May/June - the Heritage Reformed Congregations

Transcription

May/June 2010
Vol. 18 No. 5
A Periodical for Young and Old
IN THIS ISSUE
How Christ’s Resurrection
Shapes Our Hope
A Prayer for the Aging
What Every Parent Should
Know about the Internet
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
OF THE
HERITAGE REFORMED CONGREGATIONS
THE BANNER OF
SOVEREIGN GRACE TRUTH
Contents
MAY/JUNE 2010 • Vol. 18, No. 5
Publication Number (USPS 010584)
Official Publication of the Heritage Reformed denomination.
Typeset at Grand Rapids, Michigan (Gardner Graphics);
printed at Grand Rapids, Michigan (Grandville Printing).
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MEDITATION — Rev. Maarten Kuivenhoven
A Prayer for the Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Dr. Joel R. Beeke, Editor
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EDITORIAL — Dr. Joel R. Beeke
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Additional Sources
How Christ’s Resurrection Shapes Our Hope (1)
.................
NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE STUDY — Dr. Gerald M. Bilkes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
Discernment Ministry (2) — Gary Gilley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
What Every Parent Should Know
About the Internet (1) — David Clark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
BOOK TALK — Jay T. Collier/Dr. Joel R. Beeke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
FOR OUR CHILDREN — Diana Kleyn
Lessons from the Ant
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
BIBLE QUIZ — Diana Kleyn
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
STORY FOR CHILDREN — Diana Kleyn
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
CHRISTIAN WORLD VIEW — John Goudzwaard
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
CORNER FOR TEENS — Rev. Mark Kelderman / Rev. Maarten Kuivenhoven
The Reformed Faith (6): Who is Christ?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
POEM — Thomas Ken
Awake, My Soul
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
For a list of printed Reformed literature (both new and used
books in English, and used books in Dutch), write: Reformation
Heritage Books, 2965 Leonard Street, N.E., Grand Rapids,
Michigan 49525, or visit our on-line bookstore at www.heritagebooks.org; 616-977-0889.
For free sermons write: Inheritance Publishers, P.O. Box 1334,
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501.
For free sermons and radio messages of HRC ministers write:
The Gospel Trumpet, 540 Crescent NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503.
For tract distribution write: Banner of Truth Tract Mission, 540
Crescent St., N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503. For distribution of tapes (sermons, lectures, classes, etc.) write: “The Tape
Room,” 540 Crescent, N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503.
For material related to theological training write: Puritan
Reformed Theological Seminary, 2965 Leonard Street, N.E.,
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525; 616-977-0599; www.puritan
seminary.org; [email protected]..
For HRC mission and evangelistic work, contact Glad Tidings,
Jane Korevaar at [email protected]
In all publications, the Heritage Reformed denomination aims
to remain true to inerrant Scripture and its Reformed heritage
as expounded in the Reformed doctrinal standards: the Belgic Confession (1561), Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Canons
of Dordt (1618-1619), and the Westminster Standards of the
1640s (the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Larger
and Shorter Catechisms).
For additional information on HRC ministries, please visit our
website at www.heritagereformed.com.
128
REPENTANCE
“How mistaken then are many with regard to Christian
repentance. It is not legal, but evangelical. It is not
slavish, but filial. It is not desponding and miserable,
but lives in the comforts of the Holy Spirit. ‘Blessed are
they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.’ ”
— William Jay, Morning Exercises
MEDITATION
REV. M. KUIVENHOVEN
A Prayer
for the Aging
B
ecoming old is difficult. Gray hair, aches, pains, rheumatism, bad knees, and weakness remind a person that life
is drawing toward its close. Memories remain of better days,
or memory begins to fail. Many elderly people see nothing
golden about the “golden years”; it can be a time of pessimism
and longing for the past when things seemed so much better.
Maybe you remember the youthful zeal that you had for the
Lord and now, as you grow old, a sense of purposelessness
sets in. Maybe there are regrets about a wasted life. How do
you maintain a forward- and upward-looking perspective in
such circumstances? David gives such a perspective in Psalm
71:17 –18, “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and
hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when
I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have
shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to
every one that is to come.”
The first lesson that we can learn in reflecting upon life,
whether old or young, is to have a God-focused reflection. By
this time, David is old and gray-haired (v. 18). As he reflects
on his past, he sees the faithful hand of God upon him. He
recounts God’s continual teaching in his life. He says in verse
17, “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth.” David
looks back on his life with hope. There were probably some
regrets because of the sins which he committed, but despite
sin, God was teaching him. Yes, David had fallen into sin
numerous times, but rather than spend the remainder of his
life in bitterness he sees the lessons of sin and salvation that
God has taught him.
David declares God’s faithfulness. As a result of God faithfully teaching him, David declares in verse 17, “and hitherto
have I declared thy wondrous works.” David seizes the opportunity to recount what he has learned at the hand of God. If
anyone had cause for deep regrets, David did; he knew his sins
and their consequences. Yet David properly examines himself
and he does not stop at himself but in God and His mighty
works of salvation. He is eager to share with others how God
dealt with him in mercy when he deserved much worse.
It’s so easy to be filled with bitterness or regret when we
look back on our lives, but with God at the center, we can
focus on the lessons that He taught us and the mercy He
gave us. The Word of God teaches us that our self-centered
perspective needs to be replaced by a God-centered one. Are
you eager like David to share not just your experiences but
God’s goodness and mercy through Christ with those around
you? Are you magnifying God for others by
sharing what He has
taught you?
The second lesson we can learn is that David makes a
God-focused request. He says in verse 18, “Now also when I
am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not.” David had
seen God’s faithfulness in his early years, and now he pleads
for that same faithfulness to be displayed in his later years.
The time of old age is one in which the body deteriorates,
when we become weak, when we especially need the grace
and presence of God to uphold us. William Plumer says,
“There is peculiar dreariness attending an old age unsupported by the grace and power of God. And there is a peculiar
sweetness attending pious old age.”1 David longs to enjoy old
age by the sweetness of God’s presence.
David does not ask simply to enjoy the Lord’s presence,
but he asks it so that he can speak to succeeding generations
about who God is: “Until I have shewed thy strength unto
this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come”
(v. 18). He wants the next generation to enjoy the presence
of God that he enjoyed. Plumer aptly says, “Aged saints have
some great advantages in speaking for God and religion; and
they ought not to keep silent, but utter the memory of all his
goodness, and show forth his praise all the day long.”2
How are you living your life? How can you let the next
generation know of God’s faithfulness? Speak of the Lord’s
goodness in your life. Pray with the next generation and for
those to come that they would hear and believe the gospel. Growing old is difficult, but are you praying for the
Lord’s presence so that you can continue to proclaim the
glory, strength, and salvation of the Lord to the succeeding
generations? Is your old age golden, not because you enjoy life,
but because you enjoy God and want the next generation to
enjoy Him? David prays that God will grace him with His
presence so he will be able to bring these truths to the next
generation. This is his passion. Is it yours?
1. William Plumer, Commentary on the Psalms, Geneva Series of Commentaries (Carlisle, Penn.: Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), 698.
2. Ibid., 699.
Rev. Maarten Kuivenhoven is a pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed
Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a Th.M. theological student at
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
MAY/JUNE 2010 The Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth 127
EDITORIAL
W
e all live by hope. If you are an unbeliever, you put all your
hope in this life. You get some satisfaction out of life, due
to God’s common grace, but ultimately your hope is vain, for it
will perish. If you are a believer, you build your hope on a different foundation: you build your hope on the sure, unchanging
foundation that Christ has been raised from the dead. For you,
life is like a long trip or a spiritual pilgrimage to reach Christ and
to be with Him in glory. Everything about your hope depends
on Christ being alive and almighty.
Let us look more closely at how our hope is affected by
Christ’s resurrection. In the process, we will examine our hope,
our life, and our attitude to the resurrection. We will pursue
this theme via various portions of 1 Corinthians 15, which is
Scripture’s most profound, doctrinal defense of the church’s
confession, “I believe in the resurrection of the dead.” Let us
specifically focus on verses 19–20: “If in this life only we have
hope in Christ, we are of all men are most miserable. But now
is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them
that slept.”
A Momentary Yet Miserable Hope
The Corinthian Christians did not deny the resurrection of the
Lord Jesus, for as Paul says in the opening part of 1 Corinthians
15, hundreds of living witnesses testified (v. 8) of the resurrection. Indeed, the resurrection was already part of the apostolic
tradition.
Some Christians at Corinth, however, had difficulty believing in a general, physical resurrection of the dead. They could
not believe that all believers would be raised like Christ and that
their bodies would be reunited with their souls and become like
the glorious body of the Lord Jesus.
These Christians were influenced largely by Greek philosophers who believed that, when we die, our souls enter another
world but our bodies perish forever. Unlike many philosophers
today, they believed that though the body perished, the soul was
immortal. Plato, for one, taught that the body is imprisoned by
128 The Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth MAY/JUNE 2010
D. J R. B
the soul. When someone dies, Plato said, the soul escapes the
body like a bird escapes from its cage. For Greek philosophers,
the soul was everything; the body, nothing. It was even less than
nothing; it was the soul’s prison.
Influenced by this Greek philosophy, some Christians at
Corinth did not view the bodily resurrection as a privilege. For
them, resurrection was purely spiritual.
Today, modern theologians embrace a parallel error. They
say Christ’s resurrection refers only to the resurrection of the
spirit or the teaching of Christ. They claim that the body of
Jesus still sleeps in the tomb, but His soul goes marching on.
Only Christ’s teaching, doctrine, and spirit are still alive, they
say. They believe only the doctrine of Christ is immortal and
that doctrine, not the Person of the resurrected Christ, will one
day overcome evil and Satan.
This theology is altogether mistaken in denying the bodily
resurrection. It defies the express teaching of the Bible. When
Paul instructs the Christians at Corinth about the resurrection,
he first strongly asserts that Christ died, was buried, and rose
again, all according to the Scriptures (vv. 3 – 4).
Under the Spirit’s enlightening wisdom, Paul then tells the
Corinthians the consequences of disbelieving in the bodily resurrection of Christ. In verse 13, he says, “But if there be no
resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen.” The apostle
basically says: If you do not believe in a physical resurrection and
deny that the saints will once receive a body like Christ’s, then
Christ has not been raised, for He is the head of the body, and
believers are members of His body. You cannot separate Him
from His church. If the church will not be raised, then Christ
is not raised, either. If we believe only in a spiritual resurrection
after we die, then we can only believe in a spiritual resurrection
of Christ.
The consequence of this denial, Paul says, is the absence
of hope and salvation: “And if Christ be not risen, then is our
preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found
false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that
he raised up Christ” (vv. 14 –15). If Christ was not raised from
the dead, there is no gospel to preach to the lost. There is no
gospel of salvation, of deliverance from death, and of eternal life.
