VOLUME XXVl JANUARY 1967 NUMBER 9

EDITORIAL STAFF: Drr rc l Hui-ken .................. ..F:clitoi.-ii~-(~'hirT Do?: Jo::ker ............... ..Fitt:?r!ce A1:r:l;tgrl. :111+l

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EDITORIAL 1 Literature

D. Huisken FEATURE 2

Origin and Value of House Visitar~on Kenneth Rietema

WHY DID I BECOME PROTESTANT REFORMED 5 June Williams

CURRENT EVENTS AND COMMENTS 5 Don Jonker

FROM THE PASTOR'S STUDY 6 Peace in 1967

Rev. G. Van Baren TRUTH vs. ERROR 7

20 Thoughts on the Doctrine of Election Rev. Robert C. Harbach

CRITIQUE 9 Protestant Reformed Education (V)

Agatha Lubbers HELPS FOR BIBLE STUDY 13

Epistle o f James Rev Herman Veldman

NEWS FROM, FOR, AND ABOUT OUR CHURCHES 14

Georgia Hendricks

LITERATURE

A Definition: books rely on coincidence, but they also yrrq' sinll,ly literature is t:,lk \+tritteIl present redemption in an .-\rrninian frame-

down. I11 t l ~ r early history of miinkind the WO'~.

best stories alltl no st i~~lgortar~t legends, niyths, and tales were handed clown from one generation to another 11): word-of- niouth. Later when xvriting came into vogue these stories were written dowri for all posterity to read aucl enjoy. h4aily of the earlicst writings are still wit11 11s today.

But what do wc of tllr. twentieth century do \\it11 our large irrl~eritii~icr of literature. How do we j ~ ~ d g e Lvl~at is really good literature mcl what is bad? Altliougli selcc- tion of books is primarily an indivicl~tal mat- ter, we all ~rlost have a concrete ;md ab- solute standard 11y which \ire call j~iclge all literature. This standard is God's most IIolv \ITord. Gocl's \\'c~rd is tlie standard because it is reality from the beginning to the end. This reality has as its Ileart the spiritt~al death of man and his u~iconditional re- dc~nption tl~rough the \vay of gracr., viz., the iucarnation, cruciLsion, n ~ ~ d ascension of Jesus Christ our Lord. h y litcnth~re that presents reality in any oilier ligl~t or by any other standard is not real, 11ut is nlost bla- timtly false!

Therefore, a word of warning must be soundecl against all worldly literature, of course. but also against literali~re which purports to he Cl~risiiitn ancl si~nply is riot. That which is worldly has a peculiar ;~nd often easily detrctallle error, but this pseudo-Christian "fu~lda~nr~ltalistic" tripe is n~isleading, subtile, and co~lfl~sing. For tts-

ample, in all thcse "lundame~~ti~listic" books rely hcavily on coil.~citlencc. A hard drink- ing, harcl dri\qing, :mcl cursing young man meets a sncct, sentimental, Christian young \\*oman \vho \\:ants hirn to become a Cllris- tian. He dccicles to accept Jesus Christ :IS

his person;~l Savior, antl, lour and beholrl, he now wants to Ilc a preacher, too. All the better for the young lady. By the time one reaches thr end of bool< the yoilng hoodlum t l~r l~ed saint is converting others Lo accept Jesus Christ as he clid. Not only do tllrst.

Values: \\'hat value does literature have in tlre

life of the Christi;~n? reading in every field broadens our experience. For example, we do not have neither the time nor tlic money to tr~tvel to Europe, thercforc, we read a book ;il,out it. Books carry us miles away. \\'r did not livr during the age of the \lissishipl~i River steanlboats, but now nre can visit that age tllrougl~ the books written by \lark Twain. I\'e did not li\-e urntier thc rule of an insane IIitler, but we can read about thosc who did in The Iliunj of Anrlc Frarlk. Books a~~girrent, buttress, and enlighten our ex~erience. But there are some things that a Christian may not elperiunce - either ach~auy or vicarious- ly. IVe m:ay not revel in the sins of Ricllard Fielcling's Torn Jones, or indulge in tlrc sins of D. H. La\vence's Lady Chotterly's Locer, or enjoy the sills colnmitted in Janles Joyce's LTlcysses. In liis Principles of Educcltic~~i Prof. 11. Hitnko stateb that:

3) Yet a note of warning must be souncled. a) It i5 extremely difficult to read a worldly novel or piece of literature which conlmiinicates the lie without bcing affected by it for evil. Only a mature Cliristiiln, faitl~fi~l in his p~~rsui t of kno\vledqe of God should reatl thcse thil~gs, ancl then alxvays critically (page 37).

Thus, thr Christian must learn to tletrct what is goocl and \\?hat is bad literah~rc* by faithfully s t~~d , ing and reading the IVord cf God. It is 1101 only paramount literilture, 1111t also all absolute guide to d l the reality \vhich is presented in all the literature of the ~vorlcl. If we as Christians know the \\'ord of God. we \\;ill automatically know if any literiihtre is riot in h a r n ~ o n ~ with tllat \I-ord. J~ltlge all that yon read in Llir light of Cod's IVord take the best and 13s- dain 'uld esi>el all that is bad, and in thr study of literature you shall be blessed.

I1.H.

BEACON LIGHTS C)W

FEATURE

SUBJECT: THE ORIGIN AND VALUE OF HOUSE VISITATION

KENNETH RIETEMA

Given at South-west Protestant l~eforn~ecl

Church Oct. '76, 19(i6

The history of fa~nily \.isitation during tlre f i s t years of the Protestant Reforrrrc~tion, the struggle for establislling thc true Bihlical re- ligion \vas fierce indeed. h o n g the b i ~ e r problems which the refornlers h ~ d to inclurc, there \\'as none morc contrikry to the tr~ltll and more @ex-eous to there own heart\, tllan that they \\.ere trying to subvert tlte good order of Christ's church by insisting on inno\7ations. Because of these problems, John Calvin, in 1544 writes in his essay, iiamcly The .Vccessity of Reforming the Church. "Therefore. let there be an examina- tion of our \\,hole doctrine, of our form of administering the sacmme~its, and our mdh- ad of governing the cllurcl~: a11d iu none of these things w i l l it be fo~111d that \qre have made 'an)- change upon h e arrcicnt forn~, \vithout attempting to restore it to t l ~ r exact standard of the word of Gocl." This attempt has been at once, the glory :ant1 the strength of the Reformed Churches.

Slore than any other Christian grou;, tvhich arose in those turbule~~t years, the Reformed sought consciously encl consistenl- ly to model their church life after tlre apostolic pattern. Thus, in distinctiorl flom almost every other p a r h in Christendom, they have also maintained imd clcfeilde~l the practice of family visiti~tion tbro~~ghoitt thr years. By pursuing this coltrse of contact uith the f d e s of the congrrgatic~rl, tho ministers ancl eltlers insisted that they were not introducing something new, but ratller rc\iving a practice which dated Ix~cl, to L l ~ r * early church.

I t h e outset, the Rcfo~med chl~rch(.i. uucler the able leadership of John Calvi~r: brokc co~npletely \vitll the systcln of con- fessional and sacrament of penarlce. Tl~ey returned to the tin~e honored practice of \-kiting t l ~ e members in their hornes. 13r- cause of this they also dc\.rlopecl to ;I IIIIICI~ higher degree than ever before in the his-

tory of the Christian Chnrcl~, no doubt as a res~rli of careh~lly maintaining the office of the ruling elders in every congregation.

