Faith and Learning the Heritage of J

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OCT 2012 OCT Faith and LearninG The Heritage of J. Gresham Machen by Katherine VanDrunen

ALSO: NEW BOOKS ON OLD PRINCETON by D. G. Hart and John R. Muether V o l u m e 3 3 , N u m b e r 9

NewHorizons in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Contents Editorial Board: The Committee on Christian Education’s Subcommittee on Serial Publications Editor: Danny E. Olinger FEATURES Managing Editor: James W. Scott Editorial Assistant: Patricia Clawson Cover Designer: Christopher Tobias 3 Faith and Learning: The Heritage of Proofreader: Sarah J. Pederson J. Gresham Machen © 2012 by The Committee on Christian Education of By Katherine VanDrunen The Orthodox Presbyterian Church. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are 6 The Personal Side of Charles Hodge from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publish- By Alan D. Strange ers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Articles previously published may be slightly edited. The Legacy of Geerhardus Vos 8 New Horizons (ISSN: 0199-3518) is published monthly By Danny E. Olinger except for a combined issue, usually August-Septem- ber, by the Committee on Christian Education of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 607 N. Easton Road, 19 Planning for a Minister’s Retirement Bldg. E, Willow Grove, PA 19090-2539; tel. 215/830- By Douglas L. Watson 0900; fax 215/830-0350. Letters to the editor are welcome. They should deal with an issue the magazine has recently addressed. Their language should be temperate, and they may not charge anyone with an offense. They should be brief, DEPARTMENTS and they may be condensed. Send e-mail correspondence to the editor at olinger.1@ 10 Home Missions opc.org. Neon, Ky. • State College, Pa. Send address changes to [email protected]. Allow six weeks for address changes. 12 Christian Education The OPC website www.opc.org contains a selection of past and current articles from New Horizons. New books on old Princeton • Out of the mouth … Views expressed by our writers are not necessarily Foreign Missions those of the editors or official positions of the 14 Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

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An “Extreme Makeover” team transformed the building and grounds of New Covenant OPC in South San Francisco, Calif., in July. The workers came from five OP churches in California: South San Francisco, San OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER

| Francisco, San Jose, Torrance, and San Marcos. Workers also came from four OP churches outside California: Doniphan, Mo.; Vienna, Va.; Middletown, Pa.; and Toms River, N.J. The workweek was organized and led by Jon and Lindsay Sanchez with much help and financial support from Julie Hirtzel, Robert Stark, David Crum, Matthews OPC in Matthews, N.C., and the building and

NewHorizons NewHorizons grounds committee of New Covenant. For more on this story, see page 24. 2 KATHERINE VanDRUNEN Faith and Learning: The Heritage of J. Gresham Machen

Gresham Machen was raised with the values of honest scholarship and confessional Reformed Christianity. That made him well suited for his studies and his later J teaching career. These values were long held on both sides of his family. Machen attributed his exceptional knowledge of Scrip- is evidenced by his analysis of the differences between the ture and his love for Reformed Christianity to his parents’ Thirty-nine Articles and the Westminster Confession. His example and instruction. In this article, I will bring out some grandson, Arthur III, observed that this revealed the scholarly relatively unknown facets of his heritage. atmosphere of the Machen household and that having the Machen received an essential element of his intellectual family united in the Presbyterian Church greatly aided “Uncle and religious foundation from his father, Arthur Machen. Ar- Gresham’s” ministry. thur was confident that honest inquiry was useful, rather than J. Gresham Machen described his father: dangerous, to the Christian faith—so long as reason never He was a profoundly Christian man, who had read widely superseded the authority of Scripture. He viewed reason as a and meditated earnestly upon the really great things of our gift from God and free inquiry, “pursued in a reverent spirit,” holy Faith. His Christian experience was not of the emo- to be “our vocation as rational beings.” tional or pietistical type, but was a quiet stream whose wa- While living and working in Washington, D.C., Arthur’s ters ran deep. He did not adopt that “Touch not, taste not, father, Lewis, chose churches based on conservative confes- handle not” attitude toward the good things or the won- sional principles, either Presbyterian or Episcopal. When the ders of God’s world which too often today causes earnest Machens moved to Virginia, their only choice was the Episco- Christian people to consecrate to God only an impoverished pal Church, which had been greatly influenced by the Calvin- man, but in his case true learning and true piety went hand ist bishop John Johns, a graduate of Princeton Seminary and a in hand.2 good friend of Charles Hodge. Johns’s theology was described as “built on the holiness, justice and mercy of God … and on In his wife, Minnie Gresham, Arthur found an intellec- OCTOBER 2012 the guilt and depravity of man.”1 Arthur settled in Baltimore tual and spiritual equal. Of his mother, J. Gresham Machen and attended Central Presbyterian Church, whose organizing wrote: “I do not see how anyone could know my mother well pastor was Stuart Robinson. Arthur described him as a man without being forever sure that whatever else there may be

