Back from Nashville, with the fading after glow

One of the privileges of my job as editor and occasional reporter is the opportunity to go from time to time to a conference.

I  go with a three-fold purpose: to cover the event for our Christian Renewal readers; secondly, to hopefully be edified by the content; and thirdly, to experience the fellowship of Christians from a wider circle of churches than I am used to experiencing at home.

How can that not be encouraging. As one of my colleagues who emails me regularly said, jokingly, for which he now repents: “Let me know when you come back from the mountaintop experience and its afterglow.”

There is some truth in what he says. Of course, nothing can compare to a meeting with Jesus Christ, Moses and Elijah on the Mount and hearing the voice of God. So we do need to tread carefully here.

But there is definitely a high to gatherings such as the one I covered recently (report on page 12) in Nashville, Tennessee organized by Getty Music. The singing was inspiring; the speakers were some of the best the Reformed/evangelical community has to offer; and the location was in a place I had never seen before.

One leaves such gatherings, like the disciple Peter, reluc-tantly, but definitely with a spring in one’s step and with joy in the heart, because what I heard encouraged me in terms of the future of the broader church.

The Gettys have a platform to a wider audience than many of us can otherwise reach. Their contacts in America’s evangelical/reformed communities are significant. And the technology available today makes the distribution of their music and their deep loving concerns and ideas for worship so much more effective in terms of influencing this present generation in a good, positive and more biblical way.

As Reformed Christians who have sung the psalms for generations, we might be like the older son in the parable of the Prodigal, wondering what took you so long to get to where we’ve been all along. But that would be
arrogant, ungrateful and ungraceful.

Could it be that we also have something to learn as we go forward in faith? Could the Lord use this movement as a bridge to bring the evangelical church in closer harmony with the Reformed community?

What I did learn or was reminded of is that the Psalms sung on a regular basis implant the words and ideas of Scripture into our minds and hearts. Keith Getty was concerned for a generation of evangelicals who have no more than 30-40 songs that they can recite. John MacArthur said that over his almost 50 years in the ministry, his mind was filled with psalms and song lyrics that help him in both his private and public prayers and to which he meditates through his waking hours.

That’s the heritage we Reformed have grown up feeding on.

Sometimes we need others new to the banquet to remind us what an excellent diet we’ve been given.

Two other articles in this issue touch on the Psalm theme, one from Brian Lee on preaching the Psalms, the other, a new short series by Nick Smith on why we sing in church.

John Van Dyk, Editor

Christian Renewal Magazine

 

 

 

 

 

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It may be time to re-focus on the family

The institution of the family won’t die. Or will it? Does this brave new world that our culture is intent on constructing have room for a family with one man, one woman and with children in the equation? Or is this too traditional, too stilted, too restrictive, too non-inclusive, too 20th century for the revolutionaries who are driving the agenda toward the family’s end?

God forbid that His order become our disorder; that His plan for, dare I say it, our flourishing, become Satan’s plan for our destruction.

I’m not a conspiracy theorist; a Chicken Little who believes the sky is falling. I know that God is in control; I know there is an end to this earth; but it is in God’s good timing, and I am at peace with His will being done. But that doesn’t mean that we should ignore the warning signs of trouble ahead and of trouble at hand.

Question is, what do we do about it?

Promote and model healthy family living. Our neighbors need to see the way it should be, in contrast to the way it is. That’s why enclaves of Reformedness need to be seen, not hidden from the rest of the culture. The family is a bedrock institution, launched at the beginning, one man, one woman, in unity functioning together for God’s glory and for creation’s stability, raising children to praise the Lord.

It’s no wonder that the devil has been doing his utmost to destroy the family. He couldn’t get to Jesus Christ, but he will attack with all his might the seed of Abraham.

A book by George C. Scipione called The Battle for the Biblical Family was recently released (2nd Edition) by Crown & Covenant. If ever there is a book in need of reprinting at this time, it may be this one.

At the end of Chapter 1 he describes the family as “a reflection of the very reality and nature of God.” That’s an enormous responsibility for anyone entering marriage. And that is also why compromising or redefining the nature of marriage is a direct attack on the norm that God has set for the family, and making gender choice acceptable and normal, is in the same category.