Alrcady at an early date Calvin empha- sized that pastoral work inclt~dcd far more than official preaching of the gospel. He insistcxl or1 faitllfulness on the part of a11 the pastors in visiting the meml~ers of the church, since Ile realized how brneficial this work was for t l ~ e developmerlt of the spirit- ual life, and the edification of the church. ?'llose relormed leaders who canlct to Ceneva during that tune and saw the progress wl~ich hitd been niacle, began to follo\v the same pattern of church care. Thus the practice of falnil)? \isitation beca~rle current tvher- cver {he Reformed churcl~es were estab- lished.

in Ceneva, the work was carried on with great regularity. Four times R year, before ci1c.11 celebration of the Lord's Supper, all the menlbers were to be visitcd in their homes by the ministers and the elders. Special attention was given the young people, in order that they might prepare thc~nsrlves for the profession of their faith aucl tllr~s receive the right to use the Lord's Supprr. \Ve must not be mistaken ho\vever that because of the regularity of these per- sonel - \isits after hiwing rid thc*msClves of the confessional, felt the need for a sub- stitute and hence introduce family visitation. 111 no sense of tlle word is the Iiitter a sub- stitute for t l ~ e former. Rather, in their heroic attempt Lo purify thc cliurch of Christ of unscriptural practices, they re- tnrnecl to the Bible and found tlicre a solid foltndation for this type of spiritual work. Too long had the church through its leaders ignored an inlportant aspect of her calling. And only by restoring and lnnintaining the proper s p i r i t u a 1 contact betwcen the churclles ofiicers ancl her meinbcrs were h e y able to rejoice in an evitlont revi\pal ol spiritual life in the congregations.

Tllus, a brief history concenling the "ori~~ri" of family visitation. \Ire must now

TUO BEACON LIGHTS

out of necessity, carry on, with IIO t ln~ll~t, a morc inlcrrsting and prirclical seclio~r of this papcLr, that is, the "value" house visitittion alfords ull true bclic%\.crs of Christ's earthly church here helo\\,.

Spiritual ble\\ing, are convinced, will accruc. not o ~ ~ l y to the members of tl~i. c l r ~ ~ ~ c l ~ , but c111ilr as 1111rel1 to the consistory wlricli zealously scbcks to perform this part of its calling. ?'he first l~mcfit For thr elders \vI~ich ought to be 111~-ntionetl, is that tleligcnt pursuance of this practicct \vill en- able them to kr~o\\r t l ~ r spiritual condilion of the Hock over \\.hich the Lord has placed thcnl. 51any espericlncc~cl elders tvill clrcer- fully witnrss to the 11.11111 of this S ~ ~ I ~ O I I I C ' I ~ ~ .

Especially in larger co~~gregations \vl~ere rr~crl~bership coultl change regularly, tht.rt. is ;I danger that only I l lc pastor Lmo\vs who I,t.longs. .And since Ire !nay I x called to an- othvr firld of labor :I( ;uly time, it is csscrrtial to t l ~ c . well-bri~~g 01 tllc churcl~ 1l1at the c.lclr~.s are as thro~tgl~ly ;~crluaintc~cl wit11 I l ~ c : nectls of the people as possil~le. Thcy \\.ill in pcariods of 1-aatncy be co~l~pelletl to c a r y on Inany of thc I;tl~ors \\rllich othcr\\~ise fall upon the minister of the gospel. Mow ~ n r ~ c l ~ c:~sier it is to visit l l ~ c sick and ci~ll 1111 tlir tlolinc~t~eots. nl ie~i t11i . ~nembel-s of the con- sistory are :~cqtuail~tctl wit11 tlic- eo~~ditiorrs of the family beforcl~irnd. \ln~ly situ:ttions which would be pr~zzling ofteri prcsent no problc~n at all \\~licm one imderstands the 1)ilckgro~d of the case. The Inore the eltlors know the spiritu;ll level of the mcln- l~r r s , the better i ~ l ~ l c : they are to give \\,isc Christim counsel. Alltl this will cor~tril,utc. in no small way to Ilclp them p r r s e ~ ~ t tl~t. ch;~llr~rgc of their chttrch intellige~ltly to their i ~ c s t ~xzstor.

Sccotltlly, by contlucti~~g the \vork prnycr- ft~lly nnd reg~~larly, ~ I H ! ~nc:~~lbcra ol lhts con- sistory \\ill also l i~~o\\* \idlether or I I ( I ~ t l ~ c bclic\~t-rs over \vliom tllc.y have 11ec:11 pli~cetl rrri~kc spiritual progress by using the nle:lns of grace. Those \vllo sr~perintend the Ilock must not only ~ I O \ V \\.lrethcr the mc.ml~ers are dcbligent in cl i~~rch nttendance, but ;tIbo whethrr they recci\fe spiritital blnsings.

'1'11i1c11y, these \.hiis likewiso givr t l ~ e c.ltlt.rs :I much-necclrtl opportunity for en- gaging in preveut;~tivc~ \vork, with the result that instances of glaring clefectiori from the rule of the gosprl I>c.co~ne more ant1 no re infrrcl~~ent among thr people of God.

I'o~lrthly, ~ v c blro111cI not forget tltat s11c11

\isit!, ;ilbo stimulatr tllc spiritual unity of believers. IIo\v easy i t is to forget in our days of rank individualisln that we ;Ire me~nbers of the body of Christ, and though our callings differ, we are :111 given to each other for the purpose of ni~lt~ral edification.

Finally, this custom enables the elders to demoilstr:~tc in o practic;il \\?;ty the spirit of Cliristialr lo\fc and helpfulncsx. The rule \\-hich thry I~ear has been given for the purpose of ministering to each other. Those cdlletl to the office shorlld remember the example \vhich our Savior ~ ; i \ ~ c I.iis disciples at the Last Supper, \vI1t.11 after Ore font \vashing I lc said. "Kno\\. ye \\,hat I I~a\lc clone to \ .OII? Ye call me 'I'cbacl~cr and Lorc!: and ye s;~y well; for so 1 ;urn. If I therr, the Lord nrld the teacher, 11;lvc \\,;;shed your feel yc ulso ought Lo \\-;dl ilnotl~er's fert. For I have gi,i\.cn yot~ an c.snmple, that ye should (lo ;IS I have done to yo^^. Verily, vrril>-, 1 say unto yoit, a xrrvilnt is ]lot greater t l ~ : u ~ liis I,ord, neitllcr one that is sent t l ~ a r ~ he that stint him. If ye know these things, blessed arc ye if ye do them." In the disc11;lrge - of their office, they \\ill remember to mirror thr office of the Sa\ior, who IIimself is the Great Sl~ephercl of thr sheep. Not only do t l ~ e eldcrs tlerivc niuclr benefit fro~n tl& work, I~ut tllc believing church ;tl\o profits much. Tl~ey \\ill e l - perience thiit by means of it, they are built up in faith itnd increased in love.

Fint of all, as members of his living cburch they will see more clrarly the vitlne of tlisc~lssing matters pertaining to spil-i111nl life. In our age in which Ic.isure is at ;I

prerniurn, ilntl the things of the spirit arc const;~ntly clouded over by earthly and material interests, it is so necessary to ml- plra>ilc this. 5lany find it tliflicult to sprak to each otl~er about thesc nlnttc-rs of suprune importanct.. Not only i\ there &Te;lt r e l ~ ~ c - tance lo cliscuss spiriti~al 11rol)lcms and dif- ficulties, but sonic menlber tcstify very littlr to the joy of salvation which should 11e their portion. \\'c sl10~11d not loose sight of the necessity of edif?ing onr ;unotIier. \\'itla- out family vi5itation me wot~ltl h;n.e to rcsly entirely on the mi~~is t r r ant1 his ability 10

preach the \\'ord from \reek to week. Bttt, the oftcnrr n I)elie\~er gives a reasonnhlr account of the hope that is in him, the easirr it will be to witness to t l ~ e PO\\-c3r of God's gclce that is in him in his life from day to day. In order illat tlrc l~cliever may

BEACON LIGHTS

bc stimulated, thosc who conrll~ct family \,isitation slioulcl gui~rrl carefr~lly against doing all the talking, tlius I~ecoming a one- sided discourse by niinister or elder 011 the Christian's life.

Secondly, tllcase visits \\rill b~~ilcl up the confidence of the people in the le;~dershlp of the church. The task of tlie eltlers is far from easy and pleasant. Ilany problems confront them - if thev are zealous - in keeping the chl~rch pure. If the members see the elder5 in their official capacity only at the time of pul)lic worsl~ip, the distance between the two uartic%s will likrlv breed distrust and mis~~nderstantling.