of intellect and energy, fervent in his work. However, Arthur in Christianity the real heart of Christianity is found in the NewHorizons eventually settled at Christ Episcopal Church, which had been atoning death of Christ.”3 Minnie was actively involved in founded by Johns before he became bishop of Virginia, and the religious training of her sons. Sunday afternoons were which had maintained the Reformation gospel. regularly spent studying questions she prepared ahead of time Although appreciative of the Episcopal liturgy, Arthur about a book of the Bible, and correspondence with her adult insisted on joining Minnie Gresham after their marriage at sons included such subjects as prayer life, Bible reading, and Franklin Street Presbyterian Church, where he held a pew for Christian faith. his mother and sister. His seriousness regarding this decision Minnie came from a strong, conservative Presbyterian 3 heritage. Her father, John Gresham, joined the Presbyterian taught himself several languages. His son Arthur was given a Church in Athens, Georgia, while attending Franklin Col- strong formal education in Washington, D.C., and thereafter lege (University of Georgia). In his membership class was his Lewis guided his study while Arthur worked on their farm in future wife, Mary Baxter, whose Presbyterian heritage was Virginia. Arthur went on to Harvard Law School and became unequivocal. Mary and her sister had been tutored by B. M. a successful and respected lawyer. He was praised by his Palmer while he studied at the university and lived in their colleagues for his logical and reasoning mind that produced home. When Mary’s mother died, Palmer, by then a Presbyte- convincing arguments amply supported by precedent and au- rian leader, wrote, “Her brave heart preserved an equal trust thority, masterfully unfolded, giving him “influence and sway in the God of her salvation. A sweet and winning piety was with the Courts.”5 This clear oratorical style and straightfor- hers … rendering her whole life a sweet gospel, full of the ward approach would carry down to his son Gresham. savor of Christ.” J. Gresham Machen’s grandfather, John Gresham expressed his strong J. Gresham Machen in Marburg, Germany, in 1906 John Gresham, experienced the educa- Reformed beliefs in a letter to his daugh- tional opportunities of early nineteenth- ter: “You must never imagine that you century agrarian Georgia, from primitive can save yourself by any thing you can do. one-room schools to the state college and Reading the Bible, attendance on church, on to legal training. His wife, Mary Baxter and even prayer has no merit in them Gresham, also came from a family that except as acts of obedience to God. They valued education: all five brothers gradu- cannot save you.… We must admit that we ated from the University of Georgia, and are unprofitable servants and rely entirely she and her sister were tutored and pro- on the merits of Christ for salvation.” He vided with the formal education available encouraged her to rely on Scripture to to women in the university town of Ath- “explain” itself and to leave the mysteries ens. Their son Thomas earned his college of God to God. and legal degrees, and Minnie graduated John Gresham was described as a from one of the first women’s colleges natural leader with a powerful personal- that strove to provide an education equal ity. He started the first manufacturing to a men’s college. Her professors later company in Macon, Georgia, had a part wrote to Minnie’s mother: “Miss Minnie’s in the development of the railroad lines and the state bank, high mental and moral worth, her uniform courtesy and the and served as a state senator. An elder for forty years at First Christian graces that adorn her character have given her a per- Presbyterian Church in Macon, it was said at his death, “He manent place in our esteem; and we will never cease to feel an gathered up in himself the history of the Presbyterian Church interest in her success and welfare.” One of Minnie’s notable in this city and section of the State. The two Presbyterian achievements was a book published by Macmillan on Robert churches of Macon are, to no slight degree, the monuments of Browning’s use of Scripture in The Ring and the Book. The firm his loving purpose, his constant prayer, his indefatigable zeal, foundation of her faith made it possible for her confidently his generous giving.”4 to study nature and science, as well as secular literature. This John Gresham had such an impact during his life that his enabled her to educate her sons to love the Scriptures as well funeral closed the public schools in Macon, closed the offices as the pursuit of knowledge. of both the Southwestern Railroad and the Central Bank of Minnie Machen was actively involved in her sons’ educa- Georgia, and recessed all activities at the University of Geor- tion—from providing instruction in the home in their early gia, which held its own memorial service. In addition, Second years, to choosing primary schools for them and visiting them Presbyterian Church and the high school that bore his name frequently, to arranging for tutoring while on visits to Macon, were draped in mourning. His desire for honesty and justice, to reading and critiquing their papers in college. Gresham was OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER | his strength of character, his conviction to stand for what he her willful child. He was known to his younger brother Tom as saw as right, and his interest in education, the church, and the the one “who wants a spanking.” At age three, when asked why work of the state, were important values passed down to his no cracker was coming to him for not complaining at washing grandson and namesake. up, he replied, “I s’pose you heard me growling.” However, he The value of education ran deep in J. Gresham Ma- was very likeable and friendly—while his older brother read chen’s heritage. Although his grandfather, Lewis Machen, had the newspaper, Gresham learned the news from the milkman.