State laws that effectively shut down a 95 year old Catholic Foster Care and Adoption agency in Buffalo, New York is just another example of the battle lines being drawn. When compromise is not possible then capitulation or closure become the options. Some choose capitulation. A recent tweet by a Member of the Liberal ruling government in Canada shared the news that a Reformed church checked off the box declaring its support for the government’s stance on abortion, allowing it to accept funds for a summer jobs program.

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do? Hope in the Lord.
The Soviet Union did its utmost under Communism to destroy the family. It did not succeed. But North American culture is doing it in other ways that are more subtle yet are incredibly corrosive.

The family will not fail, but the attacks are real, they are increasing, and it’s on our watch.

John Van Dyk, Editor

Christian Renewal Magazine

The changing face of worship and another season at an end

Does how we worship say something about our view of God? The question is rhetorical. The answer, I believe, is self-evident.

My recollection of worship as a kid is fairly clear, and I would say that how my church worships today is not much different from the way we worshiped back then. That doesn’t mean we have everything just right. But there is something good about consistency and steadfastness. Innovation does not necessarily equate with improvement, but then neither does entrenchment mean orthodoxy.

What has changed leans more toward the cosmetic than substantial. For example, there is more congregational vocal participation in terms of communal recitation of various aspects of the order of worship. At least that is the case in my local congregation. We do sing some contemporary hymns. The Gettys have had a lot to do with that change. Their music and lyrics for the most part are very conducive to worship. But the centrality of the Word of God preached remains firmly in place. Communion is also more frequent with some churches even going to weekly communion.

While all the elements of worship are still there from the time of my youth, that cannot be said for many other churches that I’ve been to over the last number of years. Praise bands and worship teams have taken a prominent role in many churches. The songs sung are more upbeat but the lyrics can be repetitious and lack depth. There is no doubt that evangelicalism and Pentecostalism have influenced today’s worship in many ways, in Reformed churches as well.

While we might be quick to criticize the worship of other churches, we might also want to take a close look at our own house and our own attitudes to see if what we do is more ritual than heartfelt; more traditional than biblical; more rote than truly a desire to commune with God and give Him our all in worship. Is there something missing? Some food for thought for another time.

On page 5 we report on Christian Renewal’s new charitable status in the U.S. Please read that brief report for more details.

Glenda Mathes reports on a number of synods that have taken place in early summer. Brian Lee encourages families with young children to consider filling their homes with music that is biblically balanced as well as entertainingly written.

A new booklet by Dr. David Engelsma exposes the problem of spousal abuse in the Reformed community and offers some helpful answers to officebearers who may consider themselves inadequate to deal with such an awful situation in their congregations.

This is the last issue in our 36th volume year. We continue to be grateful for the support of our readers and our writers. May God bless our ongoing effort to provide information that is truthful and faithful in a time when both truth and faith are on fragile ground.

John Van Dyk, Editor

Christian Renewal August 17, 2018

The church at work & prayer

ECCLESIASTICAL ASSEMBLIES ARE NOT necessarily my idea of heaven on earth. They are long, can be tedious, and the food and accommodations while decent, just can’t match that of home. (I know; I’m spoiled.)

Still, their purpose is noble (for the better ordering of the church), their focus well intentioned (for the glory of God) and the fellowship can definitely be sweet and encouraging. And occasionally something happens that offers a glimpse of what we might see in the new heavens and the new earth.

The most recent meetings of the URCNA Synod 2018 and the 82nd OPC General Assembly were held concurrently at Wheaton College in Illinois (near Chicago).

Over 200 URC delegates and around 85 OPC officers along with fraternal delegates and visitors gathered for opening worship on Monday evening. Together participants mixed and mingled, getting to know each other for the first time, and for some, a little bit better.

The purpose of sharing both time and facilities was in honour of the publication of the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, a new songbook for worship that the OPC and the URCs prepared cooperatively, a book that most of the congregations will use for worship.

