He was pleased out of the common mass of sinners to                                                   by neither is God the authbr of sin; nor is violence
adopt some certain persons as a peculiar people,"                                                      offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty
which "view, too, attributes election only to God's                                                    or contingency of second causes taken away, but
eternal good pleasure.                                                                                 rather established.
    Article 11 roots the decrees of God in His eternal                                                    II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can
being. The decrees are characterized by God's infinite,                                                come to pass, upon all supposed conditions, yet hath
eternal and immutable attributes.                                                                      He not decreed anything. because He foresaw it as
    Article 12 treats of the possibility and the actuality                                             future, or as that which would come to pass upon
of the blessed assurance of election, together with the                                                such conditions.
                                                                                                          III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of
inseparable evidences of election. One cannot claim to                                                 His glory, some men and angels are predestined unto
be elect who does not have in evidence the fruits of                                                   everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting
election.                                                                                              death.
    Going on to article 15, the decree of reprobation is                                                  IV. These angels and men, thus predestined and
further enlarged in infralapsarian terms, speaking of                                                  fore ordained, are particularly and unchangeably
"others passed by in the eternal decree," which does                                                   designed; and their number is so certain and definite
not mean that they are left out of the decree, but that                                                that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
in it God "has decreed to leave them in the common                                                        V. Those of mankind that are predestined unto
misery into which they wilfully plunged themselves."                                                   life, God, before the foundation of the world was
God decreed not to give them saving faith. He decreed                                                  laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose,
to permit them to follow their own destructive ways.                                                   and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will,
He decreed to condemn them `to perish forever. He                                                      hath chosen in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of
decreed to send them off into eternal judgment on                                                      His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of
                                                                                                       faith or good works, or perseverance in either of
account of their unbelief and for all their sins.                                                      them, or any other thing in the creature, as condi-
    You see, then, how these first paragraphs of the                                                   tions, or causes moving Him thereunto; and all to the
Canons strongly set forth the sovereignty of election                                                  praise of His glorious grace.
and reprobation.  Much murmuring goes on against the                                                      VI. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so
double predestination herein expressed. It is sometimes                                                hath He, by the eternal and most free purpose of His
made to appear as though opposition to the doctrine                                                    will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore
of the Canons is merely a declining of any supralapsar-                                                they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are re-
ian expression. But the Canons are infralapsarian. If                                                  deemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in
one cannot go for the infra standpoint, one can hardly                                                 Christ by His Spirit working in due season; are justi-
be called Reformed. As for the reformed confessions in                                                 fied, adopted, sanctified and kept by His power
general, they are not all infra.                                                                       through faith unto salvation. Neither are any other
                                                           Many do not enter upon                      redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified,
the Supra-Infra question, leaving the matter open.                                                     adopted, sanctified and saved, but the elect only.
None are either confessionally or controversially                                                         VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleased,
against supra. The majority of them contain nothing                                                    according to the unsearchable counsel of His own
inconsistent with the supra view. The Westminster                                                      will, whereby He extendeth or withholdeth mercy as
Confession, B. B.  Warfield says, carefully avoids raising                                             He pleaseth, for the glory of His sovereign power over
any distinction between "Supra and Infra." ibid., p.                                                   His creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dis-
230).  Yet A. A., Hodge, in his  Commentary on the                                                     honor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of His
Confession of Faith,  where he comments on "God's                                                      glorious justice.
Eternal Decrees," chapter three of the Westminster                                                        VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of predes-
Confession, deliberately avers that this chapter speci-                                                tination is to be handled with special prudence and
fies the decree of God as                                                                              care, that men attending the will of God revealed in
                                                   determining "out of the mass                        His Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may,
of fallen humanity, certain individuals . . . to salvation,                                            from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be
and that the rest shall be left to . . . their sins." (p.                                              assured of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine
101). This is an amazing,statement, not only in view of                                                afford matter of praise, reverence and admiration of
w h a t   Warfield  c o r r e c t l y   p o i n t s   o u t ,   b u t   i n   v i e w   o f            God; and of humility, diligence and abundant conso-
the plain, unmistakable language of the Westminster                                                    lation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
C o n f e s s i o n   .in  i t s   c h a p t e r   t h r e e .   F o r   t h e r e   i n   t h a t    We shall save our remarks on this for next time.
chapter is no such language as Hodge uses. He had no (To be continued)                                                                                              D.V.