NewHorizons NewHorizons limited formal education due to financial circumstances and On vacation, he would quickly befriend everyone at the hotel. familial responsibilities, he was an avid book collector and Summers were filled with outdoor activities, but his 4 intellect was never neglected. On a trip to the Adirondacks is.”9 This passion for honest scholarship in submission to God in 1895, Gresham was in a tennis tournament, Tom caught reinforced Gresham’s earlier training. his first fish, and the two older boys camped with their father. The following summer Gresham studied Pindar with In addition, Minnie listened daily to Arthur’s French lesson, Paul Shorey, another leading philologist, at the University of studied Homer on her own, and on Sunday afternoons read Chicago. During this time, Gresham realized that his work the Bible with Gresham, heard his Bible lesson, and catechized would be better spent studying the ancient texts of the Bible. Tom. The result of her effort was advanced degrees for every His training would benefit the many later theological students son. After graduating from The Johns Hopkins University in who would learn biblical Greek from his grammar book Baltimore, Arthur studied law at Harvard, and Thomas studied (which is still in print and translated into several languages). architectural engineering at Cornell and then in France. As a professor at Princeton Seminary, he expressed frustra- Gresham, after graduating from Johns Hopkins, spent another tion with students who complained of the rigors of studying year there studying Greek, went on to Princeton University Greek, and repeatedly emphasized its importance to New and Princeton Seminary, and then studied at Göttingen and Testament studies as well as the entire curriculum. Marburg in Germany. Of his decision to study at Princeton Seminary, he wrote: An excellent student throughout his life, J. Gresham “I turned at last to the field upon which I had for some time Machen graduated first in his class at Johns Hopkins with a been casting longing eyes. How much more worthwhile it is, bachelor of arts degree. The university had been founded to if one is to apply modern scientific methods of research … to encourage scholarship and advance knowledge at the high- those books whose every word is of an importance to human- est level, unhindered by ecclesiastical or political constraints, ity with which the importance even of Homer and Plato can which was unprecedented in American academics. Gresham never for one moment be compared!”10 Machen applied the wrote that “even an undergraduate could appreciate to some training he received from his parents, from his formal educa- extent the stimulus of such an environment.”6 He stayed for a tion, and particularly from Gildersleeve, to his studies, writ- postgraduate year studying Greek under Basil L. Gildersleeve, ings, and teaching at Princeton Seminary. taking a course at Johns Hopkins designed for advanced re- He is remembered by his niece and students for his love search and the training of future experts in their fields. of clowning and inherent gaiety, which he used to encourage During that year, Gresham studied Plato through lectures people and put them at ease. Above all, he is remembered for and exercises stressing “close analysis of words, grammar, “his ability to teach the deep things of the Scriptures with sim- and syntax, especially origins and changing usage.”7 He later plicity,” but also refuting every criticism of solid doctrine.11 wrote: His faith in the infallible Word of the living God and the Christ of the Word was childlike; his handling of the Word was that of I shall never forget the hours that I spent with the little an expert scholar. company of students.… They were all men who intended to make the teaching of language their life work.… Never was The author is a member of Escondido OPC in Escondido, Calif. This there an environment where earnest study was had in more article is based on her Ph.D. dissertation, “The Foothills of the Matter- honor than in that group of students.… In such a company horn: Familial Antecedents of J. Gresham Machen” (Loyola, Chicago). Gildersleeve would let himself go. With a magisterial disre- gard of anything like system, he started with Greek syntax 1 Wm. A. R. Goodwin, History of the Theological Seminary in Virginia and then allowed his thought to range over the literature of and Its Historical Background, 2:1–5. the world…. Particularly fortunate were we who sat in the 2 J. Gresham Machen, “Christianity in Conflict,” in Contemporary 8 seats of the learners in that classroom. American Theology, ed. Vergilius Ferm, 247. OCTOBER 2012 3 In addition to being a scholar of whom it was said, “In Machen, “Christianity in Conflict,” 248. sheer insight into the structure and genius of the Greek lan- 4 Testimonials to the Life and Character of John Jones Gresham, 29. guage he has no equal,” Gildersleeve came from a heritage of 5 Ned B. Stonehouse, J. Gresham Machen (OPC edition, 2004), 11.

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Machen, “Christianity in Conflict,” 250.

Presbyterianism and was a fellow member with the Machens NewHorizons at Franklin Street Church. Of John Calvin he wrote: “A genius 7 John M. Cooper, Jr., Walter Hines Page, 34. for common sense, a genius for fair and honest interpretation 8 Machen, “Christianity in Conflict,” 250–51. … of unrivalled moral force.” Then he applied this observa- 9 The Selected Classical Papers of Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, ed. Ward W. tion to scholarship in general: “Honesty of attainment and Briggs, Jr., 55–58. honesty of temper are indispensable requisites for the schol- 10 Machen, “Christianity in Conflict,” 251–52. ar.… A deep sense of duty to the subject at hand … is duty 11 “Personal Remembrances of J. Gresham Machen,” Presbyterian to truth, and so a duty to God!, to that which is and to him that Journal 44.31 (November 27, 1985): 6–13. 5 ALAN D. STRANGE The Personal Side of Charles Hodge harles Hodge (1797–1878) embodied the ethos of Old Princeton, whose two hundredth anniversary we celebrate this year. Hodge was not the passionate pulpiteer C that Princeton’s first professor, Archibald Alexander, was. Nor did he enjoy the sheer brilliance of his celebrated pupil and successor, Benjamin B. Warfield. In the fifty- eight years that Hodge taught at Princeton Theological Seminary, however, he shaped more lives with his gentle good humor and unflappable fidelity to God’s Word than any other professor who taught there.