The glimpse behind the curtain, so speak, was during the portion of the week when the TPH was finally cracked open, and delegates and visitors sang together,  accompanied by organ, piano, trumpet and violin. Songs both new and unfamiliar as well as old and well favoured, were sung with gusto and from the heart.

Research says that singing in a group results in heartbeats that join in sync with each other. No wonder the confessionally Reformed and Presbyterian churches love to sing. Praise teaches and reminds us of the One who is worthy of all praise and honour. Knowing the songs of Zion reminds us both of who we are, and of who God is.

It is sad to see churches that no longer publish their songs; where praise teams dominate the volume through instrumentation that drowns out the voices of the congregation, and when professional singers are needed to carry the tune.

There is nothing like walking into a church and worshipping with people who love singing and do it with all their hearts. That’s what we experienced in Wheaton.

Another glimpse was the window opened on the work being done in mission fields both foreign and domestic. To hear the stories of church planters, those bringing the Gospel to Muslims and other immigrants; those caring for the poor and needy, and those serving the cause of Christ in lands far away from this land, was inspiring. And the need to work cooperatively together in these fields that the Lord says are ripe for harvest should increase the volume of our prayers and inspire us to look for opportunities to reach our world in our time.

It was good to be there to see it firsthand.

Along with our coverage of church news, for this summer issue we asked our writers to tell the readers about a place they love to visit for vacation, for those  with time and means. I love travel stories, and I love to travel. I think many of our readers might share that love as well. If you are going somewhere, or even if it is just at home, God be with you this summer.

Protecting the vulnerable; recognizing predators; time well spent

Even as we head into summer, a taste of spring still plays in my mind.

A sure sign of the season in our neck of the woods is the construction of bird nests in the trees and bushes. The removal of a large chestnut tree next to our driveway last autumn meant that birds who had used its tall branches as a safe haven for their springtime nests had to find a new place to raise their young.

Consequently our family witnessed up close the birth of some baby robins, just outside our front door. A small tree by the front steps became home to a robin’s nest, and four blue eggs were waiting to hatch.

Problem with the location was its distance or lack thereof from the ground. Unlike the large chestnut tree, this location was vulnerable. Still both mother and father robin did their best, for days on end taking turns squatting on the eggs, keeping them warm until the time was right for the babies to arrive.

At least three of the four eggs, perhaps all four, hatched, and tiny heads popped up out of the nest awaiting food, which both parents supplied. One day recently our daughter made her daily inspection of the nest as the tree with new growth and yellow flowers made it less and less visible.

What she found was a destroyed nest with some feathers lying under the tree. Mother and father robin were nowhere in sight.

It was a sad end to so much careful nurturing and safeguarding, first the eggs, and then the chicks. Their
time in this life was short and it ended without the ability to protect themselves by being able to fly away when danger was near.

So much for life and death in the animal kingdom.

So much more is expected of us humans, made in God’s image, with a moral compass and conscience that recognizes the need to protect the vulnerable.

Yet for convenience, and other reasons, the protection of the
vulnerable in our society has been removed, as both mother and government have forfeited their God-given roles to protect and defend life, from beginning to end.

OUR HOME PAGE PHOTO REPRESENTS A SIGHT MANY of us might see regularly in our homes if we have children who play video games.

The player is so entranced by the action on the screen that he is oblivious to all else. As the title of Neal Postman’s popular book states so well, we are “Amusing Ourselves to Death.”

The question is, what is all this sensory stimulation doing to
our brains and hearts, particularly when so many of these games glorify violence?

Is there a correlation between the mass shootings at schools by young people in America and the hours and hours of gaming kids spend their time on with little to no censorship or restraint?

Norm Bomer shares his thoughts in the current issue of Renewal.

From games to real life, a Protestant pastor in Poland is also featured. Discover how he spends his time in Kingdom service, “buzzing about” for the glory of God both in Church and in Kingdom work.

May our homes and families safeguard our children from the predators that lurk around us, recognizing together that the time we have is short.