                                              THE STANDARD BEARER                                               331



Contributions

                                As To The Signs of the Times
                        As To Changes in the Order of Worship
                      As To Billy Graham and Verbal Inspiration

                    As To The Signs                            America is the bulwark and defender of the free
                     Of The Times                            nations. Today we may still serve the Lord in public
Dear Editor:                                                 worship service. But when the Godless and atheistic
   About a year ago already, our editor-in-chief started communism of the Soviet Union will take over the
one of his editorials as follows: "To the observant world supremacy, then it is  possible  that we have
Christian whose sanctified judgment is guided by the almost reached that point in history of the final mani-
infallible rule of the word of God and whose discern- festation of the Antichrist. The Kingdom of Antichrist
ment is sensitized by the Spirit of Christ Whose testi- shall combine the forces of the ungodly world-power
mony that Word is, there are many phenomena of our and the false church pictured in Rev. 13. We know
times which remind him that the Scriptures are being from Scripture that upon us are the ends of the ages
fulfilled before his very eyes, that the end of all things come. We better listen to Christ Himself when He was
is at hand, and that the signs of the coming of the Lord,    on this earth and said, "Take ye heed, watch and pray;
the precursory signs, are multiplying as we approach for ye know not when the time is there, Lest coming
that end."                                                   suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto
   About one of these signs I would like to make a few you I say unto all, Watch."
brief remarks. Some time ago one could read in the             But Christ gave us some other very comforting
D.A.R. magazine, "Today the American people can no words too. "And when all these things begin to come
longer afford to ignore the signs or storm signals being to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your
hoisted on many fronts." And to confirm this, about redemption draweth nigh.
the same time U.P.I. gave the following report from                                  Herman Woltjer
Washington: Defense Secretary Melvin Laird cautioned                                  Zeeland, Mich.
Congress that the Soviet Union at its present rate of
military development could downgrade the U.S. to a                             As To Changes In
second rate power by the mid-1970's. Laird said                                Order of Worship
further, "It is clear that the Soviet Union is embarked Dear Editor:
on an ambitious program to achieve a global military           Congratulations on your recent editorial entitled,
capability." About the Soviet threatNational  Defender       "Why not confess with the mouth?" As a layman, I
stated: "The Soviets . . . can win the strategic struggle have been a proponent of this "change" for the last
without the necessity of any nuclear exchange whatso- few years, however, I think the opposition to such a
ever. All that is required is a strategic situation in "change" was partly due to the- fear that the clamor
which all the elements of the American retaliatory for change was considered to be a product of the in-
force have ceased to become invulnerable to a Soviet fluence of our fast changing society, particularly in the
first-strike. At that point the Soviet planners can be church realm; therefore it was considered not for its
reasonably certain that the American  will  to resist positive value but at the outset more or less negatively.
them any further will collapse," because, and then I In fact, the opinion of some is that it wouldn't neces-
quote the D.A.R. magazine again: "We have been dis- sarily produce a greater or more meaningful effect and
armed morally by the failure of our churches to preach it wouldn't be long before the novelty would wear off
the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is this nation's tragedy and it might become a mechanical utterance of words
that many of our churches wittingly or unwittingly only. (If this is true wouldn't our whole worship be a
support the communist goal of disarming America. mere sham by now?) This may be the case for a few,
Many of our churches, for instance, come out strongly however this attitude doesn't display the positive faith
in opposition to the antiballistic missile system, whose which was typical of most of the past changes brought
sole purpose is to protect the American people. If we about by great reformers in the church. And the issue
disarm, if we fail to protect ourselves, one day the really isn't whether it would have a more meaningful
Soviet Union will issue an ultimatum - either surren- effect, but as your editorial states, "the proper idea of
der and turn over your industrial and economic com- confession is exactly that of speaking with the mouth,
plex intact, or be bombed off the face of the earth."        not merely speaking in our hearts." There are times


