CHURCH NEWS

Calls Extended:

To Rev. A.W. Verhoef, of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, by the Werkendam, the Netherlands, Congregation.

To Rev. M. Mondria, of Waardenburg, the Netherlands, by the Clifton, New Jersey, Congregation.

To Rev. D. Hakkenberg, of Lisse, the Netherlands, by the Sunnyside, Washington, Congregation.

To Rev. W.C. Lamain, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, by the Genemuiden, the Netherlands, Congregation.

Calls Declined:

To the Norwich, Ontario, Canada, Congregation, by Rev. A.B. VanDenHeiden of Enkhuizen, the Netherlands.

YOUTH DAY CONFERENCE—CLASSIS WEST

This year the Youth Conference of Classis West will be held, the Lord willing, on Saturday, August 15, in the gym of the Netherlands Reformed Christian School at Rock Valley. This conference is sponsored by the Sioux Center church and will be conducted by its moderator, Rev. Vergunst. It will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 4:30. A picnic supper will follow the conference. We encourage as many youths as possible to attend.

Arrangements for accomodations should be made by calling the school at 712-476-2821.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

At the Youth Day held in Grand Rapids last year, many questions remained unanswered because of lack of time. It was promised that these would be answered in the Banner of Truth. There were.different circumstances which caused a delay, but we will now try to give our answers to these questions.

Q. When a free-will believer accepts Christ as his personal Saviour, they often speak of experiencing a flood of joy, comfort and love. Where does this feeling come from?

A. We know that God’s Word speaks clearly about a hearer who “receives the seed into stony places”! You can read it in the parable of the Sower. This hearer is an example of a person who has a temporary faith. Such persons are very emotional. They receive the word with “joy”. However, this faith does not have a root in the heart of the believer; it is nothing but a superficial feeling. It can make a great impression when we hear such persons speaking, but in Hebrews 6 we can read where it ends. In this temporary faith there are impressions of the Word, but the main thing is lacking, namely, the true repentance of the heart. That is the “root of the matter”, as was found in Job (Job 29:28).

Q. I am only a baptized member of this church, but I was wondering about the dress clothes this church puts so much emphasis upon wearing. I realize that it is a church and a house of God, but some of us don’t have any good clothes. Should we just not come to church then? Also, my girlfriend doesn’t have a hat, and does not like to come to church with me because of the dirty looks she gets from some of the older women. I really don’t blame her. But what should I do? Should I get her a hat or should the women quit looking down on her for not having a hat? Personally I can’t afford to buy her a hat—and she doesn’t really want to go to church anyway. When I do talk her into it, I don’t like her feeling that she does not belong.

A. As an answer I wish to make the following remarks:

1. God’s Word teaches very clearly that the way wherein a person clothes himself or herself is not an indifferent matter. The children of Jacob apparently were wearing garments which they should not wear, as we can read in Genesis 35:2. They had taken over certain customs of the Gentiles. Further, the Lord has forbidden a woman to wear a man’s garment and a man to wear a woman’s garment. See Deuteronomy 22:5. This is a very meaningful commandment. God created man and woman, and He wants the sexes to be discerned. In our days we see everywhere a tendency to do away with this God-ordered distinction. Men in their hair styles and strange clothes are behaving as women; women are dressing and behaving as men. This should not be done. Therefore it is on the basis of Holy Scriptures that our churches warn against the Gentile and worldly fashions.

2. The house of God is indeed a place where we ought to show reverence and obedience. We ought to come there in decent clothes, and not following the newest patterns of worldly fashion. This refers to men and women. Also the wearing of a hat or other head covering is divinely ordained. See I Corinthians 11. This has to do with the distinction between man and woman, according to God’s institution. Let us remember that if we would give up all these things, soon no difference will be seen anymore between the world and the church. It hurts God’s people, but it is worse to sin against God.

3. I understand that the inquirer has a worldly girlfriend. This can be dangerous; we can observe it in the question. Seek, young man, your girlfriends in the congregation; don’t mix with girls from outside. God forbids it both in the Old and in the New Testament, and how true it proves to be, “Evil communications corrupt good manners” (I Corinthians 15:33).

Q. Does our church in Holland go behind the Iron Curtain countries with Bibles, etc.? Is it a combined effort of different churches? I have read something about a “Brother Andrew”.

A. Though I do not know “Brother Andrew”, I can confirm that our church offers help for the spreading of Bibles, etc., behind the Iron Curtain. The printing and distribution of a Hungarian Bible was supported, Bibles were sent to Russia, etc. We cooperate with some organizations in which people of different churches are working, but we are assured that these organizations are really sound in doctrine and life. The deputies and committee for relief in all kind of needs take care for the support of various special projects. It would be good if the church in United States and Canada would do likewise.

Q. Do the world’s major religions have any things in common?

A. There is undoubtedly in these major religions always something which they have in common. For instance, in some way there is an acknowledgment of a divine being, however wrong their ideas are. They primarily teach that man has much to do in order to enter a certain happy state. Hinduism stresses suffering; Buddhism stresses contemplation; and Islamism stresses legal works. Further, they have in common the belief that man still has power to perform something so that “salvation” (this word should be reserved for the Christian religion) is more or less a fruit of human efforts. The Christian religion has a uniqueness, wherein it completely differs from all other religions. It preaches the lost state of all men, and the total dependency on the Sovereign grace and mercy. I am sure that you know that the word “tulip” is sometimes used for this.

T stands for Total Depravity

U stands for Unconditional Election

L stands for Limited Atonement

I stands for Irresistible Grace

P stands for Perseverance of Saints

These things you will not find anything of in the major world religions. We have to consider them as abominations and idolatries. We reject wholeheartedly the idea which is found in ecumenical circles that there is a “portion” of truth in all these different religions and that every religion offers a way to God. That is deceitful teaching. (to be continued)

Rev. A. Vergunst

CURATORIUM

Student J. Spaans underwent his first examinations before the Curatorium with good results.

Mr. J. DenHoed of Sunnyside, Washington was accepted as a student for the ministry.

May God’s blessing rest upon all these matters and qualify the instructor, Rev. A. Vergunst thereto, with grace and wisdom for this highly responsible task.

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