Thirdly, the pre\.c*nt;~tive work in which the elders engage in at th (~ time of f;umily visitation \\-ill ltelp thr I)clievers live more cor~sistantly Christian lives. There arc times when God's people stuml)le ir~to grievous sins before they are fl~lly aware of the net Satan has spreiltl for them. The longer any particular sin llas dominion ovcr their lives, the more hardenecl their hearts becon~e and it \\-ill be more clifficult to breitk th.it evil. SIa11y can testify that the kindly \vords and fervent prayrrs of the elders liavr grrnt- ly aided t l ~ e ~ n in esciipir~g the snures of tlie devil and restoring thc.111 by grace to the blessed fello\vship of Cotl ;lntl His people.

Fourthly. as a result, this xvorli al\vavs presents a good opportunity for learnh~g more about the Christian way of life. It is at times difficult to sce the in~plications of the gospel for daily life. Although words are a wonderful vehical for the cornmumica- tion of thought, we arc still in an imperfect world. Therefore \\.hat may be clear to most of the rnemhcrs, is by 110 means plain to all. These latter sl1o11lc1 be helped. Paul speaks to die members ;it hlilctus of Iris practice of going fro111 Ilouse to l~ouse teucliing publicly thts tllings of the King- don1 of God. r\lthougI~ thc. for111 may I)c different today s i ~ ~ c c \tre Ilave regularly established cllurclies. the chr~rch still neetls sheperds teach in the homes of its members.

Finally, by contacting the f;~nlilys in tllis \\say, the elders can effectively point out the high ideal of living toget11c.r as ;I Christi.~n family from day to clay. That our people need such repeated and pc~rsonal rernir~tlers needs no proof. S o congreg:ttion is stronger than the families which constitl~te it. IVhat geatcr blessings can I)e r~~joyetl tlratr that

nf stxeing C;IICI'S grace working in the gen- erntions, so that grandparents and pilrmts and cliildrcl~ alikr t)o\v to thc same Cod imcl Fat11c.r of ollr Lord Jesus Christ, re- joice in the s;llnr heavenly Savior, a i d es- perience the gracioub opewlion of the holy spirit. 011r first rc.ligious impressions were gleaned ;kt the time of family worship. Our childish lips learned first to pray at our mother's knees. 'There tve first heard the storics of the holy gospel and way of salva- ti or^. Our Cocl is the God of the covenant, \vllosc gr;tciol~s promises to our children place 11s ~llldcr the solerrin obligation to nl~rture tlrcni in the fear and abmor~ition of t l ~ e I .ortl. 'I'l~is is not only sound psychology 1>11t abo\*c. ill1 good scriptural doctrine.

Let the c-ltlers never weary of pointinc out to the children and the parents alike their ~~rivilcgcs and obligations. The \vhole 13ible plainly teaches the significancv of a truly Godly home. .hid \\-hen our homes are pernieated \\.it11 the principles of sound doc- trine nnd the Iloly Bible the future of thc church is secure. \Ire look upon the Chris- tian family, \\*liere everything is on a foot- ing of religio~~, and we see them arourld their ow^^ cluiet hearth a i d tal~lr, aw:ly from tlie g~.o;~t pr~blic \r.orlcl and its strifes, wit11 a priest of their own 10 lead hem. They ;lrcb knit together in the ties of love tl~nt make tlle~n onc; even as they are fed and clothed out of the same fund, interested in the same possessions, partakers of the same su~~.ctuscs ancl losses, suffering together hi the sitme sorrows, animated each by hopes that respect the fuhlre benefit of all. Into such a circle and scene it is that re- ligion comes, each day, to obtain a Dace of well-doing for the day. . . . It leads in the dny, 11s tli~wn lcads in the morning. It I~lcntls i~ I~eavcnly gratitude with the joys of the t;ll)lr; i t I)rc*iitl~s :I cheerful sense of Cotl into ill1 tllc. \vorks and tenlpers of tlie horlsc.; it softens tlw pillow for rest when day is done. And so the religion of the house is life itself, tlie life of life; arid having altvays been obsenfetl, it becomes an integral pitrt even of c.xistance, lea\,ing no feeling that, in a proper filniily, it could never have been otf~er\vis~.

I f then, filmily visitation did no more than keep alive in the minds and hearts of be- lievers tllc. itlral of a truly God-centered Ilome, its \ * ~ I I I c collld nev1-r he overesti- matctl.

BEACON LIGHTS

WHY DID 1 BECOME PROTESTANT REFORMED? JUNE WILLIAMS

"\Vhen tlior~ saidst, S t ~ k ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek." Psalm 27:s

". . . . . 'l'urn tl1o11 mv, ~ I I I ~ I shall I,c turned: for thou art the Lortl 111y God." Jer. 31:18b

These tests in Scripture arc very beautiful to lne hecar~sct they are tlic wol.cls I searcl~c.d for in ortlcr lo express wlr). I became Prot- estant Reforn~cd.

Just recently I lieartl the trite rcmitrk, "1 don't really belong to any church in partic- ular. I g11i~ss it is beca~~si. I hi~vcn't found one that suits I I I ~ as ;In intli\~itlnal."

51y answer c:u~ only Ilc 1111~1erstood ir i i i

spirihr;~l \my. 1 did not c/~oose to becon~e Protestant Rcfonl~ed. I did not go aro11nd sniffing in the tloors of a numl~er of churches illrd then proclaim, "Ah;c! 'I'his is t l~e one for mc*! This ( 1 1 1 ~ ~ I>rir~gs 0111 111y iilcLivid~~:~Iity!" If that hacl I)t.en the case I \vould hilve passcd on to i~~iotlier door. \Vhy? Becai~sc in even- \vay I'rotestant Rcfornled prcaclii~~g goes against my flesh and nature. h'ly n;~ture wants to take lhe easy \\'iiy out. It war~ts to say:

1. God is ;dl-laxing \\.it11 a love for all men ;1nc1 \\?ants all men to Iovc I~lini.

-3. I am 111y o\vn interpretor of Scriptr~re. I car1 tolerate anyollc that differs from me. Al'1c.r all. \ve arc going 10 the

3. La\t week I did this and that .~nd this for the Lord. But 1 could havcx nrver i l o ~ ~ c it unless Ilc helped me.

4. Thi~t is the whole pro1,lem. Our cllurch is I>econiiny so niodern. \\'e really 11ec.d to back up a little and beconlc ;I little stricter. That woulcl really solve iAvery- thing.

So, niy fli~sh does not like to say th;~t 1 ;lm totally com~pt, I call do no good thing, and my salv;~tion is a11 of Cod.

In ;I little over t\\'o yexs Iny \\-l~ole life ha. I>ccn changed. \\'lint I belie\,~.tl and profe\setl, my friends, 111). activitirs, ;~ntl my attih~dc are that of a new* person. Nlrw 1 lo\-c a preaching tl~:it before 1 coultl ollly hate. So\\,, I cannot hear enough of election and reprol>ation, God's covenant for Hb people, iultl God's lovr for His proplr. o~tly. They arc6 ;I comfort to rlie and cau.\e my heart to sing when I he;u them or read of them.

So , 1 did not clioosc to beconlc IJrotestant Refonnc!il. Instead, 1 I,clieve I \\,as sott, AIy heart \v;~s turned and Iny eyes \\'ere openetl unto untlc.rstanding by thc pow-erful, irrcsist- ible grace of Cod.

Oh, Lord Iny God! This thing thou 1l;ist donc u~ito me . . . . it is so heiwtiful!

sanie plwe because i111 that really mot- " . . . . Turn thou me, and I sli;~ll be ters is if lie has a profession of faith turned; for thou art tlie Lord my God." in God, too. Jer. 31 : 181,

CURRENT EVENTS AND COMMENTS In the Cntl~olic paper Ol~c,ration Ur~dtr-

starrdir~g n yoinlg teeni~gcr ;~sk(:tl the c1uc.s- tion, wi~at is considered ;I ~noclest covori~~g in s\\im weilr ;tnd dress \r.c:lr for boys iu~d girls of higliscl~ool age by thcir church? Thc rditor of tlic ctrlurrin, Fatlivr Conroy, began the answrr by saying that ~liotlesty is not i111

end in itsrll', I,ut a mr;uls lo a11 ctr~tl. It is the lxeservi~~g o f one's cll;irm for tlir* olie lie or she is to marry. Ancl i f a pcrson does not marry this charm goes I~nck to Cot1 \vho gave it in the first place.

