                                         he
                                   tandard

                                                 earer

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



      IN THIS ISSUE

                Meditation
I       `          Salvation in Zion
                                                 . . .
                Feature
                   Key  `73  - What Must We Say About It?

                Editorial
                  Dishonesty And The Formula of Subscription

                Special Report

                  Synod of 1973




                                                          Volume XLIX, Number 18, July I, 1973


I    410                                                         THE STANDARD BEARER


                                  CONTENTS                                                                       THE STANDARD BEARER
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     Feature

                          Key `73 - What Must We Say About It?

                                                                   Rev. David Engelsma

     What Key `73 is                                                                 and forcibly with the gospel of Jesus Christ." The
        Key `73 is the name of a project that unites more theme of the endeavor is: "Calling Our Continent to
     than one hundred churches and religious groups in the Christ." The other main aspect of Key `73 is the union
     work of evangelism in 1973. The leaders of Key `73 of churches and religious groups. Key `73 unites many
     describe it in various ways. One calls it "cooperative churches in the work of evangelism. Over 130 churches
     evangelical thrust for world evangelism." Another and groups have joined Key `73.
     refers to it as a "corporate manifestation of biblical                              The explanation of the name, "Key `73," is that
     faith." Still another calls it "a dynamic evangelical those who planned the project met in Arlington,
     f e l l o w s h i p . " A n o t h e r   l e a d e r   c a l l s   i t   a Virginia, near a bridge called "Key Bridge" after
     "non-organizational `evangelical Christian coalition.' " Francis Scott Key. They named their project after this
     Recently, a spokesman for Key `73 called Key `73 bridge. They added "73" because 1973 is the year that
     "transdenominational evangelical cooperation."                                  they chose in which the project is to be carried out.
       There are two main aspects of Key `73. One of these                               Key `73 is run by an executive committee of
     is evangelism. The avowed objective of Key `73 is "to                            ministers and other churchmen from such churches
     confront every person in North America more fully and groups as The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod;


                                                  THE STANDARD BEARER                                                        411


the American Baptist Church; Campus Crusade for does Scripture require us to say about Key  `73?
Christ; the United Methodist Church; the Billy Graham Therefore, we intend to set forth what every Christian
Evangelistic Association; the Christian Reformed must .say about Key `73.
Church; the Salvation Army; and the Assemblies of                                             ***
God. There are more than 130 member churches and
religious groups including the Reformed Church in Key `73, a project of neoevangelicalism
America, the Presbyterian Church U.S., the Free Will                 The beginning of Key `73 was an article in the June
Baptist Church, the International Church of the                   9, 1967 issue of the religious magazine, Christianity
Foursquare Gospel, the Wesleyan Church, and many Today, entitled, "Somehow, Let's Get Together." The
more. The Roman Catholic Church is also a full author was Carl F. H. Henry, who was editor of the
participant now.                                                  magazine at that time. The opening line was: "This is a
Our calling tb examine Key `73                                    rallying cry for evangelicals everywhere." The article
  There are many who approve Key `73 uncritically, pleaded for cooperation of evangel&&s, particularly in
simply because it claims to do evangelism. They resent the work of evangelism. The response was enthusiastic,
any criticism of Key `73 and condemn every critic out             and in September, 1967 Henry and  Billy Graham
of hand as a man who is not evangelistic. But we have a           called a meeting of leading evangel&&. From that and
calling to examine Key `73. This is a God-given duty. I subsequent meetings came the project known now as
John  4:l requires us to "believe not every spirit, but Key `73. This history shows that Key `73 is the baby
try the spirits whether they are of God: because many o f "neo-evangelicalismY' "Neo (that is, new)  -
false prophets are gone out into the world." Ephesians evangelicalism" is the name given to their movement
4: 14 warns the saints not to be swept away with every by a certain group of Protestant people. They call
latest fad in the sphere of religion: "That we be no             themselves "evangelicals" because they claim to spread
more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about the gospel (in the Greek New Testament, the word
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and           "gospel" is evangel). They call themselves
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie to wait to                   "rzeo-evangelic&," that is, the new evangelicals,
deceive." Especially pastors and elders have the duty because they like to distinguish themselves from an old
to examine Key `73 carefully, so that they can instruct e v a n g e l i c a l i s m , t h a t   w h i c h   i s   k n o w n   a s
and warn the church which Christ has put under their "fundamentalism." `This new evangelical&m is a large,
care. The movement itself forces us to examine it and powerful force on the religious scene today. To know
to say something about it. Some of us have been Key `73 it is necessary to know something about
invited to join Key `73. Pressure is put on those neo-evangelicalism, for the baby resembles the parent.
churches that do not join. An example of this pressure It is all the more necessary to know what
was found in the Grand Rapids                                    neo-evangelicalism is because Key `73 is not the only
                                        Press  of April 16,
1973. Under the caption, "Spirit of Christ Fills 5,000 project that this movement has planned. On the
a t   C a l d e r , " t h e   P r e s s   r e p o r t e d   o n   a n drawing-board of neo-evangelicalism are more projects
inter-denominational, "Key 73 worship service" and activities after 1973.
featuring three speakers, the editor of the Christian               First of all, it is helpful to take note of the persons
Reformed Church's magazine, The Banner, the mayor and institutions that head the movement. The man
of Grand Rapids, and the bishop of the Roman who coined the name and who is regarded as the father
Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids. In the article, the of neo-evangelicalism is the well-known pastor of the
                                                                 Park Street Congregational Church in Boston, Harold
Press  quoted a spokesman of Key `73 as saying that
"one disappointing thing about the day was that in Ockenga. Other leaders include Carl Henry, Billy
spite of all the denominational cooperation, some Graham, and Bernard Ramm. The views and projects
groups, particularly the Baptist and minority churches, of neo-evangelicalism are promoted in the flourishing
were still not participating much in Key 73."                    magazin-e, Christianity Today.  Fuller Theological
                                                                 Seminary in California trains men to preach, teach, and
Our viewpoint                                                    practice neo-evangelicalism.
  Our viewpoint in this examination of Key `73 will                 Secondly, we ask what neo-evangelical&m stands
be that of the Reformed faith, the faith embodied in for. It is not a church or a denomination of churches.
the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and Rather, it is made up of many people in many
the Canons of Dordt. The question, "What must we different Protestant churches. Nor is it a movement, at
say about it?," means: What must a Reformed Church present anyway, that seeks to establish a new,. church.
say about it and what must a Reformed believer say Rather, it strongly advocates that  evangelic& remain
about it? This by no means implies that non-Reformed in their churches. Harold Ockenga himself described
people are ignored. The standard by which Key `73 neo-evangel&&m in an article entitled, "Resurgent
will be measured is Holy Scripture, God's inspired and, Evangelical Leadership," in the October 10, 1960 issue
therefore, infallible Word. Our sole concern is: What of  Christianity Today.  The ambitious goals of


412                                         THE STANDARD BEARER



neo-evangelicalism are evident in Ockenga's opening society is the main goal of evangelism. For the
sentence: "What the Communist party is. in the accomplishment of all of this, there has to be a union
                                                           ..-
vanguard of the world revolution, the evangelical of all the evangelicals.
movement must be in the world revival." He defines an             What must we say about it? A Reformed man has
evangelical as a Christian who holds what a majority of two main criticisms of neo-evangelicalism, criticisms
Protestants regard as the fundamental doctrines of the which are most serious. Neo-evangelicalism works for
Gospel, e.g., the Trinity, the fallen condition of man, and realizes an ungodly union, or ecumenicity. And
and the literal return of Christ; a spiritually minded neo-evangelicalism displays an unchristian disregard for
man and zealous for practical  .Christian living, not the truth of God's Word; indeed, it proclaims a
merely orthodox; and a man who seeks the conversion perverted gospel. Both of these errors characterize Key
of sinners. He distinguishes the new evangelicalism `73 and make that project totally unacceptable to a
from three other movements in Christendom, Roman Reformed Church and to a Reformed man.
Catholicism, modernism, and fundamentalism. It Key `73 is an ungodly union
differs from Roman Catholicism in that Catholicism is             The leiders of Key `73 insist that Key `73 is not an
sacerdotal, that is, Catholicism teaches that salvation ecumenical movement. The Executive Director,
comes through the priesthood and the sacraments. It Theodore Raedeke, states flatly: "Key 73 is not an
differs from modernism in that modernism denies the ecumenical movement" (in Key 73's official
fundamentals of the Christian faith, e.g., the Virgin Congregational Resource Book,  St. Louis, MO.,
Birth and the resurrection of the body. Ockenga Concordia Publishing House, p. 5. After this, this book
stresses that neo-evangelicalism also differs from will be referred to as  C.R.B.  ). The ground for this
fundamentalism, "the  old  evangehcalism."  Especially disclaimer is that Key `73 does not aim at the
two characteristics of fundamentalism `displease the organizational union of the different churches; it does
new. evangelicalism. The first is fundamentalism's not intend to  merge  churches. Repeatedly, Key `73
anti-intellectualism. The second is fundamentalism's claims that all churches and groups are left free to do
separatism, its refusal to have fellowship with those their own thing in their own way. Reformed Churches
that hold false doctrine. The new evangelicalism may do evangelism in a Reformed manner; Rome may
contends that this position leads to unfortunate and engage in the work of Key `73 in the Roman way; the
unnecessary schism in the church. Neo-evangelicalism Pentecostals may participate with tongues; the
is determined to avoid ecclesiastical separations and Salvation Army may beat its drums, toot its trumpets,
splits. Ockenga speaks for the entire movement when and shake its tambourines.
he calls evangelicals to remain in modernist, apostate
churches. They must "infiltrate" such denominations               In fact, however, Key `73 involves the union of
in order "to minister in and influence modernist churches and groups, and this oneness of the `many
groups" and in order to "strengthen the things that participants is an essential element of Key `73. That
remain and possibly resume control of such Key `73 both aims at a union of many churches and
denominations." In harmony with this basic principle, effects such a union is obvious to everyone. 130 or
the new evangelicalism refuses to engage in controversy more churches and groups, from Rome to the
with those who deny the truth. Rather, it advocates Salvation Army, are united in this one, massive
carrying on courteous dialogues with the enemies of program and work. There is even  an organizational
the Christian faith.                                       union. All the participants must express agreement with
  Neo-evangelical&m, then, is a large, well-defmed a single, officially adopted message and with a set of
group in Protestantism, cutting across all officially adopted objectives. Also, all the churches and
denominational lines, which likes to call itself groups are headed by an Executive Committee. That
conservative because it holds to such fundamentals as Key `73 is a union of all the churches is plain from the
the Virgin Birth and which boasts of preaching the         descriptions given of Key `73 by its own leaders:
gospel. It has ambitious, clearly articulated goals. It    "cooperative  evangelical thrust";  "corporate
intends to revive Christianity in the midst of the manifestation of biblical faith"; dynamic evangelical
secular world. It intends to make Christianity fellowship"; "non-organizational evangelical coalition"
respectable to the modern world by intelligent             - all terms expressing union, oneness, and fellowship.
courteous defense of the faith and dialogue. It hopes             Union of the  evangel&& was the purpose of the
to recapture the big Protestant denominations from neo-evangelicals who conceived of Key `73. Union was
modernism. It wants to make Christianity a force that their main goal. It is not the case, as we are led to
reforms the social order of America. This last is an believe, that the union of the churches in Key `73
important item on the agenda of neo-evangehcalism.  It     exists for the sake of evangelism; rather, evangelism
receives more and more emphasis, even during the           serves the end of bringing about the union of the
current project of evangelism. One discerns in the churches. This was evident in the editorial of Carl
propaganda of Key `73 that the improvement of Henry which resulted in Key `73. The title itself shows


