                               he 3 ;: :;;.`:.`y;y:: i. `...



                                           earer

A   R E F O R M E D   S E M I - M O N T H L Y   MAGA%INE



IN THIS ISSUE


    .Meditatisn:       '
      The King  As The Mock King

    "How To Let The Bible Confuse You"
       (see: All Around us)

    The Pilgrim And The Church
       (see: In His Fear)

    Confession Of Faith
      (see: The Strength of Youth)





                                               Volume  XLVII/Numbev  12 /March 15, 1972


266                                                     THE STANDARD BEARER



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

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   TheKingAsTheMockKing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .266                              Second Class Postage Paid at Grand Rapids, Mich.
                                                                         Editor-in-Chief: Prof. H. C. Hoeksema

Editorials -                                                             Department Editors:::  Mr. Donald Doezema, Rev. Cornelius Hanko, Prof.
   The P.R.C. and the R.E.S. (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .269 Herman Hanko, Rev. Robert C. Harbach, Rev. John A. Heys, Rev. Jay
   Developments in the                                                   Kortering, Rev. George C. Lubbers, Rev. Marinus  Schipper,   .Rev.  Gise  J.
       Gerefomeerde                                                      Van  Baren, Rev. Herman  Veldman. Rev.  Bernar'd Woudenberg
                        Kerken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .270 Editorial Office:  Prof. H. C. Hoeksema
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Meditation
                                The King As The Mock King
                                                         Pro5 H. C. Hoeksema

            And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a
            purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate
            therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye
            may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns,
            and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!                                          John  19:2-5

   The moment of the devil's spite!                                          It is very plain that the trial of the Lord Jesus before
   Behold the man!                                                        the Roman governor centered on the issue of Jesus'
   He holds Himself forth to be a king, but He is no kingship. Before the. Sanhedrin it was especially His
king at all!                                                              deity, His being the Son of God, that was at stake in


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                  267



His trial. Before the governor, however, it was This is true also of Jesus' suffering at the hands of the
definitely His kingship, in which His Messiahship soldiers. Not without responsibility were they. True, if
culminated,- that was the issue. The Jews accused Him they had been merely executors of the sentence
before Pilate that He made Himself a king. Pilate is imposed by the judge, they would have been innocent.
evidently fearfully concerned about this, as is plain Then the responsibility would  have'been that of the
from his question, "Art thou a king then?" And Jesus, judge alone. But now they testified that they joined in
Himself, confirms that this is the issue when He answers the judgment of wicked men concerning Jesus Christ.
the question of Pilate affirmatively. This is also the They knew that Jesus was innocent, even as Pilate had
idea in this moment of Jesus' maltreatment by the declared. But they did far more than was required of
soldiers: they made Him a mock king. And thus the them in their capacity'as soldiers and servants of Pilate.
Roman governor presents Jesus to the people in this They gathered together the whole band of soldiers, and
scene.                                                       they made Jesus the object of their mockery and their
   The moment of Jesus' royalty!                             cruel maltreatment. Surely, here is an instance of
   It is very plain that when Pilate takes Jesus from the terrible lack of discipline on the part of these Roman
soldiers and presents Him to the people, Jesus bears soldiers. And when, even before Jesus had been finally
the aspect of a king., This is evident from the crown on sentenced, they engage in this cruel sport and make
His head, from the royal robe on His shoulders, fr.om Jesus the innocent victim of their ribald mockery, they
the scepter in His hand, and from the obeisance of the testify thereby that they, as well as Pilate, assume
soldiers.                                                    responsibility for what here takes place.
   But it is the moment of the soldiers' mockery!              Indeed, when Pilate brings Jesus before the
   There is a cutting sarcasm in all this. The soldiers, multitude with the words, "Behold the man!" he acts
evidently acting on the accusation that He made as the representative of the whole world. At the cross
Himself a king, now mocked at such a hopeless king. of Jesus Christ the entire world manifested itself as
The crown of thorns which they plait and put on His wicked, and stands condemned before the Judge of
head is a mock-crown: it causes the blood to run down heaven and earth.
His sacred brow. It causes suffering. The royal garb           But do not forget: this moment of the cross is the
with which they clothe Him is a mock-garb. Its moment of the devil's spiteful %engeance!
purpose is to testify that He is not a king whatsoever.        Behind the seen in this entire history is the unseen.
The scepter which is placed in His hand is a                   Seen are Judas, the Sanhedrin, the wicked Jews,
mock-scepter: for Matthew informs us that this scepter Pilate, the mocking soldiers - the whole world!
was a reed. Moreover, the subjects of this king are            Unseen  2 and behind them all  - is the devil, the
mocking and therefore mock-subjects. They spit on prince of darkness, the .serpent; who is .here heaping
Him. They smite Him with their hands. They strike vengeance upon the Seed of the woman. L
Him on His thorn-crowned head  with1 His own                   It is he, the prince of darkness himself, -who here
reed-scepter.                                                makes Jesus the mock-king!
   And is not the language of all this graphically clear?      Jesus, the Christ of God!
   Behold the man!                                             And the Evil One, the Prince of darkness!
   Look at Him, a king! Helpless,.  .powerless,  in the        Had not the battle between' these two been joined
hands of His enemies! Surely, there is no reason to fear from the very outset of Jesus' public ministry? Had
such a man! Surely, there is no semblance of royalty in not the devil offered Him all the kingdoms of this
Him! He may call Himself a king, but a king He is least world if He would but bow down and worship him,
of all!                                                      that .is, if He would but be king under the'devil? Was it
  Such is the idea of the soldiers' action. They act not the same prince of darkness who was still tempting
upon the accusation that Jesus made Himself a king. Him at Capemaum when the breadeating multitudes
But a king, in their opinion, must have power. And would make Him king? Had not the same ruler of this
Jesus stood before Pilate and before His accusers as a world tempted  Him when His disciples were willing
silent sufferer. There was no one to defend  Him. He and ready in His behalf to take.up the sword and fight?
did not even defend Himself. And such a king the For did not the Lord Himself testify. that if  His
soldiers could not understand. There was no room in kingdom were of this world, then His servants would
their conception for a king who would not fight. For fight?
such a king they were-filled with contempt. They               And had not the devil's temptation of a throne and
despised Him. They hated Him. And they expressed all a kingdom always been on the condition that Jesus,
this by presenting Jesus as a mock-king.                     Who came as the Servant of Jehovah, would become
   The devil's spiteful vengeance! Oh, the soldiers his servant? Had not the offer of kingship always been
surely were not innocent. They were responsible. connected with the temptation that Jesus should
Indeed, throughout the trial and crucifixion  of. the depart from the way of suffering, the way of
Lord Jesus it is by wicked men that He is delivered. obedience, the way of the Father's will, should become


268                                           THE STANDlARD BEARER



disobedient to the Father, and should bow down and nevertheless. There is a Word of God in this event - a
obey the prince of darkness? He, the devil, must Word of God concerning man, concerning you and me!
remain the prince of this world: and Jesus must Jesus stands there before the howling mob as the devil
become his servant!                                        had made Him to appear through his instruments,
  And had not the Lord Jesus steadfastly despised this wicked Pilate and the wicked soldiers. And surely,
offer of the devil and chosen the path of obedience? Satan does not intend to have it understood in this
Was it not this very fact that accounted for His way. But is it not grim reality nevertheless, when we
presence before Pilate, that cynical, proud, read this word of Pilate in the light of the Word of the
self-seeking, thoroughly wicked and hypocritical cross?
representative of the kingdom of this w&d?                   Behold the man after the devil has finished with
  And does the prince of darkness not now have Jesus hill-l!
in his power? Is he not in a position  - through the         That crown of thorns is ours! That mock robe and
soldiers and through Pilate - to demonstrate the folly that mock scepter are ours! Behold man! There is still
of Jesus' divine royalty, the folly of One Who would the trace of his royalty, portrayed in crown and robe
be king in the way of obedience to the Lord of heaven and scepter. But in the service of the devil it has all
and earth?                                                 become - in the most real sense of the word possible
  Yes, it is the devil who here makes mockery of - mockery!
Jesus' kingship!                                             Man, in the service of the devil, has become a
  It is the hour of the world, and of the prince of mock-king!
darkness!                                                    Behold man!
  "See," he says, "what becomes of your kingship if          Is it not a Word of God calculated to bring us on our
you despise the kingship which I offer!"                   knees in repentance?
   Behold the man!                                           A Word of grim reality?
  The moment of the devil's spite!                                                 ***
                          ***                                But there is more.
                                                             The moment of the devil's spite is also God's
  But the devil was a fool!                                moment of the cross of reconciliation.
  The moment of the devil's spite is nevertheless            The moment of vicarious suffering!
God's moment!                                                For the Man Whom the devil spitefully mocks is
  And God's moment is the moment of grim reality!          nevertheless God's Anointed!
  For God made man a king. He made him in His own            Anointed was He from before the foundation of the
image; and He gave him royal dominion, dominion over world, and that, too, as our Head and Mediator. And in
all things. Man was created and destined to reign. And     the fulness of time He assumed our state, and also our
in Paradise the First that man stood for a brief condition as far as our death is concerned. Personally
moment in royal power and glory., But he was king          He is not that mock-king. He Himself did not become
under God. And that means that he was king and could       disobedient to the Father. He did not surrender the
be king only as the servant of God, so that he ruled not kingdom and Himself to the service of the devil. But
according to his own fancy, but according to the will we did! His appearance is the true representation of
of God his Creator and Lord. And it was only in that       our appearance. And He assumes it voluntarily because
living relation of servant-king under God that man He has entered into the state of our sin and guilt! For
could ever really be king and could experience the this He has come in the fulness of time  - to wrestle
blessing of His favor.                                     with the prince of darkness, to wrest His rightful
  But the adversary of God  .seduced  man. As              kingdom from the power of the devil, to deliver His
servant-king under God man was to be enemy of the people from that power, the power of sin and death,
devil. But he listened to the devil's lie, "Ye shall be as the very power which has subverted them and
God." He rebelled and became a servant and friend of perverted them so that they became rebel-kings,
Satan, the slave of sin, a slave-king, a usurper, a usurper-kings, mock-kings, and to deliver them from
mock-king !                                                the wrath of God which can only come upon such
  For the Lord God always maintains Himself!               usurpers.
  He strikes down that rebellious servant. The devil         As such He takes our place, the place of the
had promised higher glory and power: "Ye shall be like     mock-king. He takes all our rebellion upon Himself -
God!" But God maintains His own Word. And under not, indeed, so that He became personally rebellious,
the devil man becomes a mock-king!                         for this could not possibly be. But He does so thus,
  Mighty Word of the cross!                                that He suffers the wrath of God over us as mock-kings
  Behold the man! Behold the mock-king!                    in perfect obedience to the Father  - bears our
  No, the devil does not intend it that way.  -But this    suffering and the mockery of our kingship under
Word of the cross can properly be read in this way         Satan.


                                            THE STANDARD BEARER                                                                                  269


  Behold the Man!                                             But it is  OUY appearance, because of our rebellion
  In Him we see ourselves. That cruel crown of thorns and sin!
is our mock-crown, voluntarily assumed by Him. That           And He bears it all, that we may be redeemed and
mock-robe is our robe, cast about His shoulders in exalted as kings and priests unto God. He wears it all -
order that we might never wear it again. That crown, robe, scepter  - in order that we should
mock-reed is our scepter, after we had cast away nevermore wear the devil's crown and garb and scepter.
wilfully the royal power and dignity that we had in           Behold the Man - in faith!
God's service. That mockery, that maltreatment, that          And adore the infinite love displayed  ih that silent
suffering, those blows  - it is all the chastisement of, Sufferer Who answers nothing, Who restrains His divine
our peace that was upon Him!                                power, in the garb of a mock-king!
  Nay, it is not His proper appearance! How could it          Adore the infinite love of the God Who was in
be? He is the glorious Son of God!                          Christ reconciling us unto Himself!