If Christ was not raised, we have no message of forgiveness, no
message of victory over death and hell, no message of eternal
life. If Christ was not raised, we have only a momentary hope,
which will not carry into eternity.
Christ’s resurrection from the dead proves that His sacrifice
has been accepted. It proves that His sacrifice has met every
requirement of the justice and holiness of God, that God was
satisfied by the work of Jesus. If Christ was not raised, the sin
question is not settled, the devil is not defeated, atonement is
not made, and there is no salvation for lost sinners. F. F. Bruce
says, “If Christ had not been raised from the dead there would
be no New Testament, no Christian faith, no Christian church,
and the story of Jesus of Nazareth, crucified under Pontius Pilate
would never have been told. The disciples, in their mourning
after Christ’s crucifixion, in their perplexity and unbelief, would
have wandered off and found some other pursuit.”
If Christ was not raised, our preaching is nothing but a lie,
and your faith is in vain. All your trust and reliance upon Christ
is an empty hoax. You trust nothing more than a bruised reed.
You will be deceived in the end.
We recently witnessed the space shuttle docking with the
space station. After they docked, everything in the space station
could come into the shuttle, and all the supplies from the shuttle
could come into the space station. A remarkable union brought
the two together in the darkness. This was Paul’s idea of faith:
it docked the sinner with Christ. In the midst of the darkness
and hopelessness of sin, we look to Christ and dock with Him
by faith. As a result, all that is in us is transferred to Him, and
all His righteousness and good works come through the channel
of faith and are credited to us.
The space shuttle brought new batteries and sources of energy
to the space station, which had lost much of its power. Likewise,
when Christ and the sinner come together, the power of Christ
gives the sinner power over sin. It enables us to fight against sin
and brings the power of the Spirit of Christ into the heart. What
a blessed docking this is between a hell-worthy sinner and the
living Christ! As soon as that connection is made, life purges the
sinner’s bad record and gives power to the sin-fatigued heart.
Paul says here, in effect, that if Christ was not raised, we
have no one to dock into. We have no hope of union. We become
like any pagan in the street, trying our best to get to heaven
by our own efforts. But we are still sinners in the darkness,
wandering further and further into outer darkness, with no
hope of union with someone who can save us. What a terrible
consequence!
Your only hope, Christian, of having your abhorrent records
blotted out and all that Christ did written in its place, and
credited to you, is burned into ashes if Christ was not raised!
Your hope of gaining power over your habits that are so selfdestructive or of getting power from above is gone! It is dashed
into pieces! You are still mired in your sins.
Paul goes on to say in verse 18 that those who have fallen
asleep in Christ have also perished, if Christ was not raised. In
other words, those who died hoping in Christ were deceived
in their hope. They have not entered into the place of eternal
bliss.
Paul concludes in our text: “If in this life only we have hope
in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (v. 19). If Christ was
not raised from the dead, He can only help us believers while we
are alive. He cannot be our Savior in death and our Redeemer
after death. We can expect nothing from Him after this life
if He cannot lead us through the dark valley of the shadow of
death into the kingdom of His Father. If that is so, we are of all
people most miserable. We believers are the most pitiable and
unhappy people in the world, for we have placed all our hope
upon the Savior’s redemptive work — in vain. We have given up
the world with all its pleasures and follies and friendships — in
vain. We have exposed ourselves to the hatred, the reproach,
and the persecution of the world — in vain. We have been chastised by God — in vain. We have been harassed and tempted by
the devil — in vain; we have fought against the world, sin, and
Satan — in vain. We have prayed — in vain.
If Christ was not raised from the dead, all our hope, our
religion, and our Christianity is a colossal mistake. It is nothing
but a dream. Of all people, we are to be most pitied, for we are
going to lose both this world and the world to come. If Christ
was not raised from the dead, we have no hope or expectation
for a better world. We have no future. Abraham and all other
believers have sought in vain for a city which has foundations.
Moses and the children of Israel have chosen in vain to suffer
affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. In vain we have counted all things loss
except for the excellence of Christ. In vain we have denied ourselves and crucified our flesh. In vain we have been oppressed;
in vain we have hoped and believed.
But did you notice Paul’s emphasis on the little word if ?
Paul says, “If Christ be not risen, then our preaching is vain...
our faith is vain. If He is not risen, then those who have fallen
asleep in Jesus have perished. If Christ is not risen, then of all
men we are most miserable!” The apostle is saying in effect, “But
God be thanked and blessed; it is not so!” Verse 20 says, “But
now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits
of them that slept.”
A Magnificent Yet Moderate Hope
The truth of Christ’s resurrection changes everything. Instead of
having only a miserable, mistaken hope, we may now say that we
are the most blessed people on earth, for we have a magnificent
hope. Now we of all people are most happy and hopeful, for God
has accepted the sacrifice of His Son, and there is no condemnation to those who are in Him. Our faith is not in vain but is the
power of God unto salvation. Now preaching is full of power and
comfort. Now those who have fallen asleep in Jesus, expecting
salvation from Him, have entered into eternal bliss! Now all their
sins are forgiven and buried in Jesus’ empty grave.
This resurrection hope is like a beautiful, glistening diaMAY/JUNE 2010 The Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth 129
mond in our hands, which we can view from several different
angles to appreciate some of its breathtaking beauty. Let’s look
at some angles of resurrection hope:
• The resurrection’s magnificent Christ-centered hope. Our resurrection hope is built on Christ’s resurrection in three important
ways:
First, the resurrection of Christ is God’s validation of
Christianity itself. Without Christ’s resurrection, Christianity
would have been just another sect, quick to die out. But because
Christ’s tomb was empty on Resurrection Sunday, believers can
triumphantly declare: “Death has lost its sting, sin is subdued,
the world is overcome, and Satan is trodden underfoot. Christ,
who was delivered for our offenses, was raised again for our
justification” (Rom. 4:25)!
On a tour of Israel, we approached the supposed sepulcher
of Jesus and read on the door: “He is not here, for he is risen”
(Matt. 28:5). Our guide said, “This is the best news you’ll hear
in all of Israel or the world.” He was right! It is no wonder, then,
that the New Testament believers greeted each other with “The
LORD is risen indeed!” Christ’s resurrection was the crowning
event of His church — the V-Day. It guarantees our salvation as
believers. Luther said, “Christ’s death and resurrection are the
two hinges on which the door of salvation swings open.”
Have you ever cried out in awe: “Jesus is alive! Every stone is
rolled away. Redemption is accomplished. Eternal life is secured.
Justice is satisfied. The curse of the law is buried. Debt is cancelled. God’s amen on His Son’s work has resounded throughout
the universe, for Jesus is alive. Christianity is objectively, certifiably real and true!”
Second, the resurrection of Christ is God’s guarantee of our
resurrection and our ultimate conformity to Christ. Paul says
in 1 Corinthians 15:20 – 22, “But now is Christ risen from the
dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by
man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
He elaborates further in verses 45 – 49: “And so it is written,
The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was
made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is
spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is
spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man
is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also
that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that
are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we
shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”
Paul clearly states that our resurrected bodies as believers
will resemble Christ’s resurrected body. He underscores that in
1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know
even as also I am known.” The apostle John is even more explicit
in 1 John 3:2: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth
not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall
appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
The resurrected body of Jesus teaches us much about our
resurrection bodies. The risen Jesus appeared in the same body
that had been crucified. His wounds were apparent; His new
body was very much like what He had prior to death. He was
recognizable. Although on some occasions, such as with the
disciples on the road to Emmaus, people did not immediately
recognize Him, some familiar mannerism or expression eventually showed them that He was indeed the Lord. Also, His
body could be touched by Thomas or other disciples. He was
no disembodied spirit or ghost. He ate food with His disciples
after the resurrection on more than one occasion, as recorded
in Luke 24 and John 21.
Our ultimate end is to be like Christ; therefore, the Holy
Spirit is increasingly conforming us to the image of God’s dear
Son. Paul says in Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up
Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by
his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” The Spirit of Christ is a marvelous guarantee of our ultimate destiny in His work in our lives.
But even more marvelous is the truth that our existence will be
ultimately like that of the risen Christ. That is what we, as His
people, can look forward to.
Third, Christ’s resurrection guarantees that we will forever
focus on Christ in glory. Revelation 7:15 says Christ will sit on
the throne of glory forever in the midst of His people. Forever
they will bask in His smile, worship at His feet, feast in His
presence, bathe in His glory, and delight in His communion.
Though they will enjoy the fellowship of saints and angels,
Christ will be their all in all (Col. 3:11).
• Consider the resurrection’s magnificent conscience hope. The resurrection of Christ is not just the objective cornerstone of our
salvation; it is also the subjective hope of our conscience. The
Holy Spirit usually leads sinners to that hope by first convicting
them of their sin and making room within them for Christ in His
resurrection power. He then shows them their miserable hope in
themselves. He makes us feel how poor, miserable, wretched, and
naked we are in ourselves. We learn what it means to be without
God. We learn what it means to be created for eternity, yet be
separated from God and from His favor. We feel what it means
to be deprived of God’s presence and His love.
At such a time, we say to ourselves, “Is there anyone as
miserable as me — without hope, without God, without Christ
in the world?” We are convicted by our sin. We feel the curse
of the law, the judgment of God, the solemnity of our unreadiness to meet Him. We see that we will be miserable as long as
we are without Christ, for to be without Christ is to be without
holiness, without righteousness, without a Savior, without an
Advocate, without a Mediator between God and us. To be
without Jesus is to be under the curse of the law and under the
wrath of God
Every God-taught soul feels the need of Christ. They feel an
unbearable burden on their shoulders which no one but Christ
can take away. Normally, the Holy Spirit leads them to see
themselves under the wrath of God and to realize that no one
but Christ can save them from the wrath to come. They feel the
sentence of death in their soul. They are brought to a crossroads:
either Christ must justify them or they must burn in hell forever!
They must either have Christ to bring them to God, or they
must be shut out of God’s presence forever. Like a martyr’s last
words at the stake, they cry out, “None but Christ!” So, if Christ
has not risen from the dead, if the justice of God has not been
satisfied, if no Savior lives to save sinners, if no blood cleanses
from all sin, we would be of all people the most miserable.
But Christ has risen from the dead! That means that our
Savior lives and can save us — even to the uttermost. That means
the justice of God has been satisfied and salvation is offered
freely to lost and wretched sinners.
Some believe that Paul’s words, “Christ has been delivered
up for our offenses, and has been raised for our justification,”
refer to a custom in the Middle East. If you want an article displayed in the market place, you can bargain with the merchant
before deciding what to pay for the article. You then write out
your price and lay that on the article. The merchant can either
pick up the price or ignore it. If the merchant picks up the price,
the offer is accepted.