John Van Dyk, Editor

crmag.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Prison Ministry, Women’s Conferences, Gambling and Prayer

CHUCK COLSON WAS THE MODERN PIONEER OF prison ministry. His incarceration after the Watergate scandal that saw the early departure from the Presidency of Richard Nixon was used by God to change Colson’s life.

And rather than flee prison after his sentence was served, he returned, to share with inmates the Gospel of Jesus Christ that can set men and women free, not from their earthly sentence, but from being shackled by a lifetime of sin and guilt.

Prison Fellowship inspired many others around the world to recognize the need and the opportunity to help the many who languish in prison, with little hope and almost no interest in their well being from those outside of the prison walls.

Colson wasn’t the first person to step into a prison and minister to the lost.

Jesus Christ set the standard (you were in prison and you visited me), and the Apostle Paul ministered to all of us while in chains, and specifically at the time to those who were fellow prisoners and those who guarded him.

There are a number of prison ministries active today, both Reformed and evangelical. Some seminaries recruit their seminarians to become engaged in ministry with prisoners in area institutions. There are also numerous opportunities for lay Christians to become involved in prison ministry contact and outreach (inreach?).

In this issue we begin a series of articles on prison ministry, written by Rev. Nathan Brummel. Rev. Brummel, a United Reformed Churches pastor, is director of an educational ministry inside prisons that prepares incarcerated men for leadership in ministry to their fellow prisoners. Learn about it as you read this series.

The last vestiges of winter seem to be a good time for women’s conferences, and two excellent ones take place in Hudsonville, Michigan and in Ontario. The Ontario conference held in Hamilton celebrated its 25th year. It’s a great time of fellowship, instruction and encouragement, something we all could use in these days of increasing secularism and individualism. May they be a great blessing to godly women.

Gambling continues in our day to slay its thousands as people voluntarily give their money to the casinos in the slim hope of hitting the jackpot. Norm Bomer takes a look at a gambling resort in his own state and considers from a biblical perspective the damage it does to those who trust in chance rather than in God and work to provide for our daily bread.

Marian Van Til considers the importance of prayer in her life and for all Christians who remember daily to call on their God in praise, thanks and for petition. While the culture mocks the people of God, our God gratefully receives the prayers of His people, and that
link to the Father through the Son is vital for a life of faithfulness.

I’ve long been a fan of Norman Rockwell’s artwork, and his painting titled “Saying Grace” from 1951 is a favorite. In it a young boy and his grandmother sit at a restaurant table with two men, who stare curiously, while another older man to the left side of the table holds his hat and looks on with respect and honor for what he is witnessing in public.

John Van Dyk, Editor

Christian Renewal Magazine

May 4, 2018

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Reflections on South Africa, the Brain and Sharks

THE RAINBOW NATION OF SOUTH AFRICA IS MORE like the complexion of a zebra: black and white. For a time, the whites ruled the country and, as the world knows, did not treat the black population like their brothers and sisters. Today and over the last number of years under black rule, things have not been much better.

In fact, a case could be made that things are decidedly worse, and that, for all concerned. Rampant and often brutal crime and so very little justice is the dis-order of the day. Private homes and businesses are fortresses with high walls and 24-hour security.

There is no talk of gun control in South Africa. And now the law allowing for land expropriation with or without compensation is the next threat that is unsettling, to say the least, for the boers – white farmers– whose history in South Africa goes back to the 1600s, and are still considered interlopers. An independent video reporter from Canada has been documenting cases of farmers and their families who have been brutally murdered, and some crime scenes reveal significant torture before death set in.

The news of such atrocities seems to lack in importance among the media today, who are obsessed with the titilating tweets of both politicians and celebrities.

PCA Pastor Christo Heiberg shares news from his former homeland, in his report on page 14. In your prayers, remember South Africa, that peace may come, that justice be done, that blacks and whites see themselves as God’s children, and who choose to live and work together, not apart, not only for personal gain, but for the good of the land and for all of its people, in a country with so much beauty, and yet with so much that speaks of brokenness and hate. The same prayer could be said for some parts of the USA as well.

I’ve heard the argument a number of times: we’re not made for monogamy. It’s not natural. Well. Sometimes science is declared to be “settled” when it suits our particular agenda, and “unsettled” when it doesn’t, until it does.