332                                            THE STANDARD BEARER



when one finds it difficult to be silent while the Creed Infallibility of Holy Scrip twe contains this statement
is being read.                                             on its page 2, " `Verbal inspiration of Scripture is only
   The Creed is a personal confession but it is also the a theory and not a matter of great importance for the
confession of the Christian church of all ages. It is the Christian faith.' This statement was not made by Karl
one statement of faith which all Christians everywhere Barth, Martin Luther King, James A. Pike, or some
can embrace; this Creed should constantly remind us as similar free-thinker enemy of Scripture. It was uttered
to the proper perspective of OUY place in the universal by none other than Billy Graham, ostensible champion
church of all ages. Two points to ponder are: Are we of the cause of orthodox, evangelical Christianity."
(collectively as churches) wrong in not permitting the This is what you read in this pamphlet. You read the
laity to speak out in this confession? or Are we guilty same in Billy Graham's Ministry of Error (The Stan-
of suppressing a proper outlet of our  expressio;l  of dard Beaver,  Vol. 42, page 4 18), where some documen-
faith in our worship to God, if we don't confess with tation was given. But in the pamphlet the writer
the mouth? I would answer, No, certainly not  inten- neglected to furnish any documentation. Many of the
tionally.                                                  readers of the pamphlet do not question the statement,
  Furthermore, I feel every sincere Christian by being are not really surprised at it, but would like to have
able to share with one another by confession with the documentation on it, to which they are in every way
mouth the truths concerning our God and His salva- entitled. The source of the statement is from a
tion, we are going to be able to walk into the world Washington, D.C., newspaper. In the Christian Beacon
with a new courage to declare the same faith which we of May 10, 1962, page 4, (Vol. 27, No.  13), there
uttered in church. I'm for change, "Not change, for appears a photographically reproduced article from
change' sake" but for sake of "Spiritual Renewal." It's The Washington Post, April 28, 1962. The Article is
high time that we as Christians express to others that one of the religious editor's, Kenneth Dole, who wrote,
faith which unites us (Apostles Creed) rather than "Fundamentalists say they are angry because he
looking or picking the issues which constantly seem to (Graham, RCH) says verbal inspiration is only a theory
separate us from other Christians.                         and not a matter of great importance for Christian
  My personal feeling is that given the opportunity to faith. The ground for Christian fellowship, he says, is
join audibly in the confession of the Creed it would `not the inspiration of Scripture, but the deity of
have the effect upon each confessing member of Christ.' " It is exactly on the question of the inspira-
becoming more alert - spiritually, more attentive and tion and infallibility of Scripture that true Christians
the Creed itself will become more meaningful in our long for a clear-cut, unequivocal statement from Billy
worship.                                                   Graham. Rarely does he answer questions. Once 26
  In conclusion, we shouldn't even regard mere questions were put to him. Two he did not answer.
changes in order or form of worship or even innova- One of those two was the question, from liberal
tions such as introduction of choral singing in the serv- churchmen, "Do you believe that we who teach that
ice, as serious threats to change or corrupt the church Christ is the word  df God and that `the Bible bears
(establishment). Instead of demanding to make things witness to God's revelation in him - but that the Bible
earn  our personal approval (Consistories approval), I is full of parable, myth, allegory and is often quite
think we should in faith test them, try them out to see unhistoric and inexact  - are `false teachers'?" The
if they can be disproven. We must believe that the question went unanswered. But the question of
truth of  God will endure even though the outward plenary inspiration and the infallibility of Scripture
form of worship has changed in the past and should still remains and is still pressing. What servant of the
change occasionally. I believe the hand of God caused Lord can leave such matters hanging in the air? Let's
one of our youngest congregations, namely: Loveland, have an answer, Billy!
to take the initiative in this small but important                                          Rev. Robt. C. Harbach
"change". They are speaking louder than they think!!
                          Fraternally in Christ,
                          Jacob Kuiper, Jr.
P.S. In regards to the Lord Supper form, I think it
would be appropriate also if the entire congregation
would join in with the minister during the final utter-
ance of Thanksgiving, in speaking the "Lords Prayer".