Well, dear friends, Jesus Christ was delivered up for our
offenses on Good Friday! He paid the full price for our sin and
iniquity. And on Easter, the Father accepted the price; therefore,
the resurrection is the cornerstone of our salvation. Without it,
we would not know that God was satisfied; we would not know
that our sins were blotted out. God the Father accepted the
price of His Son! So now, Paul says, “Who shall lay any thing
to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he
that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen
again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us” (Rom 8:33 –34).
When we understand these things by faith and the Holy
Spirit applies them to our heart, we miserable sinners are set
free in our consciences and we overflow with magnificent and
joyous hope in Christ Jesus, which more than compensates for
all our losses in this life!
• Consider the resurrection’s magnificent corporate hope. Many of
us have heard from childhood the question: What is the chief
end of man? We readily answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify
God and to enjoy Him forever. You and I strive to glorify and
enjoy God in this life. No doubt we also look forward to how
we might glorify and enjoy Him after death. But I fear we tend
to stop at that point. We identify with Paul in Romans 7 when
he says, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from
the body of this death?” But we do not go on to consider that we
will one day fully glorify and enjoy God in our resurrection body.
So what a glorious day it will be when the bodies of the dead are
raised in Christ! Paul alludes to this in his great benediction in
Ephesians 3:20 –21: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the
power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by
Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.” We gain
a sense of that glory and enjoyment in this life as we experience
the Lord’s work within us. But what will the consummation be
like in the resurrection?
In Ephesians 1:18 –21, Paul says to believers that they have
been enlightened “that ye may know what is the hope of his
calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in
the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to
us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty
power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from
the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly
places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and
dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world,
but also in that which is to come.”
In a holy and mysterious way, even our Lord’s glory awaits
the time when He gathers all His people with Him in glory
and presents them to His Father, saying, “Here am I, Father,
and all those that Thou hast given to me.” Christ longs for the
time when He will have His church, His bride, joined to Him
in the resurrection.
Dr. David C. Jones, writing in the Fall 1985 issue of Presbyterion on Jonathan Edwards’s dissertation concerning the end for
which God created the world, says: “The corporate implications
of glorification are not to be missed.” Quoting Edwards, he
says, “Thus the church of Christ, toward whom and in whom
are the emanations of His glory and the communication of His
fullness, is called the fullness of Christ, as though He were not
in His complete state without her, like Adam without Eve.”
Jones then says,
Man’s chief end is to glorify God in a body, in a corporate
entity, organically united to its head, and not simply as individuals having no connection with one another. This is so much
the case that eschatological glorification, which entails the
resurrection of the body, is consistently represented in Scripture as taking place at the same time. The supreme good is
the glorification and enjoyment that comes in the union of the
risen Christ with His bride, the risen church. And the delight
of that union will be like the physical and spiritual delight of
the union of husband and wife. It is that towards which all of
God’s creation is leading. That fulfillment of man’s chief end,
the full glorifying and enjoying of God, will come when we,
as His bride, the church, in our resurrection bodies, will be
united with Christ in His resurrection body, and we shall be
like Him, and so will we ever be with the Lord.
What a day it will be when our whole being, body and soul,
praises the Triune God forever with no more sin in our soul, no
more sin in our body, and no more temptation to sin! We will
forever be what we have always wanted to be from the moment
of our new birth — sin-free! We will be so sin-free that our holy,
spotless Bridegroom will look at us and say, “I see no spot in my
Jacob, and no transgression in my Israel.”
Amazing grace! I will finally be a worthy, perfect bride in
the presence of my worthy perfect Bridegroom, and enjoy an
eternally perfect marriage!
Dr. Joel R. Beeke is president and professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and a pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE STUDY PROFITING FROM THE PARABLES (16) DR. GERALD BILKES
the Laborers
in the Vineyard
Read: Matthew 20:1–16
The Picture
In many ways, the picture Jesus painted in the parable of the
laborers in the vineyard would have been very realistic to His
audience. Their work day was counted from sunrise to sunset, about twelve hours. It was common for any who did not
have steady employment to gather in the market place where
employers would come and select workers for the day. Today,
we would call this a job fair, though back then it was far more
primitive. At the end of the day, the employer would pay out
the wage in accordance with the biblical requirement (Lev.
19:13; Deut. 24:14 – 15). The coin Jesus referred to was the
denarius (the Greek word translated “penny” in our passage)
and was a typical wage for a day’s work. It wasn’t a great wage;
it would help you meet some basic needs, but it didn’t really
help you advance beyond that.
Though the picture would have been familiar for the original audience, one element would have been surprising — even
jarring. Each laborer received an equal amount, independent of whether they had worked twelve hours or one. The
householder’s generosity would have been startling to Jesus’
audience. That is also how Jesus designed the parable.
The Problem
What problem was Jesus addressing in this parable? The context of this parable helps us considerably. Prior to this, the Lord
Jesus had three interactions that showed man’s misunderstanding of the gospel. First, the disciples tried to turn away the
children, whom the Lord would bless (19:13 –15). Secondly,
the rich man wished to inherit eternal life, but not in the way
Christ taught (19:16 – 22). Thirdly, Jesus’ disciples were looking for rewards for their sacrifices (19:23 – 30). In each of these
cases, the fundamental problem was that people think they
deserve what God determines cannot be deserved.
Jesus confirmed that this is the basic point of the parable
by stating explicitly: “Many that are first shall be last, and
the last shall be first” (v. 30). This statement means that there
are people who think they deserve to be treated as “first”;
yet, precisely because they think they have something coming to them, they will end up last. Jesus spoke similar words
again in Matthew 20:16: “So the last shall be first, and the
first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” Sandwiched
between these very similar statements, we find our parable
of the laborers in the vineyard. Thus we can conclude from
the context this parable was targeting the spirit of people,
whether professing Christians or not, who somehow think
they deserve something.
The Perception
It is not difficult to relate to the perception of the workers
who had worked the full day. As they watched those who only
worked an hour receive the same pay as they themselves, they
are pained with a sense of injustice. They had been working
and toiling in the sweat of their faces. They say it themselves:
“We have borne the burden and heat of the day” (v. 12).
The householder cuts right to the source of the problem
with the first group of workers. The way they interpreted his
actions suggested their hearts were not in the right place. The
householder asked one of them: “Is thine eye evil because I
am good?” (v. 15). “Don’t you see that you are looking at this
wrong? You are misreading my generosity to others as unfairness to you.” That’s what the householder means by their eye
being “evil.”
These laborers felt unjustly treated but without proper
cause. Far from being unfair, the householder had fulfilled his
agreement with them. Essentially, they were bitter because he
had been generous. This jealousy showed that they were in it
more for the rewards than for the relationship.
The Pride
The perception of the first group of laborers grew from the
soil of pride. Pride loves to earn a good standing with God.
It thinks it can dictate how God should respond. The householder pinpointed this pride when he asked: “Is it not lawful
for me to do what I will with mine own?” (v. 15). The first
laborers judged the householder and how he used his own
goods. This is pride without any bounds whatsoever. They
acted as if they had the right to look at the householder’s
accounting sheet and tell him what he should have done or
not done.
How true it is that pride blinds us to itself! The professing
church has many who think that what they have done for God
and His kingdom entitles them to greater benefits, honors,
and accolades. In essence, they are lording it over God and
seeking to take Him off the throne.
Many imagine that Jesus should be happy with them and
their efforts. Theologically speaking, we could say they are
still operating under the framework of the covenant of works,
thinking that even in religion, they act in order to attain; they
do in order to deserve; they go in order to get.
The Posture
The parable is teaching us two postures that work in God’s
kingdom of grace:
1. Thankful Joy
If the laborers who had started at 6:00 AM would have had
the same generosity and kind spirit of their householder,
they would have cheered when other laborers were brought
in to help. They should have rejoiced at the kindness and
grace of the householder that fellow day laborers had been
invited into the vineyard instead of standing idle and careless
in the market square. They should have been glad that these
day laborers had come into relationship with this benevolent householder. They should have been happy that these
others did not need to sleep hungry under the frown of a
tightfisted heaven, but instead had a meal in their stomach
and shelter.
2. Gospel Trust
Notice how the second, third, and fourth groups simply
worked out of trust in the promise of the householder. He
had said: “Whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive” (v. 7).
When it came down to it, they were living more for the
householder and his promise than the wage itself. They
were trusting his character and word. The fourth and final
group could have, humanly speaking, had little expectation
of much of a wage at all. At 5:00 PM, they might pretty
much have given up hope of having so much as a meal and
shelter; their thankfulness to the householder would have
been greater than those who were marketing their skill at
the beginning of the day and trusting their toil through the
long, wearying day.
The Practice
Jesus was teaching His disciples and us that we ought to be so
enflamed with gospel love and trust that our lives are different.
If only the disciples had welcomed the children to be blessed
by Jesus instead of sending them away as undeserving, supposedly unlike themselves. If only the rich young ruler had sold
all that he had, just as Jesus had left all that He had in heaven.
If only he had exchanged his futile self-righteousness for all
that Christ would have given him through a relationship of
trust with Him. If only the disciples, instead of worrying about
what reward they might receive for all their sacrifices here on
earth, had basked in the presence of their Lord and Master
now, and left the present and the future to Him. If only the
laborers who were called first would have been as thankful and
trusting as the eleventh-hour laborers, and as good-hearted as
the householder himself.
Jesus went on to speak of how He would soon go to the
cross (vv. 20 – 28). It is especially on the cross that God in
Christ shows how good and gracious a householder He is. He
gives freely out of the bounty of His merits. Whether we are
converted early in life or at the eleventh hour; whether or not
we live our life in the heat of persecution or not; let us always
trust and rejoice in the fact that — thanks be to God — He
does what pleases Him. If we know this, we will be forever a
debtor to God’s marvelous grace.
Questions:
1. Many try to spiritualize the different hours and groups
and items mentioned in this parable. They say that the first
group were the Jews or that the denarius is eternal life, etc.
Show how you get into trouble if you start spiritualizing all
the details (e.g., do we really work for a reward; were these
first laborers truly saved, etc.). Review the major point of
the parable.
2. How do you harmonize the message of the parable of the
Ten Virgins, where the wise virgins had extra oil, with this
parable, where it seems that idleness and carelessness for so
long does not matter?
3. In what (subtle) ways do we show the attitude of the
laborers who were first hired, in our relationships, in the
church, etc.?
4. What do you make of the fact that the householder goes
back time and again to take idle people into his service?
5. Reflect on Jesus’ question: “Is thine eye evil, because I am
good?” (v. 15). Think of biblical or contemporary examples
of how God’s revelation of grace frequently brings out the
evil judgments of man.