He modeled for his students a learned piety that marked Hugh was a doctor, like his father (who had died treating nineteenth-century Old School Presbyterianism at its finest. yellow fever). He became a leading physician in Philadelphia, Princeton was appreciated by many, and despised by oth- practicing and teaching obstetrics and gynecology (helping to ers, for its moderation with respect to many of the issues of establish it as a specialty, in fact) and pioneering techniques, the day, and Hodge embodied that moderation. He was, as some of which are still in use. The wealthy Hugh, both on Andrew Hoffecker has written in his new biography (reviewed his own initiative and at Charles’s request, gave gifts to his in this issue of New Horizons), an Old School Presbyterian with brother, especially when Princeton fell short in paying him. In New Side sympathies. He reflected, for some of us, the best a letter of November 22, 1860, Charles reflects his surprise of both worlds: a warm piety married to a staunch orthodoxy. that Hugh has just sent him $400 for a new carriage, protest- In this essay, I would like to shed light on Charles Hodge, not ing, “I never bought anything but a second hand carriage in my only as a theologian or churchman, but as a Christian who was life, and I feel too old to begin to splurge now. If I get any such not that much different from the rest of us. thing, I will label it all over, ‘A Present from a rich Friend!’” When Charles was only six months old, his father died. Perhaps a more significant surrogate father, certainly in His brother, Hugh, who was a year and a half older than he, terms of his theological development, was Archibald Alexan- eventually became a sort of surrogate father, as well as a close der. Hodge came to Princeton in 1812 for college. Alexander confidant and friend. Their mother worked hard to give them met him when he first came there and the seminary was just every advantage. They were well taught in several schools and beginning. Alexander recognized some gifts in Hodge that oth- OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER | were catechized by Ashbel Green, pastor of Second Presby- ers seemed to have missed, asking him to accompany him on terian Church in their hometown, Philadelphia. Green later a preaching tour in 1816, before Hodge entered seminary. Al- became president of the College of New Jersey (which was exander greatly supported and encouraged Hodge—and later renamed Princeton University in 1896) and was an ardent encouraged him to come and teach at Princeton Seminary. leader of the Old School when it split from the New School in The Second Great Awakening, which was still in its earlier 1837. His relationship with Hodge was tense due to Hodge’s Calvinistic phase, touched Princeton when Hodge was a col- NewHorizons NewHorizons moderation when it came to Presbyterian division (as opposed lege student there, and in 1815 he made a profession of faith 6 to hard-liners like Green and Robert J. Breckinridge). in a local Presbyterian church. His profession and Alexander’s continual encouragement— it was also Alexander who in- he married Sarah Bache (a great grand-daughter of Benjamin sisted that Hodge replace him in 1840 as professor of exegeti- Franklin). Hodge was a loving and attentive husband and cal and didactic theology—set him on the path that he would father; he and Sarah had eight children together. Sarah died in follow for the rest of his life. 1849, leaving Hodge heartbroken. He sought to share his grief Hodge was a good student and worked hard. Curiously, with Hugh. Now for the troubling episode: Charles wrote his mother and even his brother, according to their cor- to Hugh on June 18, 1850, “This is a weary day. Twenty- respondence with him, regarded him as somewhat lazy, and eight years ago this day my blessed Sarah gave me her hand. they were always urging him on in his work. In addition to What she was then rises as a beautiful vision … the spirit of the biblical tongues, he mastered at least Latin, German, and departed happiness before my mind. What she is now I cannot French. He was widely read in philosophy and science, as well realize. I only feel that she is gone—as to this world forever. as theology. He was interested in farming, horses, and many No day for months has been so hard for me to get through. other things that would mark him as industrious. But I must stop these unavailing regrets. You have not much Despite all of this, he seemed patience for them and seem to unable at times to please his mother Charles Hodge think I ought to be good enough or even his brother. As close as the to [forget?] I ever had such a brothers were, their correspon- wife—I sometimes think it would dence reflects certain tensions. Paul be well for me if I could leave Gutjahr, in his recent biography Princeton and never come back to of Hodge (reviewed in this issue it. She is so associated with every- of New Horizons), speaks of the thing here that no moment passes distance that developed between without some appeal from her.” him and his mother, especially dur- Two years later, Hodge married ing and after his 1826–1828 trip to again. He married Mary Stockton, Europe (Charles Hodge: Guardian of a friend of his first wife. American Orthodoxy, pp. 147–48). So Hodge had a wonderful life, does Hoffecker, who quotes Hodge in many ways, and was deeply with respect to his mother after his grateful to the Lord for all his return from Europe: “She appeared blessings, but it is important to to have lost a good deal of her feel- look at a few of these neglected ing for me” (Charles Hodge: The Pride matters, particularly the later ten- of Princeton, p. 127). sion with his brother—all I have Charles suffered from a read portrays their relationship as number of maladies, particularly idyllic—so that we can that much lameness in his right thigh, which more appreciate Hodge as a man led him to teach all his classes in his home study from 1833 who faced trials, tribulations, and disappointments, just like to 1836. He chronicled his and his family’s maladies at length, the rest of us. I agree with Hoffecker that Hodge “remained increasingly as the years went by, in his correspondence with uniformly cheerful throughout his academic career” (p. 126), Hugh—which is not surprising, since Hugh was both a doctor despite illness, church conflict, the terrible Civil War, and the and his closest confidant. One wonders if Hugh did not con- strained relationship with his mother and even his beloved sider him something of a hypochondriac, though. In a letter brother, Hugh. One might argue that Hodge’s relationships OCTOBER 2012 of January 1862, Charles recounted several ailments, includ- with his family members, colleagues, students, and close ing chest pains, and wistfully observed, “All this is, I suppose, friends (he had and kept them) made up for that. I think, what you call nervous. Nevertheless it is dispiriting not to be however, that his “remarkably optimistic demeanor,” as Hof-

able to work.” Charles had noted ten years earlier that their fecker calls it, was such because of his unquenchable relation- NewHorizons correspondence had lessened from earlier years (it became ship with his Savior, which served him through all the ups and spotty in the 1850s, though it picked up during the war years, downs of his life. 1861–1865), lamenting, “It is painful, however, that we should thus drift asunder as we grow older.” The author is an OP minister and an associate professor at Mid-Amer- With respect to this tension, I’ll recount a particular in- ica Reformed Seminary. All the letters cited are in the Charles Hodge cident, but here is the background: In 1822, the year in which Papers, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton Hodge became professor of oriental and biblical literature, University Library. Art courtesy of www.reformationart.com. 7 DANNY E. OLINGER The Legacy of Geerhardus Vos e was probably the best exegete Princeton ever had,” Benjamin B. Warfield once told Louis Berkhof. Abraham Kuyper was so taken with his academic “Hacumen that Kuyper offered him the chair of Old Testament studies at the Free University of Amsterdam when he was only twenty-four years old. J. Gresham Machen commented that if he knew as much as he did, he would be writing all the time. Cornelius Van Til considered him the most erudite man he had ever known.