Michael Wagner reviews a book that considers the science of brain function when it comes to matters of sexuality. The research is encouraging for Christians following the Lord’s will – saving sex for marriage.

For those, both individuals and churches, who may be unsure about the new Trinity Psalter Hymnal, statistician Brian Lee crunches the numbers and comes up with good arguments for taking the plunge and purchasing the new songbook. See if his column adds up.

Our resident theologian engages us in a lesson on textual criticism when it comes to the Scripture passage concerning the Lord’s Supper. At this time of post-Easter reflectiveness, consider what it means when we break bread together, in remembrance of Him.

Three reviews on pages 28-29 focus on how the internet and smartphones are changing our lives, for both good and ill. And Norm Bomer considers the shark in all its power and calls us to look upon the Creator of man and beast.

John Van Dyk, Editor

April 13, 2018

Christian Renewal Magazine

Visit the New Stores!

From Dort, to El Salvador, to Homosexuality, to Idolatry, to Billy Graham

Almost two years ago on a spring weekend trip to Holland, Michigan, we attended the United Reformed Church in West Olive, Michigan for the morning service. We remarked on the newness of the facilities and the convenience of the gymnasium for fellowship and coffee.

About three weeks later we read about a fire in that same building and the damage done to the sanctuary. Last month the congregation moved back in for worship. Glenda Mathes shares that story on page 5.

Do you pray for government officials? Given the leadership we are currently under and are called to respect, the need to pray for them is particularly important. An example of prayer in action is on page 7, and is taking place in Indiana for the leadership of that state. May the efforts taking place there be an example for other states as well as provinces in this part of the continent.

The Synod of Dort was not just about TULIP. Sunday observance was another significant matter this august body considered in 1618-1619, and according to our writer, it played a decisive role. See what he has to say on page 8.

El Salvador-born and now URC member Pastor Jose Ramirez is living up to the motto of not letting any grass grow under his feet. His work ethic, groomed in him as a young boy, has driven him to various aspects of ministry work to help train other men in Central America and elsewhere in leadership preparation. Read about his story on page 10.

With so many independent churches popping up on the landscape in North America as well as many other areas of the world, Pastor Sam Perez raises this thesis: that their inherent sectarianism cuts them off from so much in terms of church history, fellowship and a plethora of other areas, while still recognizing their contributions as well. It’s a thesis worth weighing and considering, and can be found on page 12.

Can homosexuals change? Our culture says “no” and has shut the door on any discussion of the matter. The reality is, in fact, different, and there are examples of those who have changed. A helpful book on the matter is reviewed and revealed by Michael Wagner on page 14. This kind of information will help us in our discussions with those looking for answers.

Nick Smith finishes his series on the subject of idolatry (page 20) and Hermina Dykxhoorn considers the Trudeau government’s confusion over rights in Canada in relation to his position on the Summer Jobs Program.

A feature article on the late evangelist Billy Graham by Christine Farenhorst profiles the life of this incredibly influential man during a significant portion of recent American history.

The death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is on our minds at this time as we approach the season of Good Friday and Easter. Paul sums up its significance in Romans 6: “For if we have been united with him in a death like this, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.

“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6: 7-11).

From death to life; from rejection to reconciliation. From despair to joy in him.

John VanDyk, Editor

March 23, 2018

Christian Renewal Magazine

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They say revolution; we say reformation

MAKE SURE TO READ NORM BOMER’S COLUMN IN this issue. It’s the tale of two marches in Washington and it is telling about the kind of people we’ve become as a society – those who love death, literally, and those who love life.

The abortion issue has carried on as a new item and a point of debate in North America because a number of people were unwilling to capitulate to the temper of the times, and that temper is all about individual autonomy. I will do what I want with my body, and you not only have to allow me to do it (and fund it!), but you also have to approve of it. That, at least, is the current orthodoxy when it comes to abortion, as well as gender issues. Love has grown cold, and that is a fruit of secularism.