6. Compare and contrast the rich young man (19:16 –22)
with the two blind men (vv. 29 –33). Who ends up following
Christ? How do they relate to the parable of the eleventhhour laborers?
Dr. Gerald M. Bilkes is Professor of Old and New Testament at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and an
ordained minister in the Free Reformed churches of North America.
I
ronically, those who preach most tenaciously the need for
tolerance are themselves intolerant of any who seek to faithfully follow God’s directives in this matter. Let’s analyze some
common objections.
WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO JUDGE OTHERS?
Answer: Some claim the best known verse of Scriptures in
the West is Matthew 7:1: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
Most who recite this command do so without the advantage of having read it in context. If they were to do so, they
would see the Lord is not calling a moratorium on examining
the lives and teachings of others; He simply wants us to do
it the correct way.
The Lord tells us to first judge ourselves. When that has
been done properly we are in a position to help others with
their sins and false beliefs (Matt. 7:1–5). “First cast out the
beam out of thine own eye; and then thou shalt see clearly to
cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (v. 5).
Far from telling us not to be concerned about the life of
our brother, He demands that we get involved — not as selfrighteous hypocrites, but as those who recognize their own
sins and weaknesses and have honestly confessed and dealt
with them first.
Jesus continues by telling us to beware of false teachers
and examine their fruit (Matt. 7:15–16), which is a reference
to their lives and teachings.
AREN’T YOU FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE
PHARISEES?
The idea behind this accusation is that any who dare critique
the beliefs of others are clinging to the letter of the law but
missing its spirit. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day, we are told,
loved the Word of God, were serious students of the Old
Testament, and sought to wrap their lives around God’s truth.
The problem was that they then became legalists who followed
the letter but missed the real point of spiritual transformation.
They kept all the rules by concentrating on outward appearance, while having no true relationship with God.
The modern disciples of the Pharisees are inevitably slated
to be those who cling most robustly to the Scriptures. The
more someone seeks to be a “biblical” Christian living out
the teachings of the Word, the more that one is likely to be
accused of being a Pharisee.
Answer: While many think Jesus condemned the Pharisees
for their literalness and strict adherence to the Old Testament
law, a careful examination of the Gospels reveals He never
spoke against these things as such. He certainly condemned
them for their hypocrisy (Matt. 23). But hypocrisy has nothing to do with love and devotion to the Scriptures and everything to do with sham. These men were reprimanded by Jesus
because they knew the Word, but did not live what they knew.
They were posers — men of pretence.
But Jesus reserved his strongest rebuke for the Pharisees
because they added to the Scriptures. In Matthew 15, Jesus
asks them, “Why do ye also transgress the commandment
of God by your tradition?” After giving them a concrete
example, Jesus goes on to state, “Thus have ye made the
commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.” He
then calls them hypocrites and accuses them of “teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men” (vv. 3 – 9).
Based upon Jesus’ words, I contend that the real Pharisees
today are not those who insist on following Scripture but
those who add to the Scriptures. It is those that replace the
commandments of God or supplement them with their own
precepts who are living out the legacy of the Pharisees.
Jesus makes clear that it is not those who believe in the
sufficiency of Scripture and seek to live their lives within its
boundaries who are Pharisees, but those who believe the Bible
is inadequate and must be enhanced with men’s tradition,
philosophies, and ideas.
AREN’T YOU SIMPLY TRYING TO PROVE YOURSELF
SUPERIOR?
To challenge the teachings of others implies you think you
have all the answers or your view is the only correct one. This
attitude appears arrogant.
Answer: A common criticism cast at those who dare to discuss publicly the teachings of others relates to their supposed
motives. Surely, they say, the only reason anyone would take
such action is to try to prove himself superior.
But when some attacked Paul’s motives, he made it clear
that no one was in a position to know the motives of others.
He tells the Corinthians to “judge nothing before the time,
until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden
things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of
the hearts” ( 1 Cor. 4:5).
It is wrong to judge the hearts of others; we must leave
such work to God.
AREN’T YOU ASSUMING THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS WRONG
AND YOU ONLY HAVE THE CORRECT ANSWERS?
Answer: First, we must humbly admit that none of us has
an inside track to the thoughts of God. There is no esoteric
knowledge for a special class of elites. Everything God has
communicated is there for reading and analysis by every child
of God.
Next, we must understand that our views are unimportant;
what matters is God’s view. We are not to spout our opinion
but to carefully study the Scriptures and then shine its light
on the teachings of ourselves and others.
Therefore, it is our obligation to scrutinize God’s Word
and “rightly divide” it (2 Tim. 2:15) so that we are able to
teach the Lord’s truth (2 Tim. 2:2), which is able to equip
for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16 – 17). This is to be done
not to appear superior but to humbly aid the spiritual life and
growth of one another.
CRITIQUING THE BELIEFS OF OTHERS IS UNACCEPTABLE
IN OUR POSTMODERN ERA. EVEN BENIGN ASSESSMENT IS
INTOLERANT AND MEAN-SPIRITED.
Answer: God’s truth has never been accepted by unbelievers
in any age; this age is no different. In 1 Corinthians 1:18 we
learn that the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing but it is the power of God for those being saved.
Nor should Christians capitulate to the whims of secular world views. When the Corinthian believers seemed to
hunger for some meaty Greek wisdom to be mixed into their
New Testament theology, Paul refused to accommodate them.
He preached the simplicity of Jesus Christ in order that their
faith would rest in the power of God, not in the wisdom of
men (1 Cor. 2:1– 5).
We make a fatal mistake when we adjust our teachings
and methods to appease the sensitivities of the spiritually
dead and spiritually compromised. It should be the Scriptures
that determine our methods and message, not those who do
not know Christ or His ways.
A DISCERNMENT MINISTRY TURNS ITS PRACTITIONERS
INTO CRITICAL CYNICS.
Answer: While this is a danger to be guarded against, the
focus of our lives and ministries should be on the greatness of
God and His wonderful truth. We must be careful that we do
not deteriorate into people who are always looking for error
under every rock or something about which to complain. Even
in our discernment we are to “do all things without murmur-
ings and disputings” (Phil. 2:14). And we must take seriously
Paul’s admonition to Timothy to not get tangled up in useless
arguments and speculation (e.g., 1 Tim. 1:4).
At the same time, it is impossible to really love God’s
truth and not want to defend it (Jude 3). We must not allow
the criticism of those who refuse to obey God to pressure us
into living unbiblically.
CONCLUSION
Past generations of Christian leaders have seen the importance of defending the faith. For example, J. Gresham Machen
observed at the height of the Modernist-Fundamentalist battles of the early 1900s: “What is today a matter of academic
speculation begins tomorrow to move armies and pull down
empires.”1
Early Church Father Iranaeus wrote in Against Heresies:
“Error, indeed, is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest,
being thus exposed, it should at once be detected. But it is
craftily decked out in an attractive dress, so as, by its outward
form, to make it appear to the inexperienced (ridiculous as the
expression may seem) more true than the truth itself.”2
Princeton theologian B. B. Warfield commented: “The
chief dangers to Christianity do not come from the antiChristian systems. Mohammedanism has never made inroads
upon Christianity save by the sword. Nobody fears that
Christianity will be swallowed up by Buddhism. It is corrupt
forms of Christianity itself which menace from time to time
the life of Christianity.
“Why make much of minor points of difference between
those who serve that one Christ? Because a pure gospel is
worth preserving; and it is not only worth preserving, but is
logically (and logic will always work itself out into history)
the only saving gospel.”3
And Thomas Oden offers this word of wisdom: “Although
I concede that there are other tasks more important than the
exposure of heresy, I warn: if there is no immune system
to resist heresy, there will soon be nothing but the teeming
infestation of heresy.” 4
These men understood, as we must, that the “faith once
for all delivered to the saints” is worth defending. We must
not allow the objections of those who lack the courage or
insight to fight for truth to cause us to cower from this important, God-given obligation.
1. George M. Marsden, Fundamentalism and American culture (New York:
Oxford University Press, 1980), 137.
2. Quoted in Richard Mayhue, “A Biblical Call to Pastoral Vigilance,”
The Master’s Seminary Journal, Volume 7, No. 1, p. 49.
3. Quoted in Iain H. Murray, Evangelicalism Divided (Edinburgh: Banner
of Truth Trust, 2000), p. x.
4. Quoted in Larry Pettegrew, “Evangelicalism, Paradigms, and the
Emerging Church,” The Master’s Seminary Journal, Volume 17, No. 2, p. 175.
Rev. Gary Gilley is pastor of Southern View Chapel, Springfield, Illinois, and the
author of several books. Taken from Evangelical Times 44, 2 (Feb. 2010): 24.
What Every Parent Should Know
About the Internet (1)
DAVID CLARK
T
he Internet has become an indispensable part of modern
business life. Not only is it a business tool, it also reaches
many homes across the world. In Europe, 390 million people
have access to the Internet in their homes — roughly half of
the population.1 In the United Kingdom, that number rises to
nearly 71% of households, and 74% in North America. Across
the world, an estimated 1 billion people now have access to the
Internet.2 Put differently, something close to one sixth of the
world’s population potentially have access to anything that is
posted on a web page.
What’s the problem?
So what’s the problem, you may ask?
In March 2008, British psychologist Dr. Tanya Byron
published the result of a government commissioned study (the
Byron Report) that was tasked to “undertake a review of the
evidence on risks to children’s safety and wellbeing of exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the
internet...and to make recommendations for improvements
or additional action.”3 The report concluded that “the Internet
cannot be made completely safe.” 4
In 2006, there were over 4 million pornography web sites,
100,000 of which offered illegal child pornography.5 The
popular American magazine Christianity Today suggests that
“seventy percent of American men ages 18 –34 view Internet
pornography once a month.” 6 The same article goes on to
explain that churches are not immune to the problem: “One
evangelical leader was skeptical of survey findings that said
50 percent of Christian men have looked at porn recently. So
he surveyed his own congregation. He found that 60 percent
had done so within the past year, and 25 percent within the
past 30 days.”
Time Magazine, in a recent article entitled “Adultery 2.0,”
went on to explain that there are now web sites developed with
slick applications (apps) for the iPhone and the Blackberry
aimed at “tech savvy adulterers wary of leaving tracks on work
or home computers.” “Cheating has never been easier” is the
claim of AshleyMadison.com, a personals site designed to
facilitate extramarital affairs.7
The list goes on, with repeated warnings to be wary of
Internet crime, identity theft, and pedophiles, among others.
No wonder most parents wonder if the social networks their
children spend so much time on are safe. Should they even
let their children use mobile phones, given the recent police
warnings concerning the practice of “sexting” where young
people send explicit and indecent photos to each other using
their mobile phones? 8
What should we do? Is there a biblical response? How do
parents cope with these problems when there is such a gap
between the young Internet-savvy generation and the majority
of their parents?