                                              THE STANDARD  BE;4RER                                                                   413


this : "Somehow, Let's Get Together." The entire             Rome's contention that the Reformation broke the
article breathed one main concern, that evangelicals be      unity,,o,fthe Church. Not the Reformation, but Rome,
united. Evangelism was regarded as a good means to           by proclaiming false doctrine, was the "troubler of
achieve this goal. In the C.R.B., one of the members of Israel," insisted Calvin. Neither is it part of the heritage
the Executive Committee of Key `73. Rev. Joe Hale,           of the churches in which I am a pastor, the Protestant
tips the hand of Key `73 as regards its intention to         Reformed Churches, to disparage the unity of the
realize union of many, diverse churches: "There is a         Church, say, for the sake of maintaining the truth. Our
growing Christian consensus that we cannot be divided        deep concern for true unity is the reason why we have
- into black or white, brown or red - reformed or free always thought it important to note that our separate
- catholic or evangelical. We can move out together to existence as churches is not due to our having left the
proclaim to the world the One who has broken down            Christian Reformed Church but to their having put us
the middle wall of partition between us" (p. 162).           out of their fellowship. The burden for that division in
Immediately, he quotes with approval a certain Dr.           the Church is on them. But there is an ungodly union
Rufus Jones, who said that "the old divisions (read:         as well as a Godly unity, and Scripture warns the saints
denominational lines - DE) no longer apply."                 against that ungodly union. Believers are warned
  The leaders of the new evangelicalism who gave us          against fellowship with unbelievers, whether they be
Key `73 are going to give us much more after 1973 in         heretics, who oppose the gospel of Jesus, or immoral
order to perpetuate and strengthen the union begun in        persons, who live contrary to the law of  bGod. II
Key `73. For this reason, those in Reformed Churches         Corinthians 6: 14-l 8 admonishes the saints: "Be ye not
who are opposed to Key `73 but who console                   unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
themselves regarding their church's participation in         fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?"
Key `73 by supposing that Key `73 is a temporary evil        We are told to "come out from among them, and be
are fooling themselves. Key `73 is only a beginning.         . . . separate." The passage points out the fundamental
Already in 1967, in an editorial that followed up his        importance of the saint's life of separation when it says
original call for evangelical union, Carl Henry denied       that only in this way will we be received by God and
that evangelism was the only reason for getting              do we experience Him to be our Father and ourselves
together. He wrote: "We must go beyond evangelism            to be His children. II John 11 forbids us to receive into
and missions. Evangelism is not the only reason for          our house a man who teaches false doctrine or to bid
evangelical rapprochement." Other reasons for getting        him godspeed. I Corinthians 5 forbids the members of
together include the benefit of praying together, the        the Church "to company" with persons in the Church
benefit of fellowship, and the benefit of worshipping        who live unholy lives. Revelation 13 warns the Church
together (cf. Christianity Today, July 7, 1967, pp. 20,      that in the last days there will be a vast getting
21). In the October 27, 1967 issue, Christianity Today       together of churches and religions and that this
reported that the meetings at Key Bridge not only            "beast" will have the appearance of Christianity. It will
planned cooperative evangelism but also discussed            look like a lamb. But this union is effected by the
plans "to further transdenominational evangelical            spirit of Antichrist and stands in the service of the
cooperation beyond evangelism;"                              Antichrist, and whoever joins this unholy alliance will
  Key `73 deliberately set out to accomplish union of be damned.
the churches, and now, marvellous to relate, we see             Key `73 is not a holy unity but an ungodly union.
that the union it brings about is a union that also          This is what we must say about it. In its union, Key
includes the so-called "liberal," that is, . apostate,       `73 carries out neo-evangelicalism's precious principle
Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic Church.           that Christians should not separate from unbelief and
Key `73 began with a call for evangelicals to get            the lie but remain in fellowship with heretics and
together. Now, it invites and receives such apostate         immoral people, in order to influence them. This
churches as the United Methodist Church and the              i n c l u d e s   a v o i d i n g   s h a r p ,   u n c o m p r o m i s i n g
United Church of Christ. In 1972, the Roman Catholic         condemnation of heresy, because, of course, this leads
Church accepted an invitation to join Key `73. So, Key       to separation. Key `73 is the embodiment of this
`73 is a "coalition," a "fellowship," a "corporate           principle of the new evangelicalism. But this principle
manifestation of biblical faith," of evangelicals,           and the practice that flows from it are ungodly; they
liberals, and Rome.                                          are contrary to God's Word. They represent a denial of
  What must we say about Key `73 as regards its union        the antithesis, the God-established separation between
of many churches ? We repudiate the charge                   His holy people and the unholy world and the
beforehand, that we are critical of this union because       God-established enmity between them. Key `73 is a
we are unconcerned with the unity of Christ's Church         movement to obliterate the antithesis. Completely lost
and because we are separatistic and schismatic. It is not    in this effort to bring everybody together is the calling
in the Reformed tradition to take lightly the unity of       given to the Church to exercise Christian discipline,
the Church. Witness Calvin's fervent rejection of that is, to put out of the fellowship of the Church


 414                                              THE STANdARD  BEARER



those who by doctrine or walk show themselves to be services.
unbelieving. Christian discipline is the "Key-Power" of             Key `73 is accomplishing union. No one can pull the
Christ by which He opens and closes the Kingdom of wool over our eyes on this point. The only way to
Heaven to men. Christ has given these keys to His determine whether that effort is good or bad is to
' Church (Matthew 16:  19), so that the exercise of discover whether Key `73 is uniting the churches on
Christian discipline is --one of the marks of the true the basis of a common confession of the truth. The
Church (Belgic Confession, Art. 29). I Corinthians 5             only way to determine whether the union of Key `73 is
teaches the Church that she may not have fellowship the unity of the Holy Spirit is to  see' whether the
with any member of the Church, that is, one who churches of Key `73 are bound together by a common
claims to be a Christian, who lives impenitently in sin, love of the gospel of Jesus Christ.. This is the issue, as
but that she must put away the wicked person by regards what we must say of Key `73. Key `73 stands or
excommunication. The ground for  this instruction is falls here. When Key `73 is measured by the standard
the warning of verse 6: "a little leaven leaveneth the of the Scriptures, it becomes plain that Key `73 seeks
whole lump.." This warning completely overthrows the union apart from the truth, that is, Jesus Christ, and
notion of neo-evangelicalism and the practice of Key that the union established by Key `73 is founded on a
`73, namely, that the union of the truth and the lie common rejection of the gospel and a common love of
works in such a way that the truth influences the lie a gospel that is no gospel. This is the main
and gradually gains it. This may be the principle of condemnation of Key `73 by a Reformed man.
Key `73, but the principle of the Bible is the very Key `73 is unchristian disregard for the truth and the
opposite. `Conservatives" in an apostate Church do                  perversion of the gospel
not leaven the "liberals," that is, the unbelievers, but            The truth, or message, that Key `73 proposes as a
unbelief and disobedience leaven the whole lump. basis for its union  is a pathetically poverty-stricken
Conservative denominations in Key `73 do not "gospel." This is necessarily the case, for it must be
influence the modernists and the Roman Catholic such that all the participants in Key `73 can subscribe
Church, but the modernists and Rome are the death of to it - Rome and the Reformed, United Methodist and
the conservative churches. Lot did not leaven Sodom, L u t h e r a n s ,   S a l v a t i o n   A r m y   a n d   S o u t h e r n
but Sodom leavened Lot's whole lump, his family, and Presbyterians. The attempt to link faith and unbelief
he himself escaped by the skin of his teeth; never raises unbelief to the level of faith but always
Jehoshaphat did qot leaven Ahab; Paul did not advise lowers faith, in stages, to the level of unbelief. That
the Galatians to tolerate the false teachers and coexist Key `73 would water down the gospel in the interests
with them in order to carry on dialogues with them               of union was apparent already in Carl Henry's
and win them; but he cursed them and expressed his               editorial, "Somehow, Let's Get Together." Having
will that they be cut off.                                       called evangelicals together, he proceeded to describe
Key `73 is laying the groundwork for a full-blown                "the common ground" shared by evangelicals:
ecumenicity the like of which has not been seen in our           "Evangelicals:  common ground is belief in biblical
country up to now. In comparison with Key `73, the               authority and in individual spiritual regeneration as
World Council of Churches is mere babes-in-the-woods.            being of the very essence of Christianity."' This is all
Key `73's profession not to be an ecumenical                     that it takes to be an "evangelical," and this is the
movement is false. Built into Key `73 is the basis for a requirement for membership in the union of
future, total union of every church and group involved.          evangelicals. But who on the face of the earth that
Key `73 joins all its 130 participating churches, from           claims in -any sense to be a Christian would deny that
Rome to Reformed, in the work of evangelism. Now,                he believes in "biblical authority and in individual
evangelism is this: Preaching the gospel. Therefore,             spiritual regeneration"? At the outset, Key `73
Key `73 implies that all the churches and groups                 adopted a "gospel guideline" to which all of the
involved have one and the same gospel. And if their churches and groups had to subscribe. This statement
gospel is the same, they are all united in the one, was intended to be both the message that Key `73
essential thing as far as the Church of Christ is would proclaim and the basis of the union of all the
concerned. All other differences between churches are churches in Key `73. The "gospel guideline" is this:
secondary and can be resolved. If churches are one in "The Bible is the Word of God through which Christ is
the gospel, they can be and ought to be one made known. God through Christ offers man the way
institutionally also. Key `73 maintains that Rome and of salvation, wholeness, and meaningful life. Men are
the Reformed, Lutherans and Baptists, Presbyterians confronted with Christ's calI and through the power of
and Wesleyans, no longer have any essential reason to the Holy Spirit comes the repentance in faith. Genuine
be separate. Never has there been an ecumenicity like saving faith affects every area of a person's life and
this. Already, the implication of union in evangelism is engages him in Christ's serving ministry" (C.R.B.,  p.
being drawn out by the participants in Key `73: the 196). In this basis of union and message of Key `73,
various churches are meeting together in worship there is no mention of an infallible Bible; no mention


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 415


of the Deity of Christ; no mention of sin; no mention create' the conditions in which we may respond to
of the cross, much less of the substitutionary God" (C.R.B.,  p. 196). Not only does this objective
satisfaction rendered to the justice of God by Christ; authorize other means of bringing the gospel besides
no mention of salvation by grace alone, much less the one means authorized by God, namely, preaching,
justification by faith alone; and no mention of the thus opening the way for Key `73 to use such means as
believer's life of serving God and enduring tribulation gospel rock, drama, and the like, but it also makes
in the world. Key `73's "statement of faith" can be salvation depend upon our clever creation of those
embraced by everyone, by Rome, by the Barthians, by conditions which will entice the sinner to make a
t h e   r a n k e s t   m o d e r n i s t s .   I t   i s   a favorable response to God's offer, as if there were any
lowest-common-denominator-gospel, a gospel stripped conditions which enabled the totally depraved sinner
of offensiveness. Compare with this meager, bland to respond favorably to God. The materials of Key `73
"message" that which  a- Reformed Church would are rank with this teaching: God loves everybody;
propose both as the basis of union and as the Christ died for everybody; God in evangelism desires to
statement of the message to be proclaimed: the save everybody; now, it is up to Key `73 and the free
Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the will of the sinner to get him saved.
Canons of Dordt or, if you will, the Westminster              What must we say about Key `73's attitude towards
Confession of Faith and the Westminster Catechisms. the truth and about its gospel? We condemn its cavalier
  If the above indicates disregard for the truth, recent treatment of the doctrines of Holy Scripture, whether
statements by the leaders in Key `73 express outright that be ignoring them or banishing them to the realm
contempt for the truth of God's Word. In a recent of the unimportant. We must have the full. truth of
editorial criticizing churches who refuse to join Key Scripture, the complete gospel, including creation as
`73, Christianity Today dismisses, all the theological well as redemption, eschatology as well as christology.
differences between the participating churches as If ever in her history, then today, the Church must be
merely a "babble of disagreement" that ought to be precise,  not vague, in her confession of  ah the truth.
silenced: "The participating groups have all agreed to Secondly, we have every reason to be suspicious of
silence whatever babble of disagreement might normally Key `73, since it is the product of neo-evangelicalism.
exist among them and sound the Gospel clearly . . ." Neo-evangelicalism is shot through with serious
("On Sitting This One Out," Christianity Today, April doctrinal errors, e.g., denial of the infallibility of
27, 1973, p. 30). To mention nothing else, this is to Scripture, the theory of theistic evolution (or,
call the truths of the gospel of grace held by the progressive creationism, as some like to call it), and
Reformed faith over against Rome a "babble of premillennialism. But our chief condemnation of Key
disagreement," and this is contempt for the truth of `73 is this, that the gospel it preaches is, in the
God's Word.                                                language of Galatians 1, another gospel, not the gospel
  Most serious of all, Key `73 proclaims a message of of Christ and Paul. Key `73 proclaims that salvation
salvation by the free will of man, rather than the gospel depends on the choice of the sinner by his free will.
of salvation by God's free and sovereign grace. The This is heresy. Romans  9:16 plainly teaches that
message of Key `73 is the announcement that man salvation is not of him that willeth nor of him that
must save himself. This hardly needs to be proved, runneth, that is, that salvation does not have its source
since we know Billy Graham to be one of the main in nor depends upon man's works or man's will.
movers of Key `73. The C.R.B. declares that Key `73 Rather, salvation is "of God that sheweth mercy," that
should "focus on the unity Christians share in the is, salvation has its source entirely in and depends
mandate to witness to God's love for all persons" (p. wholly upon God's free and sovereign grace. The truth
24). The message of Key `73 is a universal love of God. of salvation by God's sovereign grace, popularly
Therefore, Campus Crusade can belong to Key `73 and referred to as "Calvinism," is a fundamental of the
have its head on the Executive Committee - Campus Christian faith every bit as much as are the truths of
Crusade whose first spiritual law, with which it the Virgin Birth and the Deity of Christ. This truth
confronts every person, is: "God loves you and has a includes God's sovereign, unconditional, eternal
wonderful plan for your life." In accordance with Key predestination, election and reprobation. As Romans 9
`73's notion of a universal love of God is its teaching in teaches, God has chosen some men unto salvation,
its "gospel guideline" that "God through Christ offers merely out of grace, and He has, according to His
man the way of salvation." If God loves every man, He good-pleasure, determined other men to perish. This
tries to save every man by offering him salvation; but truth is- the rock against which the first spiritual law of
salvation depends upon man's acceptance of the offer the Campus Crusade for Christ is shattered. There are
by his free will. From the teaching of universal love some men whom God does not love, but hates,  e.g,
and salvation by man's free will follows the second of Esau (Rom. 9: 1 l-l 3), and some men for whom God's
Key `73's five objectives: "To employ every means and "wonderful plan" is their eternal damnation, e.g.,
method of communication of the gospel in order to Pharaoh (Rom.' 9: 17, 18). The truth of sovereign grace


