The last number of years have left me with an unsettled feeling. Feelings, I know, do not always accurately reflect reality. That said, allow me to share something of my feelings. I’ll frame them as questions in an effort to make them clear. The questions might initially seem unrelated...

A glance through Church History reveals a series of crisis situations which the LORD has graciously used to reform His church, to bring about a return to the Truth of God’s Word. Ask at each reformation, at each crisis, What was the crux of the matter here? and invariably...

Pluriformity of the church is a view of the church that has been promoted particularly by Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920), a gifted theologian who later became prime minister of the Netherlands. He sought to justify it because of what he observed, namely, that there are “many different churches that worship...

The late Prof. J Geertsema once published the following heartrending letter from a young woman who had married outside the church. She had written it to her minister in response to a sermon on Judges 3, where the children of Israel are warned not to marry partners from heathen...

During the World War 2, while Prof. Klaas Schilder was in hiding from the Nazis seeking to arrest him, a synod was in the process of condemning his teachings without him being able to defend himself. Meanwhile, his theological students could see the writing on the wall: the synod...

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Luke 3:16). One morning, some years ago, I was sitting in my study when I felt a tremendous explosion. Moments later a column of smoke appeared on the horizon. Then I smelt fire. Evidently, something had gone seriously wrong...

It is important that we do not overlook the great significance of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. First, the Ascension was important for our Lord Himself: He entered into the glory of His Father and took His rightful place at the Father’s right hand, there to rule...

On 10 May 1940 German troops invaded The Netherlands. Four days later German bombers, in what came to be known as Blitzkrieg (lightning war), flattened the heart of Rotterdam whereby thousands of Dutch civilians died. When the Nazis threatened to bomb another big city, Utrecht, the Dutch capitulated. For five...

Perhaps there’s no part of our confession that causes as much controversy as the part about the church. Yet our confession is very clear: “I believe a holy catholic church, the communion of saints.” We further confess that this church can easily be identified by her three marks and...

Here in Australia, we celebrate ANZAC Day to remember those Australian and New Zealand people who died and who served in wars. This commemoration started with the intent to remember those who died in WW1, a shockingly costly and horrendous war. Later it included all who died or served...