This article will present an overview of the issues involved,
with subsequent articles exploring key areas such as social
networks, Internet addiction, virtual relationships, gambling,
pornography, blogging, and others. These things are shaping
the lives of many around us, and we need to know both what
is happening and how to deal with the issues in our families,
church, and culture.
Is there good also?
Yes, there is! The Internet has created untold opportunities
to witness to people across the world. As was noted previously, we now can bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to a billion
people, all without leaving our office or home! Many churches
make full use of these new opportunities of communicating
the gospel. Some even have their own iPhone app (short for
application), from which you have access to the church’s full
media library, sermons on various topics, and so on. Hymns,
multiple versions of the Bible, and articles on just about every
conceivable theological topic are all available on the Internet at
the click of a button. Anyone can sit at a computer and find out
about almost any church or Christian organization anywhere
in the world. Missionaries and para-church organizations have
been able to drastically cut their costs by using email and web
sites to inform their supporters. An evangelical conservative
website (sermonaudio.com) boasts thousands of sermons from
MacArthur to Spurgeon, with hundreds being added every
week. There are blogs, discussion forums, videos, and Christian courses online. The list goes on. You can “tweet” with
other Christians, create Facebook events, or talk “face to face”
using a video webcam with a friend or missionary anywhere in
the world. At its heart, the Internet is a communications tool,
and the good news is all about communicating to people the
wonderful truths of Jesus Christ.
What is the Internet?
Before we go much further, we must demystify the Internet. At
its core, it is very simple (though there are a lot of complex technologies supporting it). Think of the postal system. You write
a letter. Someone puts a piece of paper in an envelope, they
address it, and the postal system delivers it to your mailbox.
Now, suppose you wanted to buy a new shirt from a company
located somewhere else in the country. You could write them a
letter giving them some information about your size and your
preferences. Then, they might in return mail you a photograph
of one of their shirts. When you looked at the picture, you
decided that you did not like the look of that particular shirt
and wrote back to them asking for another type of shirt. They
then send you another picture of a different shirt, and so on.
Clearly, using the postal system in this way would be extremely
slow and inefficient. This is why most companies would simply
send out a catalog with all their products in it. However, the
example illustrates how the Internet works. Every computer has
an individual address, just like the postal system. The Internet
acts like an electronic version of the postal service, delivering
information a page at a time. It’s just that it is much faster!
The pages (or other information, such as sound or video files)
are held on a web server and delivered according to what each
user requests — typically, the pages are navigated using search
parameters or links that can be clicked on the computer screen
(called hyperlinks). It is the speed and ease of use that has created such a pervasive network of interconnected computers,
companies, and people.
How did it happen?
On September 2, 2009, the Internet turned 40.9 However,
as the graph below clearly shows, it is likely that most people
started using it no more than 5 to 10 years ago.10 The transition
from paper and telephone to instant online communications,
emails, web searches, and social networks was imperceptible, a
slow gradual transition.11 Yet it could be argued that impact of
the change is likely to be as significant as the network of roads
built by the Romans, the printing press, the advent of radio,
television, the car, or air travel. It is not just about how long we
might spend on the computer as opposed to watching television.
It affects how we relate to one another, the whole commercial
infrastructure, availability of information, how we learn, and
where we get the news (among other impacts). Most importantly, there is no going back. The “genie is out of the bottle,”
so to speak, and there is no putting it back in again.
Internet users per 100 inhabitants 1997–2007 12
How should Christians react?
Clearly, there is no mention of the Internet in the Bible. But
the Bible is not out of date. The Word of God has not suddenly
lost its relevance. Rather, the Bible not only gives clear commands, it also lays down principles that are inviolate, guidance
for all of life and all of time. The Bible speaks of self-control
(2 Pet. 1:6), of our weakness and the ease with which we fall
into sin (James 1:14), of redeeming the time (Eph. 5:15 –16), and
of making the most of every opportunity (Gal. 6:10). In this
series of articles, it is planned to seek to apply these principles to
how we approach and use the Internet, and to look at the dangers as well as the opportunities that it creates. The next article
will look at the way we use the Internet to communicate — from
email to texting, video calls to instant messages, concluding
with practical, helpful, and positive advice.
Practical advice
The Internet can not only be addictive, in the same way as other
activities, but a particular danger is that it could lead to a splintering of the family unit, particularly where there are multiple
computers in a household. Each member of the family spends
time individually with their online friends, chatting, emailing,
or posting on a social network. To counter this, why not try
setting aside one evening a week as a “family night” where all
members of the family engage in an activity together? Activities
might include playing a game, taking a walk, or many of the
myriad of other things that families can do together. Attendance, however, is strictly mandatory!
1. http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm
2. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090831/ap_on_bi_ge/us_tec_internet_at40
3. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/
cm080327/wmstext/80327m0001.htm
4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7316700.stm
5. http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornographystatistics.html#anchor5
6. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/march/20.7.html
7. Time Magazine, July 20, 2009.
8. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6738532.ece
9. See http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/08/30/
financial/f102244D87.DTL
10. I have been working with the Internet and its associated technologies
for much longer than that, having first come across the Internet some 30 years
ago while studying Computer Science at university — it was then a very new
field.
11. The leading web browser — Microsoft’s Internet Explorer — debuted
on August 16, 1995.
12. (Source: ITU)
David Clark lives in England where he has served on the Boards of Evangelical
Press and Evangelical Times. He has worked with information technology for
over thirty years. This article is reprinted from the British newspaper Evangelical
Times, Nov. 2009. The author would appreciate receiving questions on this series
of articles from readers via email to [email protected].
These will assist him in writing future articles and where possible, posted contributions and emails will be answered anonymously in the final articles of
this series.
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FOR OUR CHILDREN
BY DIANA KLEYN
Lessons from the
Ant
There be four things which are little upon the earth,
but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong,
yet they prepare their meat in the summer....
— Proverbs 30:24 – 25
pring and summer are wonderful seasons to be outdoors. We stand amazed at God’s marvelous creation.
Looking up, you can see the different kinds of clouds, and
the birds soaring in the blue sky; at night, the moon and the
stars shine down from far away. Looking around, you can
observe the incredible beauty in the trees, mountains, rivers, and lakes, and marvel at every creature living in them.
Looking down, you can examine the grass, flowers, bushes,
rocks, and soil, as well as the insects that live among them.
Have you ever accidentally disturbed an anthill and watched
as the ants rushed around trying to save their food supply?
Did you ever notice them attempting to carry things larger
than they were? Take some time this summer and study
these amazing little insects hard at work. We can learn a
lot from them.
Agur was a man who lived in Old Testament days.
We know very little about him, but we do know that he
liked to examine God’s creation. Some of Agur’s writings
are included in the book of Proverbs. He discovered four
creatures that are small but wise: ants, conies, locusts, and
spiders. This month we will focus on lessons we can learn
from ants.
What is it about ants that make them so wise? Agur
explained, “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer” (Proverbs 30:25). Elsewhere in the book of Proverbs, Solomon admonished lazy
people: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways,
and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food
in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6 – 8).
Solomon was speaking directly to lazy people, urging
them to get up and work, storing up food during the summer so they would have something to eat during the winter.
He observed that ants do not have a commander or leader
telling them what to do; they instinctively know what to do
and they get the job done. In this way, ants are sometimes
wiser than people are. Agur said the same thing: “The ants
are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the
S
summer.” The literal lesson about hard work is mostly for
adults: they must work while they are strong and healthy,
earning money in order to provide food, clothing, and shelter for themselves and their families.
There is a spiritual lesson, however, that is true for
everyone. The ants teach us that we must prepare for eternity while we are on this earth. We do not know when we
will die. Ants are not strong — they are tiny insects. We can
crush them with our foot. However, they are wise because
they prepare their meat in the summer. They work hard
right now to prepare for the coming winter when there is
no food to find.
You have heard about the terrible earthquakes in Haiti
and in Chile. Many people were killed. The day before the
disaster, these people had no idea that their lives would soon
end. Suddenly, they had to appear before God. Earthquakes,
tornados, floods, volcanoes: these are things we fear. We
cannot stop them or prevent them from happening. There is,
however, something we can and must do: we must prepare
ourselves for eternity. Like the ant, we must use the summer
to prepare for the winter. What does that mean?
“Summer” can be interpreted as “right now” or “today.”
The best time to prepare for eternity is right now. Do not
be foolish or lazy and put it off. You do not know when your
life will end. Right now, you have time and opportunity
to ask the Lord for a new heart if you are not yet safe in
Jesus. Use your time wisely. Take time to read your Bible
and pray on your own. Ask God to bless the messages you
hear at church as well as the family worship times at home.
Memorize Scripture to fill your mind with God’s wisdom.
Learn Psalters, hymns, and songs that glorify God to help
you focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and your relationship
with Him. Ask Him to help you share the message of salvation with your family, friends, and neighbors. Ask Him
to prepare you to meet Him. Ask Him to make you wise,
like the ant.
Diana Kleyn is the author of several books for children.
Puzzle
Look up the texts to find the words that fit in the puzzle.
(Remember, we use the King James Version.) The last letter of each word
is the beginning of the next one. Words go across and down.
Across:
Down:
2. “your Father __ __ __ __ __ is in heaven” (Matthew 7:11).
3. “your __ __ __ __ __ shall live that seek God”
(Psalm 69:32).
5. “redeeming the __ __ __ __” (Ephesians 5:16).
6. “Incline thine __ __ __ unto wisdom” (Proverbs 2:2).
7. “and afterward __ __ __ __ __ __ __ me to glory”
(Psalm 73:24).
8. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the __ __ __ __ of the
earth” (Isaiah 45:22).
9. “Now set your heart and your __ __ __ __ to seek the LORD
your God” (1 Chronicles 22:19).
11. “to walk __ __ __ __ __ __ with thy God” (Micah 6:8).
13. “__ __ __ __ __ __ __ is mine, and sound wisdom”
(Proverbs 8:14).
14. “Seek the __ __ __ __ and his strength”
(1 Chronicles 16:11).
16. “the time is __ __ __ __ __” (1 Corinthians 7:29).
17. “If __ __ __ __ seek him, he will be found of thee”
(1 Chronicles 28:9).
18. “mine __ __ __ __ are ever toward the LORD”
(Psalm 25:15).
19. “Whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be __ __ __ __”
(Proverbs 29:25).
20. “Trust ye in the LORD for __ __ __ __” (Isaiah 26:4).
22. “have I no power to __ __ __ __ __ __ __?” (Isaiah 50:2).
23. “__ __ __ __ __ a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
24. “__ __ __ __ in wisdom” (Colossians 4:5).