Editorials
                         The P.R.C. and the R.E.S. (2)
                                             Prof H. C. Hoeksema

The RES Response To Our Letter                              the Protestant Reformed Churches observer-status with
  Last time, in introducing the subject of the the understanding that they take exception to the
invitation to our churches from the RES, we quoted in above-mentioned elements  of  the Basis.  ," (emphasis
                                                            added) Moreover, we specifically stated that we "are in
full the decision of our churches in 1968. This decision full agreement with the Doctrinal Basis o$ the RES in
was forwarded to the `RES Secretariat and to the so far as it refers to Scripture and the Reformed
convening church of the RES-Amsterdam prior to the Creeds." The differences are quite obvious, it seems to
meeting of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod in 1968. me.
  What became of this letter? What response was                But what did the Interim Committee, to whom this
there?                                                      matter was referred, do?
  In the first place, the General Secretary of the RES,       Under date of January 15, 1969 they wrote the
Dr. Paul Schrotenboer, informed the Synod of our following letter, signed by Dr.  Schrotenboer, the
letter, Art. 186,  Acts and Reports  of  the Reformed General Secretary:
Ecumenical Synod, Amsterdam 1968:  "The General                 Dear Brethren:
Secretary reported receipt of a letter from the                     I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letters of
Protestant Reformed Churches of America asking if               J u n e   1 8 ,   1 9 6 8   t o   t h e   R e f o r m e d   C h u r c h   o f
they could send to Synod an observer who would not              Amsterdam and to the Reformed Ecumenidl Synod.
be obliged to subscribe to the Basis of  the Synod. It          Your communication was read to the meeting of the
was agreed to refer the matter to the Interim                   Reformed Ecumenical Synod, Amsterdam, 1968.
Committee for reply."                                               In response to your letters, the Synod agreed to
  In connection with the above article, it should be            refer to the Interim Committee the matter of sending
noted:                                                          to the Synod a representative who would not be
  1)  That there is no notice that                              obligated to subscribe to the Basis (see Article 186,
                                         ow letter  was         page 79,  Acts and Reports  1968).  The  Interim
actually presented to the Synod; nor does our letter            Committee has authorized me to send you  @is reply.
appear among the Supplements in the 1968 Acts and                   In the  Acts and Reports you  will  note certain
Reports.  To our knowledge, therefore, the letter was           proposed revisions of the Rules and Standing Orders
buried in the files and received no actual notice except        (pages 79 to 82). Kindly note in particular that the
from the Interim Committee.                                     proposals regarding advisory observers,  nonladvisory
  2) A comparison of our letter with the statement of           observers and guests have been referred to the Interim
Article 186 will show the latter to be inaccurate. First        Committee for consideration. The Interim Committee
of all, it omits any mention of the most important and          has already begun to carry out its mandate of revising
largest part of our letter, namely: the statement of our        the Rules and Standing Orders further.
                                                                   Because the Synod did not  take  final action in the
objections to the Basis of the RES. Knd secondly, it is         matter of your request, it is not possible to give you a
not accurate to say that we asked to send an observer           defmite answer at this time. However, the Interim
who would not be obliged to subscribe to the Basis. We          Committee would assure you that an answer can be
specifically asked "whether the RES is willing to grant         sent to your church in  amile time to allow your


 270                                                  THE STANDARD  BEARER


        church to consider sending an observer to the next       attempt to enlighten us and to remove our difficulties?
        meeting of Synod.                                          But nothing is said about all this.
           It is my sincere desire that your church will feel      Nor is any provision made for us to take exception
        free to send a representative to the next meeting of     to the objectionable elements in the Basis. Oh, yes, an
        the Reformed Ecumenical Synod. The sentiments            answer can be sent in ample time; but it is not sent.
        which have been expressed at the meetings of Synod       Indeed, there is considerable sympathy for making
        and by members of the  ,Interim Committee indicate       provision for observers who do not subscribe to the
        that there is a considerable sympathy for making         Basis. But for this we did not ask; and, besides, no
        provision that a church such as: yours could send' a
        representative without being required to subscribe to    provision was made.
        the Basis.                                                 For my part, I simply cannot take the RES seriously
           Recently we sent your secretary, the Rev.             when it extends an invitation to our churches.
        Veldman, a copy of the  Acts and Reports of the            The simple fact is that our churches are confronted
        Reformed Ecumenical Synod, Amsterdam, 1968.              by the necessity, if they wish to send an observer, of
        Sincerely in Christ,                                     subscribing to the Basis concerning which we have
        (was signed) Dr. Paul G. Shrotenboer                     already declared that we must take serious exception.
   And thus matters have stood until very recently, And this we cannot do.
 when we received an invitation to send an observer to             Nor is this problem removed by the fact that at the
 the forthcoming RES-Sydney.                                     RES-Sydney a new constitution will very likely be
   It will be evident, too, that matters stand precisely adopted. In this new constitution an observer will no
 as they did in 1968 when our Synod took the decision longer be required to subscribe to what we find
 which we quoted last time.                                      objectionable. However, in the first place, this does not
   Nothing has changed.                                          remove the difficulty with respect to the coming
   The RES itself took no action on our letter.                  meeting of the RES, which will convene under the old
   The Interim Committee has taken no action. We rules. In the second place, under the new constitution
have assurances from said committee that "an answer the status of observers is greatly reduced: they are not
 can be sent . . . in ample time." We have assurances of even guaranteed an opportunity to speak. And, in the
 sympathy for "making provision that a church such. as third place, considering that the sending of an observer
 yours could send a representative without being would be a first step toward eventual membership in
 required to subscribe to the Basis," - something for the RES, the real difficulty (that of the same
 which we did not even ask. The desire is expressed objectionable elements mentioned in our decision of
 "that your church will feel free to send a                      1968) would still remain.
 representative to the next meeting of the Reformed                If the RES or its Interim Committee had shown
 Ecumenical Synod."                                              some inclination at least to discuss and to try to iron
   But nothing has changed!                                      out our difficulties, I could see some light in the
   Our objections to various elements in the basis  - situation. Now I do not. And frankly, I am personally
 objections which we spelled out rather in detail and not of a mind to prolong the. exchange of
 which we grounded in Scripture and the confessions - correspondence with the RES. I would propose that
 were never so much as mentioned, much less treated when the RES shows some genuine desire to have the
 and answered. One would think that the RES would Protestant Reformed Churches represented at its
 have at least attempted to answer these objections, if meetings, we can always see again.
 out of no other motive than that of self-justification.           Meanwhile, it should not be overlooked that by this
 And surely, if we are to take the interest of the RES in time there are other considerations connected with the
 Biblical ecumenicity seriously, may we not expect that matter of possible attendance at the RES. To these we
 out of brotherly concern they would at least make the will call attention next time, the Lord willing.


               Developments in the Gereformeerde Kerken

   The General Synod of `the  Gereformeerde Kerken recesses, then meets again; and  thus one synod is
 has been busy for some months already in another one hardly finished for the year before another must begin
 of its protracted sessions, This time, ironically, it is to meet.
 called the Synod of Dordrecht! The reader should bear             But one could almost overlook this evil if the
 in mind that in recent years the synod has fallen, into         General Synod would make some sound and salutary
 the evil habit of functioning as a kind of super-church,        decisions and would make some real effort to put a
 or super-consistory. It meets for a few weeks, then             stop to the corruption-process which has been going on


                                           THE STANDARD BEARER                                                  271


in the Dutch churches for some years already.             forevermore complaining  - and the theological
   But this, it seems, is too much to expect. On the professors of Kampen and Amsterdam are foremost in
contrary, by its actions the General Synod is aiding this - that the "atmosphere" for theological discussion
this corruption-process, sheltering and playing.into the is being spoiled.  .Translated into plain English, this
hands of the adherents of the so-called "new theology" means that someone has had. the courage to call heresy
in the Gereformeerde Kerken, and thus, I fear, leading by its right name, to expose it, and to demand that
those churches inevitably toward that sad and dreadful discipline be exercised. This the leaders do not want.
point in history when Christ shall remove the light They want discussion. They want dialogue. Preferably
from the candlestick. This is dreadful to contemplate. they do not want the discussion on the floor of synod.
In fact, it is almost unbelievable to think that this It must really not take the form of debate. There must
could ever happen in the Dutch churches, which have be "trust" of one another. There must be no sharp
been recognized for centuries as the stronghold  - if words spoken. There must be no accusations of heresy.
not the cradle  - of Reformed theology. But with Translated, this all means that the adherents of the
ever-increasing speed and boldness those churches are "new theology" must be given free rein. And if anyone
being taken down the broad road of apostasy.              dares to say or to write anything which in any way can
   Some time ago'Prof. Hanko reported that they were be interpreted as disturbing this wonderful theological
tampering with the Formula of Subscription. In a way atmosphere of "trust," then he becomes a black sheep
it is the honest thing to change that Formula: for it is who is not even worthy of being admitted to the
merely legalizing what is already-reality in the Dutch discussion.
churches. There are many professors and ministers w.ho       But let me return to my report. The protest of Rev.
pay absolutely no attention to the solemn vow they Hegger concerned Drs. Baarda's view of Scripture,
have made in the Formula of Subscription. Moreover, particularly of the gospel-narratives. Drs. Baarda has in
it has become virtually impossible in the Netherlands writing questioned the trustworthiness of the
to get an ecclesiastical assembly to do anything about gospel-narratives. For one thing, Rev. Hegger accused
these blatant violations.                                 Baarda, according to a report in Trouw, Jan. 12, `72,
   A clear. example of this was the Synod of of "  ,`monkeying'  (knoeierij)  in  the words of God's
Sneek-Lunteren. This Synod itself declared that Dr. Son." And even the deputies for contact with the Free
Kuitert was in conflict with decisions of the Synod University questioned whether in his intensive
which involved the confessional position of the church attention to the "humanness" of Scripture and to the
after Assen-1926 was retracted. Yet, recognizing that historical-cultural limitations of the time in which the
there were many more than Kuitert who were guilty of gospels came into existence, Drs. Baarda had in his
the same thing and who were present. at the Synod, writings sometimes too little taken into account the
they declined to take any disciplinary measures. concern of others for the indispensable stress of the
Instead, the Synod decided to send out a pious preaching upon the "Thus saith the Lord" which
pastoral letter to the churches, the try to pour  oil on Scripture repeatedly vindicates. (The latter is a free
the ecclesiastical waters and to smooth some ruffled translation of a statement by the deputies.) Hence,
feathers - and to lull Zion to sleep.                     while we do not have the exact contents of the protest,
  But as long as there are some conservatives in the we can readily guess what it was all about. It
churches, the same problems continue to crop up. And concerned the views of Drs..Baarda to which he also
thus it is that the Synod of Dordrecht-Lunteren is also gave .expression  in his book about the trustworthiness
confronted by some of the same problems which have of the gospels..
been plaguing the Dutch churches for several years.       . . But what did the Synod decide? First, they decided'
And apparently this Synod is busy at the same old that there was no reason to hold that on the points on
strategy.                                                 which Rev. Hegger had attacked him Drs. Baarda had
  Here are some samples which I have gleaned from gone beyond the bounds of the confessions. Well,,that
various Dutch papers and news clippings which have is the end of the protest. At the same time, however, -
been sent to me.                                          for, after all, there is something to discuss - the Synod
  On the table of the Synod was a protest by Rev. H. decided to refer the questions at stake to the deputies
J. Hegger against a lecturer in New Testament at the for contact  .with the theological faculty of the Free
Free University; Drs. Tj. Baarda. I do not know'the University for"further discussion. The Dutch have an
exact content and form of the protest. From news expression for it:  Op de  lange   baan  geschoven!
reports it appears thaf'the protest was sharply worded; Meanwhile, according to the report of  Trouw  which
and knowing Rev. Hegger (a converted priest and quoted much of the discussion  `on this matter, Rev.
editor of In De Rechte Struatl  from his writings, I can Hegger is the goat. There were voices of accusation
well believe this. And I can also understand it. And I raised against him that  .he "had made fruitful
can also believe `that his sharp language was not out of discussion of this matter impossible." There were even
place. In. the Netherlands nowadays they are voices to the effect that he should be pastorally


272                                           THE STANDARD BEARER


admonished. One lady-deacon (yes, they have these at         anti-Kuitert forces. In fact, it was even proposed that
the Synod!) expressed displeasure that a protest of a        putting any kind of deadline on the discussion would
minister against the publication of a Lector could grow      also spoil the atmosphere. What was the outcome? The
into a "Baarda Case." But Baarda goes Scot-free; and         discussion will be continued. True, the deputies must
Rev. Hegger's name is blackened because he had the           bring a report before the end of Synod in November;
courage to protest.                                          but Synod did not decide that November would end the
  Also the Kuitert-problem was before the Synod              discussion. In the discussion the entire theological
again. This is becoming perennial. And Kuitert himself       faculty must participate. And what must they discuss?
seems to be like Gallio, who "cared for none of these        In plain language, Kuitert's social-gospel concept of the
things." It seems he goes his brazen way and continues       Kingdom of God and his horizontalism. Yes, the
to make his shocking pronouncements  - all very              Synod couched all this in polite language. For after all,
deliberately, by the way - no matter what anyone says        the atmosphere must be kept pure for healthy
or thinks. But the Synod had a long discussion about         discussion. But that is what it comes down to.
what to do about the Kuitert matter. They really did            There is more coming. The Synod must still decide
not discuss the views of Kuitert very much. They             on the case of Dr. Wiersinga; and at this writing, I have
discussed rather the question what to do about it.           no further report on that case. I do, however, have a
Moreover, the question really did not center much on         protest against Wiersinga; and from it I will reveal the
the advisability of exercising any discipline. Yes, there    kind of blatant heresy taught by him. But I have little
was discussion of this. But the possibility of discipline    hope that the Synod will do anything definitive. How
was not really in the running. The question was rather       can they measure Wiersinga with a different measure
how long the discussion should continue between the          than that with which they measure Kuitert and
deputies for contact with the Free University and Dr.        Baarda? And if they condemn Wiersinga, what must
Kuitert. Again there were many incensed remarks  -           they say about his teacher and promoter, Dr.
especially by theological professors - about how the         Berkouwer? But more about this next time, the Lord
atmosphere for discussion was being spoiled by               willing.


