A PORTION FOR ALL

(No. 49)

Grand Rapids, Michigan

May 4, 1948

Beloved Congregation:

THE times in which we now live are notable for the great apostasy from God and his Word. It seems as though everything is returning more and more to paganism. In general, truth has no value anymore, and the man of sin is revealing himself.

Prom men of rank down to the common people; and from the authorities down to the subjects, it is evident that the Word of God is no longer regarded and His laws and institutions are trodden under foot. Besides that, what a great decline there is from the truth among those who profess it outwardly, and what little efficacy does the Word of God exert upon the consciences of the children of men!

God’s true people are covered as it were with a mourning-shroud, due to their living so distant from God and to their conformity to the world. No, the blame must not be shifted upon others, but we have sinned and done that which is evil in the eyes of the Lord. The declension is so great in our hearts and homos, among parents and children, and in the church among the office bearers and members, that we can hardly distinguish between what is sin and what is not sin due to the great darkness which prevails. O let us not palliate our guilt, but honestly and uprightly confess it. O that we were all tears to sincerely bewail and bemoan the evils of our hearts, homes and congregations.

Where is the actual life of fellowship with the Lord to be found in our day? The number of those who have not defiled their garments as is spoken of in the Scriptures of Truth concerning those of Sardis is exceeding small. Let us duly consider that the fear of God only is a restraint against sin. There are in the Scriptures a sufficient number of examples which teach us that not grace but the fear of God preserves against the evil of sin.

Of course we recognize the fact that in our present day life there is so many problems for which it is difficult to find a solution. There are also great problems in our social life which are brought about by government interference and social organizations which are steadily increasing in scope and increasingly demanding more latitude. How many different forms of insurance have already come into existence which virtually have nothing else in view than to have man escape God’s providential dispensations with respect to the future.

Years ago in a certain church periodical in The Netherlands several objections were enumerated against the various kinds of insurance such as life, fire, harvest, livestock and traveling insurance, etc. etc. (ad infinitum).

The following is a quotation from this paper from which everyone may judge for himself.

“It is a fruit of the spirit of the age or the spirit which is not from God

It is a manifestation of materialism and built upon probability calculations.

It is based upon the theories of chance and of fortune.

It belongs properly to Atheism and is closely akin to Deism.

It is fatal to the organic unity of society considered as a body.

It provides for society a mechanical unity to make up the loss of organic unity.

In this manner it nurtures the spirit of Socialism, Communism and Nihilism.

It is a caricature of the fulfilment of the law of Christ: ‘Bear ye one another’s burdens’.

It attempts to heal wounds without showing compassion, pity, mercy or love.

Every form of worldly insurance ridicules the doctrine of the providence of God. Each is supposedly a safeguard against God’s visiting or chastising hand. In fact these several kinds of insurance and protections induce man to become obdurate against the rod which God appoints.

It has a mortifying effect upon the lively faith of a christian.

It benumbs the sense of our entire dependence upon God.

It destroys the tenderness of conscience which is a fruit of the true fear of God.

It deprives brotherly love of the opportunity to exercise charity and liberality.

It gives rise to abuses and bad practices in society, not by accident or exception and not in spite of the system of insurance, but as natural consequences of the system itself. It does not lessen the danger of fire but increases it by fostering indifference, recklessness and the lust for gain. Therefore from a moral standpoint it is reprehensible.

From the standpoint of faith it is condemnable and indefensible.

For the christian it is unlawful and it is unworthy of him.”

I shall let this suffice for the time being, hoping that everyone who has come to years of discretion may read this letter seriously.

There is only one form of insurance which is worthy of recommendation, in fact, necessary for everyone to have an acquaintance with on his journey to the great eternity. This is spoken of in Rom. 8:38, 39. 0 that we might be concerned about this above all else.

Your well-wishing minister,

(No. 50)

Grand Rapids, Michigan

May 11, 1948

Beloved Congregation:

In my last letter or two I showed what insurance really is and what is connected with it. I hope that it has not been like a voice in the wilderness but that it may bring us all to serious reflection. A true, childlike, humble and believing trust in the Lord God must be wrought in our hearts by the Spirit of God. However orthodox our confession may be, such confession alone will leave us strangers to that reliance and trust in God which is known and exercised by those who fear the Lord. Let us always remember that faith is a gift of God and that no one can receive anything except it be given from above.