Testimonies like these abound concerning Geerhardus Bavinck said of Vos, “A man can be too modest,” Vos’s disin- Vos (1862–1949), professor of biblical theology at Princeton terest in self-promotion was consistent with his theology. Vos Seminary from 1893 to 1932. Possessing the rare combination taught his students that their focus should be on God himself of first-rate exegetical, philosophical, and linguistic ability, and the accomplishment of redemption, which has at its cen- Vos produced books and articles that remain standard read- ter the person and work of Jesus Christ. ing today in Reformed theology. Although he never joined the As a biblical theologian, the particular area that Vos Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Vos befriended many of his specialized in was eschatological studies—not in the narrow former Princeton students who did, and his theological influ- sense that dispensationalism promotes, but in the broader ence remains in the church to this day. sense of what constitutes the believer’s hope and goal. An And yet, few men ever avoided the spotlight as much as eschatological goal—communion with God in full in a higher Vos did. Irenic to a fault, he did not have the constitution to estate—was set before man from the beginning. Forfeited engage in controversy like his Princeton colleagues Warfield through the sin of Adam, this goal has been achieved on behalf and Machen, although agreeing with their positions. Cosmo- of sinners through the work of the second Adam, Jesus Christ. politan in an age of nationalism, he was often ignored in the Vos believed that this hermeneutic insight was a distinguishing classroom by American students turned off by his thick Ger- hallmark of the Reformed faith and covenant theology. manic accent. By the end of his tenure at Princeton, he had to Vos’s work at Princeton was distinguished from that of resort to self-publishing what would become his most influ- other biblical theologians of his era in that he staunchly de-

OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER ential book, The Pauline Eschatology. In retirement, he became fended the Bible as God’s inspired and inerrant Word. He be- | better known as the husband of Catherine Vos, whose Child’s lieved that those who attacked the Bible frequently underesti- Story Bible sold more copies than all of his books combined. mated God and overestimated man. What man as the creature Vos himself attributed his quiet disposition in part to his owes to God the Creator is to receive God’s self-revelation at Dutch upbringing. He wrote to a friend, “I have always been its full divine value. Said Vos, “It is our duty to emphasize, es- more averse to, rather than a friend of, a personal ‘stepping pecially as Reformed believers, that submission to the revealed into the limelight.’ This is perhaps a residue of the somewhat truth is of the very essence of the Christian religion, being one NewHorizons NewHorizons world-repudiating spirit of the Old-Seceder Pietism in which of the fundamental aspects of that absolute dependence on and 1 2 8 my parents lived and in which I grew up.” Although Herman surrender to God in which true religion consists.” In his book The Biblical Theology, Vos soon came that I learned more from Van Til in his study with a photo of Vos further explained how revelation and him than had ever been my privilege redemption were intertwined. Scrip- to impart to him as a teacher. He was ture is the record of God’s self-revealing indeed a profound scholar, but what activity, and that activity is oriented counts for more than that, a great to salvation in Jesus Christ. What is man of God and a true defender of revealed in seed form in Genesis 3:15, our Christian faith in its Presbyterian with the promise that the seed of the form. His name will not be easily for- woman would crush the head of the gotten, for the impression he made on serpent, comes to fruition with the the religious and theological mind of Savior’s arrival in the New Testament. the church was too deep for that.”5 At the heart of the biblical story from After Machen’s death, Vos was beginning to end is Jesus Christ. informed of developments in the OPC Vos believed that the church’s by his son Bernardus, a member of preaching should reflect that reality. Calvary OPC in Middletown, Penn- Liberalism in Vos’s day had turned the sylvania, and during the visits of Ned message of the Bible into moralism, B. Stonehouse and Cornelius Van Til to aiming to follow the example of the Grand Rapids. Earlier, in 1928, when good man Jesus. “Oh the pity and shame Van Til was an apologetics instructor of it,” said Vos, “the Jesus that is being proclaimed but too of- at Princeton, he sought Vos’s advice on whether he should ten is a Christ after the flesh, a religious genius, the product of become engaged in the Presbyterian conflict. Vos told Van Til, evolution, powerless to save.”3 Vos admonished future preach- then a ministerial member in the Christian Reformed Church, ers to do something much different. He urged them in every “Look, this is going to be a much broader matter than a sermon to leave their hearers with the impression that “it is single, denominational issue. Princeton may be a Presbyterian impossible for you to impart to them what you want other seminary under the direction of the General Assembly of the than as a correlate and consequence of the eternal salvation of PCUSA, but don’t forget that it is a rallying point for many, their souls through the blood of Christ, because in your own many wonderful Christian people all over the world–people conviction that alone is the remedy which you can honestly who love Reformed doctrine and life.… You cannot, you dare offer to a sinful world.”4 not, stand by and look on like an indifferent spectator when a In The Pauline Eschatology, his last published work while conflict is being fought in the arena.”6 he was at Princeton, Vos argued that the apostle Paul grasped Van Til would later honor the man he considered his through the inspiration of the Spirit that Jesus Christ had ush- theological mentor above all others by having Vos’s portrait ered in the kingdom of heaven now through his life, death, and hang above his desk during his tenure at Westminster Semi- resurrection. The Christian has the members of his body upon nary. In return, Vos’s deep friendship with Van Til was seen in earth, which are to be mortified, but as a whole, the Christian his request that, upon his death, Van Til officiate at the funeral belongs to the high mountain-land above. The state of having service. Vos died on August 13, 1949, and Van Til, accompa- one’s citizenship above with Christ while having one’s body nied by OPC minister John J. DeWaard, conducted his memo- still on earth was described by Vos as “semi-eschatological.” rial service at Roaring Branch, Pennsylvania. Van Til preached In July 1932, Vos retired from Princeton with little fan- from 2 Corinthians 5:1, “We know that if our earthly house of fare. The greater excitement on Mercer Street that summer this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an OCTOBER 2012 was Albert Einstein’s arrival six doors down from the Voses. house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (kjv). Vos quietly slipped away to California, where he wrote poetry. The author is the general secretary for Christian Education. Following the death of his beloved wife, Catherine, in 1937,