25. “thou __ __ __ __ __ __ __ not what a day may
2
bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1).
1. “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy
__ __ __ __ __” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
2. “and __ __ __ __ __ they are yet speaking, I will hear”
(Isaiah 65:24).
4. “he shall give thee the desires of __ __ __ __ __ heart”
(Psalm 37:4).
5. “Lead me in thy __ __ __ __ __” (Psalm 25:5).
7. “Therefore be ye also __ __ __ __ __” (Matthew 24:44).
9. “For he __ __ __ __ __ deliver the needy when he crieth”
(Psalm 72:12).
10. “for his great love wherewith he __ __ __ __ __ us”
(Ephesians 2:4).
12. “Ask, and it shall be given __ __ __” (Luke 11:9).
13. “__ __ __ __ unto me” (Matthew 11:28).
14. “He that believeth on me hath everlasting __ __ __ __”
(John 6:47).
15. “as __ __ __ __ children” (Ephesians 5:1).
16. “according to his mercy he __ __ __ __ __ us” (Titus 3:5).
21. “where moth and __ __ __ __ doth corrupt”
(Matthew 6:19).
Please send your puzzle answers to:
Banner Puzzles and Questions
Attn: Mrs. Diana Kleyn
540 Crescent St., NE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
5
1
3
6
7
11
16
22
4
12
8
13
9
10
14
15
20
21
17
23
18
19
24
25
Here are the answers to last month’s quiz.
Thanks again to all who answered last month’s quiz!
1. all
13. cross
25. wounded
14. crown
26. precious
2. new
3. own
15. saved
27. scourged
4. son
16. cursed
28. sacrifice
17. killed
29. suffering
5. why
6. died
18. poured
30. abundantly
7. face
19. redeem
31. iniquities
8. lamb
20. washed
32. everlasting
9. love
21. cleanse
33. chastisement
10. shed
22. eternal
34. sweetsmelling
11. agony
23. offered
35. transgressions
12. blood
24. pierced
The extra letters spell: “MAN OF SORROWS”
Letters
Joel Averink
Samuel Averink
Lauren Bilkes (2)
Leah Boerkoel
Neal Boerkoel
Abigail Boesterd
Andrew Boesterd
Breanne Boesterd
Justin Boesterd
Katelyn Boesterd
Becky Boot
Shelly Boot
Nathan Brown
Don R. Cox
Cassandra DeHaan
Jonathan DeHaan
Janae denHertog
Matthew denHertog
Donald Duffin
Jacob Koppert
Rachel Koppert
Matthew Kranendonk
Samuel Kranendonk
Hailey Meerdink
Kas Meerdink
Lukas Meschke
Nick Meschke
Judith Mhlanga
Abby Mouring
Tim Mouring
Emma Ortiz
Kelly Overbeeke
from a Teacher
In a letter to a minister, a teacher told the following true
stories. She wrote that these incidents clearly showed that
very young children are as capable of strong emotions — both
of love and hatred to the Savior — as are older children and
adults. At the end of her letter, the teacher added, “This was
a time when no one labored for little children.” These are the
stories of children who received forgiveness of sins and joy in
their Savior.
This teacher’s first job was at a school in one of the towns
in Windsor County, Vermont. She lived with a family that
had three daughters, the youngest of whom was about five
years old. This little girl would listen quietly as the young
teacher urged the girls to flee to Christ for salvation. One
day, during one of these talks, this youngest child looked the
teacher full in the face, and said, “I have been thinking about
Jesus Christ. I know I am a sinner but I don’t care. God did
not have to make me, and if He wants to send me to hell, I
will bear it somehow. I will not love Jesus Christ!” The teacher
and the other two girls were shocked and very distressed, for
she was usually a mild, pleasant child. Nothing they said or
did made any difference; she refused to change her mind.
That spring, the family moved away. The teacher never
saw the family again, but kept in contact through letters. In
their new town, the girls attended church. There the Holy
Spirit touched the girls’ hearts — yes, even the youngest sister!
All three received a new heart. What happy news for their
former teacher! God had answered her prayers for the three
girls, especially the youngest who seemed so set against the
Lord Jesus.
The teacher later heard in a letter from the mother, that
the youngest girl became ill and died not long afterward. As
Rogelio Rodriguez
Irene Stam
Kaitlyn Stubbe
Sara Stubbe
Hanna Sweetman
Janine Sweetman
Derek VanBrugge
Michael VanBrugge
Mark VandenBerg
Samuel VandenBerg
Megan VanderStel
Gavin VanHouten
Jared VanHouten
Danique Veldhuizen
Curtis Verboom
Tyler Verboom
DIANA KLEYN
soon as she became sick, she told her mother she knew that
she would not recover, and asked if an elder from the church
could visit her. To his surprise, she told him that she had sent
for him in order to urge him to be more faithful to Christ,
and to pay more attention to the children. She asked him to
kneel down beside her bed, and pray for her, and to promise
the Lord Jesus Christ that he would speak often with the
children about the Lord Jesus Christ, “for,” she said, “if He
can forgive such a sinner as I have been, and fit me for heaven,
He can forgive anyone.” She died rejoicing in her Savior. She
was not quite seven years old when she passed away.
This same teacher included another wonderful story in
her letter to the minister:
“Two years ago, I had at school a Miss John, a Seneca
young lady. She frequently spoke of her little brother. She said
that when he was two years old he began to love Jesus. Soon
after, as he knelt beside his father at family worship, he asked
him if he could pray after him. His father gladly told him he
could, and every day afterward, whether they had company
or not, the little boy’s voice was always heard at family prayer,
when the father had finished. This little Indian boy always
received all his little presents as coming from Christ. One day
his father brought him a pair of boots. He thanked his father,
ran to his room, knelt beside his bed, laid his present beside
him, and said, “Dear Jesus, I thank thee for these new boots.
I pray thee to bless them, so that I may never sin against thee
when I wear them.”
Taken from Children and Jesus; or, Stories to Children about Jesus by
Edward Payson Hammond. Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1865.
&
NEWS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHURCH NEWS: HRC SYNOD 2010 MEETINGS SUMMARY
The following is a summary of the proceedings of Synod and its related
meetings, which took place on April 14 –16, 2010, in Franklin Lakes,
New Jersey.
An Office-bearers’ Conference took place on Wednesday afternoon.
Del Deur from Grand Rapids spoke on the topic, “God’s Character — Reflected in My Walk and Talk.” The address was a timely call
to consistency of word and deed for all Christians, especially officebearers.
Rev. James Greendyk led the Synod prayer service, preaching from
Luke 24:44 – 49. His theme was “Post-Resurrection Schooling” and the
points were: (1) being Word-centered, (2) understanding the truth, and
(3) equipping for a task.
Notable points from the Theological Seminary Committee Meeting
held on Thursday include: Dr. William VanDoodewaard was hired as
an associate professor of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Mr.
David VanBrugge, from the Burgessville congregation, was accepted as
an HRC student to the first year of study at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Student Scott Dibbet was declared a candidate for
gospel ministry and will be callable after June 15, 2010. Student Marty
Slingerland will be declared a candidate upon successful completion
of a pastoral internship in the Burgessville congregation. A two-year
mentorship program for all new ministers will be drafted by the PRTS
Board of Trustees for presentation at our next meeting.
Synod 2010 moderamen (officers) were elected:
Rev. Bart Elshout — Chairman
Rev. Jan Neels —Vice Chairman
Elder James Beeke — Clerk
Elder William Tanis, Sr.—Treasurer
Recording Secretary: Rev. Don Overbeek (2nd term expires Oct.
2010)
Standing Clerk: William Tanis, Sr. (2nd term expires Oct. 2010)
Rev. Overbeek was appointed as Standing Clerk and Neil DenDekker
as Recording Secretary.
Synod was formally opened on Thursday morning by Rev. Elshout
on behalf of Chilliwack, the calling church. The opening meditation
was provided by Rev. Wade Koenen from John 13:1–17. We are called
to follow our Master’s example by washing one another’s feet in humility and servant leadership.
Numerous special events were mentioned as causes for rejoicing.
Some examples are: the Bradford consistory was re-constituted in February; Rev. Maarten Kuivenhoven was ordained into the ministry in late
February; Rev. Johnny Serafini was installed as pastor of the Franklin
Lakes congregation; Dr. Arthur Miskin’s recovery of health; Rev. and
Mrs. Molenaar received a healthy child; Dr. and Mrs. Brian DeVries
were recently married, and Dr. Joel Beeke completed twenty-five years
of seminary teaching and editing of denominational periodicals.
Each HRC congregation read a spiritual welfare report sharing how
God has been working in the congregation. We thank God for the content of these reports and for the evident unity in the congregations.
Four brothers brought fraternal greetings to Synod on behalf of their
denomination. The United Reformed Churches were represented by
Rev. Kevin Hossink, The Presbyterian Reformed Churches by Rev.
Michael Ives, the Free Reformed Churches by Rev. Lawrence J. Bilkes
and elder Ed Laman, and the Southern Presbyterian Church of Tasmania by Rev. Terreth Klaver.
The work of Darryl and Kara Dedert with Logos International in
Cambodia was accepted as a denominationally approved missionary
endeavor under the oversight of Grand Rapids. This means that the
Mission Committee can assist them as they need it and our churches
can learn more about their work from articles in Glad Tidings, the HRC
mission periodical.
A new Emeritus Fund committee was chosen, with the responsibility to develop a plan for retiring ministers.
Synod accepted the application of the Harrison, Arkansas church
plant to become a full member congregation of the HRC with all rights
and privileges. This was a joyful moment as God has blessed this group
by causing them to persevere and reach this point. Synod established a
few steps to guide Harrison as they organize as a church.
A revised policy for Admission of non-HRC ministers into the
HRC pulpit ministry was accepted. It is hoped that this policy will
provide more clarity and serve the congregations well.
Level 3 correspondence with the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) was approved. This means that consistories can invite any minister
from the Free Church (Continuing) to preach in their churches; members of the Free Church (Continuing) can partake of the Lord’s Supper
in our churches; and that denominational representatives will address
each other’s highest level meetings.
Synod approved the Church Correspondence Committee to follow the present guidelines for correspondence with an independent
Reformed congregation seeking closer fellowship with the HRC.
Synod approved the dissolution of the Disaster Fund after all the
money is distributed appropriately. Each congregation can continue to
promptly and directly contribute to worthy causes around the world as
they have been doing.
Synod approved the advertising for a Senior Lecturer at Mukhanyo
Theological College and encourages anyone interested to contact the
Mission Committee.
The position of HRC denominational accountant was created as a
volunteer service of Synod. The person serving in this capacity would
oversee and organize the financial information submitted to Synod and
thereby greatly assist the Standing Clerk.