The religion of our day makes an easy matter of it. Faith is the common possession of all and doubting is a thing no longer possible according to the manner in which they reveal themselves. But while their mouths are overflowing with words of faith and trust in God, their cabinets are equally full of all kinds of insurance policies. Such faith is vain and without meaning; in fact, fundamentally it is direct conflict with God’s Word and can be placed in the same category with idolatry. See Lord’s Day 34, Q. 94.

It goes without saying that, although we have received the principle of true, saving faith, nevertheless our hearts are by nature full of trust in everything outside of God. If God, by His Spirit, discovers to us all the idolatry which we are guilty of, it will cause us to hang our heads in shame. It is necessary again and again that the Spirit of God, as the Spirit of burning, purge us of all those things in which we seek to place our trust. It is as true as always what a God-fearing poet once sang:

“Our God is unsurpass’d,
But we keep him till the last.”

Surely then, a person who has once learned to know himself will not look down upon his fellow man in disdain. Peter, who had learned such a weighty lesson in this respect, wrote in his epistle: “Be clothed with humility: for God re-sisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” How careful we should be in judging others! O that the fear of God might possess our hearts at all times and also adorn our lives so that God’s name may never be blasphemed on our account, but rather glorified. Even though we possess grace, we are open to all manner of evil and always stand in need of God’s protection, also in this respect that we do not turn to the God of Ekron but place our trust in the living God and surrender our lives to His Word. He has promised: Thy bread shall be certain and thy water shall be sure.

Now the wise Preacher has said: “Fear God,— for this is the whole duty of man”. It is remarkable that he makes no distinction between converted and unconverted. Although we have fallen ever so deeply, we are and remain God’s creatures who are responsible for all our works. If the truth under which we live still makes some impression upon our consciences, it serves as a bulwark against sin. Of course, without regeneration no one will see the kingdom of God; nevertheless it is to be considered a privilege if a person is kept from going along with the stream. God’s Word is suitable for all ages and it exercises authority in every sphere of life. One may expect a blessing in external things if one may bow, by virtue of a conscience conviction, before the majesty of God’s testimony. Think only of the children of Israel. They were not all converted persons—far from it. Nevertheless, when they were faithful, externally, to God’s ordinances it went well with them. If they departed from the Lord and worshipped idols, God visited them with the rod and with bitter adversities.

Alas, the great defection of the times, the affinity of the church with the world, and the following of practices which are in conflict with God’s Word and Law, are a result of the fact that truth is fallen in the streets and that obduracy under the truth is becoming more and more universal. O that the Lord might have compassion upon this poor generation. If we do not return to the law and to the Testimony, there will be no prospect of deliverance for us. Even among those of whom we might expect better things the defection is very great. There are, among those who are considered to belong to God’s people, some who place government above the church in many cases. They prefer to be supported by the government rather than to make use of the means and ordinances which have been instituted directly by God.

I remember reading a few days ago in one of the periodicals of the Christian Ref. Church: “Our Deacons need enlightening. It is inexcusable that the institution of charity in many churches is asleep and that the spiritual influence of the Deaconry is as good as gone. That is an important point.” This was written in connection with the need of the times and in connection with government support (of the poor). I thought it would be profitable to quote these lines in order that they might cause us to realize what the conditions are in general.

Great darkness prevails over the church of God and there is much darkness in the hearts of God’s people, but there is cause for it. Let each examine himself. When God’s people are enjoying their first love everything is sin and the heart is very tender. Now, however, there is a confusion of tongues like there was formerly at the Tower of Babel. My God bring us to our right place to live in conformity with His Word and Law. These are difficult times indeed and serious times are in prospect, especially for God’s Church. It is in-cumbant upon us that we live according to our confession but that is impossible without true grace.

May God sanctify these words to our understandings and hearts that they may became an eternal blessing for us. May God by His Spirit direct our ways according to His testimony and grant us grace in order that we may trust in Him alone for time and eternity.

Again, hearty greetings to all,

Your well-wishing minister,

Rev. W. C. Lamain

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