Psalms 72–80 April 8—A Prayer for the King Read Psalm 72 The heading of Psalm 72 reads, “A Psalm for Solomon,” but many commentators agree that Solomon actually wrote the psalm. The prayer is David’s, but Solomon, the son for whom he prays, pens the prayer as his father lies on his deathbed. The psalm […]
Danny and his sister Becky crowded around the library book their mom held on her lap. Danny frowned at the picture of a Roman soldier. “What’s he wearing for armor?” Their mom tapped the picture. “It’s a lorica segmentata, the type of breastplate the Roman soldier wore at the time Paul wrote Ephesians. The lorica […]
When I was growing up, there was an antique wood hutch in our living room. The top half of the hutch had open faced shelves filled with knick-knacks. Later those knick-knacks were replaced with religious books. The bottom half of this hutch had little doors with pretty hinges. When I was very young I was […]
It is July 5, 2008, and I am interviewing Mr. Ed Gritters of Redlands, California. MHH: Mr. Gritters, where and when were you born? EG: I was born February 20, 1929 on a farm just north of Hull, Iowa, and I was baptized by Rev. C. (Cornelius) Hanko in 1929. MHH: Who were your parents? […]
In large bold type, such was the headline in a recent front-page article in the Grand Rapids Press. The subtitle was ‘Church without religion forms in Michigan’s Bible belt.’ Before I write any farther, allow me to remark that the comments I will make are not narrow and provincial. They are not directed only to […]
Dear Editor, In the December 2015 edition of the Beacon Lights, Mrs. Brenda Hoekstra published an article entitled “Christian Patriarchy Life”, which criticized the Christian Patriarchy movement for erroneous views about the calling of the Christian within the family. I was disappointed in her response to the movement, which gave only vague biblical references instead […]
Although I became editor of Beacon Lights only in 1959, I managed to stir up controversy over the magazine as early as 1958. I had the help of others, who with me were members at that time of the Federation Board of Protestant Reformed Young People’s Societies. The Federation Board had the oversight of the […]
As Reformed Christians, we give thanks to God that we stand in the line of the great 16th century Reformation. But when we trace our spiritual heritage back to the Reformation, we recognize that there are a number of intervening links in the chain. Not only did Christ reform his church in the 16th century, […]
God’s faithfulness shows itself to the church in so many ways and it seems at differing degrees throughout history. The older members can testify to the battles that they have had to fight in their days. The younger members do well to listen for their own spiritual well-being. What follows is the recollection of such […]
Are adopted (rather than biological) children in a Christian family part of the covenant? What Bible references can you suggest for your view? The short answer is, “Yes! Absolutely!” Salvation in neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament is biological. Sin is biological, that is, it is passed from father to son on […]