he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he lived with his NewHorizons daughter (Marianne Radius) and her family. 1 Letter to Albertus Eekhof, October 28, 1932. But, even then, the bonds with his students at Princeton 2 Vos, review of James Denney’s Jesus and the Gospel, in Redemptive who helped to form the OPC remained. Upon hearing of J. History and Biblical Interpretation, 515. Gresham Machen’s death on January 1, 1937, Vos wrote to 3 Vos, “The More Excellent Ministry,” in Grace and Glory, 102. Machen’s brother Arthur: “Dr. Machen for a short while was 4 Vos, “The Gracious Provision,” in Grace and Glory, 238. my pupil at Princeton Seminary. Afterwards for many years, 5 Letter to Arthur Machen, January 5, 1937. we were associated as members of the faculty, and the time 6 William White, Van Til: Defender of the Faith, 48. 9 H o m e M i s s i o n s Under Construction

eon, Kentucky, is a town the Worship at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Neon, Ky. people of the Orthodox Presby- N terian Church have known for the past decade. In “The Father’s Home,” published in this magazine ten years ago, you learned of the deep economic and spiritual needs of the community. Over the years, you have prayed and given financially as the mission work forged ahead. Many went and labored. By God’s grace, much has been ac- complished. Neon (formerly Covenant) Reformed Presbyterian Church (OPC) is being established. People have come to know the saving ing R.C. Sproul, James Montgomery with another household, preparing mom grace of God in Jesus Christ and have Boice, Lorraine Boettner, and Jonathan and dad for marriage and the father and been united to the church. The Word of Edwards. As he headed off to seminary, son for baptism. God is being heralded from the pulpit and he was convinced of the basic Calvinistic Jay finds hunting and fishing to be from house to house. Elders have cared doctrines of salvation, but knew little of a enjoyable hobbies. As a husband, father, for Christ’s sheep. full-orbed Reformed theology. and pastor, he has little time to pursue With large doses of outside funds At Dallas he was introduced to them. He and two other elders in the and the help of many workers from other dispensationalism. He knew that was not presbytery are planning to fish and fel- congregations, Neon OPC has its own what he believed, but he certainly was lowship for a few hours each month. His building. A dilapidated building in down- not able to articulate covenant theology. wife, Andrea, homeschools their two town Neon was purchased. The interior God led him more and more fully into an children and enjoys cooking and crafting. of the first floor received an extreme understanding of his Word. By the end of Downtown Neon is seeing some makeover to be used for worship, educa- seminary, Jay realized he was Reformed revitalization. A new bank has gone in tion, and fellowship. and Presbyterian. Following seminary, he across the street from the church build- The Rev. John Belden was a signifi- did an internship at Park Cities Presbyte- ing. Next door to the church, a new cant part of this ministry from its incep- rian Church in Dallas and became part of public library is under construction. One tion until 2010. At that time, he accepted the PCA. He went on to serve as assistant project that Neon OPC wants to finish a call to a congregation in California. God pastor of Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church is sprucing up the exterior front of its used John’s ministry in Neon in many in Ballwin, Missouri. building. Funds and energy were in short ways. Now, as a young, solo pastor in supply when the first floor was rehabbed, Finding God’s man to take up this Neon, God is continuing to stretch Jay. so the exterior still looks shabby. unique ministry took some time. In late Preaching morning and evening every A second project is to refurbish the 2011, the Rev. M. Jay Bennett began to Lord’s Day is new to him, but he loves upstairs apartments. This is the manse for

OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER fill the pulpit. Earlier this year he was it. He finds that he is expending a great the Bennett family. One of the apart- | called and installed as an evangelist. deal of energy on preaching, but God is ments is in really poor condition. The two Jay was a minister in the Presbyte- energizing him. apartments also need to be made into rian Church in America without call. He Jay loves to help people. Ministering one unified dwelling area. Little Farms had graduated from Dallas Theological to them by household has been exciting. Chapel (OPC) in Michigan has sent a gift Seminary in 2007. He grew up in Baptist Every family visitation is being initiated to help provide materials for this project. churches in Georgia. by the session. Jay has been able to pre- They may also be sending a work team in NewHorizons NewHorizons While serving as a pastoral intern pare one household of five for member- January. Would you be able to assist with 10 before going to seminary, he began read- ship in the church. He has been working these projects? Please pray for Neon OPC and its tion for ministry. angrily yell at students passing by. Others new pastor, Jay Bennett. Ask God to keep Jeremiah observes that the funda- are Eastern Orthodox mystics. In this him faithful in the proclamation of the mentals in Resurrection OPC are strong. venue that seems much-abused, Jeremiah Word. Ask God to bless the preaching to The people love worship. They come announces, “We want good things for the edification and peace of believers and faithfully to morning and evening services you.” As he tells them of Christ, he invites the salvation of the lost. Pray for wisdom on the Lord’s Day. They are committed students to engage him in a discussion and grace in reaching out to lost neigh- to the Lord and to doing the work that of their religious beliefs. In the spring, bors. There are still great needs in this will help the mission work to mature as a Jeremiah preached on campus six times. part of Appalachia. Pray that the church congregation. They are united. Resurrection Church’s students were very will be joyful and content with who it is The congregation has faced some supportive, as was the wider Christian in Christ. struggles and disappointments together. community on campus. As Christian Give thanks for the commitment and Their facilities are less than ideal. They students accompanied him and listened, faithfulness of the households in the con- worship in a banquet facility in the morn- some passersby would heckle. But others gregation and for the families being added ing, without additional space for Sunday would stop and converse with the group. to the membership. school, and in a different facility in the Jeremiah and his wife, Beth, are evening. Their prayerful and diligent expecting their fifth child and first girl search for one facility that would accom- soon. Their boys love Legos. They are avid modate their growing ministry has not yet readers, an interest they learned from Good News born fruit. Please continue to pray with their parents. Jeremiah is also an author. them that God would meet this need. P&R Publishing has recently released his in State College God is gathering in more people. A first novel, The Dark Faith. He also listens Bad news has dominated State College, family with five children is in the process to fiction as he runs. He completed a full Pennsylvania, the home of Penn State of uniting with the church. The parents of marathon in 2011, and has just completed University. But Pastor Jeremiah Mont- the first Penn State student to join Resur- his second half-marathon for 2012. gomery and the people of Resurrection rection OPC have become members. The biggest challenge for Jeremiah OPC herald God’s good news of redemp- The congregation has many tal- and the people of Resurrection OPC is tion. Each Lord’s Day the mission work ented people. Incredible musicians assist meeting people and having spiritually gathers to praise the Lord for life and with the musical accompaniment for significant conversations. Please pray peace, forgiveness and transformation, the congregation’s worship. A woman that God would give them many divine truth and glory. in the congregation bakes the bread for appointments. They long to see many Resurrection OPC is the newest communion. She is also an avid gardener people come to a committed faith in mission work in the newest presbytery and brings floral arrangements to grace Christ. Remember to pray for a better of the OPC (Central Pennsylvania). The the worship space. Other members serve meeting facility. work was begun with the encouragement faithfully behind the scenes: coordinating Praise God for his covenant faithful- and support of Westminster OPC in Hol- refreshments, designing advertisements, ness and for the gifts and graces he has lidaysburg, where Mark Brown has been keeping the books, and operating the poured out on the people of Resurrection pastor since its inception in 1977. sound system. Every need at Resurrection Church. Pastor Montgomery is a home-grown OPC finds willing hands. shepherd. He grew up as a covenant Early in the life of Resurrection Some of the ladies at Resurrection OPC in State College, Pa. child in Westminster Church, where his OPC, God gave them a dad serves as a ruling elder. He went to new convert. He found OCTOBER 2012 college locally. His seminary training was eternal life just two through the extension program of Green- months before he died. ville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. His widow is part of