Synod commissioned Rev. Maarten Kuivenhoven and Elder James
Beeke to write a devotional book for teens/young people and to work
with Dr. Beeke on editing and publishing it.
As Vice Chairman, Rev. Jan Neels acknowledged the Lord for His
guidance and thanked Rev. Elshout for chairing the meeting. Brotherly
kindness was evident throughout the day and may we return to our
congregations on our knees and with confidence in God. To God be
the honor and glory.
— JWB, clerk
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary is collecting a full
set of the Banner of Truth (NRC). We are missing quite a
few issues from the early years from v. 1–11 (1935–1946),
v. 15 (1948 – 49) and a few issues from later years including an
unumbered issue from May of 1957, v. 30:5, v. 33:8, v. 64:4, v.
66:1, v. 72:5. If you could send us an original or a good copy
of these we would have the entire set. The address is 2965
Leonard St., NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525. Thank you.
&
NEWS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRTS VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary seeks individuals with
excellent English-speaking and writing experience and skills willing to assist future ministers with course assignments on a volunteer basis. This is a wonderfully important opportunity to serve
the Lord, His church, and those called to gospel ministry. For
further information, contact [email protected]
TEACHERS NEEDED
Providence Christian School invites applications for the position of Senior
High Math/Science Teacher for the 2010/2011 school year. Providence
Christian School is situated in a beautiful, southern Alberta rural community, minutes from Lethbridge. PCS has grades K–12 with about 120
students attending and 12 staff members. We offer a four-day school week,
competitive salaries/benefits, a growing, committed school community,
and a dedicated team of teaching staff. We encourage qualified teachers
who submit to God’s Holy Word and the Reformed confessions, and are
committed to educating children and youth in the Reformed Christian
perspective, to apply. Please send your resumé, references, statement of
faith and philosophy of Christian education to the principal, Mr. J. Kikkert, Providence Christian School, Box 240, Monarch, AB, T0L 1M0.
For more information, please call 403-381-4418, or e-mail: provchr@
telusplanet.net.
Jordan Christian School is accepting applications for possible teaching positions beginning in September 2010. Located in a rural setting in the Niagara
Peninsula, near St. Catharines, Ontario, we are a small K-12 school. If you
are energetic and versatile, committed to children, qualified to teach from a
Reformed perspective, and interested in joining our teaching team, we would
look forward to receiving your application. Please send us a copy of your
resumé, along with your statement of faith and philosophy of education.
We review all applicant documents in the event of upcoming openings and
contact you as our specific needs become known. Please send your applications to the principal, Mark Fintelman, [email protected] or the
Education Committee secretary, John Berman, [email protected].
Jordan Christian School, 4171 15th Street, Jordan Station, ON, L0R 1S0.
Plymouth Christian Elementary and High School in Grand Rapids,
Michigan are accepting teaching applications for the 2010 –2011 school
year for possible openings in the elementary and high school. Interested
K– 6 applicants should send their resumés and/or questions to Mr. David
Engelsma ([email protected]). Interested 7–12 applicants should send their resumés and/or questions to Mr. James Bazen
([email protected]). Both principals are also available by phone
616-458-4367 (EL) or 616-454-9481 (HS).
Heritage Reformed Christian School in Rock Valley, Iowa, is accepting
applications for open elementary teaching positions for the 2010/2011
school year. For more information, please visit the school’s website at
www.heritagereformed.net. Applicants, please send a cover letter and
resumé to the attention of Terry Van Beek, 2308 Coolidge Ave., Inwood,
IA 51247. Phone: 712-753-4385, or email: [email protected].
COMPANION NEEDED
A widow lady would like a lady companion to live with her in
her home in Montana. Lovely surroundings. Within easy reach
of church. Please write to: The Manager, Gospel Mission, P.O.
Box 318, Choteau, MT 59422.
Obituary notices, church events, and marriage and anniversary notices
will be printed free of charge and under no obligation of a gift received.
Other announcements and/or requests will be approved by the editorial
committee on an individual basis as received.
2010 HRC YOUTH CAMP
The theme for the 2010 Youth Conference will be:
TULIP — The Aroma of the Gospel
All too often we handle the truths of God’s Word like a tulip. We see and
perhaps admire them. We “smell” them from a distance. We know they are
important to believe. But that’s all. So often we don’t take these truths into
our own hearts and lives and apply them personally, or share them with others. We acknowledge that we are totally depraved, but do we live with the
sober reality of what that really means before God? We confess unconditional
election but do we live with the reality that this is the root of salvation and
reveals the character of God? We confess limited atonement, that Christ died
only for His people, but are you being cleansed daily by His atoning blood?
You agree with irresistible grace, but do you come humbly and willingly when
Christ is offered and are you in love with Him and His grace? Maybe you have
heard about perseverance of the saints, but that is really far off in the distant
future, so what bearing does that have on your life now as you fight against
sin? These are truths to live and die by because they reveal the grace of God
before time for rebels without a cause who must be washed in the atoning
blood of Christ, be intoxicated by His grace and the best part is, that there
are no lost causes if you are in Christ! Come and hear about these exciting
and life-changing truths! Topics will include:
Total Depravity — Rebels Without a Cause
Unconditional Election — Grace Before Time
Limited Atonement — Mission Accomplished
Irresistible Grace — Intoxicating Grace
Perseverance of the Saints — No Lost Causes*
The conference will be held, the Lord willing, Tuesday, June 29 — Friday,
July 2, at Camp Michiwana in southwestern Michigan. All young people
(grade 10 through age 25) are encouraged to attend. Speakers will include
Dr. Beeke, Rev. Elshout, Dr. Murray, Rev. Fintelman, and Rev. Neels. Rev.
VanderZwaag will be conducting a panel discussion. The format will be similar to previous years with topics, work shops, discussion groups, and time for
fellowship. Mark your calendar! Registration forms are available this month
through your local HRC churches.
The fee for the three-day camp is $170 (US funds only). This includes
all meals and lodging. Full-time campers may deduct $20 if registrations
are post marked by June 1, in which case the camp fee is $150. (If possible,
please submit your application by June 1, late registrations require a significant amount of extra last-minute work for all people involved with providing
transportation, lodging, activity supplies, and food).
If you have any questions or need a registration form, you may contact:
Mr. & Mrs. Doug VandenBerg (616.874.1648; e-mail: dvande1533@aol.
com) or Mr. & Mrs. Tom VanRee (616.677.1727).
*TULIP terms taken from Michael Horton’s book, Putting Amazing Back into Grace:
Embracing the Heart of the Gospel.
50th ANNIVERSARY
With gratitude to God we announce that
our dear parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents
Bill & Barb Tanis
will celebrate their 50th anniversary May 28.
Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the
clouds...How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! —Psalm 36:5, 7
74 Cheyenne Way, Wayne, NJ 07470
tour Israel & Jordan!
On a twelve day tour October 4 –15
Christian Ministry to Israel (CMI) is excited to arrange a special tour of Israel and Jordan so that you can visit the land of
the Bible. Come and see the places you have read of so often in the Bible. An expert Jewish guide will accompany us to
tell us about the places we visit. Rev. H. A. Bergsma will serve as tour leader who will read relevant sections of Scripture at
the sites we visit. During the course of this trip we hope to visit HaGefen Publishing and the Grace and Truth Church.
Price per person, based on twin/double room: $3,290.00 Canadian. Only a maximum of 49 spaces are available, so
book now! To book or receive more information, please contact Rev. H. Bergsma ([email protected] / 519.474.0443)
or Mr. Bert DeJong ([email protected] / 905.562.0558).
CHRISTIANITY WORLDWIDE: SOUTH KOREA....
Population: 45,991,000. Religions: Christian 49% (28% Protestant),
Buddhist 47%, Confucianism 3%, Shamanism, Chondogyo (Religion
of the Heavenly Way), and other 1%
The first Christian influence reached Korea in the eighteenth century.
For a long time, Christians were persecuted; in fact, in 1839, 1846, and
1866–1871, several thousand Christians became martyrs. Protestantism reached Korea in the nineteenth century. In response to the Great
Revival Movement (1907), missionaries of various backgrounds established the Independent Presbytery of Jesus Church in Chosun (IPCC)
and ordained seven Koreans as pastors. With the victory in 1945 of the
Allied forces, Japanese colonialism came to an end. Two years later,
the church adopted the name Presbyterian Church of Korea. In the
following years, the Presbyterian churches grew rapidly. Many reasons
can be given for this astonishing development. Christian missions in
Korea, in contrast to so many other countries, were not identified with
a colonial power. The Christian message was brought to Korea at a
time when the religious and cultural heritage of Korea had lost much
of its inner strength. Equally important was the policy, the so-called
Nevius method, which missionaries adopted. They urged each convert
to bring the gospel to others. Much of the growth is also due to Korean
initiative. Koreans developed a strong commitment to the Christian
faith; spiritual discipline and prayer are very characteristic of Korean
Christians. A special feature of Korean church life, for instance, is the
dawn prayer meeting. Another important factor in church growth was
the revival movement. Finally, the Korean Christians generally did not
allow evangelism and social action to fall apart. Since the late 1970s,
the Korean churches have also begun to send out increasing numbers
of missionaries. Today, several thousand Korean missionaries are active
outside Korea. Protestant Christianity represents close to 28% of the
population. Despite their
divisions, the Presbyterian churches hold
common convictions.
They all adhere to the
Apostles’ Creed and the
Westminster Confession. They all maintain
the same patterns of
organization and, generally, use the same hymnal (which is also used
by other denominations
such as the Methodists
and Baptists). (Reformiert online)
South Korean Protestant Churches, and their locations
2010 Puritan Reformed Conference
Mark your calendars, and plan to attend the second annual
Puritan Reformed conference this August 26 – 28. Our theme is
the
Beauty and Glory of CHRIST
Speakers at this year’s event include Joel Beeke, Jerry Bilkes, Iain Campbell, David Carmichael, James Grier,
Albert Martin, David Murray, Ray Pennings, Richard Phillips, and William VanDoodeward.
This year’s messages will address a variety of biblical, historical, and systematic topics related to the person
and work of Jesus Christ.
Once again, Reformation Heritage Books will have a large selection of titles
on hand at the conference, all at steeply discounted prices.
For more information, or to register online, go to www.puritanseminary.org/conference/index.php. Send all questions and/or comments related to the Puritan Reformed Conference to [email protected], or call
Chris Hanna at 616.977.0599, ext. 138. You may write the seminary at PRTS, 2965 Leonard Street, NE, Grand
Rapids,
MI 49525.
145 The Banner of Sovereign Grace
Truth MARCH
2010
CHRISTIAN WORLD VIEW
NATIONAL NEWS....