416                                            THE STANDARD BEARER



includes Christ's limited, effectual atonement for the         predestination.
elect Church (John 10: 15). It includes the Spirit's           .r:To- Key `73's perverted gospel are due other
efficacious salvation of some totally depraved sinners         objectionable features of this evangelistic extravaganza.
by regeneration and effectual calling, that is,                One of these is Key `73's use of many worthless and
"irresistible grace" (John 6:44). It includes the Spirit's     wicked means to get men to respond to Christ: the
preservation of the saints so that they persevere to the       entire "decision system" which presses for quick, easy
end (John  10:27-29). A Reformed Church confesses              decisions for Christ; the use of "gospel rock"; the
this to be the gospel itself, a "fundamental." For this        exploiting of ungodly entertainers and athletes; the use
reason, a Reformed Church condemns much of of movies and other drama; and many other gimmicks.
s o - c a l l e d "fundamentalism," even though                Such methods of "evangelism" show disdain for the
"fundamentalism" insists on separation from "liberals" Word of God. The use of them is due to Key `73's
and Rome. There is one fundamental of the faith that           notion that men can be wooed and won by human
much of fundamentalism hates as much as Rome does,             persuasion, in ignorance of the truth that God
and that is the truth of salvation by sovereign grace.         sovereignly draws whom He wills to save through the
The fact is that such a fundamental as the Deity of preaching of the Word. Another of its objectionable
Christ comes to expression in the truth of sovereign           features is Key `73's delusion that the salvation of
grace. Christ is no hapless, would-be Savior, dependent North America depends somehow upon the size,
on the will of man, but He is the very Son of God in           numbers, and massive program of the evangelistic
our flesh Who certainly does save His people, every            effort. The leaders of Key `73 are beside themselves
one, from their sins. Much of fundamentalism boasts            with numbers, size, the co-ordmated use of all the
loudly of its confession of the Deity of Christ, in media, and all the aspects of the elaborate machinery.
contrast to the "liberals," but its denial of a sovereign      Lost out of sight is the Word of the Lord to
Savior gives the lie to that confession. The doctrine of Zerubbabel: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my
salvation by sovereign grace is not a minor point, part        spirit, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah  4:6). The
of the "babble of differences" that we can give up             bare Word of God saves the Church, apart from the
without loss to the Gospel, but to lose it is to lose the      grandeur of the earthen vessels through whom it
Gospel. What is more, a Reformed Church condemns pleases God to bring this treasure "that the excellency
the lie of man's salvation of himself, whether by his          of the power may be of God, and not of us" (II
running or by his willing. We have no tolerance for this Corinthians 4:7).
heresy; we do not carry on courteous dialogues with it.
This is not bigotry, nor is it the expression of a bitter      Our Reformed stand with regard to Key `73
spirit. On the contrary, it is love for our neighbor, e.g.,      We stand apart from Key `73, and we stand opposed
the Roman Catholic, who depends for his                        to it. We need to be strengthened in this conviction.
righteousness and salvation upon his own works, as The size, the glamour, the prestige, and the apparent
well as upon the work of Christ. We warn him against           success allure us. It appeals to us, especially, to our
his eternal ruin when we condemn work-righteousness,           youth, by its claim of union and its boast of
and we admonish him to put ail his trust in the merits         evangelism. In obedience to God, we remain separate,
of Christ alone. It is not love for him to further his         and in faithfulness to Christ, we insist on proclaiming
trust in self, as that church does which approves              the gospel of grace. Key `73 is ungodly union, and Key
Roman doctrine by uniting with Rome to preach the              `73 is a perversion of the gospel. Over against the
gospel in Key `73. Besides, condemnation of the lie is         siren-song of Key `73 that allures to an amalgamation
love for God, Whose truth the gospel of grace is, and          of neo-evangelicals, liberals, and Rome, we must hear
love for Christ, Who is revealed in the gospel of grace        God's call to us: Be Reformed! We are not
as the only Savior.                                            neo-evangelicals nor fundamentalists nor liberals, but
  Agreement in the false gospel of free will explains          Reformed. Let us be Reformed. Let us be Reformed in
the union of Key `73. There is, after all, a reason why        doctrine, confessing the truths set forth in the
all of these churches and groups can be one, from              Reformed creeds. Let us be Reformed also in our
Rome to the Salvation Army. That reason is that they           church-life. Key `73 has a  woefully bad view of the
all share the same belief in a salvation dependent upon        church institute and wreaks havoc with it. For one
man himself. This is what the C.R.B. implies when it thing, the Church of Christ needs no par-a-ecclesiastical
states that all the members of Key `73 are one in organization to help her preach and evangelize; nor has
maintaining that God loves all persons. To this false          God given the calling to do these things to any other
gospel can also be traced Key `73's distaste for the than to the Church. These are some of the things that
antithesis. According to Key `73, all men, including the belong to a Reformed church-life. We pursue
wicked world, are alike objects of God's love and grace fellowship which is based on a unity of the faith, or
in Christ. Ultimately, the antithesis derives from truth. We exercise discipline with regard to the leaven
predestination,        and Key `73 has no room for             of unbe.lief and disobedience. We recognize and stick


                                              THE STANDARD  BEA@R                                                            417


to the Church's calling. The calling given the Church         maintained, so that Protestantism no longer has any
by her Lord in the Scriptures is not the improvewe@           reason th be. s.eparate from Rome.
                                                                     ,.,      . .
of society and the solution of society's ills. Her calling      Our  `duty  .`as Protestant Reformed Churches also
is to  preach the gospel and thus to call the elect to        includes that we  caJ.l to our Reformed brothers and
faith, build up the people of God in Christ, and enable       sisters in churches that are swept away by Key `73 and
the saints to live in the world the antithetical life of a    similar movements to continue with us to be
citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is part of this Reformed. Key `73 is working the abolition of
calling that the Church do evangelism. In the true sense      everything Reformed ! It obliterates the very
of that word, genuinely Reformed Churches are the             distinction between the Reformed faith and the faith
real  evangelicals, for they have the gospel to preach.       of Rome, as well as the distinction between Calvinism
And we are called to preach to those outside the              and Arminianism. When Key `73 has had its way with
Church. We are able to do this. Specifically, we              the-Reformed churches that are participating, the only
Protestant Reformed Churches are able to do this. OUI         Reformed thing that will be left will be a hollow,
denial of the "well-meaning offer of the gospel," or          empty name. There is abundant evidence of this
"the free offer," in no way represents a weakening of already. Reformed doctrine is  fust compromised and
the calling of the Church to go into all the world to then lost in the message of  univer.4  love and
preach the gospel to every creature, or the duty of the       atonement. The antithesis is rejected, both in practice
Church to call everyone to repentance and faith, or the and in theory. Discipline is ruled out, especially, the
responsibility of the Church to publish promiscuously         discipline of heretics. God's covenant with believers
the promise that whoever believes will be saved. Our          and their children, dear to a Reformed heart, is denied
denial of the "offer" is a denial that God loves in the practice of treating covenant children as the
everyone who hears the preaching, a denial that God is        targets of evangelism at a later age, instead of viewing
gracious in the preaching to everyone who comes them as covenant children from birth, to be reared in
under the preaching, and a denial that the nature of the truth from infancy. The offices are despised  -
the salvation accomplished through the gospel is that everybody becomes a preacher, or evangelist, today.
of God's making and man's accepting an offer. As These things are going on in Reformed churches now.
Churches, we unreservedly confess the following:              Therefore, we call the Reformed saints: Continue to be
"Moreover, the promise of the gospel is, that                 Reformed with us. It is essentially the same as the call
whosoever believeth in Christ crucified, shall not extended by Judah to Israel in II Chronicles 30. During
perish, but have everlasting life. This promise,              the reign of King Hezekiah, Judah called the children
together with the command to repent and believe,              of Israel to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the
ought to be declared and published to all nations, and Passover with Judah. At that time, God called the
to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, remnant in `Israel out of that apostate nation, calling
to whom God out of his good pleasure sends the them to express their real, spiritual oneness with
gospel" (Canons of Dordt, II, Art. 5). Not only can we Judah:
do evangelism, that is, preach the gospel -to those               Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the Lord God
outside the Church, but we must. The Church must do               of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to
this through the office of the preacher, sending a man            the remnant of you, that are escaped out of kings of
whom God has called to preach. And the Church must                Assyria.
preach the same gospel that she preaches within the               And be not ye like your fathers, and like your
Church, the gospel of a sovereign, holy, glorious God;            brethren, which trespassed against the Lord God of
the gospel of a totally depraved and guilty sinner; the           their fathers, who therefore gave them up to
gospel of God's great grace in Christ crucified; and the          desolation, as ye see.
gospel of the believer's calling to live a thankful, holy        Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but
                                                                 yield yourselves unto the Lord, and enter into his
life in the midst of a wicked world, a life of costly            sanctuary, which he bath sanctified for ever: and
discipleship and self-denial.                                    serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his
  It is part of our responsibility as Reformed Churches          wmth may turn away from you.
to confront those who are not Reformed, but who                                                  (II Chronicles 30 : 6-8)
oppose Key `73, with our conviction that, in the end, Such is our call today: Come, celebrate the Passover
only the Reformed faith is able to stand against this with us; worship Christ crucified for our sins, the
and subsequent movements, especially because of its gracious and only Savior. Do it by a living faith that
confession of the sovereignty of God in the gracious confesses Him purely; that hears Him truthfully
salvation of His people. Let Protestantism in general, preached, and that fellowships with the saints who are
alarmed at the union of the Protestant churches with one in Him.
Rome, consider whether much of Protestantism has                There is a warning attached to the call. In the days
not fallen away from the gospel of grace, the gospel of Hezekiah, just a few years after Israel was called to
still proclaimed where the Reformed  faitli is the Passover, the nation of Assyria destroyed the


418                                           THE STANDARD BEARER



nation of Israel. The call through Hezekiah was God's        themselves, and came to Jerusalem" (vs. 11). To them
final call to Israel. Today, the end of Reformed             God gave a wonderful promise. May this promise be an
churches and of the Reformed faith on a wide scale is        incentive today to many to heed the call, "Be
`at hand. And this goes hand in hand with the approach       Reformed": "For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your
of the end of all things..                                   brethren and your children shall fmd compassion
   The response of most of Israel to the call of Judah before them that lead them captive, so that they shall
was. a scornful rejection: "but they laughed them to         come again into this land: for the Lord your God is
scorn, and mocked them" (II Chronicles  3O:lO).              gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face
However, there some who,heeded the call and came up          from you, if ye return unto him" (II Chronicles 30:9).
to the Passover: "Nevertheless divers . , . humbled

                              `
                              .

Meditation

                                           Salvation In Zion
                                                 Rev. M. Schipper

               "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be
           delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord bath said,
           and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. "
                                                                                                 Joel 2:32.

