This article is by Rev. P Helmus of the Reformed Church of Zuidhorn, The Netherlands. It appeared in De Bazuin, March 2025, and was subsequently translated by Sr Rita Ballast. The translation is published here with Rev. Helmus's kind permission. JN Every Sunday, we go to church to listen to...

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). We are called to be sober. That’s the opposite of being drunk. Someone who is not...

The war with Germany officially ended 8 May 1945, 80 years ago (the war with Japan would continue a little longer). This cataclysmic war cost tens of millions of people their lives. Many others were traumatised for life. Cities were bombed into piles of rubble. In terms of human...

According to an editorial in The West Australian newspaper 22/4, Pope Francis was “a reformer”. We, reformed people, have always understood the term ‘reformer’ to apply to people who sought to bring the church back to the truth of Scripture and obedience to God’s Word. That’s why we call...

“But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.” Luke 24:16. Consider this: A mother has a wonderful gift to give to her children. The day comes to give it but, instead of allowing the children to see and receive it, she just talks about it and...

The International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC) was constituted in 1982 and was the brainchild of the Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA). The FRCA, however, intended it as a conference of sister churches. The FRCA’s former Dutch sister churches (GKv) organised the first ICRC ‘constituent assembly’ but broadened...

“For our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20) Paul says to the Philippian Christians: "For our citizenship is in heaven”. Commentators agree that accent should be on the word ‘our’. In contrast to others our citizenship is in heaven. Some people in overseas colonies spoke loftily about their citizenship being...

Before the schools opened their doors to commence the 2025 school year, John Calvin School teachers and teachers’ aides gathered to hear Rev. C. Vermeulen speak about "The other 16 hours". The number 16, he said, was arbitrary; he understood teachers did not spend a fixed number of hours...

“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). The church has always had to fight two grievous heresies and therefore she has formulated her confession with care. On the...

Anti-Semitism, defined as “hostility to or prejudice against Jewish people”, has reared its ugly head in Australia through graffiti on Jews’ cars and buildings, attacks on Jews at universities, public anti-Israel demonstrations, individual Jews confronted by Nazi salutes, texting hate speech and the burning down of a synagogue in...