QU estion Box

                  As To The Well-meant Offer
                                              Prof H. C. Hoeksema

  From a part-time Floridian I received the following of  stress,  therefore, although I freely admit that the
question, sent to me already about the first of the Christian Reformed Church has indeed stressed this
year:                                                        false doctrine.
  "The Christian Reformed Church since 1924 has                Now the first question: did our forefathers also
stressed the so-called well-meant offer of the gospel. believe this? I will not deny that some individual
Did our forefathers also believe this? Was it ever an forefathers at times taught things similar to the
issue before this time? What does church history well-meant offer idea. After all, even at the Synod of
show?"                                                       Dordrecht there were men like Martinius, who wanted
                                                             general atonement of the crassest sort; and one of the
Reply                                                        British theologians at that same Great Synod later
  First of all, I must correct what is undoubtedly an became an avowed Arminian. But it seems to me that
unintentional inaccuracy. My questioner states that the if you want to lump "our forefathers" together, and
Christian Reformed Church "has stressed" the then inquire as to what they believed, then you must
well-meant offer of the gospel. While this is, of course, turn to the confessions. And you must turn especially
true, it is not wholly accurate. We should not forget to the Canons of Dordrecht to find out what our
that in 1924 the Christian Reformed Church elevated forefathers believed on this subject. And then it is
common grace, and along with it the general, abundantly plain - in spite of the fact that the Synod
well-meant offer, to the status of official church of 1924 foolishly tried to quote the Canons in support
doctrine, binding upon officebearers and members. of their position - that "our forefathers" had no room
This is very plain from the fact that refusal to for the idea of the general, well-meant offer.
subscribe to'these doctrines resulted in being cast out Promiscuous preaching? Yes, indeed! The gospel must
of the denomination. This is a little more than a matter be proclaimed  - along with the demand of faith and


                                            THE STANDARD BEARER                                                           273


repentance - to all, reprobate and elect, to whom God (the period of the so-called Dekker Case) you have the
in  His good pleasure sends it. General, well-meant proof of the pudding. Prof. Defier's teachings on the
offer? No; but the general preaching of a particular atonement and the love of God were the outgrowth of
gospel. This is the faith of our fathers set forth in the the First Point of 1924. All the literary polemics of the
C a n o n s .                                               time demonstrate this abundantly; and the discussion,
  And, by the way, even the great Abraham Kuyper, such as it was, at the synodical meetings .showed this,
the champion of the common grace theory, wanted too. Whenever there was a iittle doctrinal discussion of
nothing of the general grace theory of the well-meant the issues, 1924 was inevitably mentioned. Moreover,
offer. He-was very strong on the particularity of the the deepest reason why 1967 was unable to condemn
gospel of grace. Shall we say he was happily the 17th century Arminianism of Prof. Dekker was the
inconsistent on this?                                       fact that in 1924 the Christian Reformed Church had
  The second question is: was it ever an issue before principally adopted that same Arminianism. Harold
this time? My answer is that in this particular form it Dekker only carried it a step farther. That is why you
was not. As to its real nature and principle, the issue in could almost hear the sighs of relief when the Dekker
1924 was the same as the issue in 16  1%`19 at the Case was finished, "Whew! At least we ali still hold to
Synod of Dordrecht: Arminianism. Now, however, the well-meant offer!" Editor Haverkamp of De
there was the narrower focus of the gospel-preaching; Wuchter  did not put it quite that way. He wrote
and there was the further complication of the (remember?): "One thing became indeed very plain
Janus-kop  stance of the Christian Reformed Church: from the entire history, namely, that among the
the attempt to show a Reformed face and an Arminian participants in the discussion and in the reports about
face on the same ecclesiastical head.                       the case there was never any disagreement about the
  Taking off on your question, "What does church question whether Scripture teaches the well-meant
history show?" let me remind you that in 1962-1967 offer of grace."


Contending for the Faith
                 . . .
                            The Doctrine of Atonement
                                                Rev. H. Veldman

  Art. III of the second Head of the Canons reads:          necessary had there been fewer elect for whom He
"The death of the Son of God is the only and most           poured out His life's blood.
perfect sacrifice and satisfaction for sin; and is of         This article speaks of the worth and value of the
infinite worth and value, abundantly sufficient to          sacrifice of Christ. It is of eternal and infinite value.
expiate the sins of the whole world."                       This lies in the nature of the case. Fact is, it must bear
  The expression, "abundantly sufficient to expiate the wrath of God, and this wrath of God is eternal and
the sins of the whole world," occurs repeatedly, we infinite. The bearing of this infinite wrath of God is
have noted in preceding articles, in the opinions of the  ,penalty upon sin, inasmuch as sin has been
various delegates to the Great Synod of Dordt, which        committed against the most high majesty of God. That
these delegates submitted to the synod for its              this sacrifice is of such infinite value, blotting out all
consideration. This expression must not be                  our guilt and meriting for the elect life everlasting and
misunderstood. It certainly `does not mean that Christ immortal, lies in the fact that it is the death of the Son
actually died for the sins of every man, head for head.     of God. The article does not say that Christ suffered
This was the heresy of the Arminians, and this heresy       for the sins of the whole world, but that it was
is refuted by the fathers in this second head of the abundantly sufficient to expiate, blot out, all the sins
Canons. Neither does this expression mean that,             of  the whole world. We immediately understand the
inasmuch as the sacrifice of Christ was sufficiently        difference.
abundant to expiate the sins of the whole world, He           This article reads as follows:
therefore suffered more than was necessary, inasmuch
as His sacrifice expiates only the sins of the elect. We           This death derives its infinite value and dignity
                                                                from these considerations, because the person who
do not understand the necessity of this expression in           submitted to it. was not. only really man, and
the Canons. One thing is sure: the extreme character of         perfectly  holy, but also the only begotten Son of
the death of Christ, as suffered and endured by the             God, of the same eternal and infinite essence with the
Saviour upon the cross of Calvary, would have been              Father and the Holy Ghost, which qualifications were


274                                                  THE STANDARD BEARER


       necessary to constitute Kim a Savior for us; and         question: "But whom say ye that I am?", the apostle
       because it was attended with a sense of the wrath and    Peter, answering for the disciples, answers: "Thou art
       curse of God due to us for sin.                          the Christ, the Son of the living God." And the
  In this fourth article the fathers explain the value expression, "Son of God," has but one meaning in the
and dignity of the sacrifice and death of Christ. How Word of God, namely that the Lord Jesus Christ is the
must we account for the fact that our Lord Jesus eternal and infinite Son of God, one in essence with
Christ could atone for all the sins of all the elect by the Father and the Holy Spirit.
one sacrifice upon the cross? Did God simply consider
this sacrifice to be of such great value or is it true that                            ARTICLE V
the death of the Lamb of God was really that valuable?            This article reads as follows:
These questions are answered by this article. The truth                Moreover, the promise of the gospel is, that
as set forth in this fourth article of Head' II of the              whosoever believeth in Christ crucified, shall not
Canons is also treated in Lord's Day V of our                       perish, but have everlasting life. This promise,
                                                                    together with the command to repent and believe,
Heidelberg Catechism.                                               ought to be declared and published to all nations, and
  First of all, the Mediator, our Lord Jesus Christ, is             to all persons promiscuously and without distinction,
really man and perfectly holy. In the Old Dispensation              to whom God out of His good pleasure sends the
the Son of God appeared to men, as to Abraham,                      gospel.
recorded in Gen. 18. We also read of angels that they             This, we readily understand, is an article often
appeared to men, took upon themselves the                       quoted, particularly in the history of our Protestant
appearance of a man. Jesus did not simply appear as a Reformed Churches. It is an article rather well known.
man. He was no ghost or spirit. But He actually                 However, this does not mean that it is, therefore, an
became man, actually became like unto us in all things, article generally well understood. On the contrary, it is
sin excepted. And He is a perfectly holy man. He was a very controversial article, an article that is often
perfectly holy in the judicial sense of the word. He            quoted by those who believe in a universal love of
was, therefore, without guilt. Because He is the eternal God, universal atonement, and in the preaching of the
Son of God, standing personally outside of the human            gospel as an offer of salvation on God's part to all who
race, the guilt of Adam was not imputed to  Him. He hear that gospel. How strange this is! Is it not a very
had no sins of His own to expiate. And He is also               striking thing that an article of the Canons should be
perfectly holy, as man, in the ethical, spiritual sense. He     quoted by those who believe in a general and universal
was born without corruption. He became like unto us love of God, when the truth of the matter is that it is
in all things, sin excepted. All this was necessary if a these fathers of Dordrecht who are fighting here these
sacrifice is to be brought which would expiate the sins very Arminian heresies!
of the elect of God. Man sinned and man must pay for              This article, we understand, treats the subject of the
sin. For this reason our Mediator must become man preaching or proclamation of the gospel. The
and be perfectly holy, He must be able to pay for remonstrants contended that the reformed view of the
others, not for His own sin, and, as the perfectly Holy         Scriptures hinders or renders impossible a general
One, He must be able to bear the wrath of God in                preaching of the gospel. How, for example, can the
perfect obedience.                                              gospel be preached to all men if Christ died only for
  Secondly, however, the Mediator was also the Son the elect? Isn't the "gospel" good news? "Good news"
of God. This is emphasized in this article. He is also the is the literal meaning of the word, "gospel." How can
only begotten Son of God, of the same eternal and the gospel of the suffering and death of Christ be
infinite essence with the Father and the Holy Ghost.            preached to all, be a gospel proclaimed to all if He died
Hence, according to His Divine nature, He is essentially        only for some.7 In fact, the Reformed  man cannot
one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. And He was a           really preach the gospel. What he should do is confine
Divine, not a human, Person. The article speaks of Him. his preaching of the gospel to the elect. But this, we
as the only begotten Son of God. He was therefore the! understand, he cannot do. And inasmuch as we do not
Person of the Son of God, in divine and human nature.           know who the elect are, we, who are truly Reformed,
And it is the Person of the Son of God Who suffers for          cannot really proclaim the gospel. This objection of
us, not in the divine nature, but in the human nature.          the Remonstrants or Arminians against the Reformed
His sacrifice has infinite value exactly because it. was        conception of the cross and death of our Lord Jesus
the sacrifice of the eternal and infinite Son of God.           Christ is also heard today. 0, it is not a new
This is the language of our confessions. And this, of accusation! The fathers of Dordt were thoroughly
course, is also the language of the infallible Stiiiptures.     familiar with it. And our Protestant Reformed
Many passages could be quoted from the Word of God.             Churches are also thoroughly familiar with it. It is this
We will quote a passage from the gospel of Matthew, accusation, charge of the Arminians, that is answered
chapter 16. When the Lord asks His disciples what the by the fathers in this fifth article of Head II of the
people say of Him, and then confronts them with the             Canons. Incidentally, this is one of the articles of the