       As To Billy Graham and Verbal Inspiration
Esteemed Editor:
  One of those new pamphlets of ours entitled,  The


                                                      THE STANDARD BEARER                                                333


                                        BOOKREVIEWS
                                                           ProJ: H. Hanko

THE SPIRIT OF THE REFORMED TRADITION, by ages whether in the line of the Synod of Dordt, the
M. Eugene Osterhaven; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Afscheiding  and  Doleantie,   and on into this country,
Company, 19 71; 190 pp., $3.45 (paper).                           or through the Westminster divines, makes it clear be-
The author, for almost twenty years professor of yond contradiction that the Reformed tradition is
Systematic Theology at Western Theological Seminary, eminently a system of doctrine. It is difficult to imag-
discusses the question of what in his opinion consti- ine anyone denying this.
tutes the unique character of the Reformed faith.                   But the book as a whole reflects this emphasis of the
Probably the two most important chapters in the book author. It is true that he speaks of the Reformed tradi-
are two short chapters at the end. In one the author tion as being a tradition always reforming itself; and
treats what has been meant historically by the word that this continuous reformation is always according to
"Reformed"; in the other the author sums up what, in Scripture. But in dealing with this, he gives doctrine
his opinion, is meant by the essence of the Reformed second place. The emphasis falls upon the Reformed
faith. In discussing the meaning of the term, he points tradition as a particular kind of life. One example is
out that shortly after the Reformation all who be- outstanding. If all serious church historians are agreed
longed to Protestantism, including Lutherans, were on one point it is that at the very heart of the Re-
called Reformed. But near the end of the 16th cen- formed faith and tradition lies the truth of sovereign
tury, this term came to be reserved especially for those predestination. Yet Osterhaven treats this heart of the
who adhered more closely to the tradition of Calvin in Reformed tradition in one very short paragraph. But
distinction from that of Luther. It would have been several chapters are devoted to the whole subject of
well for the author to develop this a bit further and the Reformed tradition as a particular way of life.
point out that, over the years, the term Reformed has While Calvin especially is quoted at length throughout
become more narrow yet. It has been used, especially the book, it is very striking that not one quote of
in the last two centuries, to distinguish between Re- Calvin appears in connection with his strong emphasis
formed and Presbyterian not only, but also to identify on the truth of predestination. Calvin is not treated
that branch of Calvinism which lays particular stress honestly.
upon federal theology. Whether the author agrees with               We do not deny, of course, that the Reformed tradi-
this use or not, it would have been helpful for him to tion certainly is a unique and Scripturally-directed
make some remarks concerning this fact.                           manner of life. It is that, to be sure. But the genius of
  But when he discusses what, in his opinion, is the the Reformed tradition and its faithfulness to the
heart of the Reformed tradition, he writes:                       Scriptures is its emphasis on the truth of Scripture and
       The Reformed tradition then is not first of all a          its development of this truth into a systematic body of
    system of theology or of doctrine. Nor is it a particu-       doctrine. The life of the Reformed man is a life which
    lar type of church government, or belief in "the five         is basically a commitment to the truth. His walk not
    points of Calvinism." As important as these are, they         only flows out of his confession of the truth; it is
    do not constitute that tradition, nor do they reveal its      manifestation of that truth. This key point is ignored
    heart. The spirit of the Reformed tradition is more           in this book.
    subtle, more profound than any of these. . . .                  We recommend the book however, for its lucid writ-
       . . . Reduced to a minimum, it is a consciousness
    of being in God's presence with a  cd, to live unto           ing and interesting treatment of this question. But we
    him. The consecration of life, personally and in its          have the strong impression that the author is more
    social relationships, is the Christian's mandate and          interested in following the trends of the times to make
    privilege. It also becomes the dynamic by which he            Scripture "relevant" to our modem age than in being
    lives, for it brings him into fellowship with God             faithful to the "spirit of the Reformed tradition."
    whose resources are infinite.
  We find it hard to imagine how anyone with even a SPRINGBOARDS FOR DISCUSSION, by John H.
passing acquaintance with the Reformed faith can
write in this way. If there is one thing  %4&h all the Bratt; Baker Book House, 1970; 143 pp., $1.25
history of the Reformed faith shouts out loudly (no (paper).
matter in what sense the term "Reformed" is taken) it               Although intended to be a book which will aive soci-
is that the Reformed faith is above all else a system of eties and ldiscussion groups material to treat, this book
doctrine. All of history from Luther's Reformation is an edited reprint of many articles written by the
through the work of Calvin in Geneva as this work was author in his column "The Reader Asks" which  ap-
continued throughout Europe, and down through the pears weekly in The Banner. Those who are acquainted