   Striking it is, in the first place, that ,this portion of to apply to all nations, both Jew and Gentile alike.
Scripture is found in the context of the prophecy            "For there is no difference between the Jew and the
which speaks of the coming day of Pentecost, which Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that
.the prophet sees on the background of the terrible day      call upon him."
of the Lord.                                                   Indeed, there is salvation in Zion!
  The Lord will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh;            For the remnant whom the Lord shall call!
sons and daughters will prophesy; old men shall dream          As the Lord hath said!
dreams, and young men shall see visions; and upon             Salvation is spoken of in terms of deliverance.
servants and handmaids will He pour out His Spirit.          Literally the word that is translated "delivered" or
And this wonder will be accomplished in the midst of "deliverance" comes from a word which means "to be
wonders and signs in heaven and on earth, signs of made smooth." And that which is made smooth will be
judgment,  - blood, and fire, and  pihars of smoke,  -       able to slip away and escape. So that deliverance or
while the sun shall be turned into darkness, the moon        salvation is looked upon as that experience whereby
into blood.                                                  one eludes or escapes from something by slipping
  Striking it is also, that the apostle Peter, on the day    through.
of Pentecost, explains the wonder of the outpouring of         What that is from which those delivered escape is,
the Holy Spirit as being the fulfillment of this             according to the context, judgment. Typically the
prophecy. Almost literally he quotes the prophecy,           judgment refers to a judgment brought upon the land
and explains that what happened on that day with its         of Israel by ,the enemy. To slip through the hands of
sound as of a  m.ighty  rushing  win'd, with its             the enemy was for Israel deliverance. But there is
manifestation of cloven tongues as of fire resting upon      more, much more! When we consider the judgment in
their heads, and the marvelous miracle of tongues, -         the context in the light of the Book of Acts, then the
was that day a time of judgment, wherein God, the            judgment must refer to the day of Pentecost, the day
discerner of hearts, would search the hearts, and cause      of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of
the remnant according to the election of grace to call       Christ. Then, to be sure, the day of Pentecost was
upon the name of the Lord and be saved. (Acts                more than a day when the Holy Spirit was poured out
2:14-21). Incidentally the apostle Paul in his letter to     on the church in heaven and on earth. It was the day
the Romans, also reflects on our text, especially the        when that Spirit would convict men of their ungodly
first. part of it, when he writes: "For whosoever shall      deeds which they had ungodly committed; when He
call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."              would prick them in their hearts, and they would cry
(Romans 10: 13). And Paul considers the "whosoever"          out: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Indeed,


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                419



He would search the hearts even as He searches out the are such, - "that ye should shew forth the praises of
deep things of God. And to pass through and escape him  who  hath called  you out of darkness into his
the terror of that judgment is salvation. It is this which marvelous light." (I Peter 2:9). And in the context of
the prophet evidently has in mind when he speaks of Acts 2, it is very plain that they call upon the name of
salvation for the remnant.                                the Lord and are saved upon whom first the Spirit of
   Salvation for the remnant!                             Pentecost fell.
  And the remnant is the survivors, those who escape,       The Spirit of Pentecost is the Spirit of regeneration,
those who are left over after the judgment is passed.     who quickens and renews those who by nature are dead
Indeed, not all escape, but many succumb in the in trespasses and sins. He makes them alive from the
judgment.                                                 dead. A spiritually dead sinner can hear no call, nor
  The term "remnant" also suggests that the survivors can he call upon the name of the Lord, no more than a
are few.                                                  corpse can hear anything or say anything. And whom
  Does this mean then that those who are actually and the Lord by His Spirit renews, them He also calls
ultimately saved will be few in number? Does not all efficaciously and consciously, the effect of which
Scripture, which everywhere speaks of the precious calling is such that they who are called begin to call
remnant, always refer to them in terms of an upon Jehovah's name. And so the remnant come into a
innumerable host? Are they not always described as conscious, living experience of their own salvation.
being as many as the sands on the seashore, and as the      This salvation for the remnant is in Zion!
stars of the heavens for multitude?                         For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be
  Indeed, there shall not be one empty space in the deliverance, as the Lord hath said!
house of many mansions; every last one for whom that        Typically mount Zion was in Jerusalem. Mount Zion
house is prepared shall be there. Make no mistake was the temple hill, the place when God tabernacled
about it! The host of the redeemed is so great that no with His people. A place beautiful for situation, the
man can count them.                                       joy of the whole earth. Elevated above and
  Yet the Scriptures stress the very sober thought distinguished from the rest of the hills about
that, while the remnant that is saved are many, they Jerusalem. Here God is known in her palaces for a
are nevertheless few when compared with the refuge. The Psalmist in Psalm 48 goes on to say: "Walk
multitude that go lost and perish. It is always true about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers
throughout history, and it shall become evident in the thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces,
                                                          that ye may tell it to the generations following. For this
final judgment that the nucleus saved is small. It is
always a remnant which God counts His precious God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide
                                                          even unto death." All of this has reference, first of all,
possession.                                               typically to the temple hill, where God typically
   Take note of their description in the text!            revealed Himself to His ancient people as the God of
   They are those who call on the name of the Lord their salvation. Apart from this mount Zion there was
(Jehovah), who are delivered! And in the last part of no salvation.
the text, the remnant are they whom Jehovah shall           Symbolically mount Zion refers to the church of
call!                                                     Christ , of Christ Who is the revelation of the
   There is no discrepancy here, for both are true! But everlasting God, the God of the Covenant. On and in
each must be seen and understood in its proper order. this church, which is both holy and catholic, the Holy
The remnant call upon the name of Jehovah only after Spirit, as the Spirit of Christ, is poured out. That Spirit
Jehovah calls the remnant, and always in this order. It which is to abide with the church forever, and to lead
is true that both Peter and Paul, as noted above, stress her into all the truth. That Spirit Who is the Author of
the former, namely, whosoever shall caIl on the name the~infallible Scriptures, and Who also separates men to
of the Lord shall be saved. But both of these apostles preach His Word, and Who calls in the name of Christ
were deeply conscious of the fact that no man can of the remnant according to the election of grace, - that
himself call upon the name of the Lord unless and Spirit takes the salvation prepared by Christ and
until Jehovah first calls him efficaciously and graciously applies it to the hearts of those whom Christ
consciously out of darkness into His marvelous light. through His Word and Spirit calls.
Paul makes this very plain when he adds: "How then          Ultimately, of course, mount Zion and Jerusalem is
shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? in heaven. "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which
and how shall they believe in him whom (not: of is the mother of us all." (Galatians 4:26). "But ye are
whom) they have not heard? and how shall they hear come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living
without a preacher.7" And Peter, after he addresses the God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable
remnant as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, company of angels." (Hebrews  12:22). There God
and holy nation, a peculiar people (people for God's eternally tabernacles with His people in Christ. It is the
own possession)," continues by showing them why they final realization unto which God has purposed to bring


420                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER



the remnant with all His creation into everlasting glory. take heed. Satan has a way of imitating Christ and the
   In this mount Zion and Jerusalem, even as it is ~things .of the church only to deceive. That's why He is
found in the midst of this present evil world, only is antichrist and antichurch.
salvation! Never apart from it!                                         Salvation is only to be found in Zion!
   For Israel in the old dispensation there was no salva-               And that salvation is sure!
tion anywhere else. For the remnant today there is no                   For Jehovah hath spoken! Note how beautifully the
salvation outside of the church.                                     text emphasizes this assurance! They who call upon
   0, do not misunderstand! We do not mean to imply the name of the Lord SHALL be delivered. For in
that one is saved merely because he belongs to some mount Zion and in Jerusalem SHALL BE deliverance;
church. Our view is both Protestant and Reformed, - as the Lord HATH said, and in the remnant whom the
not Romish. The church does not save us. Christ only Lord SHALL call.
saves, and that, too, by His death and shedding of His                  Jehovah, the covenant making and covenant keeping
atoning blood, by His glorious resurrection and ascen- God, the I AM THAT I AM, hath spoken, and His
sion into heaven, from whence He sends forth His Word shall not fail. He shall save His people from their
Spirit. By that Spirit He quickens and gathers, through sins. Not one of those precious sheep given to Christ
His Word preached, a church chosen to everlasting life. shall perish. Though sometimes He appears to be slack
It is therefore not true that you can ignore the church concerning His promise, as some men count slackness,
and Christ's ministry through the church and be saved. He is not slack but longsuffering, not willing that any
So and not otherwise shall there be deliverance in who are strangers and pilgrims in the earth should
mount Zion and in Jerusalem for the remnant. In the perish, but that all should come to repentance. In His
church, which is the living manifestation of the body own time, and according to the wisdom of  His own
of Christ, and which Christ has instituted and ordained counsel, and by the efficacious calling of  His own
that she shall preach His Word, the gospel of our salva- Word and Spirit, He shall call them. Not by some
tion, and shall go out into all the world preaching that universal offer of salvation which all men, righteous
gospel, through which Christ will call out of darkness and wicked, elect and reprobate, can accept or reject at
the remnant in such a way that they respond by calling will; but lovingly and powerfully, graciously and
on the name of the Lord, so, and not otherwise, shall savingly He calls the remnant. And He calls them "one
the remnant be saved. In the world you are lost, - you of city, and two of a family," and brings them to Zion.
are not safe. In the church Christ works by His Spirit (Jeremiah 3 : 14).
and Word to call the remnant out of darkness into His                   This assurance of salvation is promised them in the
marvelous light, Never apart from His church does He proper preaching of the gospel. It is this preaching
proclaim His gospel, by which He calls them. And be- which makes the weary heavy laden, which drives them
cause the Holy Spirit never operates apart from the to the Rest-Giver and His cross, which impels them to
Word, He also operates only in the church where that call upon His name, and which saves them unto the
Word is purely preached, never apart from it.                        uttermost.
   Let those who are being carried away with what                      The remnant is surely saved!
they call Pentecostal fervor, speaking in tongues, etc.,                Thanks be unto God! Amen!


Editorials
                                     Seminary Graduation, 1973
                                                        Pro&t  H.  c. Hoelcsema

                                                                        One of the highlights of this year's Synod was the
                                                                     graduation of two Candidates for the Ministry of the
                                                                     Word and Sacraments, Meindert W. Joostens, a scm of
                                                                     our Redlands, California congregation, and Mark
                                                                     Homer Hoeksema, your editor's son and presently a
                                                                     member of First Church, Grand Rapids..
                                                                        These two young brethren received their diplomas at
                                                                     a graduation program held on Tuesday, June 12, at our
                                                                     Hudsonville, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church,
            Left  to right: M. Joostens and  M. Hoeksema.            the host church of this year's Synod. The fitting and


                                                   T H E   STANDARD   Bl?ARER                                                     421
                                                                       _.-        _    .-
                                                                       ::  ,=.
timely address of this year's graduation speaker, Prof. preachers of the Gospel and at this time when the Lord
H. Hanko, was on the subject, "Exegesis  a& is op&&g.doors for us on the mission field. Our prayer
Preaching." A transcript of this address will appear in is th&`fhe l&d will keep these young men faithful to
the next issue.                                                   His Word, that He will before long give them a place of
  We rejoice and are thankful that the Lord has given labor in His vineyard, and that He will cause them to
to us as churches these two candidates for the ministry be a blessing in the midst of His church.
and has shown us this token of His faithfulness in                   A snapshot, courtesy of Rev. Dale H. Kuiper,
continuing to raise up among us ministers of His Word accompanies this article.
- particularly in this day of crying need for faithful