                                            THE STANDARD BEARER                                               275



Canons that is quoted by the Christian Reformed How. true! Paul, upon his second missionary journey, .
Synod of 1924 in its support of the Three Points never intended to go into Europe. It was his  in-
adopted at that synod in Kalamazoo. That synod kention  to go to the right. But the vision of the man
declared that the preaching of the gospel is grace to all of Macedonia revealed to him that he must go to the
who hear it, declared that the preaching of the gospel is left, into Europe. God also sovereignly determines the
a general, well meant offer of grace on God's part to all tour se of the preaching, of the gospel. He also
men. We again refer our readers to the thorough determines who shall hear this preaching. He has not
treatment of the Canons, also of this article, by Prof. only determined who shall be saved, but also to whom
H. C. Hoeksema in past Standard Bearers.                   the gospel will be proclaimed. This is extremely
  This first article speaks of the preaching of the important. The fathers here immediately establish and
promise of the gospel. The expression, "promise of the maintain the sovereignly particular love of God. Does
gospel," we interpret in this article as referring to the the Lord love all men? Does He desire the salvation of
promise proclaimed by the gospel. Now we should all men? Does He attempt to save all men? If He loves
notice, in the first place, that the fathers here declare all men, why is it then that He does not have His gospel
that the promises of the gospel, together with the preached to all men? Of course, He does have His
command to repent and believe, ought to be declared gospel preached to the elect. But why does He not
and published to all nations, and to all persons have His gospel preached to all the reprobates? Fact is,
promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God not all men hear the preaching of the gospel. Most men
out of His good pleasure sends the gospel, The do not hear this preaching. And, mind you, it is the
Arminians declared that the advocates of the good pleasure that the Lord does not have the gospel
Reformed view, maintaining an eternal, unconditional preached to all men. Sovereignly, therefore, He
love of God (Head I), and a particular atonement, withholds this gospel from men. And He would save all
really could not preach the gospel. Notice that the men? And then He sovereignly withholds His gospel
fathers here maintain this particular and unconditional from many? The fathers here, therefore, immediately
love of God. They declare that also the preaching of maintain the sovereignly particular love of God. The
this gospel is sovereignly determined by the Lord. They Lord willing, we will return to this article in our
declare that this gospel ought to be preached to whom following article.
God out of His good pleasure sends the gospel.


In His Fear
                          The Pilgrim and the Church
                                               Rev. D. H. Kuiper

  The pilgrim is a church member. Since the Church is of the Church there is variation and diversity, so that
the creation of God, since she is precious in the.sight each pilgrim, with his peculiar gifts and abilities,
of the Lord, and since Christ gave His life for her, we occupies a place and office in the Church which edifies
ought to be very clear as to what the Church of Jesus mutually the members and glorifies the Head.
Christ is essentially. The Scriptures present us with a      Further, that Christ is the Head of the Church sends
rich variety of names for this spiritual entity: church, us back to the eternal decrees of God, for we read in
bride, building, temple, plant, vine, tree. Perhaps the Colossians I that Christ is before all things, He is the
most beautiful and highly revelatory name is the body beginning. We are to understand, therefore, that in the
of  Christ. According to Colossians one, Christ is the counsel of God, Christ was before the Church. God
Head of the body, the Church. From this follows that determined to reconcile  all  things  in Him;  having
the Church is alive, enjoying the resurrection life of elected Him to be the Mediator of the Covenant, God
Christ, and bringing forth the Church by His power. then chose His people in Christ and gave them to
The Church is a unity, possessing one faith, one Christ. Hence, the name  body  of  Christ  stresses the
doctrine, one life and hope and love. It is a perfect importance of Christ to the Church! He is the origin,
whole whose perfection is never marred by the the life, the victory, the surety, the glory of the
haphazard addition .or subtraction of members; nor is Church. The Church, then, is composed  of'%11 those
it possible to speak of the Church in indefinite terms, chosen unto eternal life in Christ, before the world
as if the size or number of her members were not was, and is gathered by Him from -every nation through
known or determined. And yet, within the fellowship His Spirit and Word. Outside of that Church there is no


  276                                            THE STANDARD BEARER


  salvation and life. For that Church, Christ has made        one to the other. He has been elected and regenerated.
  peace through the blood of His Cross.                       He is saved as a member of Christ's Body. But how
  Church as Institution                                       must he view the scene of hundreds and hundreds of
     On earth, that one, holy, universal Church, which        Protestant denominations?
  embraces all of time and every people, reveals itself as       In the first place, the pilgrim joins himself to an
  an institution.  In both dispensations, the Church of instituted church and attends that church! He does not
  God has definite offices, ceremonies, and practices.        forsake the assembling of believers together as the
  The result is that this spiritual creation called Church    manner of some is, but it is his sacred duty to join
  may be recognized and found. She has offices and            himself and his family to the true Church. This needs
  functioning officers: today there are the elders, and       to be emphasized today, because growing numbers
  deacons; and ministers, gifts of Christ to the Church       scorn church membership and activity, and claim to
  through which He governs, is merciful, and speaks. As       have a more direct operation of the Holy Spirit which
  .far as  .membership is concerned, the Church is            makes conventional membership unnecessary. Some
  composed of believers and their seed. This latter           few others claim that they and a few friends are the
  .implies that in the church on earth there are more         only ones worthy of the name "True Church"; so they
  individuals than the elect of God. There' are also          gather in their living rooms and read the Bible
  hypocrites, there is chaff among the wheat, there are       together. Or, as I heard one intellectual say, "There are
superficial hangers-on. In this world the church as           other ways of getting to heaven than by going to
  institute is a mixed multitude, as was Israel of old.       church." The 28th Article of the Belgic Confession,
    The picture, therefore, is a complicated one. As time     however, has the answer for all time: "We believe,
  marches on there is a two-fold flowering or                 since this holy congregation is an assembly of those
  development. As the true Church is being gathered by        who are saved, and that out of it there is no salvation,
  Christ out of the line of continued generations, the        that no person, of whatsoever state or condition he
  carnal, false church continues to arise from the same       may be, ought to withdraw himself, to live in a
  generations. As the true Church reveals herself in this     separate state from it; but that all men are in duty
  world, living out of Christ and developing the truth as     bound to join and unite themselves with it."
  it is in Him, there is also a malignant growth away            Clearly, the question is not; shall I join a church, but
  from the truth in the direction of the lie and human        it  is, which  church do I join? We are assured by the
  philosophy. The history of the church-is not a static       next article of the same confession that this question
  one. -There is constant movement, among churches and        can be easily resolved. Prof. Hoeksema, in a little
  denominations, from the camp of the truth into the          booklet on the church, suggests some answers that have
  camp of the lie, from the sphere of the true Church         been given here. He writes of the  ecumenicist, the
  into the sphere of the false. It is the case that for a     traditionalist, and the indifferent&t. The first has the
  time one denomination carries the torch of truth, and       neat solution of getting rid of all denominations and
  then it is passed to another by the way of reformation.     doctrinal distinctions; just have one church and every-.
  Or as John puts it in Revelation 2, the candlesticks,       one go to that church. The second insists that the
  representing the presence of Jesus Christ, are removed. church of his birth and baptism is the right one; I will
  from one church and given to another. This is not an        trust my leaders, let them do my thinking, and follow,
  event of a moment. Let it be emphasized that the' come what may. The third yawns and says what is the
  development of the false church is a  .process. difference? We are all going to the same place anyway.
  Discernably and gradually, the pure milk of the Word Hopefully, none of these answers is yours. I would like
  is adulterated, the influence of false doctrines. to suggest a fourth type that may fit more of us, one
  increases, the word of man questions, contradicts, then whom I would call the s.z?Zfish-saved. He makes his shib-
  replaces the Word of God. Then, sadly but inexorably, boleth the question of his own salvation. If I am saved,
  a church becomes false.                                     what else is there to be concerned about? Now, truly
                                                              that is an important question! But what about the more
  A Complicated Pit ture                                      pressing question concerning the glory of God? Are
    The situation that faces the serious pilgrim is not not our church membership, our confession, and
  simply one of two churches, a completely true and a         worship, and life connected directly to that? And what
  completely false. But there is a true Church and a false    about the truth of God as it is contained in His
  church, and "in between" there are many gradations,         precious revelation? What about the welfare of His
  many degrees of relative purity and falseness. Yet, the     cause in future generations? John Calvin once wrote in
  Christian must conduct himself according to the             a letter  ~to a friend that the person "who is
  Biblical principle of there being an absolute cleavage      everlastingly concerned with his own salvation cannot
  between light and darkness, truth and lie. He must be. serve God." Our personal salvation must be seen in the
  aware of the presence of a true and a false church, and     greater context of God's purpose to glorify Himself.
  he must be aware of the relentless movement from the        To see things persistently in terms of one's salvation is


                                              THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   277



basically selfishness! So we ought not to see what we divorce and re-marriage, union membership, the
can "get away with" as far as our church membership authority of Scripture, the atonement, worldly
is concerned. If so be you have tasted that the Lord is amusements, and so on. No matter what we believe in
gracious, gracious in saving you and bringing you to our hearts you and I are accountable for these
faith in Jesus Christ, you will desire the pure milk of decisions. We may be confronted on the street by a
the  Word.  Not skimmed Milk, not adulterated milk, stranger, and because of our church affiliations, be
not the poisons of a false-gospel, but pure milk!             charged with what our denomination holds to be true.
  Positively the Belgic Confession states that the In this respect, we are no better than our church. And
Christian must join himself to that church which if you cannot live with that, then because of the
reveals herself to be true by easily recognizable marks:      discernment God has given you, you must do
"the preaching of the pure doctrine of the gospel (How some thing!
startling that the gospel is put here in terms of               That something is very serious and very hard; it may
doctrine!  DHK), the pure administration of the involve the losing of friends and the splitting of
sacraments as instituted by Christ, and the exercise of families. But hear the word of Christ: "Whosoever
church discipline in punishing of sin." The Confession, loveth father and mother more than me is not worthy
in giving us this aid, lays it upon us to use these marks!    of the kingdom of heaven." He came into this world to
No matter where your church membership is at set members of the same families at odds with one
present, your calling is to apply these marks another. Further, the word of Christ, according to
constantly. Do you hear the true doctrine of the Revelation 3: 14-22 is that we must  leave a church
gospel? Not just some simplistic, sentimentalized when it goes wayward and refuses to change its course.
gospel, but the systematic, logical, confessional, Christ leaves such a church, and so must we. But also
Scriptural presentation of the full counsel of God? Are hear this: when such a decision is made for principle's
the sacraments added to that preaching periodically as sake, when the comfort of one's church and
signs and seals of the righteousness that is by faith, and friendships are left behind for love of the Gospel, then
are unrepentant sinners kept  f&m use of the                  Christ will be with them who have so left, and He will
sacraments? Is discipline exercised in love, both love        commune with them and feed them!
for the brother involved as well as love for the cause
and name of God? Are false teachers put out? Or does Rich Benefits
everything go, in doctrine and walk, under the guise of         Thus, when the pilgrim settles the question of his
tolerance? Oh, you can know these things. The pilgrim         church correctly, there are rich rewards for him and his
has the Bible, as we saw last time, and that Bible is         family. First, the Sabbath Days becomes for him rest
clear! Let nothing come between the Word of God and stops on his journey. We have all driven the interstate
the understanding of your conscience.                         highway system and have discovered how, tiring those
                                                              long stretches can be. How refreshing the periodic rest
A Difficult Calling                                           stops! The pilgrim is on a journey through a strange
  When the Confession tells us that the distinction           land, filled with those who hate him and his God, who
between the true and false church can be easily known,        would destroy him, and prevent the reaching of the
it is not saying that doing the right thing is an easy        destination. He needs, periodically, to  have rest and
matter. The calling of the pilgrim can be extremely nourishment. He must be assured that he is on the
difficult. For example, what if you become convinced right way, and very likely, he will stand some
that your present church does not measure up                  correction. Especially he. needs a view of heaven to
favorably to the marks of the true  church,.so that not       inspire him and excite the hope that is in him! Christ
only do you know something is wrong intellectually,           does all these things. Christ feeds and strengthens and
but you know this spiritually and experientially: you         corrects and gives hope! He does so especially on
are not being fed with the true Bread from heaven, and        Sunday through the preaching of His Word!
your children are not being instructed in the truth of          Also, a rich benefit is derived from fellowshipping
Scripture? And what if every attempt to remedy this           with other pilgrims. Pilgrims  need  each other. They
sad situation fails, and results in the entrenchment of have all things in common, and therefore, can talk
error? What must you do? One  widely observable               about their goal, compare notes on the enemy, give
reaction is that a person sees the problem, abhors the loving correction. Thirdly, he has the assurance, then,
situation, decries the apostasy, and  does  riothing!   He that his children will come into contact with the truth.
keeps his membership where it is and thinks he is really      That's important, isn't it? You believe that God takes
a little above the rest of his church! Truth is, because      His seed from your seed? That heaven will be
of the principle of corporate or federal responsibility, populated with the children of believers, according to
before God and man he is responsible for all the God's promise? How important then that our children
decisions and stands of his church. Your church and           have and enjoy the'means of grace! Then they in turn
mine have taken stands over the years on such things as       can transmit this heritage to their children. The pilgrim


278                                               THE STANDARD BEARER


has joy when he sees his children walk in the truth!            God's grace! He is that only when he believes,
  Finally, by standing for the truth in the midst of an         confesses,  ,and stands for the truth of Scripture! He
evil world, the pilgrim stranger may know that he is            sees himself as a vessel of God's honor, and in that high
pleasing to God. He has been called out of darkness for         purpose he loses himself. And his soul is at rest! He has
the sole purpose of being to the praise of the glory of the answer of a good conscience towards God.