334                                               THE STANDARD BEARER



with this column will know what material to expect                             RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY
from this book. Those who are not acquainted with                   The Martha Ladies Aid Society of the Hull Protes-
this column should know that the author treats sub- tant Reformed Church extends its sincere sympathy to
jects of a doctrinal and practical nature in it by answer- one of its members, Mrs. Ralph Brummel, in the loss of
ing questions sent in by the reader. The book is en- her father,
riched by a series of questions appended to each short                            MR. PETER HOEKSTRA.
article which are intended to stimulate discussion on               May the God of all grace comfort  -the bereaved
related issues.                                                   family by His Word and Spirit. Rev. J. Kortering, Pres.
                                                                                               Mrs. Nellie Brummel, Sec'y.
               RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY
       The Ladies Society "Ruth" of the Hope Protestant                       ANNIVERSAR Y ANNOUNCEMENT
Reformed Church expresses sincere sympathy to one
of its members, Mrs. John Moelker, in the death of her              On the 25th of April, the Lord willing, our beloved
father,                                                           parents,
                   MR. WILLIAM JOHNSON.                                MR. AND MRS. RAYMOND L. BRUINSMA
                                                                  will celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
       "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." In gratitude to our covenant God, we are thankful for
(Phil. 1:21).                                                     the years He has given them to instruct us in the fear
                                         Mr. Alvin Rau, Pres. of our Lord. Our earnest prayer is that they may con-
                                       Mrs. J. De Vries, Sec'y. tinue to experience God's loving kindness and tender
                                                                  mercies.                     Their grateful children,
                                                                                      Mr. & Mrs. Raymond L. Bruinsma; Jr.
         CALL TO ASPIRANTS TO THE MINISTR Y                                                                                 Jim
             Seminary and Pre-seminary Students                                                                 Lois and Jim
       All young men desiring to begin their studies this                                                                  Jerry
fall in either the pre-seminary or seminary department                                                                 Karen
of the Theological School of the Protestant Reformed                                                   South Holland, Illinois
Churches are requested to appear before the Theologi-
cal School Committee at its meeting which will be held                             WANTED TO BORROW
D.V. on May 14, 1971 at the Southeast Protestant                    Covenant Christian High School Board is in need of
Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan.                          $55,000.00 for their Phase II Building Program. If you
       The qualifications requisite to enrolling in the semi- have $l,OOO.OO or more you would like to invest, at
nary course are:                                                  the rate of 7% interest, in a worthy cause, and  ulti-
       1. You must present a letter from your consistory mately in the instruction of our covenant youth, please
         certifying that you are upright in walk and pure contact, Case Lubbers 451-3400 or Peter  Ko'ole
         in doctrine.                                             453-2524, before April 30, 1971 for further details.
       2. You must present a certificate of health, signed                                            The Finance Committee
         by a reputable physician.
       3. You must be a graduate from high school, being
         able to show that you have completed a one year                                   NOTICE
         course in General History and Church History,                          CLERKS OF CONSISTORIES
         and that you have completed the following                  The following forms are available in quantity upon
         college courses: Latin - 2 years, Greek - 2 years, Your request:
         German  - 2 years, Dutch - 2 years, Philosophy               Call Letters
         - 1 year, Psychology  - 1 year, and Logic  - 1               Certificates of Dismissal
         semester.                                                    Classical Credentials
       The qualifications to enter the pre-seminary depart-           Ministerial Certificate of Testimonial
 ment are the same as the above except "3" should read,               Subsidy Request Forms
 "a graduate from high school."                                       Transfer of Baptized Member Form
       In event you cannot be present at this meeting,                Transfer of Membership Form
 please notify the undersigned secretary of your inten-               Baptism Certificates (Unofficial but attractive)
 tions, prior to the meeting.
                                                                  Order from: Synodical Stated Clerk
                                      R. H. Teitsma, Secretary                  Rev. D. H. Kuiper
                                 1659 Shangrai La Dr., S.E.                      13 14 Main Street
                            Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508                        Pella, Iowa 502 19


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   335




                                 IT'S SPRING! ! !
                                      THAT MEANS IT'S "PLANNING TIME".