Father Conrop brings out a very true

and \vortli\\.hile point, I ~ n t I feel thi~t an- other ;ISI)(.C~ c t~nccrni~~g the q t~es t io~~ on modesty sllot~lcl be sllown. Consitlt~r Iio~nn~ls 13:" ".Al~cl be ye not conformetl (or lash- ioncd accorcling) to this \vorld, hut I>e ye tmnsfom~i~tl by the renexving of your mind, that yc may prove \\?hat is that goorl, and accept;~l~lr, and perf(.ct, \vill of God." The trend of nlodcm day society is to progress, forget p;rst n ~ l e s and regulations, cu~el live for the present and the future. Yes, tsvo- piecr s\\.imming suits arc "in," and so are

(Continc~ed oil page 13)

BEACON LIGHTS Five

PEACE IN 1967

\Ye have just gone througl~ t l~e holiclny season of Cl~ristmas iuld Sew I't~nr. \\re stand on the tl~reshold of 1967. \!'hat lirs l)cfore?

The world h;is been en~l~l~asizing tlie idea of peace rnr~ch. Therc h;lvct 11ee11 the holid;r>- tn~ccs in \'ietna~n - \vitl~ tlle hope rsprcssed that these tn~ces nligl~t I)e some- Ilo\r- be nl;cd~ ~ ~ c m ~ a n e n t . .\la11 \v;~~lts peace.

\lmy of this gener;~tion bclievc tl~nt there are not suflicicnt eflorts made tc~ c*sti~l)lish peace. These become engaged in piclrli!lg to cdl attentior1 to the urgency elf peace. Others, more la\\-less, bum draft-cards; they refuse to s e n e in the armed forccs of tllc country.

The churchcs of our 1.tncl ioin i l l the eflort to scek pcs;lce. l lany thcrc arc thlt ha\-e passed strong rrsol~~tions ;tg.ri~~st the present eng;igen~ent in \'ietn;ur~. '\nntralIy, the churches join in a day f~:r prayer for Ilcsace.

T l~us il \\.ot~ld appear that iil111os1 all :Irr

urgently scrl;ing pence on tlris co:~rth. Allel one can not I~elp l ~ u t feel t11:rt \vitl~ such pressure to\rarcls the goal of peace, this peace \\*o~~ltl ;~lso soon be est:~blishecl. The tllought also t.nters one's mind that possih!y man is having ;I change of heart. 'I'l~rough all tlie ages tl~cbrc. 11;~s been war ;11lr1 rumor of war. Sow more than ever I I I ~ I I I wants pe;lce - especially in \ic\v of thcs fwt that total war \\odd mean virtual :~nnihilation of this earth.

1-ct for all of his appilrent longirlg for peace, this looks :IS renlote as rvcr. IIis w.rs

c o ~ ~ t i n r ~ r . Crime abo~~r~t l s and rven increiises ye;lr I>y )-ear. Hatrrtl is 1101 removc.(l from tl~cs Ilc>art of man. tie traclres his chiltlrc~l Lo \v;lr. He givc-s to tllcm for their entc-r- tain~nent aU the arniir~ncnts necessary for \tritr - but in toy form. Cluldren gro\v I I ~

ncc~~storncd to the itle;~ of and killi~~g. Is t l~rre a prospect for peace in 19G7P

Scrilll~~rc. declares tli;lt thcre sh:~ll IIC \\-nrs :111(1 rIIInors of nr3rs ;IS ;I sigr~ of the nearncss of t l ~ c - end of time. Thi. only peace on this earth indicated in Script~lre is the peace of thc kingdom of the i~ntichrist. This \\.ill be a short period of pc;rce which will 1x at Llltt s;lrne time the period of great pcrsccu- ti(111 lor thc churcl~.

11 11r11st 1 ~ 3 well ~~ntlcarstood that thrrc aul ncvt-r l ~ c any real peace on this earth anlong men. Even tlle peace of the antichristinn kir~gdom \\.ill be a tinle of great conflict agitinst the church. Tlrc child of God too c;ur ncver pray for ;I peace missing that o ~ ~ c ~assc-~~tinl ingredier~t \vhich didinguishcs ~ c ' i i r ' c ~ from war. Evc.l~ tllct cessntio~~ of ; I ~ I I I ( ~ conflict docs 11111 - ' 3 that peacc is t~tti~ined.

\\'h;~t is p a c e ? For what peace mmt we pray? \\.hat peace can \ve expect ill 1967? fc;rcc, is &st of all ;I relatiouship, a spirit- r1;11 ~.c:lationship, \vitl~ C;ocl Hi~iisclf. At the 11c.irrl of ;111 war, enmity, slrife. lies rel)cl- lion s,c:rinst God I-Iimself. That rebellion I)rg;~n in the garden of Krradise \viren .Ad;rnl disol)e!~ed the good comrn.uld of God. \\'e arcL 110th guilty and corrupt in Adam. \1;1n-

(Contirrr~etl on pr.re I ? )

VS.

by REV.

E R

ROBERT

R O R

C. HARBACH

20. THOUGHTS ON THE DOCTRINE O F ELECTION 16. Its Value. Conclusion

'I'l~e t r ~ ~ t h of c.l(lrLion has very pri~ctical vi~lue in the certiri~rty o f the [rue Christiitn's s;~lvation. It is n folly to attempt I~i~ving i1ssur;lnce of salv;ition not fou~cled on the basis of election. I t mnkes no scnsr to uc- knc>\\;ledge tIi(- ~.ll'c!ct \vhile tl~c. ci~c~sc is tic-r~iccl. No 1r11r iissl1r:Ince c0rnc.s lo the Cllristii~n until lie call believe t l ~ i ~ t the glorificittion of the 1-lcct is so infallil~ly fixrrl in t l ~ eternal puq>osc: of God that it is im- possi1)lr for any of th1.111 to perish. Sor \\fill his fait11 bc firn~ly strengthenrtl u ~ ~ t i l h r bclicves tliat hc I)clongs to t11(: cti1111>;1ny of tl~cs cloct. For 11i1n to tlo so is 1101 prrsump- tion, for the regerti~ri~tc~cl person lras L l ~ c . right to rt>giird himself as ;I r~~cniber of the Iror~se- holcl of faith. For the Spirit rcnrws only those predesti~~atc*tl conformetl to the i111age of Gocl's Son.

'l'hc Apostle l 'a~~l ~ii;~intainecl tl~is 1111sliilk- :~l>lc basis of ilsstll.;tncc when I I ~ . til~~fillt, "\\'horn He ditl ~~rctlcstir~crfc, th(w I lc also cnllcd, alcl \vl.,i.~ I lc called, them I lc also justified, and \vhom 1 .1~ justified, tlic~ii He also glorified (Roti~. 8:30). Begin or1 thitt fot~~dat ion of divine, sovcreigl preclrstina- tion ;und the end, ,qlori/i(:~tiot1, is g ~ ~ i ~ r i ~ ~ ~ t e r d . Ciotl lo\.c.cl tlie elccl \\4tli nn everlasti~~g lo\,r. I'licr~ IIe is For tl~c-rl~, i111d "if God he for us, \\,ho can be against us? \\'llo shi~ll lily any- thing to tlie charge of Cod's elect? \\'ho slni~ll separate 11s from the love of C:lirist?" \ \ ' l~:~t mighty strca:lms flow from this fountain of , lrction! huf ~ l r ; ~ t folly and ellro~~tory to

atte~r~pt choking the strciim! There is no etc.mnl sc,cr~rity of the S I I ~ C ~ except on tlit. foltnclatio~~ of God's decree. The sheep neetl tl~is firrn foundation as they are naturally timid and often beret \\.it11 doubts concern- ing their finill perseverance. They therrforr find grcS;lt conlfort in rliscovcring i r~ tl1'11l- selvrs tllc marks of olrction. Then [hty rejoice i l l the certainty of thcir eternal lifc!