             Dishonesty And The Formula Of Subscription

                                                        ProJ: H. C Hoeksema

  One of the items confronting the Christian                           share their love for the Gospel of God's sovereign
Reformed Synod which (at this writing) is about to                    grace in Christ. and their loyalty to the Church as a
convene is an overture from Dr. Harry Boer for a new                  non-sectarian body of believers. I see the Creeds as
Form of Subscription. In  Calvinist Contact,  June 4,                 fallible historically-conditioned statements of faith
1973, there appears an article on this subject from the               serving to express that love and that loyalty. My act.
pen of the Rev. John Vriend  - an article taken over                  of signing them, my mental reservations with regard
                                                                      to certain formulations notwithstanding, is an act of
from another paper, The Bridge.                                       faith which at the level of the heart is filled with joy
  In this article, Vriend writes, in part, as follows:                and conviction.
       It's Dr. Boer's contention - and I agree with it. -          There you have it!
    that no office bearer  iu the Christian Reformed                Is it not strange that the pressure for a change in the
    Church can sign the document without mental                   Formula of Subscription never comes from those who
    reservations. Or if he can, he is so obviously                are in agreement with the creeds? If it would, a church
    unintelligent as to be unfit to serve in a capacity of        could face such overtures calmly and objectively, and
    leadership and trust in the church. So - you ask -            could conceivably judge the request for change on its
    one is either a rascal or a fool if he signs the form?        own merits. But no! Always the demand for change
    That would depend, it seems to me, on the nature of           comes from those. who at various points are in
    your reservations.                                            disagreement with the confessions. And it always
       Let no one panic if I list some of the areas in            comes not at the moment when they first discover
    which today hundreds if not thousands of our
    office-bearers are bound to be in non-agreement with          their disagreement, but long afterwards!
    our confessional standards . . .                                It may seem to some that a man like Vriend is being
                                                                  very honest and frank when now he admits to having
  Mr. Vriend then goes on to list some of these areas, mental reservations when signing or assenting to the
among them being the doctrine of reprobation in Form of Subscription. And some may be deceived by
Canons I, 6 and 15, the doctrine of the Lord's Supper his attempted explanation.
in Article 35 of the Confession, and the Catechism's
statement concerning the mass in Question and Answer                But in plain language, Vriend admits to being a liar
80. And then he continues:                                        and to having been a liar every time he assented to the
                                                                  Form of Subscription over a period of years!
       By this time you may begin to wonder how I can               For this is the significance of the Jesuit ethics of
    go to Synod next week and, upon hearing the form of           "mental reservations." Orally or by written assent,
    subscription recited, respond with a clear spoken             Vriend states publicly in subscribing to the Creeds that
    "Amen." Actually, this question may be addressed to           he agrees with "every article and point of doctrine."
    every  mini&r and elder who stands up for this                But in his own soul - without stating these exceptions
    solemn act of assent. Every office-bearer, no matter          - he says every time he subscribes: "But I don't agree
    how faithful and honest, must have his private                with this. I take exception to that. I do not agree with
    solution for this problem. Let me tell you mine.              that," etc., etc.
       I say "Amen" to the Creeds with a clear
    conscience `because I am, heart and soul, comniitted            What Vriend does in this article is admit that he has
    to the evangelical content and intent of the Creeds. I        been doing this over the years. And he claims that
    sense a deep and dynamic unity of faith with the              "hundreds if not thousands" of Christian Reformed
    Reformed fathers who faced Roman Catholicism and              office-bearers do the same thing.
    Arminianism and found those systems wanting. I                  This is utterly dishonest!


422                                                THE STANDARD BEARER



   It makes no difference that now Vriend bluntly gone for that! This, however, does not change the fact
states that all along he has had mental reservations. It that it  should  take place. And do not forget: God is
makes no difference that he may plead that this is the             not mocked!
only way in which he could subscribe to the creeds -                  But let this be a lesson of warning to all concerning
let alone the fact, of course, that this is not true. It           the necessity of honesty and of insisting upon the
makes no difference that he and Boer may claim that if provisions of the Formula of Subscription.
one can sign the Formula of Subscription without                      Let no officebearer sign the Formula of
mental reservations, he is "so obviously unintelligent as Subscription unless he can do so in all honesty before
to be unfit to serve in a capacity of leadership and God and His church. Better far it is that he should
trust in the church" - let alone that it is the height of frankly refuse to do so than that he should do so
cocksure conceit to make this claim. And it makes no dishonestly and with mental reservations.
difference that "hundreds if not thousands" have been                 And let no ecclesiastical assembly shrink from its
doing the same thing: for a thousand wrongs do not                 duty of enforcing the provisions of the Formula of
make a right.                                                      Subscription without reservation.
   The simple fact is that Vriend admits to lying and                 Failure to do so can only result in a situation in
having lied  - and that, too, about the most sacred which the church is wide open for faithless
things and before the church, the body of Christ, and              officebearers, a situation in which these faithless and
therefore to the Holy Spirit.                                      dishonest ones finally occupy a majority position, and
   This is a dreadful thing! It is dishonest! It is a situation in which that majority will insist that their
hypocritical!                                                      dishonest subscription be legitimized by changing the
   Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead for this sin, Formula itself.
Acts 5 : l-l 0.                                                       And when this latter stage is reached, a church will
   Moreover, according to the very provisions of the begin to manifest the marks of the false church, using
Formula of Subscription, the first order of business in the power of discipline to persecute the faithful and to
this connection should not be the treatment of Harry cast them out and to uphold heretics and those who
Boer's overture, but the declaration that Vriend and depart from the way of truth.
the "hundreds if not thousands" of others are de facto                This has happened in the Netherlands.
suspended from office.                                                It is happening here today!
   To be sure, I am not so naive as to expect that                    Be warned!
anything like this will take place: the church is too far


Special Report

                                                 Synod of 1973
                                                        ProJ: H. Hanko

   If one would attempt to capture the predominate by deep seated divisions. Splits loom on the horizon.
mood of this year's Synod in one short phrase, one There are denominations who face this summer's
would most likely conclude that the appropriate assembly meetings anticipating discussions over issues
phrase would be that Synod labored in a profound which ought not to have even a place in the Church of
sense of thankfulness to our covenant God for the Christ. These issues involve fundamental questions of
many blessings He has given. This consciousness of t h e   n a t u r e   o f   t h e   a u t h o r i t y   o f   S c r i p t u r e ,
God's faithfulness was especially impressed upon the Pentecostalism, the place of women in offices in the
delegates by the sharp contrast between the work Church, revision of the Formula of Subscription, the
before our Synod and the nature of the work facing status of the confessions of the Church, - even such
many other higher ecclesiastical assemblies in other questions as whether homosexuality is a sin or not.
denominations. It is so often true today that And these issues appear on the agenda of Churches
denominations are in the throes of profound struggles within the Reformed tradition. These things are the
involving fierce battles over the issues of apostasy and measure of how far these Churches have drifted from
false doctrine. There are denominations who face their the moorings of God's Holy Word.
meetings of the broadest assemblies of the Churches
with the prospect of the denomination being fractured                 Our Synod was a kind of peaceful island in the


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                  423


stormy seas of ecclesiastical strife where every wind of candidates for the ministry of the Word in our
false doctrine blows. The delegates were conscious of Churches. They will be eligible for a call after July 8.
this and deeply thankful. This gratitude to Jehovah The graduation exercises were held. Tuesday evening,
Who has manifested His covenant faithfulness to us June 12, in Hudsonville Church.. There will be
was repeatedly spoken of in the prayers which were           additional material in this issue and the following one
offered in Synod and in the private conversations of concerning their graduation.
the delegates as well as in the discussions .on the floor      This is always a high-spot in the work of Synod. The
of Synod.                                                    brief ceremony which is always held in our Synod'after
Opening of Synod                                             students have been declared candidates is always a very
  The Synod was opened by means of a pre-Synodical           moving one. The fact that the Lord has provided
Prayer Service held in the auditorium of Hudsonville         additional laborers in His .vineyard is evidence of His
Protestant Reformed Church. Rev. C. Hanko had                faithfulness to us. This is especially true because there
charge of the service and preached on Jude 3b: ". . .        is so very much work that needs to be done in these
that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which         days when the love of the truth grows cold. May the
was once delivered unto the saints." In connection           Lord soon provide for them both a place in His Church
with a brief review of Synod's business, Rev. Hanko          to labor faithfully in the preaching of the Word.
urged upon the Synod and those present the                     A considerable amount of  ,time was spent on
importance of this calling in these times of apostasy        Theological School matters. Some of the more
and departure from the truth. The sermon will appear important matters which were treated are the
in its entirety in the Acts and our people are urged to      following:
read it carefully, for it set the tone of the entire           Synod authorized the Theological School
Synod.                                                       Committee to proceed with the building of our new
  Synod opened its sessions Wednesday morning, June          Seminary. Over the course of the year, the costs have
6. The officers elected were: President, Rev. J. Heys; risen sharply. Perhaps a more detailed report can be
Vice-President, Rev. G. Van,Baren; First Clerk, Rev. R.      given in a future article in the  Stand&d Bearer.  But
Decker; Second Clerk, Rev. B. Woudenberg. These              Synod was gratified to learn that our people have
officers functioned capably throughout Synod; and it         supported this cause generously. The preliminary work
was under the leadership of Rev. Heys that the Synod         of grading has already begun, and the work should
accomplished its work with a minimum of delay. and proceed without delay. A special word of thanks goes
diversion.                                                   to the Building Committee which has spent uncounted
  One aspect .of the Synod which struck this reporter hours in this cause, and which will be spending many,
rather forcibly was the fact that another generation is many more hours before the work is completed.
                                                               The Synod also gave its attention to the calling of a
gradually coming to the fore in our Churches. This was
evident from the presence. of many of our younger third professor. Rev. D. Engelsma from our Loveland
ministers on Synod. It was evident from the presence congregation received this call. Rev. R. Decker was
of younger elders. It was also evident from the fact made the secundus. Our Churches are urged to
that one of our Seminary graduates is a third remember Rev. Engelsma in their prayers to God that
generation minister. Mark Hoeksema, son of my he may be guided by the Spirit in consideration of this
esteemed colleague Prof. Hoeksema and grandson of weighty matter.
Rev. H. Hoeksema, represented this third generation.           Synod spent a great deal of time on a revised
This younger and new generation is also a generation Constitution of the Theological School. These revisions
which loves the truth of the Scriptures and is firmly were necessary in the light of the addition to our
committed to the cause of Christ as represented by our Seminary of a Pre-Seminary department. It  is. not
Churches. This is great reason for thankfulness to God. possible to sum up all the changes which were made in
   Rather than attempt to give a day-by-day this Constitution in the scope of this article. But
description of Synod, it would probably be better to incorporated in the Constitution were provisions for
divide the work of Synod under two main headings the admittance into our Seminary of men who desire a
and give our readers an idea in this way of what Reformed Seminary education although they do not
transpired.                                                  intend to be ministers within our Churches. The
                                                             Pre-Seminary department is also opened to such
THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL MATTERS                                   students. We have had and continue to receive requests
  There were two graduates from the Seminary this for admittance from others. Now the Constitutional
year: Mark Hoeksema and Meindert Joostens. provisions are made for this.
Wednesday afternoon, all of Thursday and a large part          The Constitution also now requires that a full four
of Friday was given over to their oral exam before years of college work is required for entrance into the
Synod. The students did very well in their exams, and        Seminary. The Pre-Seminary Department will include
the Synod, without reservation, declared them to be about 75 hours out of a total of 125 hours of such