                   WE URGE YOU TO PLAN NOW  -  80 ATTEND THE SPRING LECTURE!

                       THE  SPEAKER   - REV.  G.  VAN  BAREN
          THE  PLACE -  THE  FIRST'PROTESTANT   REFORMED
                                 CHURCH,  GRAND  RAPIDS.
                         THE  DATE -  THtiRSDAY   EVENING,
                                      APRIL  22,  AT  8:00  P.M.
                     THE  SUBJECT   - +ED  AND  ALICE  AND
                                 GROPPI  .  .  . AND  GRACE."
                                                            OR
                    "COMMON GRACE . . . AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO WORLDLINESS."
                          (A consideration of the open embrace of the world by many in
                                the church - and an explanation of this sad fact.")

                          THE LECTURE COMMITTEE OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMED CHURCHES.




                               News From Our Churches

               Report of the meeting of                      minded to make requests in plenty of time, if possible,
                      Classis West                           as this means a difference of either .6c postage or ap-
                held on March 3, I9 71                       proximately $1 .OO postage. Also, requests should not be
                     at Doon, Iowa                           included in tapes returned as I do not always open
  Rev. Richard Moore gave the opening devotions.             these tapes immediately upon receiving them." The
After prayer, he read from Matthew 24 and addressed          secretary of this committee is Mr. John Flikkema,
the  Classis from verse 42: "Watch therefore: for ye         2339 184th St., Lansing, Illinois 60438.
know not what hour your Lord doth come."                          The Church Visitors, Rev. C. Hanko and Rev. G.
  Seven ministers and thirteen elders represented the        Lanting, gave a report of their work. This detailed re-
twelve churches of Classis West. Rev. B. Woudenberg          port gave evidence of the good hand of God upon the
presided over the  Classis.  Classis extended a warm         churches.
welcome to Rev. J. Kortering, who is again in the                 The consistory of the Oak Lawn congregation in-
fellowship of Classis West.                                  formed the Classis "of a decision made by the Congre-
  Two permanent committees, the Reading Sermon               gation of Oak Lawn at a Congregational meeting held
Committee and the Taped Sermon Committee, gave               the evening of 10 February 1971. At this meeting the
reports. The Reading Sermon Committee has a library          Congregation decided, by a unanimous decision; to dis-
of written sermons designed especially for use in read-      band as a Congregation effective August of 197 1 or
ing services in the churches. The secretary of this com-     sooner depending upon the sale of the property."
mittee is Mrs. Gerhart Broekhouse, Box 393, 341                   The consistory of Pella presented a fine overture to
Maple St. W., Edgerton, Minn. 56128. The Taped               the  Classis: "The Pella Consistory overtures  Classis
Sermon Committee has a library of taped sermons, also        West to adopt the following statement in respect to the
for use in the worship services of the churches in the       signing of the Formula of Subscription by a candidate-
absence of a minister. Included in the report of this        elect who has passed his classical examinations: `That.
committee was the following advice to those who              Classis declare that the signing of the Formula of Sub-
borrow the tapes: "The consistories should be  re- scription by a candidate for the ministry take place in


THE STANDARD BEARER
          P.O. Box 6064
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506