It’s incumbent for Christians to continue to speak, to explain, to reason with, engage, and hopefully win the day for the sake of this and the next generation. We do this not because we love a good argument, but because it is a matter of life and death. Salt and light. Sometimes we need someone to blow the trumpet to wake us up and remind us what’s at stake.

CHRISTO HEIBERG CONCLUDES HIS FIVE PART series based on The Book that Made Your World – How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization, written by author Vishal Mangalwadi. If you missed any of the first four articles, you are welcome to simply order them from our stores.

An anniversary that we failed to acknowledge in 2017, is that of 1917 – 100 years since the Russian Revolution. Ironically, what came about by force in Russia, and led to the death of millions of its own citizens, the ideas of that revolution are coming to fruition today in both Europe and the rest of the West. This time force was not required, but acquiescence brought upon by complacency and apathy. Hermina Dykxhoorn does an excellent job of describing how it came about and how we are now mired in it without so much opposition. Sometimes slow and steady does win the race.

GERRY WISZ INTRODUCES OUR READERS TO THE Lamplighter Guild, a group of Christians who have set up a week long training session for artists of various stripes, from those in the visual arts, to musicians, actors, and plyers of various trades and crafts. Those who want to do works of excellence will be inspired.

THE TRINITY PSALTER HYMNAL IS THE SUBJECT OF at least three articles in this issue. A news story covers the finished product and reaction to it in terms of purchases. Dr. Brian Lee offers an enthusiastic column in its favor for the idea of a collaborative effort between the United Reformed Churches and the Orthodox Presbyterian Churches. And an interview with one of the songbook committee members offers some perspective as well about the history, the process and the finished product. I’m excited for you to begin reading!

John Van Dyk, Editor

March 2, 2018 Issue

Christian Renewal Magazine

 

Remnants of our Reformation celebration and the longing for Home

SOME REMNANTS OF LAST YEAR’S REFORMATION celebration and commemoration linger in this issue. Michael Zwiep sat down with Reformation scholar Dr. Herman Selderhuis to get his take on the state of Europe 500 years since Luther’s inadvertent revolution. Selderhuis’s new book on the Reformer also receives a thorough review.

An article in a November issue of The New Yorker magazine took up a subject we deemed would be of particular interest to our readers: a profile of stability in Orange City, Iowa, a community that was founded by Dutch immigrants, and one that continues to thrive in a culture awash in so much unrest, instability and uncertainty.

There is a longing in all of us for HOME. But that home isn’t the one where we grew up or where our parents live now. It is a Home whose builder and maker is God. A Home that will be without tears, without pain, without disease, without complaint, without longing for something more. It’s in all of us, an ache that can’t be satisfied with the material things of this earth. While it is suppressed by so many of us, and dulled by weak consciences, it is there and will only be ultimately satisfied at the consummation of all things.

It can be easy to get caught up in the strongly held opinions of the most vocal members of our society, those who kick against the goads of what many call “traditional marriage”, which in essence is the only marriage that makes sense; the only type of marriage ordained by God Himself. Or, the goad of two genders only, male and female, or what others would normally argue was “settled science.” It’s interesting how science is so important to abide by in some instances but not in others. We tend to make arguments and use them when they suit our particularly strongly held opinions and beliefs, and use such phrases as “the science is settled” when it settles into seeming support of our opinions.

As Christians we need to be the salt in society, both preservative and seasoning, while making arguments and stating positions that, as Nick Smith describes it, are for the flourishing of society as a whole making the case for the good.

Marian Van Til addresses the gender confusion by going back to the beginning, when God’s intention for male and female was clear and without ambiguity. Pastor Doug Barnes has written many answers to good questions from readers. In this issue we dip back into his answer to a question about fasting.

As the Christian worldview and ethic continues its departure from European and North American soil, can we expect increasing corruption on the part of our lead Pastor Christo Heiberg’s series of articles based on the work of Indian Christian Vishal Mangalwadi, the reason that some countries are corrupt and can’t grow in social and economic stability is because of their rotten foundation. What does that mean when the foundation is crumbling under our very feet? It’s an important question to consider and ponder.

John Van Dyk, Editor

February 8, 2018

Christian Renewal Magazine

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