It is thi. apprehension of this t n ~ t h wliiclr enables thc true minister of Christ to hold his spiritr~i~l I>alance, continuing firmly to liis ministr!.'~ cwtl. \\-hat disco~~rllgernents lie meets! I'cw attend a faithful 111inistry of the \\'ortl. \risible fruits arc rare. He is freouentlv warned that if 11r continues . - preachinc: long tlie lines of divine sovcar- eignty he \\ill have no one to preach to. He is tempted to think that t l ~ c seal of Cod's approval is not on his mir~istry, that lle is a coloss;~l fnilr~rc and o ~ ~ g l i t to give 1111. There is c ~ ~ ~ o n g h in liis circ~~rnst;mces to fill hini \\lit11 tlihmay, to tempt him to go along n~ith pop111i1r opinion or to enter a more iucr;~tivr ministry. This is the rocky path all our ministers have trod.

\\'hat th1.11 is it \\,liich revives the droop- ing spirits from all such tcn~ptations? \Vli:~[ keeps n sor\.i~nt of the Lortl sure that he h:~s not clra\vr~ ;I I)o\v at s \,enturc, hut that 111s

is arl ortli~ined instrument ill Cod's hantls to acconiplisl~ IIis eternal p~~rpose? It is his faith in the \\,hole c~iunsel of God. He is corn~nissioned to preach n gcal~rral proclamit- tion of ir pi~rticular gospel, kno\vi~lg that it

is not Cotl's prirpobe that all or even man) he saved. Thc Lord taught EIis ch11rc.11 that His flock is a "very little" one (Lukc 1%32), that there is only "a reinnant accordirig to the election of grace." The disciples were sorne\vhat cnrious as to nhether there are "few that l ~ e savcd." In the Sermon on the l1ou11t IIe stated that rnany wot~ld take Llie Broad \Vay to drstn~ction, I)ut that feu, \voultl courw the Sarro\\f U'ay tl~at leatls to life. The t n ~ e minister kno\vs and uncler- stands &is. 13e lino\vs that some believe because it \vas Goen to the111 in behalf of Christ to believe in Hinl iPllil. 1:299). ant1 that the rest believe not because they are not Christ's shecp (John 10:26). He knows that God is using him and othrr such smfants to gather together in one the cl~il- dren of God scattered abroacl, i r~ f.~ct, to gather togelher in onr all things in he;ivcn and in earth in Christ (John 11:32; Eph. 1:10). It is this purpose of God according to election which al\vays stands that keeps him in perfrct tranrlnility and gariisons his heart and mind.

There is no peace of mind like that ~v l~ ich rest upon the soverei_gnty of God hrings. He who is sure that God's decrees cannot fail, that His eternal counsc:ls must come to pass, and that whatever Cod 11;ls ordained for Him to do must be accoril- pIished, is a triun~phant corlrlueror. Tlicrca may be many atlvrrsiu-ies, appalling ruin all aro~mtl, thonsands falling on his right Iiand, l ~ i s o\\u nvany failures elnpl~asizi~lg his o\rpn \\realmess and inadequacy. Ye1 he is sure that the plan of Cod is being realized as ordained. Me is sure that those ordained to eternal life will belicve, tl~at the sheep $vcn to Christ u111st I)r savcad, and that of their number He should lose not lkg. He is confident of this very thing, that God who began the work of election, salvation 'aucl regeneration, will co~nplele it unto the day of Jesus Christ.

The ministry cllaracterizetl I)y elrctioi~ preaching is perfectly cognizant of the pro~nisc, ">Iy \\Tord . . . shall not re tun^ unto Ale void, but it sl~all accomplish illat which 1 please, and it .slu~ll prosper in the thing \vhereto I sent it" ( Isa. 55:ll ). l ' l~e preached \Vord may not accon~plish t11:lt which the preacher desires, nor prosper as the saints had hoped, but the good pleasure of God shall most certainly be done. If God has ordai~led that t11~ shecp

a ~ ~ d the la~nb\ shall be fed, tlrcn nothing in the world can prevent the giving them the tlue Bread fro111 heaven. \\'lien so many have nothing \\hatever to do with the cl111rc11, the Lorti's scnant\ fiutl comfort \r,l~cre IIc did, in the truth that "all that the Father g~veth Ale sl~crll come to Ale" (Jolm G:37).

"But know that the Lord l ~ a t l ~ set apart hi111 that is godly for himsell; tlie Lord will hear when I call unto him" (1's. 3:3). Spiugeon in his great Treaslr~y of Dac;id \note, " 'But ki~orc.' Fools will not learn, ant1 tllrretore they must again and .again he told the same thing, especially when it is such a bitter truth which is to IIC taught them, viz., the fact that the godly are the cliose~l of God, and are, I I ~ distinguishing gmce, set part and sepruatecl from among men. Election is a doctrine which un- reliewed Inen cannot endurc, but never- theless, is a glorious and well-attested t r ~ ~ t h , and one \I-liich should conlfort the tempted believer. Election is the DSnaran- Lee of complete salvation, and MII argun~ent for success at the throne of grace. He who chose us for EIinlself will surely hear our prayers. The Lord's elect shall not be conclemncd, nor shall their cry I)e ur~heard. I);ivid \\*;IS king by divine dccrc-e, and we are thc Lord's people in the salne manner; let 11s tell our enemies to tl~cir faces that they fight against God iincl destiny, when they strive to overthro\r. our souls" (1'01. I, 38).

In this day of unbelief therc is denial of elver) article of the faith; no s~~rprise then that nlrn deny tlie gospel and election. '1'11c lnoder~iisl denies the gospel. The Ar- r~tillian fund;~nientalist denies election. In that way, he, too, denies the gospel, for therc is 110 gospel apart fro111 clection. A xvorsc enemy we c.m hardly 11;ive than the moclemist. Yrt his denial is 111n1-e open. It is Iikv denying the whole house - all its strucLure. The h n i n i a d s deni;ll is a denial of the foundation. For rlectiorl is l~asic; thc gospel is fountlccl tht~reo11. Suc- ccssf~~lly deny the gospctl ancl man is ruined; hut so deny election and God is mined. His soverei~wty is denied. His \\.ill to tlo what He pleases \\,it11 His oxsn is dcnied. 1)enied is Iris govcmmcnt, I-Iis right to punish evildoers. Denial of elec- tion, in cgect, forces God to ~i~~iversalism arid tlic salvation of all Inen. He not only

BEACON LIGHTS

~nttst save them, but rlo tl~eir will, not His will. He is governecl Ily I I I ~ . overriding principle of tlrcir will. 1'111*y rlln the LII& verse, not He. The dcnii~l of rlection in cxft'cct I~reaks down tlic 1x1 lw:~rks of heaven, the walls of salvation, cracks the founda- tions of Cod's kingdom, splits 1 lis tl~rone, c n ~ n ~ l ~ l e s His sccptre and 1111rls them all to the ground in s~nithrrcens, while the violent godless trample Gotl prostriite under their detestable frcat. Deny c-lrsction and God is a "God" with Ilis I~tu~ds tied; that is, He is no Cod. Election is I~;~sccl on the i~ttributcs of God. on IIis il~fil~ity, ctc-mity, immutaliility, indcl)c.ndcnc.y, wistlo~n, holi- ness, j~~stice. gootl~less, trt~lh ancl love. Ilenial of election, Illell, is tlc~ri;~l of all His attributes. It is i~tllcbistic. I t robs Cod of His Goclhoocl. Put aside clc~ction and tht. qnestion is, "Ho\\. man stl;~ll handle God." But \\;it11 rlection the cllrestion is, "IIo\v God sllall handle mall." .A Cod without election is a Cod witllout ornnip- otence. Election honors Cotl, saves His justice and manifests His ctc.rnal power itnd Codhead.