From Holy Writ

                     Exposition of the Book of Hebrews
                                                      Rev. G. Lubbers
                                                        (continued)

THE BLESSING OF JACOB  (Hebrews  11~20; Gen. womb. It is especially in the "blessing" upon Esau that
27: 27-29)                                                      we see the blessing of Jacob come to stand in proper
   In this blessing of Jacob nothing is said concerning Christological perspective. For in the "blessing" upon
the two nations, of the elder having dominion over the Esau Isaac placed him  under  his brother Jacob. The
younger. Esau is not said here to have dominion over people of Edom will serve Israel.
Jacob. This is avoided by Isaac. The terms are such                Indeed, Esau sought for the  preeminency. But he
that in the wisdom and overruling providence of God found no place of repentance on the part of his father
we see in dim outline what is expressedly stated by the Isaac. Yes, he sought it with tears. And herein we see
Spirit in the prophecy of Malachi. We would state here the faith of Isaac shine forth. He will submit to the
that the terms are generally global and Messianic. But if divine will of God and place the elder under the
Isaac hesitated here to express the blessing upon Esau; younger. He sees the purpose of God according to
God expressed here the blessing upon Jacob, as the election, that the Seed which would be "called in
Seed of Abraham will be gathered in the generations of Isaac" would come out of Jacob and not out of Esau.
the Old Testament people of God, as well as in those               Listen to this blessing upon Esau. This is clear
of the New Testament Church. And when this comes language, which is consciously submissive to the divine
to pass "Edom will be the border of wickedness, the will and revelation given some seven@ years ago! Yes,
people  again& whom the LORD hath indignation Esau will have the fat of the earth. He will be a warlike
forever." In a sense, what Isaac meant for evil, God nation, living by his sword. He will go and dwell in
turned it to good. And when Isaac sees this he trembles Mount Seir. And his nation shall dwell there for more
exceedingly, and says "Yea, and he shall be blessed." than eighteen centuries. But it will not be a nation
.And that was by faith!                                         which has a king David, even though it has its kings
THE BLESSING OF  ESAU  (Hebrews 11: 20, Gen. and dukes long before there was a king in Israel. (Gen.
27:39,40)                                                       36:31) It will be subject to David's house. Esau will
   There are those with a dogmatical bent of mind and serve  .his brother in the time when Israel lays all its
who are given to rigid definition who will ask: how can enemies low and subjects them under her feet. We read
the Bible speak of Isaac "blessing" Esau. Particularly in II Samuel 8: 14 "And (David) he put garrisons in
this may be asked when it is obvious from Gen. 27:39, Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all
40 that Isaac by this time was wholly satisfied  .that the Edomites became servants of David."
Esau was standing before him, and that the latter                 Yes, Esau will cast off the yoke for a little. In
"with tears" seeks for "one blessing." (Gen.  27:38) II Chronicles 21:8-l 0 we read "Tn his (Jehoram) days
The question persists, therefore, how Isaac could bless Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and
E$au.  prow,  this  is  a  matter  wfich  cm  only   be  resolved  made a.  king  Over  themsel*es  . .  -  SO  E&m  revolted
if we remove the "Isaac blessed" from the strict from under the hand of Judah unto this day . . ." Thus
implication of "spiritual blessing" as this is opposite to was the blessing of Isaac fulfilled which predicted
the "curse" upon God's enemies. When the Bible "And it shall come to pass when thou shalt break
speaks here of Isaac blessing Jacob and Esau it ought loose, that thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy
to be evident that there is in the very terminology in  neck*"  (Gen*  27:40)
which Jacob is placed before Esau already a difference            Thus Isaac spoke by faith!
in the "blessing," that is, in the contents of the  HEBREWS  11:21B.
prophetic utterance concerning the future of two                  "By faith Jacob . . . worshippbd,  leaning on the top
nations which were already wrestling in Rebecca's of his staff (bed)" THE DYING JACOB (Vs 216)


                                              THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 279


     When a Christian dies, he dies clinging to the Joseph who is both ruler and also has the right of the
  promise of God in the hope of eternal life, Thus it was firstborn, according to the flesh. (I  Clu-on. 5: 1) He
  with Jacob, the dying patriarch in the  .land of Egypt. summons Joseph to his bed. He does this in faith,
  Abraham and Isaac might die in  the land of Canaan which is the substance. of things hoped for, the
  somewhere in the vicinity of the cave of Machpelah. evidence of things not seen. It is the first act of faith
  They might there bury their dead. It was here that on the part of Jacob in claiming the promise of God's
  Jacob, during the forty years of sojourn, after powerfully delivering Israel from Egypt some four
  returning from Haran, had buried his wife Leah. Jacob hundred years hence. He reaches out to the promise in
  had stood weeping at that grave. It was a sad and hope and faith!
  poignant moment. The Spirit had triumphed over the          He requires Joseph to swear an oath. Joseph must
  flesh; he was to be buried next to Leah, the hated one. put his hand under Jacob's thigh as a symbolic act of
  Now would he be joined to her and Leah's prayer swearing. He must give Jacob his pledge of assurance
  would be answered. Rachel had been buried by the way that he will not bury him in Egypt, but that he will
  a short distance from Ephrath. Jacob had buried Leah bury him in the land of Canaan in the cave of
  here, clinging to the promise and hope of the fathers, Machpelah. He will be the first-fruits of them that
  the hope of the blessed resurrection in the last day. return to Canaan, be it then in a coffin. It is hope
  Somewhere in that day he saw, through the mists of through death. Joseph solemnly promises and says, "I
  his tears, fulfillment of the promise "so shall thy seed will do as thou hast said."
b e . "                                                       And now Jacob worships God. He thanks `God,
     0, the blessed and hallowed memories of the commends this promise to the God of Israel, who had
  promises of God. Jacob could not forget them. Fact is,    promised him at Beersheba that he would bring Israel
  that is what buoyed his spirits even when he spoke of again from the land of Egypt as a great nation. Jacob's
  "going down with sorrow to the grave," and when he        faith is a sermon to Israel in their generations. Now
  laments that all these things "are against me." Now Jacob's soul can rest in peace. He had seen Israel
  Jacob resides in Egyptland with the twelve tribes of become established. in. Egypt during these seventeen
  Israel. God led him into this "land not theirs." (Gen.    years that they had lived there. Another generation
  15: 13) He gave dreams to Joseph and had -him sold had been born, and there were many children. The
  into Egypt to prepare the way to "keep a great people     increase had been prodigious. God was fulfilling His
  alive." He  sent his mighty judgments of famine after promise in making him a mighty nation in Egypt; but
  seven years of plenty. He changed  the land of Egypt Jacob scans the future in the  ' eye of faith and
  from a land of private property to a land which was worships!
  owned by the government.  ,(Gen.  47:20-21)  ". . . so      He will be buried in the land  ,next to Lcah! For
  the land became Pharaoh's, and as for the people, he Judah, thou art he. . . .
  removed them to cities from one end of the borders to       Whether the reading of the Hebrew or of the
  the other end thereof." Truly, this was earth shaking     Septuagint translation is correct makes very little'
  and it was a drastic demonstration that God divides       difference. It is of no consequence. The Hebrew has
  the land and nations "according to the number of the the word "bed" and the Septuagint translation which
  children of Israel." .(Deut. 32:7, 8)                     is here given in Hebrews 11: 2 1 has the term "staff." It
     It was not upon private initiative that Jacob and all is simply the difference of one vowel sign. The point is
  of Israel left the land, when beckoned away by famine, that Jacob deliberately got out of his position of lying
  and when Joseph sent wagons to fetch Jacob from the down, sat up in bed and worshipped in deep reverence
  land of Canaan into Egypt. It was at Beersheba that       and thanksgiving to God.
  the LORD had appeared unto Jacob and had said to            He did this in faith!
  him ". . . fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will       And the writer to the Hebrews calls attention to this
  make of thee a great nation. I will go down with thee     worshipping of Jacob here in connection with Jacob's
  into Egypt; and I will surely bring thee up again: and prophetic eye and his hope concerning the final
  Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes . . ." (Gen.    salvation. What a suffering this aged Jacob had to
  46:3, 4) And thus Jacob came to dwell in Egypt endure. He is not simply waxing  rhetotical before
  according to the prophetic word to Abraham and Pharaoh when he speaks of the "days of the years of
  according to the expressed sanction of the Lord at his pilgrimage!" Presently these days of the years of
  Beersheba. Thus Jacob-came to dwell in Egypt with his the pilgrimage will be over. Then all the weary night
  seventy souls.                                            shall be past. He will open his eyes in, the eternal
     Israel dwells in the land of Egypt, a land which is    morning of the glorious and unfading day.
  not theirs!                                                 Thus it must be with the churches which receive this
     But now the aged Jacob is a dying man. He is letter of the Hebrews. They must not fall back into
  evidently bed-ridden, although he will live yet a little perdiiion and unbelief, but must be of those who
  while. He makes his testimentary arrangements with persevere to the saving of the soul. They must live and


280                                                      THE STANDARD BEARER



die like Christians. They must look at the sure delivered from Egypt. The better Passover is slain. God
recompence of the reward. If we suffer with Christ we has called His Son out of Egypt, through his death and
shall also be glorified together. Let us then bow our -resurrection. His word of promise stands, for he is
head upon the top of o,ur pilgrims staff and worship in faithful who hath  p!omised. That is what we say "by
the hope of our burial with thanksgiving. Israel is long faith."