424                                                       THE STANDARD BEARER


instruction.                                                              stations of the Protestant Reformed Churches of
   As matters stand now, there will be three young men                 America. This work is being done, but the results are
in our Seminary next year; there will be eight young                   " very ;uiconclusive . . . We want to point out that we
men in our Pre-Seminary Department; there will be                         really have a two-track work going in Jamaica, and
one who will audit a few courses in the Seminary.                         our missionaries tell us that there is insufficient time
There is a possibility of one or two more who will be                     and man-power to do even one as thoroughly as it
coming to School with us.                                                 ought to be done.
   Synod also decided to instruct the Theological                        Within this general context, several important
School Committee to make inquiry into the matter of decisions were taken.
making our Seminary a degree-granting institution.                       The Synod decided to send Rev. and Mrs. Lubbers
This matter will come again before next year's Synod. back to the island for another year. The Lord opened
This whole question involves also the matter of the way for this when a work permit which Rev.
transfer of credits.                                                  Lubbers had long been seeking came to his house here
  The Lord has richly blessed our School and the in the states during the sessions of Synod.
labors of the Seminary are committed to the prayers of                   It was evident to the Synod that someone needed to
our people:                                                           go along with Rev. Lubbers. And it was decided to ask
                                                                      one of the candidates to accompany him for a six
MISSION MATTERS                                                       month period. This does not alter the eligibility of the
  Matters of missions occupied a great deal of time on candidate. He is still eligible for a  caLl after July 8.
Synod. There are especially three are& in which these Should he receive and accept a call however, he would
matters were of concern to Synod.                                     not assume his work until he returns from the island.
  The first was the work of Jamaica. Detailed Provisions were also made for ministerial assistance to
information on this will appear in the Acts. However, Rev. Lubbers when and if that becomes necessary.
to give our readers some idea of the nature of the                      The financial assistance we have given the Jamaican
work, we quote brief excerpts from the advice of Churches has been a source of grief to the missionaries.
Committee II which summed up the work from reports And so, with the exception of help in emergencies, and
submitted to Synod by the missionaries and the some help for travelling expenses, it was decided, on
Mission Committee.                                                    the advice of the missionaries, to suspend any financial
          We have reached a kind of crossroads in Jamaica,            aid for a year.
       and decisions have to be reached by this Synod which
       will have effect for some time on our work in that               The four students in Jamaica will have completed
       area. There are Various problems which are connected           their studies in the next year, and the Mission
       with this work . . . From a certain point of view, the         Committee was advised to see to it that this is done.
       work in Jamaica is not going well. There have been               The Mission Committee was instructed to evaluate
       disappointments and many difficulties . . . Many               carefully the work in Jamaica during the next year to
       Churches have left us . . . One minister . . . has left us.    advise Synod what precisely should be our course of
       The work is extremely strenuous and the missionaries           action in this field in the years to come.
       on the island fmd it difficult to trust many of those            Several resolutions were adopted by Synod: one an
       with whom we work. . . On the other hand, there are
       some bright prospects also . . . There are sincere             expression of thanks to Holland's congregation for
       people of God in these churches; there are good                releasing Rev. Heys for five months; another to Rev.
       officebearers here and there; there is evidence of             and Mrs. Heys; and another to Rev. and Mrs. Lubbers.
       positive fruit among some. There is a good work                Few of us are aware of the tremendous difficulty of
       being done in the school where four men are                    the work there. M&y the cause of missions in Jamaica
       presently being trained for the ministry in these              be included in our prayers.
       churches. Thus we have as yet no clear indication that           Synod also received various reports of work being
       the work has come to a standstill on the island, and           done on the home mission field. Revs. Engelsma, Van
       that God is pointing us to the fact that our work              Baren and .Kortering have all labored in Philadelphia.
       there is ended . . .                                           This work will be continued. Rev. Kuiper expected to
          Perhaps the greatest problem which we have at               leave for Philadelphia immediately after Synod.
       present is the question of our goals in Jamaica. When            Revs. Decker and Veldman have worked in Prospect
       we originally began work in Jamaica, the decision was
       taken to work with these churches as indigenous                Park, New Jersey where there are people of God who
       churches. That is, basically the churches were                 are thirsting for the pure preaching of the Word. The
       independent from us in church structure, and Rev.              work there will also be continued. Rev. Woundenberg
       Lubbers worked there to assist them. This has led to           has visited Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and will
       problems. The Synods of 1969 and 1970 decided to               continue to make contacts there over the next months.
       try to do work there independent of the Jamaica                  Under the general heading of missions we could
       churches themselves. That is, the Synod thought it             probably make some general remarks too about the
       worth our while to try to establish in Jamaica mission         work of the Committee of Contact. There have been


                                                 THE STANDARD BEARER                                          425


contacts made with brethren in different countries            One .other~ item of Synod's business which stands in
throughout the world, and it was reported on Synod a class by itself is the work of preliminary preparations
that through the means of our  Standard  Be&e< for the: celebration of our Fiftieth  Amliversary as
Theological Journal and other publications, the Lord is Churches. The year of celebration will be 1975. The
using us to reach many who are called with us to fight theme which Synod chose for this event is "Covenant
the battle of faith in defense of the truth of the Faithfuhless." A committee from  Classis East and
Scriptures. It is becoming increasingly apparent that Classis West was chosen to act as Steering Committee
there are growing pressures towards apostasy in preparation for this event. Various guidelines were
throughout the world; but that there are faithful drawn up including the publication of a booklet. If any
people of God in many places who are being called to of our people have ideas for this celebration they
stand together in the cause of Christ. It was with this should see to it that these suggestions are forwarded to
that Synod was concerned. And our prayers ought the chairman of the committee, Rev. C. Hanko.
daily to be that the Lord will unite in one faith and         And so, Thursday Synod finished its work. No
one calling those who are faithful to Christ.              report of this nature can adequately cover the work
  A work which is not generally known is the work,of which was done, nor accurately convey the genuine
translation of materials prepared by Rev. Woudenberg spirit of unity and joy which pervaded the Synod in its
and distributed in the States. This material is being labors. All who attended would however agree that
translated in Indonesia and is widely distributed. There there is only one response to this year's Synod: Thanks
are also some possibilities that these will be translated be to God for His many mercies towards us who are so
into some dialects of the people in India. There has undeserving of His favor and love. May our Churches
been a lot of response to this work, and Synod decided join in this thankfulness.
to support it.


In His Fear
                  Pastoral Aspects of the Canons of Dordt
                                                   Rev. D.H. Kuiper

  The Word of God calls those men whom Christ has visits in homes where there is some difficulty of a
given to His Church as His mouthpieces, through spiritual nature.
whom He speaks His saving Word,  pastors.  This               The standard of behavior for both pastor and sheep
designation is' distinct from other gifts of the ascended is given in the Word of God. As the pastor busies
Lord, for Paul writes the Ephesian church that Christ himself with the work of the ministry, he has in mind
gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some the perfecting of the saints and the edifying of the
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. The word body of Christ "that we be no more children, tossed to
pastor  also has a different emphasis than do other and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
common terms in use today, preachers and ministers. by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby
A pastor is a shepherd, a shepherd on earth of the they lie in wait to deceive." (Eph. 4: 14) In other
Great Shepherd's dearly beloved sheep. The term is a words, he brings the Word of God also in pastoral
tender one. It calls to mind the relationship of a flock work. That Word feeds, gathers, defends, consoles.
and its shepherd. This shepherd knows his sheep Reformed  pastors possess the decided advantage of
individually, calls them by name, is known and trusted having the Three Forms of Unity in their hearts and
by them, and this in distinction from other shepherds minds as a guide in interpreting the Scriptures and in
and hirelings. The labor of the shepherd involves the applying the Scriptures to the sin-sick souls of the
leading, feeding and protection of the flock. Thus local sheep individually. We are all well acquainted with the
congregations are flocks of Christ's sheep who are Heidelberg Catechism and its subjective, personal
gathered, fed, and defended through the labor of approach to salvation. As it treats matters of misery -
Christ-sent shepherds. There is also an aspect to the deliverance - gratitude, the Catechism never wearies in
work that is very personal; the labor of the shepherd asking, "What doth this profit thee?" We love the
with a single family, or with an individual, which has a Catechism for this concern, and saints do not tire of
peculiar weakness or problem. In our times, pastoral hearing the Lord's Days preached to them over a
work has come to refer especially to this individualized period of seventy or eighty years. The "other"
labor. We know it as family visitation, sick calls, and confessions, the Belgic Confession and the Canons of


   426                                         THE STANDARD BEARER



   Dordt; are less well known, and because of their that doctrine is not profitable for life and life
   theologic, doctrinal approach are thought to be of less problems. The Gospel is needed, not doctrine. The
   value in pastoral labors. This is a mistake. Pastors and Canons seem to anticipate this modern error by
   sheep alike continue to make this mistake only to their speaking of "doctrines of the Gospel"! We will develop
   disadvantage.                                              the thesis that the Canons of Dordt are a wonderful
                                                              tool in pastoral labor, and that the reason is that
  CANONS HELD IN DISREPUTE                                    pastoral concern for the child of God in this sinful
     The Canons especially are thought to be cold, hard,      world shines through everywhere. The fathers of Dordt
  and difficult. They are thought by many to be  "the were not cold, merciless men who entertained
  product of unkind theologians who wrote of abstract themselves at the expense of the Arminians by splitting
  mysteries without any concern for the life and needs        hairs. They were pastors! They demonstrated an
   of the Church. This general low regard which the           admirable balance between concern for the glory of
   Reformed community has for the Canons is typified          God's Name and the well-being of His `people. And
  by the following words from the pen of Leonard              they succeeded in demonstrating that the two go
  Verduin. In a review of  Carl Bang's Arminius  (The         together!
1' Banner, Jan. 19, 1973) Verduin writes, "Many of the
  nuances in the theology of Arminius have gained PASTORAL CONCERN EVIDENT IN THE FIRST
  respectability among Reformed thinkers since his day, FOUR HEADS
  and one wishes that Gomarus and all the rest who were         There can be no doubt that the occasion that
   after his scalp had been less vehement." Later he demands the individual pastoral labors of a minister is
  recommends Bangs' sympathetic account of Arminius' sin, either a walk in sin that is an offence in the Church
  life and doctrine as  must  reading "If there are still or the accusing testimony of sin in a person's
  people around who live with the caricature that conscience. All such labor, therefore, is directed
  Arminius was an arch-heretic, a Pelagian, a man who toward bringing a person to confession of his sins (with
  shied away from the idea that salvation is by grace and an accompanying forsaking of them) and toward his
  by grace alone . . . if there are still people to be found receiving the Spirit-worked testimony that all sins have
  who think Arminius got a square deal at the hands of been forgiven him for the sake of Christ so that no one
  the `orthodoxy' of his times . . . if there are still people can lay anything against the charge. of God's elect.
  on the scene who think of the Synod of Dort as an Although it would be possible to list every statement
  altogether holy moment in the annals of Christ's in the Canons that have bearing on these matters, we
  church . .  ." I, for one, thrill at the vehemence would rather show but a few instances from the first
  displayed by the hard pressed,  synodical president four heads of doctrine. It is very striking that already
  Bogerman (who finally exclaimed, `Dimittimini,  exite! in the First Head, Of Divine Predestination, this
  You are dismissed, leave!"). I am convinced that concern for the soul's welfare is present. One who is
  Arminius was an arch-heretic, a Pelagian, who spoke of having spiritual problems, doubts concerning
  grace but denied the power thereof. I know that forgiveness and salvation, will be especially anxious
  through long, difficult labors orthodoxy (without the concerning election and reprobation. The fathers,
  quotation marks) gave the Arminian party a square understanding this, carefully state in Art. 12 that "the
  deal. And I thank God for the monumental work the elect in due time, though in  various degrees  and in
  Synod produced in the Canons; they were a congress different measures,  attain the assurance of this their
  of which to be proud! Besides, the question is not: Was     eternal and unchangeable election." And this assurance
  every delegate to the Synod sinless or spotlessly pure is attained not in the sickly prying into the secret and
  in his motivation? The question is: Are the Canons deep things of God, but "by observing in themselves
  true? And, through the Great Synod did God preserve with a spiritual joy and holy pleasure, the infallible
  the doctrines of sovereign grace for the future Church?     fruits of election pointed out in the Word of God."
  The answer to these latter questions is a resounding Here already the anxious are pointed to God and His
  yes!                                                        Word and away from their sickly, despondent selves.
     At any rate, the above demonstrates the low place And in the Word we find the fruits of "true faith in
  the Canons occupy in much of the Reformed churches.         Christ, filial fear, a godly sorrow for sin, a hungering
  Add to this the fact that a long series of articles on and thirsting after righteousness, etc." If some might
  doctrine, with more articles called Rejection of Errors,    say that they don't observe those fruits in their lives,
  are thought by many to be difficult and cold, and you Art. 16 provides the further answer. Those who lack
  have more than enough reason for some to come to the faith, have not the peace of conscience, do not possess
   careless conclusion that the Canons can best be left on an earnest endeavor after filial obedience, but who
  the shelf; certainly they cannot be used in approaching continue to use the means of grace are not to be
  distressed souls in pastoral work as we have briefly alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor rank
  described it. The error underlying this conclusion is themselves, among the reprobates, but wait for a season