The spirit of the gospel I~onors rlcction. Thc spirit of tht* gospel 1>11t\: 11s tlo\vn in the dust of Gocl's footstool. 'I'l~isrc man in L11i1t spirit Ic:~n~s to cry, " I 1 Ilc slay me, it wo11lr1 1)c just. I am of I IO i ~ c c o ~ ~ n t , nor is thc whole human r;lcca of :111y account any-

how - merely the s~n;~ l l dust of the balance. Yet tho~~gli I l r slay rnc,, still I will trust Him." 'fllis is no fatalism. flc knows his election (I Thcs. 1:4), yet hc esnmines 11i1n- self with, "Do 1 trust in the I,ord? Do I ha\-e faith in Ilis blood, the faith of Cod's elect? Do I secsk salvation by grace only? Do I see morc poiver in the blood of Chribt to s x e me, than evil in all my sins to d a n n me? I)o 1 hrlong to IIim? Do I hate sin and love rigl~tcousness? Do I live and wall; in the light? Then I a m elect!" The gospel does this for a mall becr~use rlection is the very ctn~tcnt of the gospel. \\'it11 election remo\:ctl t l ~ c gospel becomes a species of hrt~nilr~isn~. Elc.ction puts first things first. It 1)uls (;otl first becn~~sr it puts Christ first. It p ~ ~ t s Christ first, for not election but CIlrist is first. It leads to despair of self (a 1nai11 strp to true happiness) arltl trust in Cl~rist ; ~ l o ~ ~ e . He Himself saw all things in the light of election. "I thank Thee, 0 Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because 711011 hast hid these tlhgs from the \vise and the pr~~tlcnt and h a t re\:ealed them unto bal)c?s. I<\fen so, Father. for so it wernd good in T l ~ y sight." \\'hen any are saved and n~~lnl)ercd nmong the elect, the \{?hole of 1leavc.n sings, "C;r;lce be unto God for Iiis ~rnspe;lknhlc- gift!" \Vhm the rep- robate go lost, tIlc \\,l~ole of ht.a\.cn sings, "Holy! holy! holy!"

CRITIQUE AGATHA LUBBERS

PROTESTANT REFORMED CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION (V)

The Reformed Christian particularly trtle for the person \\rho lives in the complexities of the twentieth century. I t

School's Distinctiveness is e\?en diffic~~lt for the bnsy teacher to be The Protestnnt Reformrtl Chrixti,~n School continuously on top of the nc\v develop-

is an extension of he I ~ o ~ n r . Thcrc- are ments in our age of mechalization and certain task5 for \vhicl~ the 110111c: does not techr1olo~3r as they affcct the instructional have the tilne 1101 the fitcilili~~s. This is program.

BEACON LIGHTS Niru*

Stutlents fro111 our Protesttint Reformed Christii~n families must some clay take a pl;lcc in the workadi~y world il the Lord tlocs not come. Tht-y must be cclr~ipl~ecl with errtitit1 skills i~nci 1111lst be knowlrdge- able cotlccrl~ing the \vorlil in whicll they livc. Economic necessiw \\ill demand that they kno\\,.

\\'llrn one s;iys that the Protestant Hc- formet1 Cllristian School is an estcnsion of the honlc. one n111st also enlpl~asizc the fact that it is an cxtrnsiorl of the home with clelegatcd authority nncl with assigned t;uks. Tlte tiisks \vl~ich the school should perfornl are only those things which the parent. are incapable of performing. Too ohen the school becomes the "catch-all" type of in- stitutio~t \vhich must (Ira\\. together all ~nictter of loose ends.

Pern~it Ille to use one illustratioll to make cle;tr my point. Ideally the whole probleln of body hygiene- and the tracing of physical disabilitirs is thr responsihility of the home. The scl~ool's major respotlsihility is to be cortcer~lctl with the intellectual tri~ining or' thc strttlcnt. Thr school, howe\~er, ca~lrlot nclec~rrati~ly pcrfor~n its task ~~nless tlre slit- dent is hr;llthy and possesses all t l ~ r physiall pntcntialities \vhicll will make pos- sil)lt. his purst~its in tile urtellectiral :IreIra. 111 ordrr to trace these lurkillg deficiencies it is oftc.11 necessary for the school to assist tllc parent in tlie location of potential ~11d actual physicul impediments or disabilities.

The 1'rotcst;mt Hcfornled Christii~n Scl~ool is instit~~tctl by the parent and is comnlittctl to the irlstnlctiorl of covellar~t yo11111 in the "cl~lt~lre" of this \\vorld. This is not "c~~lt~lre" in the ultimate sense of the \vortl. Cl~l t r~rr tnlly under3tood \\,ill only he tlr\~cloped in heaven where moth alitl rust doth not c o m ~ p t ant1 where thieves clo not hrc;tk through nor steal. But the ac- compli~lln~ents of men, Cod's creatures, sin- frtl crc.;itrlrcbs, dcp~~iverl crcatnrcs, having only glirnnlerings of ~~a tur id light are ne\.er- theless busy in the world \vhieh God has crt.atrtl. They take all things and use thrse thing\ to senrca the creaturr and do rlot glorify the Creator of hea\.en and earth. It is. ne\~crtl~eless, 3 fact that they disco\.cr and say many things \vhich arc f;~ctually tme. There is a fonn.11 ct~rrectness in whal they say and clisco\~rr even thoudl the ultirnate rcnasons :ire spirihlnlly and ethically corntpt. The chilil of Cod is in t l ~ e position, how-

ever, whcre he must use ~ n u c l ~ tl111I 110s I ~ e r ~ l tlisco\~t~rcd by cleprnverl, wickc!cl I I I ~ ~ I I . This is tli' c111ti.tre of the worltl to wl~ich we refer.

In the 7'estirrircrtt of Visit~rt, 1). 96-98, tl. Zylstr;~, lJh.ll., writes rwncc~nlirlg the tilsk and quality of cciuci~tion. f lo give-s ;I reason for illcluding in the cr~rric~llr~~tl tllc. s~lbjccts which are there.

"Our schools n111st I)c scl~ools. They mclst subject thc Christiilt~ stutlent to as t l~oro~lg l~ a tlisciplirlr as Ilc is cap- able of in the niltrlr;ll, c~~l t t~rn l , his- torical, ant1 spirit~liil lifr of man. It is as I~ttrnal~ bei~tgs that \vc ;arc Christians. All t l~at is 11uma11 concerns us. That gets us illto all tllc s~ll)jccts of the cur- ricrllum. It involves 11s i l l the whole of reality."

?'11t* Protestant Ileformed C11risti;ln School is an institution \vhic11 assists in t11e training and tltorough fitrnishment of t l ~ c m;ln of Ciod to do every good work (I1 'I'itnotlly 3:17). It is not a rene\v;ll agency. It is :In institu- tion \vhich is dcdiciltc~d to thr tilsk of in- structitlg I)rinciply renc\vctl crc.;~l~lrc~s. Crctn- tures they are \vho have I>ei!n tlt.tlicated unto thc high cnlliny of tlie schrvicc of God. Crc>irtures they arc \vllo li;~vr I)ccs~r l);~ptizccl ill t l ~ e rinmcs of the. I';itl~t*r, tlrt : S ~ I I , :lntl tllc I~loly Cllost. .A bi~plisnl it \\?as wl~icll scalcrl ~ncl sigtlifietl tllv \vasl~i~lg it1 Cllrist Jt.slls.

Protrst;~nt 13eformetl Cllristi;~rl Schools rn11s1 ilo more than makc it possil~lr for thc individual when he has complc.lt~tl the course of strldy to make plenty of Inotlcy. Ciood pay is not the incentive for str~tly nor for the instructional program. I f tllis is the moth-e for the in\tnlctional program it ogcratc.s i r i tlte service of the u~lrightrorls nialnnlou and does not make frienils using the nlatilmorr of unrighteo~lsness (I,uke 10:9).

1V. The School's Accomplishment of Its Task

In order for the scl~ool to ;~cco~nl)lisll the task clelegated to her s l ~ c must Ilr staffed \\it11 a f;~culty of Christian tencl~ers. Br- cause the school to \\-liicll \vc rrfcr is a specifically :mtl distinctively lieformet1 Cllristiar~ School that teacher must not only be a professor of Cl~ristiiunily-the Re- formed brand of Christianity es tlcvelopetl in the Protestant Reformed conlm~rnity of bc- lirvers but he niust also be n co~rl'cssor. The confessional a t t i t~~dc of tllc, instrrtctor is of lttmost import:lnce.

'I'he Christian instn~ctor 1n11st I)e a\vare

BEACON LIGHTS

of the s t ruc t~~r t~ \vllich servrs as th(. l);~sis for irwtrllctiolr in the Christiii~l scllool. This stmcture is tl~;tt of: I,ove, ;~utl Obe- dience.