The Signs of the Times
                                     Impending Disasters
                                                           Rev. G. Van Baren

  Often we have read in Scripture those passages                         fountains of waters; and the name of the star is called
which speak of disasters  - especially the "disasters"                   Wormwood; and the third part of the waters became
near the end of time. At times we read such sections a                   wormwood; and many men died of the waters,
bit fearfully. These things which occur appear to affect                 because they were made bitter.
the whole earth - will we not also then be affected as                          And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part
                                                                         of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the
well? After hearing of some of these things, young                       moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third
children of the church have been known to have                           part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for
nightmares. Children of God, of course, ought not to                     a third part of it, and the night likewise.
read and study these things in such a way that                         Now we have often read these passages. We confess
generates fear. Our God, according to His promise, will that these shall be fulfilled. But we do often seek to
provide for His people for Jesus' sake. But we must                  convince otiselves that these do not occur within our
know of those things which must take place, that we lifetimes - that perhaps they shall happen many, many
may properly watch.                                                  years from now. We too have been affected by that
The prophecy of Scripture                                            thinking which implies that man has creation rather
  I have in earlier articles called attention to passages. well under. control. We see how that man, in his
of Scripture which speak of the signs of the end.                    inventiveness, provides increasingly the means for ease
Concerning disasters which fall upon the earth, we read and pleasure on the earth. Man promises that, should
in Matthew 24:7, "For nation shall rise against nation, some sources of energy and raw materials be depleted,
and kingdom against kingdom: and there  sh%ll be he shall find others to replace them. In -past years,
famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers there appears to be continual improvement and
places."                                                             progress. Man increases his material goods. He speaks
  There are several passages in the book of Revelation of his rising standard of living. He speaks of the future
which speak in a similar vein. One example is when he will have vacation Fames, private planes, four
Revelation `8, which presents the first four of the seven' or three-day work-weeks, etc. The time for the
trumpets. These trumpets came out of the seventh seal fulfillment of the Scriptural prophecies concerning
and present a destruction of one-third of the earth (in              disasters seems far removed from our own age.
distinction from the one-fourth destruction of the seals               But, is it?
- that average or normal destruction that we see about
us at any one time). Rev. 8: 7-l 2 states:                           Confirming evidence
            The first angel sounded, and there followed hail           The testimony of Scripture is sufficient. We need
       and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon          nothing more than this for our faith. Yet when even
   the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up,              worldly scientists point to the inevitability of this same
       and all green grass was burnt up.                             thing, one sits back and takes note.
            And the s6cond angel sounded, and as it were a             An article appeared recently in  Time,  January 24,
   great mount&n burning with fire was cast into the.                1972,  entitled, "The Worst is Yet to Be?" It stated:
       sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; and                "The furnaces of Pittsburgh are cold; the assembly
   the third part of the creatures which were in the sea,                lines of Detroit are still. In Los Angeles, a few gaunt
       and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were          survivors. of a plague desperately till freeway center
       destroyed.                                                        strips, backyards and outlying fields, hoping to raise a
           And the third angel sounded, and there fell a                 subsistence crop. London's offices are dark, its docks
   great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and                deserted. In the farm lands of the Ukraine,
   it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the             abandoned tractors litter the fields: there is no fuel


                                                         THE STANDARD BEARER                                                               281



    for them. The  waters of the Rhine, Nile, and  Ye&w                          trig&  catastroDhe.  After running  thou&&  of such
    rivers reek with pollutants."                                                hy$theses   thr&gh the computer, Meadows sums up
       Fantastic? No, only grim inevitability if society                         his conclusion tersely: "All growth projections end in
    continues its present dedication. to  grov.& and                             collapse."
    "progress." At least that is the vision conjured by an                    The report continues by emphasizing that the only
    elaborate study entitled  The Limits to Growth.  Its                   way, to prevent this catastrophe is to maintain a
    sponsors are no latter-day Jeremiahs, but  the 70                      zero-growth rate: in population, in industrialization, in
    eminently respectable members of the prdstigious                       use of material things. To avoid catastrophe, there can
    Club of Rome. . . .                                                    be no more "rise in the living standards." Time points
  This particular report points out why it comes with                      out that there is one glaring weakness in this report.
its forboding conclusions. It insists that man's present                   "It lacks a description of how a society dedicated to
progress can only lead to disaster. It explains it as                      upward and onward growth can change its ways."
follows:. . . As industrialization grows, it voraciously
    consumes enormous amounts of resources. Resources                      Significance for the saints
    become scarcer, forcing more and more capital to be                       Perhaps we shrug off this study as another foolish
    spent on procuring raw materials, which leaves, less                   endeavor of man to analyze his future and come up
    and less money for investment in new plants and                        with solutions which resolve his problems and establish
    facilities. At  this stage, which might be about  2020,                his desired Utopia. And it is true that man seeks to
    the computer's curves begin to converge and cross.                     study many different problems, especially concerning
    Population outstrips food and industrial supplies.                     the future, and arrives at all manner of  Fonclusions.
    Investment in new equipment falls behind the rate of                   Often, his conclusions are contradictory. However, the
    obsolescence, and the industrial base begins to                        point of interest is that man is  becomingvincreasingly
    collapse, carrying along with it the service and                       aware of the probability of disasters in the'near future.
    agGcultura1 activities that have become dependent on                   No longer does he insist that such disasters are
    industrial products (like medical equipment and
    fertilizers). Because of the lack of health services and               unthinkable in our civilized and scientific. society. He
    food, the world's population dwindles rapidly.                         is, rather, deeply concerned and is seeking to convey
      ,In an attempt to  find a way out of  this basic                     that concern to the "man on the street."
    dilemma, Meadows postulated other scenarios., He                          I .am in no position to verify the conclusions of the
    assumed that there are still  hugk,  undiscovel'ed-                    computer quoted above. I would not conclude that the
    reserves of natural resources, say, under the oceans.                  disasters prophesied by this computer are the disasters
    Testing that possibility, Meadows' computer shows                _     foretold in Rev. 8, though there are obvious
    that industrialization will accelerate  - and the                      similarities. I  would  suggest that through studies as
    resulting runaway pollution will overwhelm the                         these, man is already providing for himself answers to
    biosphere. Might not new technological devices                        .possible  future disasters  - "scientific" answers which
    control pollution? Sure, says the computer, but then                   will. refuse to recognize the fact that Scripture has told
    population would sour and outstrip the ability of                      of these very things as signs of the end of time. Be not
    land to produce food. Every advance in technology
    consumes scarce natural resources, throws off more                     deceived by that.
    pollutants and often has unwanted social side effects,                    Wh& the child of God reads reports as the above, he
    like creating huge and unmanageable unemployment.                      must be struck by the fact that the  fujfillment of
    What if pollution, was abated, the birthrate halved atid               passages such as Rev. 8 is at hand. Let us not, then, live
    food production doubled? The readouts are no less                      as though the end is far off. Know rather that "the
    glum. There would still be-some pollution from every                   Lord is at hand" (Phil. 4: 5).
    farm and factory, and cumulatively it would still


The Strength of Youth
                                     Confession  cpf Faith(3)
            "Whoso'ever  therefore shall confess  me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever
           shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father whiclz. is in heaven. "                 Matthew  10:32,33
                                                         Rev. Robert D. Decker

   We introduced our last article by pointing out that He began. (Phil. 1: 6) We continued by examining the
confessing our faith is a fruit of the grace of God. It is actual contents of our confession. In this connection
God finishing the good work of salvation in us which we discussed at some length the first question asked


282                                            THE STANDARD BEARER


those who confess their faith publicly before the doth it .profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath
Church. Confession of faith means: "we acknowledge faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?"
the. doctrine contained in the Old and New Testaments         Suppose you say you have faith; you make confession
and in the Articles of the  ChristianZfaith and taught        of your faith in the Church of Jesus Christ. You
here in this Christian Church to be the true and              acknowledge the doctrine of the Bible as set forth in
complete doctrine of salvation." Confessing our faith the Creeds and taught in the Church to be the true and
implies that we know the doctrines of the Scriptures,         complete doctrine of salvation; but as a matter of fact
the objective, timeless, always relevant truth of the the new and godly life is not there. Your faith is not
infallibly inspired Word of God. That doctrine is the         expressed in your everyday life. Your doctrine is not,
doctrine summed up and set forth  in systematic put into practice. Can that kind of faith, a faith
fashion in the Articles of the Christian faith, i.e. the without the works of faith, save you? Obviously not!
Three. Forms of Unity: the Heidelberg Catechism, the James illustrates the point when `he writes: "If a
Belgic or Netherlands Confession of Faith, and the brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food,
Canons of Dordt. Still more, we confess before the And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye
Church that the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures as set, warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not
forth in the Confessions is taught `here in this those things which are needful for the body; what doth
Christian Church." In other words, most emphatically it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead,
that means we are confessing that the Protestant being alone." (vss. 15-l 7). You say you have faith, but
Reformed Churches teach the true and complete when a brother or sister comes to you for clothing and
doctrine of salvation! A knowledge of that doctrine daily food you simply say to him or her, "Be warmed
and a commitment to that doctrine are absolutely and filled," but you give them  neither clothing nor
necessary before. one may confess his faith in Jesus food; what good is that? Does your word, "Be warmed
Christ.                                                       and filed," put clothes on your brother's back  and.
  But that is not all there is to confessing our faith. food in, his hungry stomach? Of course not! Your
Correct doctrine and a commitment to the same - that words are profitless, empty, meaningless. And that's
is first, and that cannot be emphasized enough in our the way it is with faith without- works. That kind  of,
day of apathy, insensitivity, and downright dislike of faith is dead; it's alone.
doctrine. We live in the day of which Paul warned               So it is with confessing our faith;We acknowledge
Timothy when he spoke of people having itching ears the truth of Holy Scripture. The new and godly life
and not enduring sound doctrine. The popular must follow:If it does not, it only means that our con-
preacher is not the "doctrinal preacher,`? sometimes we fession:.of faith is profitless. You believe the.doctrines
fear not even in Protestant Reformed circles. That is         of the Bible? That's fine and that's `necessary. But you
too bad! That will yield a bitter fruit in days to come!      fail to live the new and godly life? James would say to
Without being firmly rooted and grounded in the ,you: "The devils-also believe, and tremble." (vs. 19)!
doctrines of the Bible we will be tossed to and fro by James concludes-the chapter'by citing two examples of
every wind of false doctrine that blows (Eph. 4). And living faith out of the Old Testament. That Abraham's
how many of those destructive winds are not blowing! faith was living is evident from the fact that "he offered
today?! But doctrine `is not all. There must also be.
                                .-                            Isaac, his son;upon the altar." And, that Rahab the
godly living.                                                 harlot had living faith is evident from, her "receiving the
  There is of course an inseparable connection ,messengers  and sending them out another way."
                                                                            _  .--....
between doctrine and godly living. The connection is            Thus confession of faith involves a resolving to,
this: doctrine must. be the foundation of our Christian adhere to the doctrine of Scripture, to reject all
life. It must be the principle that motivates and guides      heresies repugnant to the same, and to lead a new,
us in our .daily living. To put it still another way, th.e    godly life. By the grace of God we resolve to do that!
true and complete .doctrine we acknowledge must be- By the grace of God, because we cannot do it in our
expressed in our daily life.                                  own strength, we resolve to do that. To make that
  This is precisely why our wise church fathers               confession means we acknowledge our own inability
formulated question number two for Public Confession and sinful weaknesses and commit ourselves totally to
of Faith which reads: "Have you resolved by the grace the care of God. That certainly implies a resolve to
of God to adhere to this doctrine; to reject all heresies     attend  the worship services of the Church faithfully.
repugnant thereto and to lead a new, godly life?" The faithful pulpit is the fountain out of which that
(Psalter, p. 59). To appreciate the seriousness of this       grace of God flows, enabling us to lead the new, godly
godly life take your Bibles and turn to the second, life. It pleases God by the means of the foolishness of
chapter of James. I-Iere the Bible speaks of the              preaching to save them that believe! (I Cor. 1) By
relationship between faith and works and makes the. preaching, God puts to nothing the wisdom of the
point that faith without works is dead. In verses 14 to       world. Preaching is Christ the power of God and the
the end of the chapter James asks the question: "What         wisdom of God. To confess a resolve to lead a new,


                                                  THE STANDARD BEARER                                                        283
,

godly life by God's  grace and then to despise God's covenant! "Holy baptism witnesseth and sealeth unto
means of grace, the preaching of the Word is to put the us the washing awayof our sins and the daily renewing
lie to our confession! And, you understand, this is the of our lives!" And, through baptism, we \are "by God
ONLY way! Of course God cayl save by other means; admonished of, and obliged unto new obedience,
but the point is;the Bible teaches God will not save by namely that we cleave to this one God, Father, Son,
other means! God chooses to save by THIS means and and Holy Ghost; that we trust in him, and love him
this means alone.                                                with all our hearts . . . . that we forsake the world,
     It is precisely for this reason that young people who crucify our old nature, and walk in a new and holy
confess their faith and declare agreement with and- life." That's the Bible's teaching too. Paul says in
commitment to the doctrine of the Scriptures as Romans 6 that we are buried with Christ by baptism
"taught in this Christian Church" and then who leave into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the
that Christian Church commit serious sin. How is it dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should
possible to "adhere to this doctrine and reject all walk in. newness of life." (vss. 4). Baptism signifies and
heresies repugnant thereto" in a church that does not it seals this to us. Baptism means that we are dead to
preach it? Perhaps it is true that one who leaves the sin, no longer the slaves of sin. The admonition of
church for another will never forget the Protestant baptism then is in terms of Romans 6:.  `fLet not sin
Reformed truth and always believe it (this is invariably therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should
the rationalization of such a move) but his or her obey it in the lusts thereof." (vs. 12).
children wilI not. There are grieving parents who once              That then is our calling! Whether we have confessed
left and now have returned whose children are to this our faith or not, our calling is to lead the new, godly
day in other churches, who will be the first to warn life. And that, very simply, means that the truth of the
against exactly this. Confessing our faith, then, means Word of God is expressed. by,us in all of our living. Our
a firm resolution to use faithfully the means of grace in lives are characterized by true piety and godliness. In
order to be enabled to grow in the truth and in the our homes, at school, in our daily work, as husbands
Christian way of life.                                           and wives, parents or children, in our recreation,
     Once more the question: do you know and love the always and everywhere we live as those bought with
truth? Are you resolved to lead the new, godly life? the precious blood, of Christ, born again to newness of
Then, confess that! Perhaps you refrain because you life, elect strangers in the earth who. are inspired and
are afraid of not being able to lead a new, godly life. moved by a living hope of everlasting. glory at the
Personally, this pastor has encountered young people appearing of Jesus Christ. -Then we seek the Kingdom
who say that they cannot make confession of faith of God and His righteousness and .do not even worry
because they know they will not lead a new, godly life. about what we are going to eat, drink, or put on (Matt.
Somehow they seem to think they have no sacred 6). We lay up treasures in heaven and not on the
obligation to lead Christian lives until they have earth; serve God and `not mammon; pray, preach,
confessed their faith! That's bad thinking! Read the worship, eat, drink, sleep, work, and play in a godly
Baptism Form!, When we were but infants the water of m,anner   l o o k i n g   f o r   t h e   c i t y   w h i c h   /has  t h e
baptism was sprinkled upon our foreheads, marking us foundations! That is the new, godly life! Is it your
for  Christan living as the children of God's gracious resolve to lead that kind of life by the grace of God?