                                             THE  STANDARD.BEARER                                                 427



of richer grace. The beauty of this entire article that way of special revelation. One receives this through
the fathers understand, they have been there, they are faith. in  then promises of God as these promises are
able to describe various kinds of believers and their recorded in the Bible. The Spirit, the Spirit of our
problems. In Art. 18 of this same First Head the Father of all consolation, speaks through and with the
Canons speak to believing parents who have lost an Scriptures. And it is through the preaching of this
infant to death. There is more, but this will suffice in Gospel that God continues His once-begun work in us
showing that the fathers are careful to adjust every (Ads. 10, 14).
possible misconception and to comfort the feeble.              This is  ,enough  to show that the Canons of Dordt
The Second and Third-Fourth Heads of the Canons are not abstract and cold, and that the fathers were not
also contain Truth that must be carried to the troubled unkind or lacking in understanding. Throughout the
saint. It might seem that there is not much here of a Canons ring true with the solid sound of the Word of
consoling nature, but we may not overlook the fact God. Throughout they demonstrate Father's concern
that the heart of the Gospel is that the death of Christ and Christ's concern for the child of God's spiritual
made satisfaction to divine justice on our behalf (Art. welfare. Let this creed occupy a large place in our
2). Further, Arts. 8 and 9 teach that the saving efficacy ecclesiastical life, that the spouse of Christ may
of the Son of God's death extends to all the elect, and continue to love tenderly and defend constantly these
that this powerful work shall stand even against the truths, and esteem them an inestimable treasure. Then
ineffectual opposition, of the gates of hell. And the honor and glory will be unto this one God, Father,
conversion of man to God, the subject of the Third Son, and Holy Ghost (Art. 15, V).
and Fourth Heads, is ascribed to God alone and His             In closing, two recommendations seem to be in
irresistible grace. Finally, if the weary saint is tempted order. Bible study societies, both young people and
to give up, to stop using the means of grace, to adult, ought seriously to consider an article by article
withdraw into himself, he is warned in Art. 17 to treatment of the Canons. We recently spent our after
continue in their use because God has in His good recess programs for three and a half years in this study,
pleasure intimately joined together grace and means, and have profited immensely. Secondly, the Permanent
namely, the preaching. of the Word and the use of Committee for the Publication of Prot. Ref. Literature
sacraments.                                                  ought to consider the publishing in book form of the
                                                             lengthy exposition of the Canons that Prof. Hoeksema
THE FIFTH HEAD A PASTOR'S MA?NJAL                            has written. These articles, found in Standard Bearer
  It is in the Fifth Head that we find the concrete Volumes 29-37, should be available as a study guide for
treatment of the imperfect saint's problem. After all, all those who love the Reformed faith,
most often the problem takes this form: I am a sinner
who has fallen many times in the past. How may I
know that I will not fall in the future (or am falling at
the present time) in such a way that I will never be               Notice to the Churches
restored. Very wisely the fathers catalog the remains of
indwelling sin that remain in the believer: spots adhere
to the best works of the saints, there are daily sins of       The 19 7 3 Synod of the Protestant Reformed
infirmity, there are infirmities of the flesh, the Churches, having approved the examination of the
lamentable sins of David and Peter are mentioned, sin following seminary students, declares them Candidates
is not excused but called enormous. It is recognized for the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments in our
that sin offends God, grieves the Spirit, interrupts the churches, They are eligible for a call on July 8, 1973.
exercise of faith, and grievously wounds the
conscience. And as the weeping saint shakes his head in            The Candidates are.:
sad recognition of these things, the words "but God
. . . )" are constantly held before him. But God is                       Mr. Mark H. Hoeksema,
faithful, but God is rich in mercy! According to His                      748 Fuller Ave., S.E.,
unchangeable purpose of election, God does not                            Grand Rapids, Mich. 49506
wholly withdraw the Holy Spirit, does not allow His
people to lose the grace of adoption, so that the
assurance of justification is lost, does not allow the                     Mr. Meindert W. Joostens,
committing of the sin unto death, nor will He allow                        2152 Audubon, S.W.,
the saint to plunge himself into destruction. Look,                        Wyoming, Mich. 49509
therefore, to God! Remember that every saving benefit
proceeds out of His election of grace!
  Again, a warning is necessary. One may not expect                                        -Rev. D. H. Kuiper,
to receive this assurance of preserving unto the end by                                     Synodical Stated Clerk


428                                           THE STANDARD BEARER


From Holy Writ

                       Exposition of the Book of Hebrews
                                                 Rev. G. Lubbers

 LOOKING AWAY TO THE RECOMPENSE OF THE                        We now come to a new verse, which gives us another
 REWARD (Heb. 11:26b)                                      instance of the great faith of Moses, the man of God.
   The verb form here in the Greek is a composite of a Let us state at the outset that we hold that the writer
verb with a preposition. It has a resultant meaning here refers to Moses not as a mere individual, but as
which it would not have if the verb stood by itself the called one of God to lead Israel out of Egypt to
without the preposition, which is here  apo.  It is a fulfill the promises made to the fathers. We will not
preposition which indicates that it was "away from." argue the point here. We merely state our position. The
It was, therefore, looking away from one thing to text refers to the entire episode of Moses' leaving
something else. In this case we are told that Moses Midian to go to Pharaoh upon the Lord's bidding until
looked away from the treasures of Egypt, which were the night of the passing of Moses out of Egypt at the
but for a short season, unto the recompense of the head of the thousands of Israel. And in all this Moses'
reward. It might seem that Moses made a foolish faith shines forth brightly as one who walks as seeing
choice, that he would come out on the short end. And the invisible God. God is back of Moses in all His
so it is ever with those who suffer for the sake of mighty deeds and judgments in the ten plagues; Moses
Christ in the world. It seems to be nothing but bitter sees God in His invincible power and majesty, and he is
suffering, to be ill-treated for the sake of and with the fearless of the mighty king of Egypt!
sufferings of Christ. However, that is not really true.       Moses "forsakes" Egypt. Here, too, we have a
Jesus tells us in Matthew 11: 11, 12 that we must          composite verb. It means that Moses quit Egypt wholly
rejoice and be exceeding glad when such suffering is and altogether. There is one thing that Moses and the
our lot: "for great is your reward in heaven." And that people must never do: return to Egypt! This is a
blessedness was also the portion of Moses in his choice forsaking in being delivered. That is indicated in the
of faith. In faith and hope he looked away from this       composite verb which is translated in the KJV
suffering to the recompense of the reward.                 "forsook." It is true that there are expositors who hold
   One day the books will be opened, then all shall that this act of faith refers to Moses' leaving Israel in
stand before the Lord and His great white throne. And flight after he had killed the Egyptian persecutor of his
then Moses will receive his final reward, to dwell with brethren. True, that was forsaking Egypt too; however,
Christ in the light in glory, having been faithful over here we do not see the fearlessness of Moses, but the
much as a "faithful servant" (Heb. 3': l-6; Num. 12:7), rashness of Moses' act visited upon him. Moses had
and shall hear, "Well done, thou good and faithful much to learn in the 40 years in Midian! He must be
servant; enter into the joy of thy Lord." However, the prepared yet by the Lord for 40 years to be such a
faith of Moses is rewarded also in the greater             fearless leader who walks as seeing the unseen God. He
responsibilities and privileges which he receives. He will had to learn to walk alone with God. Patience and
be the one to lead Israel out of Egypt, and he shall       clinging to the everlasting unseen God in faith must be
stand before the Lord on the holy Mt. Sinai in Horeb.      exercised by him, tending the sheep in the desert,
God will speak to him in the burning bush. And later where later he will lead Israel like a flock, as gently as a
God will speak to him face to face on this same mount,     shepherd who carries the lambs in his bosom.
giving him the holy oracles.
  This is the recompense of the reward which Moses THE FEARLESSNESS OF MOSES (Heb. 11:27)
saw and sought. Surely, Moses did not look at this           This fearlessness of Moses is his basic attitude
recompense as a payment for service, a meritorious toward the wrath of the mighty king Pharaoh, before
reward. He understood that it was all of grace - both whom he must represent the cause of Jehovah God and
the suffering with the people of God and the of His people Israel, His first-born son! (Ex. 4:22) Now
recompense of the reward. And thus it must be also         surely, this fearlessness of faith was a gift of God.
with us. Such is the example of Moses which the writer Moses did not have this stature of faith when he was
to the Hebrews holds before them. It is faith as the tending his father-in-law's sheep in the desert. It was
substance of things hoped for. Such is the boldness of here that the Lord appeared to Moses at the burning
faith which has a great reward!                            bush as Jehovah, the I AM THAT I AM, God
                                                           Almighty, Who will be with Moses each step of the
MOSES FORSAKES EGYPT IN FAITH (Heb. 11: 27a)               way and Who will surely fulfill His promise, which He


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                  429


made to Abraham concerning Israel's deliverance out sinned." Finally, God must come and smite all the
of Egypt. But Moses is very fearful and timid, Faith-as firstborn of Egypt, both man and beast; against all the
the substance of things hoped for and the evidence-of gods...of:`Egypt  will the Lord execute judgment. The
things not seen is very weak in Moses. It is only when issue is. clearly between Pharaoh and the Unseen God!
the Lord works in Moses' heart this boldness that he
sallies forth into the fray.                                 Hence, Moses feared not the wrath of the king. He
                                                           will execute the Lord's judgment upon Pharaoh. He
  Here Moses speaks to the Lord. He seems quite will "endure" in his arduous and glorious task. Read
meek at first; however, he finally even refuses to go to how Moses brings three sets of three plagues upon
Egypt to deliver Israel. He has three objections, which Egypt. And in these the Lord will show His great
all indicate a lack of faith and of seeing the invisible power as the Unseen One. It will be the manifestation
God. And this is so very true also to our lives! In the of His power and divinity. Pharaoh will first
fast place, the fact is that all Moses' hopes for reluctantly say, "It is the  finger of God." But by and
delivering Israel as he attempted to do 40 years before by he will ask Moses to intercede for him to the
are dashed to pieces. Moses had learned the basic LORD!
temperament of Israel. They were a hard and
stiffnecked people, as says Stephen before  the              See Moses stand at the beginning of each of the
Sanhedrin in Jerusalem many centuries later, reviewing three series of plagues, meeting Pharaoh in the morning
the  history of Israel in rejecting Moses and all the at the river. Before each second plague, see Moses
prophets. (Acts 7:51-53) Objects Moses: "The people standing before Pharaoh in his very court. And then
will not hear me." (Ex. 4:l) Secondly, Moses appeals notice Moses simply bringing each third plague
to the fact that he, Moses, is not eloquent. How shall unannounced. And see the devastating effect of these
he be able to speak to the people of Israel and to plagues. The first three touch creation, and thus touch
Pharaoh? And, thirdly, he refuses to go! Such was the the life of man a bit remotely. Thesecond three touch
littleness of faith of Moses at this time here at the man and beast in their physical existence directly. And
burning bush with the shoes off his feet.                  the third three have a terrifying effect in the very soul,
                                                           the marrow and bones of man. And the final blow is
  No, shall Moses have the fearlessness of faith, then effected in the death of the firstborn of both man and
the Lord must give him this faith. He must give him beast.
signs from the "invisible and mighty God," Who dwells
in the unapproachable light of His own holiness and          And then see Pharaoh bow under the crushing
power. In the first place, the sign is that Aaron his blows! He gradually breaks under the sledge-hammer
brother will come to meet him. Secondly, he is given a blows of the Almighty. Pharaoh does not repent, but
sign in his own hand. He must cast his rod upon the he whimpers under the fearless onslaught of Moses'
ground, and it becomes a serpent. And his hand he "enduring faith" in the Unseen God! He breaks down
must put in his bosom, and it becomes smitten with more and more! At the second plague (frogs) he says,
leprosy. And again, he must place his hand in his "Entreat the Lord . . . and I will let the people go."
bosom, and it will become whole and clean once more. (Ex. 8:8) And after the fourth plague (flies) he says to
  This "fearlessness" to stand before the king is faith Moses, "Go ye, sacrifice to your God . . . I will let you
which God wrought in Moses' heart by His word, signs, go." (Ex. 8~25-28) And after the seventh plague (hail)
and the operation of the Holy Spirit.                      the LORD presses from his unrepentant lips, "I have
                                                           sinned . . . entreat the LORD." (Ex.  9:27, 28) After
                                                           the eighth plague (locusts), in increasing tempo,
MOSES FEARSNOT THE WRATH OF THEKING Pharaoh pleads, "I have sinned . . . forgive . . .
(Heb. 11: 27)                                              entreat." (Ex.  lO:lO, 17) And, finally, after the ninth
  Nothing which the king of Egypt does and utters in plague, Pharaoh gives up and says, "Go, serve the
his wrath and hardness of his powerful will shakes the LORD  ." (Ex. 10:21-27) Thus Pharaoh meets an
faith of Moses in the unseen God. It is good to take a unrelenting Moses who sees the Unseen God!
little notice of this point in depth. And then it ought      Moses endured the wrath of the king when finally
to be obvious that the  issue  is not really between Pharaoh said, "If I see your face again, ye shall die."
Moses and Pharaoh, but between the Unseen One, (Ex. 10:28) And then the fearless answer comes forth,
Whom Pharaoh says he does not know, and Pharaoh. and Moses has the last word, "Thou hast spoken well, .I
The issue is between Jehovah God and the idols of will see thy face no more again." (Ex. 10: 29)
Egypt. Pharaoh must come to learn that he cannot any
longer say, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His         Such is the fearless Moses, who forsakes Egypt at
voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither the head of the thousands of Israel! It is the great
will I let Israel go." (Ex.  5:2) It must be a complete lesson and example of fearless faith which overcame all
crushing of Pharaoh; he must learn to say, "I have his littleness of faith at the burning bush!