Love is the basic element in the strl~clure of the Christian instructional systcn~. The love \\-c refer to is that gift of Cot1 tvhich he implants in the heart of his l~eo l~ le which only he ciui give: hrcause hc a l o ~ ~ r is ; ~ l ~ l e to love. Thr lo\fc. wr rcfer to is t l~at lovc which God iiianifcstc~l ill tl~r sending of 11is son to save the \vorld (cosmos) so that ;III t l~at arc called accortling to the principltn of gritce are savetl. 'Tl~is love must be an intrinsic structural elcmcnt so that thc scl~ool can a~rornplish hcr task.

Faith is ;inother of the basic elenicnts in the structure of thc Christian instructional system. Fail11 is that spiritual gift \vI~creby the Cllristiiu~ is I I I I ~ I ~ ~ t~ Clirist. ' 1 ' 1 1 ~ lov(f life of Christ can only flow into t l ~ c Chris- tian if hr throl~gh faith is ullitcstl t c ~ him. Faith in contratlistinction to aU ri~tion;~lism, instrun~enta~ism, csistentialisni, crnl)iricism, prapuitisrn, or scholasticism is thc funda- mental uosition of the Christian.

Obedience, :I word \vhic11 ne\.r,r occurred in the classicitl Cileck, is tundirnlc~~~tal to the instructionc~l progrnln ailtl for ~ I I ( . hclrool to carry out it5 program. 'l'his nrcsalls Illat cvery particip;~nt in the instructiollal progra~n rnr~st be obcdirnt to Cod and to his Christ. This obeclience will bc inclicated io thc I);isic at- titude of tlic teacher and will be (letcarmined by his s11bservic.11cr to the \\Tort1 of Cod. Obedience implies that tllerc arc those \\,I10 are set in :iuthority. \Vithoul :1111hority the instructor is not i l l :I position Lo instr~lct. He cannot be constr~~ctivc if he rlocs I I O I II;I\T the itutliority n.llicll based upon tlie cternnl principle of ol,eclience \vhich is rootctl in faith and love for Cod who scnt his Son, the eternally oheclient one.

This implies that the learning process in the Protestant Hcformed Cbristi;u~ School is distincti\,c. It is not regulatctl 11y tlem- ocratic pri~~ciples (Dewc.yisn1) nor a~~tocratic principles (ilia h~lnchiavelli) l ~ u t is tleter- mined by tltc rcgrrlo fitiei (Ole r ~ ~ l r s of faith). Pistological principles are basic to t l ~ c ctntire instn~ctional prograln. Certainly in a formal sense of the word the Christian learns no differently the basic facts concerning crea- tion. Tlir processes whereby he lei~rns these things ;Ire no tliffcrent because he is I I I I I I I ~ ~ like all otl~er Incn but the letlr~~ing process

as an activity of faith is distinctivc. All learning is regul~rtcd by the principlc.s of love for Cod ;mtl His \\lord; faith in Cod aod His \\'ortl; ;u~d obedience to God itnd His \\'ord.

This also implies that the school i~c- complisl~rs her task by means of a unique medium. The \vorld becomes the textbook oE the Christian. The \w.orld is not the tcst- book of tlie Cl~ris t i~~n, ho\\re\.er, in t l ~ c sirlne \tray that i t is tlie te.stbook for t11c. non- Christian. I le too studies all of creatio~~ 1 ~ 1 t does not use tlic \\'ord of God as the fund;^- ~nental medil~nl of interpretation. Bec;u~sc the Christinn sees dl things in the light of the \Vord of Cod he sees all things in the light of sal\fittion and redemption. The Christian sees not a bettering of this \vorld but the conling of ;I new lieavens and :I newv earth \vhere t111. liol~ and the lar1111 sl~all l i r a tlo\\*n togctller and \\.here the cl~iltl shi~ll play on the hole of the a.sp. He sees a \\~orltl lost ul sin but saved in Christ for all those who have I~een elected unto life eternal.

Christian instruction does not simply 11;tp-

pen. It requires diligence and work. ?'he teacher milst itlso not be indepentlrnt but must be instant in prityer and in s~~pplicntion to God. Only i l l this way can Chrislii~l~ in- s-tmc%iou lake pli>cc in the class roo^^^. 011ly where God is sought and only \\*11c1l con- stant supplicc~tion and era>-ers ascend to the throne of God can reall>- distinctively lie- formed Christian instruction take pl;~ce.

BOOK REVIEW Congo Crisis

by JOSEPI? '1'. ~%AYI.Y. Publisl~ecl h)- %antler- van Pul)lisl~ing Company, Grand IZ;~pitls, Slichigan. 224 pages. Price 53.95.

On the titlc page of the book is \\,rittm: "Charles ant1 Muriel Davis relix-e an car:c of missions during the weeks of imprisonmellt in Stnnley\.illr, Africa." zUthough the I~ook makes mention of several other inissioni~rirs and Congolrse Christians, it centers n~ost of its attention on the experiences of tl~r. Daalis' family. 'Thc death of Dr. Pat11 Ciirl- son is also treated in great detail because Chuck Davis accompanied Dr. Carlson until t l ~ e moment of death.

The author is at great pains to tlemon- strate historically that the Congolese Simba rebellion \\-;IS in many respects the f.~r~lt of

BEACON LIGHTS Eleven

the white man, specifically, the early Eu- ropean slave traders and the Belgian entre- pmuers. In the chapter "Leopold's Ghost" one reads: "'Black Ivory' becanle the Con- go's most valuable comlodity. 1ntertril)al warfare ceased to be merely a competition for local dominance: it became the n~elu:s of securing prisoners for s'de to white traders in exchange for nlrn and trinkets. \\'.~r parties often set fire to villages at night. capturing the xillagers as they sought to cscapc the flames" (page 31). Historically the book is lucid anrl accuratr.

To read of the experiences tl~at Llresr missionaries and the Congolese Christians suffered is good for tile soul of any Chris- tian. The Congo Crisis points to a bigger crisis that Christians, not only in Africa, but all over the world will face in the not-tou- di~tant fiiturc. Rcatl this t~ook, yo1111p people, \\-ith discretion; and takc tcl llrart the best it lvas to offer.

1). 11.

FROM THE PASTOR'S STUDY (Continried jrorn page 6)

kind stands as rcbcls against the L.i\,ing God. If true peace is to exist, tli;~l re11el- lion must first be removecl. \Ve reatl i l l

nonians 5:1, 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace nith Gocl. . . ." So, peace is truly possible- but only by wily of justification by faith. 011r sills I I I I I S L I)[- taken away. \\'e must be decliired to be holy ant1 r ig l~ teo~~s before the Ian. ol' onr Cod. Then, and then ordy, does orle have peace. That same wray of tme peacr. is set forth i r ~ Col. I:", "And you, ~liat were so~netinle alienated aucl eneinies in your ~ r ~ l r i by wicked \\,arks, yet no\\! hath he reco~~ciled." True peace can only be the restoring of that perfect relatio~rsl~il) of fellon.ship and communion \vitlr Gorl.

It is true that such peace is impossible for us of otuselvcs. It is not of man to c:stal~lish peace. His United Kations can nc!vcr x:- complish this. He can not provide beforc Cod that \i.hich is reqnired to mnke tliis peace. Christ alone does this. Arcorcling to Romiins .5:l, peace with Gocl is throtrgl~ orrr Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 10 of Lhc same chapter we read that "mhen \ve were enemies, we \<-ere reconciled to God 11y he

death of His Son . . ." Peace must be established through the shed blood of the Lamb of God. The Son of God in the flesh only can provide such pn)mcnt required to satisfy the justice of Cod. Any "peace" separated from that cross, is not peace at ail. Thr most one could say of st~cll "peace" is that it is a devilish irllitatio~~ of tlle real thing.

\\'hen sucl~ peace is established in the hearts of tlle saints, they in tltm also seek peace one with another. The church con- tinues to proclaim God's \\'ortl that this pc:lce rrlay also be instilled within the hearts of all tllose wllom God has eternally chosen in Clirist. There is fellowship and corn- ml~nion and love and grace seen within the gi~tl~ering of those who enjoy tnic peace. 'I'hey fear no inore the just wr;~th of God; and they walk not in envy ant1 hatred any more against the- neighbor. Peace then exists principally within the church. That peace we know \\ill continue in 1967. 'I'l~e Jvicked \vorld can never enjoy that peace. And the peace \\,hicl~ the \vorld now seeks, a peace apart from Christ, must also he cor~den~rled ns 111~1 proper \\fork of the devil.