336                                                     THE STANDARD  EEARER



an offical manner, i.e., while Classis is in session and                                     Elders
after the Formula has been read aloud in the presence               Primi                        Secundi
of the candidate.' Grounds: 1. In the past the Formula Gilbert  Griess (Loveland)  Art Brands  (Edgerton)
has been signed in obscurity, during recess, without the George  Hoekstra (Hull)               Allen Hendriks (Edgerton)
delegates as witnesses. 2. A promise of this magnitude, Larry Huisken (Redlands) Bernie Menninga (Pella)
which has tremendous significance for the candidate's Ephraim Reichert (Isabel) Cornelius Van Soelen (Pella)
ministry and the welfare of our churches, ought not be
treated lightly. 3. In days when the necessity of this              Classis accepted the invitation of Isabel to hold the
Formula is being called into question and the promise fall Classis there, on September 1, the Lord willing.
is made with unspoken reservations, we ought to stress                                 Rev. David Engelsma, Stated Clerk
its importance by having each candidate give his assent                                                        Classis West
publicly and in official session. 4. That a candidate                                     *****
agrees to the Formula is a matter of joy to the Classis,             For the little space left us after the  Classis Report,
and therefore should be duly recognized. We also sug- we'll pick a few of the highlights from the abundance
gest : (1) This signing take place after the candidate has of church bulletins sent our way during the past couple
been informed of his successful passing of the examina- of weeks, and save the rest for next time.
tions, and prior. to the singing of the customary                   News concerning calls is always of special interest.
doxology and offering of  cqngratulations. (2)  Classis
inform  Classis East of this decision, and suggest they The consistory of our church in Randolph, Wisconsin,
concur in this practice, that our churches have a uni- announces that it has made a trio consisting of Rev. C.
form policy on this matter." This overture was Hanko, Rev. G. Lanting, and Rev. J. Heys. From a trio
adopted.                                                          of Rev. D. Engelsma, Rev. J. Heys, and Rev. H.
  A classical appointment schedule was set up for Veldman, Grand Rapids Hope Church has called Rev.
Doon, Forbes, and Randolph.  Doon: March 14, 21 - Heys. Rev. G. Van  Baren has declined the call  ex-
J. Kortering; April 4, 18 - G. Lanting; May 9, 16 - D. tended to him ,from our  Doon, Iowa church. And the
Engelsma; Sept. 5 - B. Woudenberg. Forbes: March 7 congregation of Southwest was, no doubt, happy to
- B. Woudenberg; March 28, April 4 - R. Moore;April learn that Rev. H. Veldman had accepted the call from
                                                                  that church
25  - R. Moore; May 2 - J. Kortering; May 23, 30 -
D. Kuiper; Sept. 5 - C. Hanko. Randolph: March 21,                  Other news which undoubtedly ranks with the best,
28  - R. Decker; April 18  - R. Decker; May 2  - D. in the interest column; is that concerning our mission-
Kuiper; May 16, 23 - G. Lanting; Sept. 5 - D. Kuiper. ary in Jamaica. Rev. Lubbers writes that, on a recent
These churches hope to have seminarians in their Sunday, he "preached in Lacovia in the A.M. and in
pulpits during the summer.                                        the evening in a new group at Banana Ground, which is
   Requests for subsidy of Pella, Lynden, Edgerton, some ten miles east of Mondeville. It is situated high
Isabel, Loveland, Forbes, and Randolph were granted. up in a mountain too, and even to get to Mondeville
  Classis voted for various functionaries, with the we went up switch-backs up the mountain. We left at
following results:                                                8: 10 in the morning and were home at  lo:25 in the
       1) Classical Committee of  Classis West  - Rev. Jay  evening."
         Kortering (3 years) and Elder Tim Kooima (1                The four hours of instruction that he gives in
         year).                                                   "school" in Lacovia involves 138 miles of driving -
   2) Delegates ad examina  - Rev. George Lanting driving which he calls simply, but meaningfully,
                                       Bernard Woudenberg  `:Jamaica  style."
         (Primus)  a n d   R e v .                                                  In a letter written after one of those
         (Secundus) for 3 year terms.                             days, he writes, "I am a bit weary tonight." That must
  3) Church Visitors - Rev. Cornelius Hanko and Rev. be an understatement. It's likely that the weather does
         George Lanting.                                          not help at all, either. He writes that already in March
   4) Delegates to Synod:                                         it "is getting quite a bit warmer, but the nights have
                            Ministers                             been cool and sleeping still is good. The sun has
  Primi                                 Secundi                   crossed the point of equinox now and will ere long be
Robert Decker                         Cornelius Hanko             quite overhead here in Jamaica." He adds, "So I wear
David Engelsma                        George Lanting              my hat as an umbrella."
Jay Kortering                         Richard Moore                 To write news this short is almost as good as a
Dale Kuiper                           Bernard Woudenberg          vacation.                                            D.D.