430                                            THE STANDARD BEARER



Question Box
               About Casting Out Devils, Matthew 7: 22,23
                                                  ProJ: H. C Hoeksema

Dear Editor of Question Box:                                 attributed to Christ: they did it for the furtherance of
   In Matt. 7:22-23 we read: "Many will say to me in His cause and for His benefit.
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy            2) Notice, however, that all these are not necessarily
name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy works of the kingdom. These people claim to have a
name done many wonderful works? And then will I              right to enter the kingdom on the basis of these works.
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me,         But these are all external works, and not necessarily of
ye that work iniquity."                                      a spiritual-ethical value. Their claim is false on that
   By whose power were these casting out devils, since score, therefore, first of all. But it is also false because
Jesus Himself says in Mark 3:23, "How can Satan cast one does not enter the kingdom on the basis of his
o u t   S a t a n ? "           - Grand Rapids Reader works.
                                                               For the Lord calls them workers of iniquity, i.e.,
Reply                                                        workers of lawlessness, transgressors of the law of God.
   Evidently my questioner is applying the sound They do not have the love of God (the heart of the
principle of exegesis that Scripture must be interpreted law!) in their hearts. They are not dominated by that
in the light of Scripture, and has thus arrived at this love of God. They work the very opposite, and walk in
little problem: 1) These people cast out devils. 2) They sin and darkness. Their way is a way of much work,
are workers of iniquity, and therefore children of the -while it is nevertheless a way of sin and
devil. 3) Yet Satan cannot cast out Satan, and               unrighteousness.
therefore they could not have cast out devils.                 Notice, in this connection, that the Lord says in
   In reply, I would suggest the following:                  verse 21 that "he that doeth the will of my Father
   1) The Lord Jesus is here speaking of a peculiar kind     which is in heaven" shall enter into the kingdom of
of "workers of iniquity." They are, in the first place,      heaven. Hence, the Lord Jesus does not say that
those who serve Him with their lips, i.e., they are          confession of His name (Lord, Lord!) is not good. Nor
characterized by a mere outward confession. They say,        does He say that prophesying and casting out devils
"Lord, Lord!" Hence, they are those who know of and doing mighty works is not good. But all these
Christ and who with their lips acknowledge Him as their without doing the will of His Father in heaven are no
Lord, that is, as Him Whom they are willing to serve.        good; one can very well be a worker of iniquity at the
They are even emphatic about this, as is implied in the      same time. And what is the will of God? It is this:
repeated "Lord, Lord," and in the fact that they             "Love Me!" - something which cannot be satisfied
address Him directly. Secondly, however, they are not with a number of works, but which demands our
to be distinguished as hypocrites by a vivid contrast        inmost heart, and from that inmost heart our outward
between their confession and their works. On the walk. And what is it to do the will of God? Is it to
contrary, as they confess Christ as their Lord, so they prophesy? To cast out devils? To do great things? No,
also realize their confession in mighty works. They but in a word: to believe on Him Whom God has sent!
point to their works. They prophesy, i.e., they preach (John 6:29) Outside of Him, God's only begotten Son,
and teach and speak of Christ. They probably even            we lie in the midst of death, are guilty and corrupt. In
defended the doctrine. And they cast out devils  - Him is righteousness, the knowledge of God,
whether in the literal sense, as, for example, in the case sanctification. And to believe on Him means to repent
of Judas Iscariot, or in the general sense of combatting and be sorry after God,  to  put all our trust in Christ
evils in the world, fighting the devil of drunkenness, of    only as our righteousness, and to bear  fmit unto
poverty, of greed, of corruption, of disease, of crime.      sanctification, fleeing from sin, loving God from the
They do many wonderful works. They employ their heart, through grace.
powers and influence and means for the interest of             Hence, my conclusion is:
mankind and for the purpose of making the world                a) That in the sphere of the church in the midst of
better. Moreover, they do all this "for Christ." Every the world it is certainly possible to do all these things
time, notice, they repeat: "In thy name . . ." And the       outwardly, without participating in them personally
peculiar form of the words used here suggests not that       and from the heart.
they claim to have done this by the power of Christ's          b) That this happened and still does happen many
name, nor on the authority of His name; but rather in times (the Lord says, "Many will say unto me . . ."). It
the interest of Christ's name. What they did they was possible for a Judas Iscariot to do such works


                                                               c-  a;.
                                               THE STANDARD'Bl%RER'                                                              431



when he was sent out with the twelve. It is possible, in the sphere of the church, that is, where the Spirit
for example, for a preacher to do this also today: that operates, without themselves being affected in their
is, to preach-the gospel, but to be himself a worker of hearts by the operation of the Spirit. Consult Hebrews
iniquity.                                                           6:4-8,  for example, to learn how "near" and yet how
  c) That this is due to the fact that such people live. "far" one can be from the kingdom.

               WEDDING ANNIVERSAR Y                                                 WEDDlNG  ANNIVERSARY
  On July 28, 1973, the Lord willing, our parents, Mr.                    On May 27, 1973, our parents
and Mrs. Herman Schipper, will celebrate their 30th                          MR. AND. MRS. MAYNARD VEENSTRA
wedding anniversary. We thank our covenant God for celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
the Christian upbringing they have given us and that He                   We, their grateful children and grandchildren, are
may continue to bless them in the years to come.                    thankful to our covenant God for the many years of
                             Mr. and Mrs. William Lafferty instruction we .were privileged to receive from them.
                                        Grandchild Laura Our prayer is for God's continued blessing upon them
                             Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Schipper throughout their earthly walk.Mr. and Mrs. Jay Veenstra
               WEDDING ANNIVERSARY                                                                     Mr. and Mrs. Ira Veenstra
  With gratefulness to our covenant God for the many                                                Mr. and Mrs. Arie Griffieon
blessings He has given to us through our parents,                                                               Miss Helen Veenstra
             MR. AND MRS. JOHN KNOPER,                                                        Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Van Den Top
we rejoice with them on their 50th wedding                                                    Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Van Den Top
anniversary which they hope to celebrate July 5. May                                               Mr. and Mrs. John Besselsen
God, Who has given them these years together                                                       Mr. and Mrs. Merle Veenstra
continue to bless them in their earthly pilgrimage.                                                             and 29 grandchildren
                               Mr. and Mrs. G. Bouwkamp
                                   Mr. and Mrs. D. Knoper                                I        N              MEMORIAili
                                  Prof. and Mrs. H. Hanko                 Our Heavenly Father, who always deals with His
                                         20 grandchildren people in love, called our dear mother, grandmother
                                     2 great-grandchildren and great-grandmother,
                                                                                     MRS. JANNA DYKSTRA
             R&SOLUTION OF SYMPATHY                                 to her eternal home on Thursday morning, June 7,
  The Priscilla Society of the First Protestant                     1973, at the age of 76 years.
Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan, extends "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His
its sincere sympathy to two of its members, Miss Julia eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
Dykstra and Mrs. E. Pluger, in the death of their suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,
mother,                                                             strengthen, settle you. To Him be the glory and
                MRS. JOHN DYKSTRA,                                  dominion forever and ever. Amen." (I Peter 5: 10, 11)
whom the Lord took home on June 7, 1973.                                                           Children, grandchildren and
  "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phil.                                                         great-grandchildren
1:21).
                                    Mrs. H. Veltman, Pres.                                INMEMORIAM                    '
                                   Miss R. Sietstra, Sec'y.               On Tuesday, May 22, 1973, our beloved mother,
                                                                    grandmother and sister
             RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY                                                  MRS. SADIE VAN HAM
  The Ladies Aid Society of the First Protestant was called  t-o eternal glory. Our comfort is in the
Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan, mourns                   promise of God's Word, "I will lift up my eyes unto
the loss of one of our members,                                     the hills from whence cometh my help. My help
                MRS. JOHN DYKSTRA,                                  cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth."
whom the Lord took home on the 7th of June, and Psalm 12 1: l-2.
hereby express our sympathy to the bereaved family.                                                      Mrs. Senetta Vriesenga
  "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His                                        Herman and Jeanette Van Ham
saints." (Psalm 116: 15).                                                                                            5 grandchildren
                                    Mrs. T. Newhof, Pres. '                                                     6 great-grandchildren
                                 Mrs. Chas. Pastoor, Sec'y                                               Mrs. Johanna Aldering


.-                                                          __ _.--

      THE STANDARD BEARER                                                .- _ ..,~I. . . .  ,;-/ :lipgiE&
                P.O. Box 6064                                                           *.+&&&y&y
      Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506
                                                               ~.-~
                                          -    -    -
                                      News  From Our Churches
      432                                                THE STANDARD BEARER


           If the rest of you  Standard Bearer  readers enjoy extended a call to Rev. Woundenberg. Rev. Decker is
      hearing from our Business Manager as much as I do, still considering the call to serve as our home
      you'll be pleased to note that, for this column, we have missionary in the northeastern part of our country.
      a little more news from Mr. Vander Wal. Here he is:              And, as will probably be reported elsewhere in this
           "The Postal Service of our United States is often issue, our Synod has elected to extend the call once
      berated and made a target of jokes and puns regarding more to Rev. D. Engelsma, to serve as third professor
      the delivering of mail. In some (remote) instances it in our Seminary.
      may be true that our mail delivery is not all that it                                   *****
      should be. But - postal employees - here is a tribute              News concerning the recent and current mission
      to your service which proves that this `is not always activities of our churches comes from various of our
      so!' One of our servicemen, receiving  The Standard church bulletins. Rev. Decker has returned home from
      Bearer,  writes the following - `Dear Sir: I thank you New Jersey, after spending several weeks in Fair Lawn,
      for the prompt presence of The Standard Bearer, while where he conducted services, taught catechism, and
      overseas with the Navy. It may interest you to know              conducted an adult Bible class. Much interest was
      your publication was received by me both in the reportedly shown there. Rev. Veldman left on May 29,
      Philippines and Singapore, as well as on station in the to continue the work in that area through the month
      Tonkin Gulf.' So - any postal employee reading this              of June. He reports that "most of their evenings are
      report - a `pat on the back' to you!"                            spent with interested groups discussing the truth and
           On occasion Mr. VanderWal  also forwards to me a the church."
      letter or two from The Standard Bearer's Mail Box. A               Rev.  Schipper returned home from Maine on May
      couple of recent ones were received from Great Britain
      -                                                                30. In giving an account of his activities there, he
             one from Bradford, England, and the other from recalled that "each Sunday morning, one hour before
      South Wales. Perhaps I ought to quote a little from the the service, (he) conducted a class treating the
      latter, since it's particularly encouraging to those who Reformed Confessions. He preached twice each
      write and to those who work to distribute our `Sunday, except the first, when he preached only in the
      literature. The reader from the other side of the                evening. He conducted a lecture each Wednesday . . .
      Atlantic writes as follows: "As a theological student, During the week, when he was not busy preparing to
      completing a 3-year course on 5th July this year at the speak, we visited with the people of the church, most
      South Wales Bible College, I was delighted to have               of the time into the wee hours of the morning. Our
      been introduced to your publications via a fellow                assessment of the area - a little nucleus of spiritually
      student.                                                         hungry souls, living in an area that is spiritually dead.
           "Particularly helpful was the study of `The Means of Only the Lord knows what the future will bring in
      Grace' by the Rev. Herman Hoeksema, and his regard to the seed sown. We are re.minded of the word
      excellent treatment `The Biblical Ground for the of Jeremiah: `And I will take you one of a city, and
      Baptism of Infants . . .'                                        two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.' "
           "I trust that God will continue to encourage you in           Rev. Kortering extended his stay in Philadelphia an
      your work of putting forth, in these days of cqnfusion, additional week, to include the tenth of June. Rev.
      sound publications which will aid those who seek the Kuiper planned, the Lord willing, to continue the labor
      glory of God in preaching and the salvation of many in that field after the adjournment of Synod. Rev.
      precious souls through the faithful exposition of the Lubbers and Rev. Heys have returned from Jamaica.
      Holy Scriptures.                                                 And, from one final bulletin, we learn that Rev.
           "Two acquaintances of mine would also be pleased, Woudenberg "has been requested to contact a group in
      as I myself, to receive any literature. you may have Edmonton, Alberta, Canada." Hudsonville's bulletin,
      available and thus in the days ahead be able, if God so which included some of the above items, added the
      desired, to increase the circulation of your publications hope and prayer that the Lord would "use our
      here."                                                           churches for the preservation and propagation of His
                                 *****                                 sovereign grace; and may we faithfully  fulfil the
           Rev. D. Engelsma, as most of you surely know by privilege extended to us by our Lord, `Ye are My
      this time, declined the call from our Faith Church in            witnesses.' "
      Jenison;.  Following that decline, Faith's congregation                                                               D.D.