All Around Us
                     How To Let The Bible Confuse You
                                                       Pro5 H. Hanko

     We have, from time to time, in these pages criticized       Reformed Episcopal Seminary in Philadelphia and no
the A.A.C.S. (Association for the Advancement of friend of the A.A.C.S., sent to the Standard Bearer a
Christian Scholarship) which has its chief center in             copy of an article first printed  in the Episcopal
Toronto. We hav'e also, in the  Book Review Recorder  in February, 1972 and written  I by Prof.
department criticized some of the publications of this           Gordon  Haddon Clark, Chairman of the Philosophy
organization. Among those books which we have Department at Butler University in -Indianapolis,
criticized is-the book "Understanding The Scriptures" Indiana. This article is  also a criticism of the book
written by A. H. Degraaff and C. G. Seerveld;                    "Understanding the Scripture." We think this article is
     Recently, Dr. Robert K. Rudoiph, rector of the particularly important because it demonstrates lucidly


284                                                      THE STANDARD BEARER



how flatly contradictory and how confusing the book                   the heavens and the earth." Furthermore, this
is. Under the title which appears at the head of this                 statement can be memorized  - and I hope all who
article, Prof. Clark writes:                                          read this have memorized it. Whether it can be
          Peter says that some of Paul's paragraphs are hard          "mastered" is hard to say, for Dr. DeGraaff does not
       to understand; but this is not the type of difficulty          tell us what he means by mastering a sentence.
       discussed here. Peter may have had Romans  .5:12-21                One thing is clear, however. The sentence "God
       in mind. It is an intricate passage. But here is how to        created the heavens" tells us something about God.
       confuse yourself with perfectly plain verses like "In          But Dr. DeGraaff says, No. "You distort the
       the beginning God created the heavens and the                  Scriptures when you read them as a collection of
       earth," and "Thou shalt not steal."                            objective statements about God and man . . . They do
          First, let us not be confused with what confusion           not contain any rational, general, theological
       means. If a man thinks that Tallahassee is in Maine,           statements about God and his creation (p. 2) . . . The
       he is not really confused; he is simply wrong. But if          Scriptures know nothing about God's essence or
       he' thinks that Tallahassee is both in Maine and in            about his incommunicable and communicable
       Florida, he is confused. He is confused because he             attributes . . . It is not the purpose of the Bible to
       holds two contrary opinions at the same time. One of           inform us about the nature of God's being or his
       his opinions is correct; the other is false.                   attributes" (p. 9). Then, pray tell, why does the Bible
          There is a booklet entitled,  Understanding the             say, "In the beginning God created the heavens and
       Scriptures, by A. H. Degraaff and C. G. Seerveld. Dr.          the earth . . .?" Is this not a rational statement? Does
       Degraaff is confused. Some things he says about the            it give us no information about the nature of God?
       Bible are true  and good; some are false. Since he             No rational information at all?
       minimizes the true part and puts great emphasis on                Dr. DeGraaff asserts that there are no rational,
       the false part, he will confuse you, if you let him.           general, theological statements in the Bible, "not even
          Here are some of the good and true parts. He says,          in Paul" (p. 2). "The Bible wants to proclaim, not to
       the Bible's "purpose is to proclaim, to preach, in this        explain. It is only in his actions that God's being and
       instance by telling us the true  stories  (ital. his) of       his attributes are revealed to us" (p. 10). So he says.
       God's mighty acts" (p. 10). This is good and true. But         But could anything be farther from the truth? The
       in the same paragraph he also says, "To ask therefore          Bible does indeed relate (in rational sentences) many
       whether or  not- these stories actually happened in            of God's acts. But usually it then gives an explanation
       every detail and in the order in which they are                of these acts. The cruciftion  was an act, or an event.
       presented is to ask the wrong question." This is false         But the Bible wants very much to explain it. Romans
       and bad. Barth, Bultmann, and other presentday                 3:25 explains that Christ's death was a propitiatory
       dialectical theologians constantly tell us that the            sacrifice offered to God for our sins, so that God
       preaching and message of the Bible are just as                 could be both just and justifier. Genesis tells us of
       valuable even if the events never happened. There was          Adam's first disobedience.  Remans   5:12-21  is a
       no Adam, but the story is a true message about sin.            rational, though intricate and lengthy explanation.
       Since so many contemporary theologians deny the                Remove from the Bible what is rational and what is
       events, it is not the wrong question. It is the right          explanatory and what is theological, and not much is
       question: Did these events occur, or is the Bible on           left.
       the level with Aesop's fables?                                    Dr. DeGraaff says, "The Scriptures are neither
          Dr. Degraaff also speaks the truth when he                  rational nor irrational in character." Here is
       criticizes some Sunday School and Vacation Bible               confusion. Everyone knows that the statement,
       School material as being dull, trivial, and even stupid.       `Today is Monday' or `Wellington defeated Napoleon'
       He tells the unfortunate truth when he says that some          is rational. We can understand it. On the other hand,
       Bible School teachers do not know how to interest              it is irrational to say, `Three equals two,' or `onts
       children. But then he slips away from the charge of            skom bubbits.' But what example is there of a
       stupidity and gives the impression that the content of         sentence that is neither rational nor irrational?
       the material is theologically wrong. He even casts             Looking in a book to  find a sentence that is neither
       aspersions on Louis  Be&of, whose great work on                rational nor irrational is like going to the Zoo to  find
       theology is neither stupid nor trivial, even though it is      an animal that is neither vertebrate nor invertebrate.
       on a higher level than Vacation Bible School material.         To say that the Bible is neither rational nor irrational
       It is clear that Dr. DeGraaff dislikes Berkhof and             is one of the best examples of irrationality that one
       Sunday School lessons, not because they are dull, but          can find.
       because they are "intellectual." He says, "The Bible is           Once more, "Nor does it (The Bible) contain
       not to be read as a collection of propositional                moral applications that tell us how to live the good
       statements about God and man that we can memorize              life  - virtues that we share with the humanist." Here
       and master," (p. 21). Now, if the word "collection"            again is confusion. It is true that a Christian does not
       implies some sort of random aggregate, then of course          share any virtue with a humanist, because a humanist
       the Bible is not that. But aside from the idea of being        or atheist just cannot have any Christian virtue. But it
       disjointed and haphazard, the Bible is most certainly          is false to say that the Bible gives no moral rules. "A
       a collection of propositional statements about God.            rationalistic and moralistic interpretation of the
       One such statement is, "In the beginning God created           Scriptures always go hand in hand." Well, they


                                                    THE STANDARD BEARER                                                                          285


    should; and this is good and not bad. But Dr.                   neighbor's wife  - you cannot avoid it; but -hate the
    DeGraaff objects to teaching boys and girls in                  police.
    Vacation Bible School moral lessons about purity,                 Not everything  this author says is so atrocious.
    chastity, and  Vie  torian, middle-class American               There are several paragraphs and even several pages
    standards. Instead of warning them against the                  where he endorses and emphasizes God's covenant
    prevalent. loose view of sex, we should tell them               with Abraham. The covenant included Joseph so that
    about irresponsible de-foresting, yellow smog, dirty            God was with him in Potiphar's home. (Of course we
    water  - and we should tell them these things in "a             should not use the story to teach resistance to
    non-moralistic manner" (p. 26). Apparently dirty                temptation.) The important thing is that God was
    water is worse than a dirty mind.                               faithful to his promise.
       In answer to the objections from many Christians,               A   q u e s t i o n   a r i s e s ,   h o w e v e r .   I f   G o d 's
    Dr. DeGraaff repeats, "The Bible does not teach us              commandment against adultery is not applicable
    how to be good and how to avoid being bad" (Jr. 29).            today in our different culture, why should we
    Speaking of the Ten Commandments (which he                      suppose that God's covenant with Abraham can be
    strangely says are not commandments at all  - even              applicable. It was as culturally conditioned as the
    though they are in the imperative mood) he says,                Commandments. A clear thinker might in consistency
    "None of them can be literally followed or applied              reject both. A consistent Christian accepts both. But
    today, for we live in a different period of history in a        only confusion accepts one and rejects the other.
    different culture" (p. 35).                                        Personally I think Queen Victoria was superior to
       Imagine! It is impossible to follow or apply the             Hugh Heffner and his Playboy. I also believe that
    command, Thou shalt not steal, because we live in a             there are worse things than poorly planned lessons for
    different culture. Thou shalt not commit adultery               Vacation Bible School. And I definitely prefer Louis
    cannot be literally obeyed today because God                    Berkhof to Dr. DeGraaff.
    commanded it in 1500 B.C. This line of argument is            While Dr. Clark makes logical mincemeat of
    incredible. But check the reference, page 35,               DeGraaff's writings, it must be born in mind, too, that
    Understanding the Scriptures,  DeGraaff and Seerveld,       there is a very wicked attack on the integrity of God's
    Association for the Advancement of Christian                Word lurking beneath DeGraaff's pious statements and a
    Scholarship, Toronto, Canada. Since none of the Ten         spiritually sinful and proud refusal to bow before the
    Commandments can be literally applied today, Dr.            authority of the Scriptures.
    DeGraaff suggests that we substitute for them
    agitation against police brutality  (p. 36). Love your



Contribution
                                   About Our Seminary
To the Editor:                                                  has never seen before; and the church people as a
  Some time ago we read about the lethargic and                 whole are keeping up pretty well with the world
lackadaisical attitude and response toward the drive for insofar as their luxury homes, automobiles, etc., are
our Theological School.                                         concerned. Are the facilities of our seminary adequate
  As a "newcomer," the matter of our seminary in comparison to these luxuries?
facilities has troubled me almost from the time we                We see many in the church who are more lovers of
joined the Protestant Reformed Churches, some five              pleasure rather than lovers of God. Too many speak
years ago. To me there is something definitely wrong            the words of Ashdod (Neh.  13:24). We are living in
here. It can be proven from the Scripture that this             times of great apostasy, and the Scriptures have
situation is displeasing to the Lord. It would take too         become encumbered with all kinds of philosophical
much space to go into detail, but one has only to read          interpretations. We read in II Tim. 4:3, "They will not
the book of the prophet, Haggai. We read in Chapter             endure sound doctrine." Did we not read recently in
1:2, 4, where the Lord speaks, "This people say, The            ow Standard Bearer  that a well known minister of
time is not come, the time that the Lord's house                Reformed persuasion called our churches "demonic?"
should be built. Is it the time for you, 0 ye, to dwell in        We don't know how long it will be before the
your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? speaketh          faithful preaching of the Word will be put to silence.
the Lord."                                                      We are rushing towards the end. A well known
  Today we live about  .2,500 years later, but the              statesman once said that today mankind is living on
circumstances are somewhat similar. We are living in            top of an atomic volcano. Taking into consideration
times of affluence and abundance such as the world              the international world situation, we may look for big