That peace for 1967 shoulcl be cause for co~nfort to us. \ire do not know \vllat Iies 1)rfore 11s in this yenr. Thcrr i~ every in- dication that wars will c o n h u e tbrougl~ another yenr. Certainly crime will not cease. Robbcry :lnd n111rder \\,ill continue. And the situation of the church appcnrs c3ver Illore precarious. The more this worlcl succeeds in establishing the "peace" of tlle antichris- tian kingdor~~, the more the c h ~ ~ r c l ~ can ex- pect oppression and persecution. \Ve can expect tl~iit a \vorldly "peace" nill have w~ch conseciucncts for d ~ e church.

\\'auld \ve not h e n fear? \l-r,uld not much concern be expressed for you, young people? Call you stand when the \\;orlrl does finally estal)lish h a t "peace" it wants? Will tlle clii~rch endure to the erid?

It sllall. Because of that pe,lce tiqhicl: is ours tl~rougl~ the cross of Jesus Christ \\,c have thc perfect assurance thut mhatever befalls, o ~ ~ r peace can not Ile taken aw:ly f ron~ 11s. \fan may destroy onr body, but he can not destroy that spiritual life in us. IVllen Christ establishes His peace in the hearts of His people, all wars, persecutions, ancl death itself can not destroy our peace. \Ve ;ire reconciled wit11 God ~ l~rough Jesos

BEACON LIGHTS

Christ our Lord. I-loltl fast to that glorious peace t l~ ro l~gl~ 1961. Kor 111. afraitl.

Ar~tl pray for peace. Pray that this spirit- 1 1 ~ ~ 1 peace may conl in~~e to d\vell withir~ 11s - as Cod 11;~s promised it sh:11I. Ant1 pray that this peace may soon be revealed to us in all of its glory at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

CURRENT EVENTS (Co~~til~ctecl tro171 pcrge 5)

~nini-skirts and hip-lluggers. But where are these rnodcrn fashions forrned? Oi course

tile ans\vtrr is that it is the mork of the world. The \.erse I quoted statrs, "He ye not confoniied to this world, but b- yc trmsformed by the rene\\.ing of your mild." It commancls us to separate from the \vorlcl: not by becoming hc~mits in a woods far north, but srgcri~ti~rg in the sense that wc* as Christiar:~ should be able to let the \vorlcl h o \ v that \ve are diflererrt both by onr tlrcss and by our \valk.

HELPS FOR BIBLE STUDY ON THE

REV. HERMAN VELDMAN

Epistle of JAMES

IV. Verses 12-13.

1. 111 these vrrsrs James mritcs his conclusion of the verses 1-11.

2. l~rstcacl of respecting persons, catering to the rich ;~ncl oppressing tllc poor, \tre must ape:tk and do as they \\hat shall l>c judged by the law of liberty. This must determine iuncl control all our con- duct.

il. \fercy rejoices cigc~i~r~f jur/gr~re~~t. 1. Certaiu erroneous views.

a. Sonle seek in these words rc contrast bchveen the churcl~ it11~1 the world. 1) Tllc nrorld is ~mmercihl.

Thcrc is no rcgard in the \vorld for tile poor and miserable. 'I'o be sure, t l~ey Lr) to help tlic111. But, povcrty ant1 misery rr111:t be blollrd ~ I I L . 'l'hc- worlcI has itr Incrcy killirrgb. The Hth beatit~lde is uttrr folly. The \\orld call nevcr really say: Blcsaecl are the poor. rlrerc. is in poverty and misery no blessedness.

2) 13ut the church is rnrrcifal. 'rllere judgment has givcn way to mercy.

3) This interpretation is wrong. Jamcs is ob\-iously specking here of conditions within the church.

b. Otllers see in tllese vcrses a general rule \vluch shoultl iii-

ways govern us. I) Jlcrcy should alrvays tri-

umph over jud~mlent. \Ve must always forgive, l e ~ bygonnes be bygom~es. Wc are a l l sinners. Lct us be lenient, always be reacly io forget.

3) This reasoning. too, is ut- terly falliicious. Indeecl, \rr. must be lenient, always l ~ e ready to forgive. \Ve inust 1oi.e our cnemies (not God s enemies)-see llatt. 5:M-48. But \re nlay rlever forgive \vithout confession. Nevcr does Scripture tcacll that there is mercy \vitlrout judg- ment.

(To be coriclnded, D.V.)

BEACON LIGHTS

from, for, and about our churches GEORGIA HENDRICKS

GENERAL On Dec. 11 the 1-oung people sponsored a

tiolitlay Singspiration in tlle First Chr~rch. 'I'hc Annual Christmas Bazi~nr . I I I C ~ Cotfre

\\,as held on Nov. 16 at lllc Atl;ullb St. Chr. School.

On Sov. 13 Slr. H. Zwak sllo\ved pictures of J.lmaica in thc Church in Iiollancl.

On Dee. 19 the consistory of our Dootl church sponsored a public lecture. i'rof. Hern~nn H a ~ ~ k o spoke on "Creation vs. Eva- lution."

011 Dcc. 18 the Choral Society reliclererl a C l ~ r i s t ~ ~ ~ ; ~ s Program in our I-lull Cli~~rch.

011 Jan. 1 the Hope Cllorill Society helcl their ;tn~lual CMshnas 1'rogr;1111 in our Hope Church and the Hudsouvillc Choral Society held thcir on Dec. 13.

..\ Food Shov-er was lleld in d ~ e First Church for the s e m i n a ~ stt~tlcnts.

SERVICEMEN nobcrt Slantal left for four \\,c.e!is of tr;~in-

ing at the Great Lakes Center in Illinois.

BIRTHDAYS .\lrs. \\'. Sienhuis (First) cclebratctl her

92nd birthday on Dec. 11. .\lrs. \\'n~. .\lastenbrook celebrated her

Sot11 birthday on Dec. 14 (First).

CALLS Hcv. Lanting has acceptccl t11(~ c.all fro111

our chr~rch iu Edgerton. I~~sl;~ll;~iion Scrv- ices \\.ere held on Dec. 9.

Rev. I). Engelsma has reccivecl a call fro111 our churcl~ in Hull.

Re\.. Ileys dcclined the c;~ll from our church in Randolph.

011r church in Holland hi~s estcnclcd a c;Jl to Re\-. C. Hanko.

BIRTHS ..\ son \\,as born to Mr. ar~cl hlrs. F. Hanko

(I7irst). A son \\?as born to hlr. all11 \ I n . \\'.

Lanninp. h d;~ugl~tcr \\,as born to 111.. i111d .\In.

J;tnlc*s Uykstrit (First). A so11 \i.;is born to .\lr. ;lnd Slrs. R.

Scl1ippc.r (First). ..\ son \\.:IS born to Mr. ilrld IIrs. D. Ha&

(First).

MEMBERSHIP TIIC, ~~lcmbership papers of lliss Hclda

13. .\It.clken were transferred from our Hope Ch11rcI1 in California to our First Church.

011 Sov. 17 lliss Inna Vcltrn:~n made con- fession of her faith (Redla~~ds).

W E D D I N G BELLS Xlr. I larve); Holstege ;uncl l,lorilyn On-

drrb~n;~ \vc:rc llnitcd in nli~rrii~gc, on Nov. 11. 011 Ucc. 16 La Jean Klcin i ~ ~ l t l I-lo\\.ard

Bo~leslroo \\?ere united in ~narriagc. 011 So\.. 18 Cynthia Di11grn;ln and Dale

B;lrtclds \\,ere united in rnarri~~gc.

SICK Alrs. It. DeVries h;is been hospiti~lized

nutl II(I\\, rcsleased again (First).

Xliss I'at \'ande I'egte (Iic~tlliunds) was confinctl to Ilcr hornc with a strc.1) infection.

\ITS. J. \'ander \\'all is c o ~ n i ~ ~ g aloug h e (Redlnnds).

l l r . S. \'rltman (First) continues in a sti~tr of t~r~co~~scioi~ness .

Sirs. 11. Nieu\i.e&out (l.'irst) is tloing fine.

BEACON LIGHTS