2011 Budget Increases Funding for Planned
Parenthood
President Obama’s proposed budget for 2011 includes more than $327
million for Title X, the program that funds Planned Parenthood. That’s
a $10 million increase. Carrie Gordon Earll, Senior Director of Issue
Analysis for Focus on the Family Action, said even though the funds
cannot go to pay for abortions, any time Planned Parenthood funding
is increased, it’s cause for concern. “What Title X funding does is it
frees up other money that they can then use for abortions,” she said,
“or other things that people would disagree with.” One of the major
problems with the funding, according to life advocates, is a change that
allows taxpayer dollars to be used to pay for lawsuits involving abortion.
“That’s something previous administrations have stayed away from,
because of the political nature of abortion,” Earll said. “It’s just not
appropriate for tax dollars to be used in that way.” (CitizenLink)
Court Rules in Favor of Keeping “God” in Pledge
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that teacher-led recitations of
the pledge of allegiance in public schools are constitutional. Atheist
Michael Newdow has been pushing to have “one nation under God”
removed from the pledge. In a separate decision on a companion case,
the same three-judge panel unanimously rejected Newdow’s challenge to
the use of “In God We Trust” on coins and currency. (CitizenLink)
Illinois Pro-Lifers Engaged in Major Challenge
Pro-life groups in Illinois are waging a major battle against a bill
designed to aggressively promote abortion.
The “Reproductive Health and Access Act” (HB 6205) is easily
one of the most pro-abortion bills introduced in any state, says Matt
Yonke of the Pro-Life Action League. “This bill would essentially
entrench abortion as a fundamental human right in Illinois even if Roe
v. Wade was overturned,” he explains. “[It also] protects abortionists
from prosecution in the event of a botched abortion, [and] expands
‘comprehensive’ sex-ed — as Planned Parenthood likes to call it — as
far down as preschool.” The pro-life activist says it could also dismantle
parental notice when a minor seeks an abortion, which is a previously
passed law that has been tied up in the courts for years. It is imperative, says Yonke, that state representatives understand there is public
opposition to it. (OneNewsNow)
Iowa Rep Fights for Personhood
A move to add a Personhood amendment to the state constitution is
under way in Iowa. The proposal calls for the state to recognize human
fertilized eggs as persons deserving legal protection, and the drive in
the House is spearheaded by Rep. Dwayne Alons. “We’ve found out so
many things about life and development in the womb, about a person,”
he comments. “ I believe it’s time that we really start recognizing that
a person does begin at conception, and that right to life should be put
intact and stay there for a person from the very beginning of the biological process.” The problem in both houses of the Iowa legislature,
according to Alons, is that they are controlled by liberals. “They have
resisted most of the bills for the most part — I’d say just about all the
bills that relate to changing anything related to life and right to life,”
the state lawmaker notes. “So it’s an uphill battle, but hopefully this will
gain momentum.” The bill would put an end to abortion in Iowa, and it
would also bar research using human embryos. The measure must pass
both houses before being placed on a state ballot. (OneNewsNow)
JOHN GOUDZWAARD
INTERNATIONAL NEWS....
Morocco Begins Large-Scale Expulsion of Foreign
Christians
Moroccan authorities deported more than forty foreign Christian
aid workers in an ongoing, nationwide crackdown that included the
expulsion of foster parents caring for thirty-three Moroccan orphans.
Deportations of foreign Christians continue, with Moroccan authorities expressing their intention to deport specifically U.S. nationals. At
the Village of Hope orphanage near Ain Leuh, fifty miles south of
Fez, the government expelled sixteen staff workers, ten foster parents,
and thirteen natural-born dependents from the country. The orphanage arranges for orphaned children to live with a set of foster parents
rather than in a traditional dormitory setting, according to its website.
New Zealand native Chris Broadbent, a worker at Village of Hope,
told Compass that the separation of the foster families and the children
under their care was traumatic. As much as they hoped to be re-united,
he said, that did not seem likely — officials told them they could visit as
tourists in the future, but, in reality, authorities do not allow re-entry
for those who have been expelled. (Compass Direct)
Freedom Comes After Standing Strong
Two Christian women have been released from
an Iranian prison after being held captive for
roughly nine months. The two women, 27-yearold Maryam Rostampour and 30-year-old Marzieh Amirizadeh, were arrested and held in the
Evin prison in Tehran for refusing to deny their
faith. The case began with their arrest in March
2009, and it was not until April that authorities
informed the women that they were charged with illegal gatherings and
acting against state security. By August, the two were warned that they
should recant their Christian faith, and when they refused to do so,
replying, “We love Jesus,” they were charged a month later with antistate activities, propagation of the Christian faith, and apostasy. However, a new judge who presided over their most recent case was more
sympathetic than those before him, and he acquitted them of some
charges. The women were released in March 2010. (OneNewsNow)
PERSECUTION: NORTH KOREA....
North Korea Top Persecutor
For the eighth straight year, the communist nation of North Korea has
been named the top persecutor of Christians worldwide. Open Doors,
a ministry that serves the persecuted church, has released its annual
“World Watch List” of fifty countries it says are the worst persecutors
of Christians. Ministry spokesman Jerry Dykstra says it is no surprise
North Korea took the top spot. “[W]e believe there’s up to 200,000
political prisoners [there],” Dykstra laments. “That’s the most in the
world — [and] 40,000 to 60,000 of them are Christians.” Iran is number
two on the list, followed by Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the Maldives.
Dykstra points out that a majority of the top fifty countries on the list
have Muslim governments. “Eight of the top ten have Islam as their
dominant religion — and also, thirty-five of the fifty countries on the
list have Islamic governments,” he explains. “That’s a trend we’ve seen
over the years. The good news is that some countries, like in Latin
America, have seen lesser persecution. Colombia, for one, has dropped
off the list.” (OneNewsNow)
John Goudzwaard is a member of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
THE REFORMED FAITH (6)
CORNER FOR TEENS
Who is Christ?
A
s the second person of the Trinity, Christ has co-existed
with the Father and the Spirit from eternity. He is the
agent of creation and all things exist for Him and because of
Him (Col. 1:16 – 17). Even if you do not trust in Christ for
salvation, you have an intimate connection to Him because He
created you. This only reinforces the great need that you have
to be reconciled to God.
Christ is revealed in Scripture. When we read the Bible, we
ought to continually be looking for Christ in them. In the Old
Testament, He is revealed through types such as the Tabernacle, the various sacrifices, and the offices of prophet, priest,
and king. He revealed Himself to Abraham, Jacob, Joshua, and
Manoah in human form.
The New Testament’s incarnation of Jesus Christ is one of
the most astounding facts of human history. The wonder of it
all is the fact that God took on human flesh — not just human
form, as in the Old Testament, but became fully human. He left
the glory of heaven to lower Himself into the depths of human
sin and depravity (Phil. 2: 5 – 8). He came to associate Himself
in every way with our human experience, except for sin. He was
tempted in all points. He had flesh and blood like you and I.
He ate, drank, and slept like you and I. He had human friends
and a social network among His disciples.
Christ can redeem and atone for sin because He was a man.
What does it mean that Christ made atonement? It means that
He took the punishment, guilt, and wrath of God against sin
to make sinners one with God — so we can be in relationship
with Him again. This atonement is at the heart of salvation and
while everyone is invited to partake, it is only applied to the elect
people of God. This does not mean that God delights in letting a
great number of people perish arbitrarily; He has told us that He
does not delight in a sinner’s death but that they would come to
repentance. To that end, He sets before us the gospel. The problem lies in man’s hardness of heart and blindness; we, by nature,
REV. MARK KELDERMAN &
REV. MAARTEN KUIVENHOVEN
will not come unto Him that we might have life. It is only by the
gracious and effective application of the Holy Spirit that sinners
are brought to life and forgiven of all their sins. Looking back
at the unfolding of God’s plan of redemption, we can see that
it was necessary for God to send His Son to pay for sin by the
shedding of His blood through the death of the cross.
The intercession of Christ is another precious aspect of
Christ’s work. Just as He prayed for His disciples in John 17,
Christ still prays for His people today in heaven. He intercedes
for sinners who come to Him by faith. He can make intercession
because His blood has been shed; He has the ear of the Father in
heaven because His Father is well pleased with His work. And
He hears the slightest groan or sigh of a child of God.
In His offices of prophet, priest, and king, Christ does several
things. As prophet, He teaches His people about Himself. He
teaches us about sin and about the solution to that sin. He teaches
us about His character and the worship of which He is worthy.
As priest, Christ makes atonement for sin by His own blood, and
He intercedes on behalf of sinful people. As king, He rules and
governs us so that our lives are lived to His honor and glory. So
often people want Christ in His atoning work, but they do not
want Him to teach them or rule over them. Christ calls for our
complete surrender to His complete person in all three offices.
Christ will return one day as the righteous Judge of heaven
and earth. He will come to judge the living and the dead and will
reward everyone according to his works, good or bad. Will you be
ready to meet Him, standing in His righteousness and washed in
His blood? Next time, we want to consider how the salvation that
Christ won is applied to the hearts and lives of sinners.
Rev. Mark Kelderman is pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Burgessville, Ontario. Rev. Maarten Kuivenhoven is a pastor of the Heritage
Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a Th.M.
theological student at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Feel free to email either of them: [email protected]; kuivenhoven.
[email protected]
PERIODICAL
From The Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth
Publication Number (USPS 010584)
540 Crescent St., NE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
POSTAGE PAID AT
GRAND RAPIDS, MI
AWAKE, MY SOUL
Awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise,
To pay thy morning sacrifice.
Heav’n is, dear Lord, where’er Thou art,
O never then from me depart;
For to my soul ’tis hell to be
But for one moment void of Thee.
Thy precious time misspent, redeem,
Each present day thy last esteem,
Improve thy talent with due care;
For the great day thyself prepare.
Lord, I my vows to Thee renew;
Disperse my sins as morning dew.
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.
By influence of the Light divine
Let thy own light to others shine.
Reflect all Heaven’s propitious ways
In ardent love, and cheerful praise.
Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say,
That all my powers, with all their might,
In Thy sole glory may unite.
In conversation be sincere;
Keep conscience as the noontide clear;
Think how all seeing God thy ways
And all thy secret thoughts surveys.
I would not wake nor rise again
And Heaven itself I would disdain,
Wert Thou not there to be enjoyed,
And I in hymns to be employed.
Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praise to the eternal King.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
All praise to Thee, who safe has kept
And hast refreshed me while I slept.
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake
I may of endless light partake.
— THOMAS KEN
Banner
of Sovereign Grace Truth
the
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE
HERITAGE REFORMED CONGREGATIONS
A Periodical for Young and Old
May/June 2010
Vol. 18

No. 5

May/June - the Heritage Reformed Congregations

Transcription

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