286                                            THE STANDARD BEARER


                                                                                                         _.
changes in the near future.                                   -preaching of the Word? The glory of the Lord. As the
   In this world full of uncertainties, our Covenant Old Testament temple was filled with the glory of the
God in His infinite love for the remnant of his people,       Lord (2 Chron.  7:2), so likewise must be the New
who like all mankind live in the midst of death, has left Testament temple, the church of Jesus Christ.
us a Theological School where is still being taught "the,        I know there is some skepticism regarding this
truth once delivered to the saints." The truth that the       project, but let us not forget at the same time that
Lord saves His people in absolute sovereignty and that        Satan is laughing.
it does not depend on men to accept or reject the offer         The Lord has given us an abundance of material
of salvation. If this seminary is suffering because of the    things; therefore, let us then go forward in royal
lack of adequate facilities, then the Word of God still       fashion. For "Mine is the silver and Mine is the gold,
comes to us, "Is it the time for us to live in our saith the Lord of Hosts" (Hag. 2: 8).
comfortable houses?" Twice the prophet Haggai uses                                                             Herman Woltjer
the warning words, "Consider your ways." In                                                                    Zeeland, Mich.
conclusion, What is really at stake in the faithful


Book Rtyiews
                                           The God Of Science
                                           Until You Bless Me
                                                   ProJ: H. Hanko

THE GOD OF SCIENCE,  by Frederick E. Trinklein; scorn of the Church. Sometimes their attitude towards
W. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1972; 192 pp., $3.45 the Scriptures and the truth of God is shown in stark
(paw-).                                                       clarity. There are some scientists however, who are
  Trinklein is more the editor of this book than the more .religious  and some who could perhaps be called
author. He made it his business to `talk with evangelical. There are some who see a role for the
thirty-eight leading scientists in the Western world to       Church, although generally it is quite far removed from
gain their views on the relation of science and religion. the role which Scripture gives.
The book is almost entirely direct quotes from the              If one wants to hear from the mouth of scientists
scientists, only occasionally interspersed with remarks themselves what is current thinking in these areas, one
of the author. He discussed with these scientists almost should read this book. It is easy reading on the whole,
every subject that concerns the relation of science and and can be read with profit by teachers and laymen
religion: What is the proper role of science? Can alike. It is recommended reading to all who are
science and religion be harmonized? What do scientists interested in hearing from the lips of scientists
believe concerning God, creation, Christ, miracles, themselves how far they have strayed from the truth of
salvation, etc.? What is the attitude of scientists the Word, of God. It is helpful to understand the
towards the Church? What role does the Church play "mind" of science in this "scientific age."
in this modern scientific age? Etc.
  The fact that direct quotes are given makes this UNTIL YOU BLESS ME, by David Redding; Wm. B.
book a very interesting and enlightening one. Some- Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1972; 96 pp., $1 SO (paper).
times some of the scientists come through in all                The book contains a number of prayers written in
their arrogance and speak openly of their agnos- free verse. The poetry is, in this reviewer's opinion, bad
ticism, of their distrust of religion and .of their and the prayers are unscriptural in many parts.


                 ANNOUNCEMENT                                                       A T T E N T I O N ! ! !
  The Free Christian School of Edgerton, Minnesota              All Standing Synodical Committees are reminded
will be in need of a Principal (Grades 4-9) and a that their reports for the Synodical Agenda must be
Teacher (Grades l-4) for the  1972-`73 school term. sent to undersigned on or before April 15. Supple-
Any of our Protestant Reformed teachers or  teachers- mental reports may be submitted later, but all material
to-be who are interested should address inquiries to:         for the Agenda must be submitted by April 15.
                                       Mr. Allen Brummel                                Rev. D. H. Kuiper, Stated Clerk
                               Edgerton, Minnesota 56 128                           1314 Main Street, Pella, Iowa 50219


                                                  T H E   S T A N D A R D 'B E A R E R                                   287



                   ANNOUNCEMENT                                  His Word and Spirit and strengthen him in the hope of
   Classis East will meet in regular session on April 5,         the saints.
1972 at Hudsonville. Material to be treated in this                                              Rev. C. Hanko, President
session must be in the hands of the stated clerk at least                                 Gerald J. Bouwkamp, Vice Sec'y.
ten days prior to the above date. Consistories will
please consider this to be an official announcement.
                                 Jon Huisken, Stated Clerk                      RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY
                                                                    The Council of the Hope Protestant Reformed
              WEDDING ANNIVERSARY                                Church extends sincere sympathy to our fellow office-
   On March 21, 1972, the Lord willing, our beloved ,bearer, deacon  Mile  DeWald and family, in the death
parents,                                                         of his father,
            MR. AND MRS. NEIL DYKSTRA,                                             REINHOLD DEWALD.
will celebrate their 5 0th wedding anniversary.                     It is our hope and prayer that they may receive
  We thank our covenant God for preserving them                  comfort and strength in His Word' and by His Spirit.
these many years for each other, and for us, and pray               "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sus-
for  His continued blessing on them the remainder of tain thee; He shall never suffer the righteous to be
their earthly pilgrimage.                                        moved." (Psalm 55: 22).
                                            Their children,                                       David Meulenberg, Clerk
                                 Mr. and Mrs. Rex Clawson
                                   Mr. and Mrs. John Voss
                               Mr. and Mrs. James Dykstra                  RESOi UTION OF SYMPATHY
                                Mr. and Mrs. John Dykstra           The  Con&tory  of the Hope Protestant Reformed
                                Mr. and Mrs. Louis Dykstra Church of Redlands, California, wishes to express
                             Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dempsey christian sympathy to the family of Elder Charles.Van
                                      and 20 grandchildren. Meeteren in the loss of his mother,
                                                                                MRS. ANNE VAN MEETEREN.
                   ANNXVERSAR Y                                     It is our prayer that they may find comfort in God's,
                                                                 Word.
  On March 19,  ,1972, D.V., our beloved parents                    "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sus-
and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Lotterman, will tain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to  be-
celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. We thank moved." (Psalm 5 5: 22);
our Heavenly Father for His protecting care over them,                                                 L. Huisken, Vice-all.
and we wish His blessing upon them as they continue
their earthly pilgrimage together.
                                 Mr. and Mrs. Clare Kuiper                      RE~oL UTI~N 0F SYMPA THY
                        Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lotterman               The Mary-Martha Society of the  Redlands Protes-
                                                        MAY
                                                     Michael     tant Reformed Church expresses sincere sympathy to
                                                      Marcia     two of our members, Mrs. Beverly Feenstra and Mrs.
                                                      Steven     Betty Van Meeteren, in the recent loss of their mother
                                   And four grandchildren and mother-in-law,
                                                                                MRS. ANNE VAN MEETEREN.
                  ANNOUNCEMENT                                      "For. we know that if our earthly house of this
                                                                 tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God,
  All Consistory Treasurers please note: ! ! !                   an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
  Please send the monies from collections received for (II Car. 5: 1).
the "Jamaican Poor Fund" to: Mr. Richard Dykstra,                                                          Sue Porte, Pres.
2727 Hope St., Hudsonville, Mi. 49426.                                                    Audrey Van Voorthuysen, Sec'y.
            Consistory of Hudsonville Prot. Ref. Church

            RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY                                                        NOTICE!!!
  The Consistory of the Hudsonville Protestant                      Office Bearers Conference will be held Tuesday,
Reformed Church hereby expresses its sincere sympa-              April 4, 1972, at HudsonvilIe  Church, at 8 P.M. Rev.
thy to elder Henry Boer, in the sudden death of his              G. Van Bar-en will speak on-the subject -,-"-Are young
father,                                                          people expected to attend Catechism as long as they
                  MR. JACOB BOER.                                do not make confession of faith?"
  May our God abundantly comfort the bereaved by                                                           P. Knott, Sec'y.

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


288                                                             THE  STAiVDARD  BEARER

                                           News From Our  Churcheg
       The call from Hope Protestant Reformed Church in                            "Ladies Aid Society meets Tuesday evening at the
Redlands, California has gone'+3 Rev. Schipper.                                    home of Mrs. Yonker in Muskegon, with a view to her
       The Consistory of Hope Protestant Reformed                                  95th birthday, D.V., this coming Saturday." .-
Church in Grand Rapids  has. formed two trios: for                                                        * * * * *
minister - Rev. R. Harbach, ,Rev. D. Kuiper, and Rev.                                And perhaps even this bne from First Church's
M. Schipper; for missionary 2 Rev. R. Decker; Rev. D.                              February 27 bulletin: "The pastor expects to meet in
Engelsma, Rev. B. Woudenberg.                                                      conference with our ministers of Classis West and with
                                   ******'                                         most of the ministers of  Classis East, the professors,
  Mr. Vander Wal has again provided some very                                      and the seminary students, at Pella, Iowa, this week
interesting news for this column. This time it concerns Tuesday, D.V. The meeting was arranged by the
work not directly connected with therStandavd  Biauev,                             ministers of Classis West to provide closer fellowship
but, nevertheless, work in which our active business                               and communion of our clergy. Prof. H. Hanko and
manager has had a leading role.                                                    Rev. C. Hanko will present papers which treat the
       A   n i c e   f e a t u r e   a b o u t   M r .   V a n d e r   W a l 's    subject of pastoral counseling."
contributions, as far as the News Editor is concerned,                                                    *****
is that the information is presented in well-written,                                Then there's this one from Southeast's often
journalistic style, so it can be simply passed on to the                           instructive bulletin: "Your pastor, along with our
reader, without any effort on the editor's part. Here it                           other ministers and students, had the  privilege of
is:                                                                                visiting with Rev. Sang Chan Lee, a representative of
       "Our dictionary defines the term `cooperation' as `a                        the Hapdong Presbyterian Church of Korea, this past
working together toward a common goal: a joint                                     week. This church is very much interested in us
action.'                                                                           because of our stand against the World Council of
       "At the present time, such `cooperation' is being                           Churches, the Reformed Ecumenical Synod, and the
demonstrated by the following `joint action': Rev. G.                              McIntire segment of the Presbyterian Church. Rev. Lee
Van Bar-en, pastor of First Church (Grand Rapids),                                 made a plea for the help of our churches in giving his
recently began a series of Lenten sermons. This series                             churches doctrinal and church political leadership, as
was initiated Sunday evening, Feb. 20, and will                                    the church of Christ forms battle lines against the
continue through March 26. The theme of Rev. Van                                   forces of Antichrist incipient in the ecclesiastical
Bar-en's messages is `The Calvinistic Concept of the                               movements of our time."
Cross.' All six of these sermons will be tape recorded                               We could interject, at this point, that Rev. Lee is
(by the Young Peoples Society). But that is not all!                               currently working on his doctorate at Bob Jones
Copies of these tapes will be reproduced (through the                              University in Greenville, South Carolina; that he was a
cooperation of the Radio Committee of our Reformed                                 guest, for a couple of days, at the home of Professor
Witness Hour). Then on each Monday (through the                                    Hoeksema; and that his schedule, while in Grand
cooperation of our Mission Committee) these copies                                 Rapids, included a visit to our Adams Street School,
will be Air Mailed to New Zealand, and replayed the. where he talked to some of the students about his
following Lord's Day, by Mr. Wm. van Rij, to,a group                               experiences as a Christian in communist North Korea,
residing in Christchurch, New Zealand. Indeed a  -                                 and where he also, to the students' delight,
CO-OPERATION!"                                                                     demonstrated on the chalkboard the complexities of
                                   *****                                           the Korean and Chinese written languages.
       The rest of the items chosen for this issue of the                            But there's more to be learned from Southeast's
Standard Beaver could well be said to relate, in varying                           bulletin:
degrees, to that same concept of "cooperation."                                      "It will also interest you to know that recently the
       Take this short one from Hull's February 20                                 Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia has
bulletin, for example: "The next pamphlet of the                                   requested correspondence with our churches.
Reformed Witness Committee is to be prepared for                                     "Wonderful, indeed, it is that in the last two years
mailing by our congregation on Thursday evening at 8                               we have had correspondence with people in Korea,
P.M. Any help from young and old will be appreciated                               Australia, New Zealand, Africa, England, and
by the committee."                                                                 numerous other contacts in the States. Is the Lord
                                   *****                                           telling us something which we ought to hear?"
 Or this one from Holland's February 6 bulletin:                                                                                     D.D.