Pastor Brown was his mentor in prepara- the congregation. |

Jeremiah is laying NewHorizons plans to engage in Home Missions Today open-air preaching on Fridays, once again on For up-to-date Home Missions the campus of Penn news and prayer updates, e-mail State. Typical open-air [email protected]. preachers on campus New editions: October 10, 24. are “screamers” who 11 C h r i s t i a n E d u c a t i o n New Books on Old Princeton D. G. HART and JOHN R. MUETHER o mark Princeton Theological communion. But by 1812 Presbyterians portance of piety. In Moorhead’s words, Seminary’s centennial in 1912, the possessed sufficient resources to found for Mackay the question was whether T school’s faculty contributed to a a seminary. Princeton’s combination of Princeton’s heritage would become fairly nondescript volume of essays. It Reformed orthodoxy and experimental “fossilized” or “enriched.” One underde- included “Jesus and Paul,” by J. Gresham Calvinism set the standard for conserva- veloped theme in the book is confessional Machen, “The Eschatological Aspect of tive Presbyterians in the United States. subscription, a matter that animated Old the Pauline Conception of the Spirit,” by In fact, it is hard to imagine the existence Princeton as an Old School institution Geerhardus Vos, and “On the Emotional of the OPC or the PCA without “Old and that prompted Machen’s critique of Life of Our Lord,” by Benjamin B. War- Princeton”—a phrase that refers to the liberal Protestantism. Without attending field. But without an introduction, pref- seminary prior to the reorganization of to subscription, Moorhead has an easier ace, or acknowledgments, readers would 1929 that prompted J. Gresham Machen time seeing continuity before and after have needed to know the seminary’s his- to found Westminster Seminary. 1929. tory to recognize the book’s significance. This year, bicentennial celebra- From The seminary made up for the lack of tions for Princeton took two forms. The conserva- fanfare with another volume. The Centen- first was the academic conference. The tive hands nial Celebration of the Theological Seminary of conservatives who organized the two-day have the Presbyterian Church included hundreds conference at Greenville Presbyterian come two of congratulatory addresses from leaders Theological Seminary featured addresses new an- of schools and churches located around before audiences in the hundreds. In con- thologies the world, from Burma to Hungary. trast, Princeton Seminary’s own confer- in 2012, If Princeton’s centennial could set off ence drew audiences that rarely topped both this kind of fanfare, what of its bicenten- sixty persons who listened to talks on edited by nial? Surely the founding of Princeton topics that in some instances were tangen- James M. would not generate festivities in 2012 like tial to the seminary. Garret- those in 2009 celebrating the five hun- The Princeton anniversary also son. Princ- dredth anniversary of John Calvin’s birth, yielded a handful of books. Again, the eton and the Work of Christian Ministry (Ban- an occasion that launched international differences between conservative and ner of Truth, 2 vols., $59) is a collection conferences, various biographies, and mainline Presbyterians are unmistakable. of over seventy shorter writings from Old many more collections of essays. Even For mainline Presbyterians, Old Prince- Princeton luminaries, a rich sampling that so, Princeton marked a turning point in ton marks a bygone era before the school ranges from the charming (“The Use and American Presbyterianism. The institu- adjusted to modern times. This is one Abuse of Books,” by Archibald Alexander) tion not only addressed a serious shortage theme of James Moorhead’s forthcom- to the profound (Warfield’s inaugural ad- of ministers, but also defined American ing Princeton Seminary in American Religion dress on the “Idea of Systematic Theology and Culture OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER Presbyterianism’s theological identity. (Eerdmans, $60). Moorhead Considered as a Science”). Together, these | Eighteenth-century Presbyterian theology arranges the narrative around the theme pieces exhibit Princeton’s commitment to on both sides of the Atlantic had been a of theological education’s aims and pur- training Presbyterian ministers and testify work in progress. Ecclesiastical moder- poses. As a result, when he arrives at the to the enduring wisdom of the faculty’s ates in Scotland resisted difficult parts of presidency of James Mackay in 1937 (the reflections for students and pastors. Gar- Reformed orthodoxy, Irish Presbyterians first new president after the reorganiza- retson’s companion work, Pastor-Teachers played second fiddle to the Anglican es- tion), Moorhead notes Mackay’s preserva- of Old Princeton (Banner of Truth, $32), NewHorizons NewHorizons tablishment, and American colonists were tion of the seminary’s heritage—training contains funeral sermons, memorial ad- simply struggling to found a Reformed pastors, theology’s centrality, and the im- dresses, and other articles. The inclusion 12 of less familiar figures, such as Henry A. biographies of Charles Hodge, both of Boardman, Alexander T. McGill, James C. which are reviewed in this issue. Not to New Shipping Moffat, William Henry Green, and Wil- be overlooked is the republication of A. liam M. Paxton, is especially useful. A. Hodge’s tribute to his father, The Life of Rates Policy Of course, Charles Hodge and B. Charles Hodge (Banner of Truth, $32). B. Warfield command pride of place in The Reformed world owes a debt Materials sold by the Committee considerations of Old Princeton, and of gratitude to Fred G. Zaspel (pastor of on Christian Education and by 2011 marked the publication of two new Reformed Baptist Church of Franconia, the Committee for the Historian Pennsylvania) for his recent studies of will have no shipping charge Warfield. In his Theology of B. B. Warfield on orders of $35.00 or more. OPC Ministers (Crossway, 2010, $40), Zaspel assembles Smaller orders (no minimum Warfield’s occasional writings into a order) will be subject to a flat Who Studied at thematic arrangement that is suggestive $4.00 shipping charge per order. Old Princeton of the systematic theology that Warfield This applies to both online never wrote. orders (paid through PayPal) and Allen, Samuel More recently Zaspel penned the e-mail, phone, and mail orders (which are invoiced). Customers Bordeaux, Harley first in a new Crossway series on “Theo- with shipping addresses outside Brown, James logians on the Christian Life.” In Warfield the U.S. may not order online Chrisman, Charles on the Christian Life: Living in the Light of and will be charged for shipping DeRuiter, Peter the Gospel (2012, $17.99), Zaspel dubs DeVelde, Everett at cost. (Free digital editions of a the Lion of Princeton a “Christologian,” DeWaard, John growing number of our publica- a term that underscores how the person Duff, Clarence tions are available online.) and work of Christ informed Warfield’s Faucette, Frank teaching. The “dones” of Christ (i.e., Freeman, David the indicatives) inform the duty of the Paul K. Helseth’s Right Reason and the Griffiths, H. McAllister Hamilton, Floyd Christian (the imperatives). Contrary to Princeton Mind: An Unorthodox Proposal Hunt, Bruce the standard caricatures of Old Princeton, (P&R, 2010, $21.99). Challenging the Jamison, Milo Warfield was a theologian of the heart prevailing notion that Alexander, Hodge, Jongewaard, Lawrence who expanded our understanding of the and Warfield championed an antiquated Kuiper, R. B. Holy Spirit, even while critiquing per- approach to faith and reason, Helseth Long, Craig fectionism and counterfeit claims of the denies that Old Princeton was captive to Machen, J. Gresham miraculous. While acknowledging War- common sense philosophy. He proposes MacRae, Allan field’s high regard for the Westminster instead that Princeton’s “ministerial use” Marsden, Robert Confession, Zaspel overlooks Warfield’s of reason was more consistent with the McIntire, Carl polemics regarding confessional revi- broader Reformed tradition than inter- Mitchell, Thomas sion in the Presbyterian Church. Thus he preters have appreciated. Murray, John underestimates, not unlike Moorhead, the Two hundred years after its found- Myers, David importance of confessional subscription. ing, Old Princeton still generates new Pearson, Manford Zaspel claims that interest in War- books. Far from being fossilized in the Rankin, John field is higher now than it was in his own past, it is a heritage that continues to

Rian, Edwin lifetime, evidence for which is found in enrich confessional Presbyterianism. OCTOBER 2012 Rohrbaugh, James Simpson, John Stonehouse, Ned Sutherland, Samuel Out of the Mouth …

Thwing, John My five-year-old son stopped me as we were working on NewHorizons Toms, John the Children’s Catechism: “Dad, why are we doing all this? Van Til, Cornelius I know how it works. You just stand in front of the church Vining, Robert and say yes five times!” Welbon, Henry Wideman, Charles —Chad Van Dixhoorn Woodbridge, Charles Vienna, Va. Woolley, Paul Note: If you have an example of the humorous “wisdom” that can come from children, please send it to the editor. 13 F o r e i g n M i s s i o n s Gospel Challenges in South Africa BRIAN T. WINGARD ome in our denomination may challenges mirror those met all Brian Wingard (right) with two South African pastors be wondering why the OPC has over Africa. S sent a missionary couple to South Others are Africa. After all, it is the most developed more charac- country on the African continent, and it teristic of this has several Reformed denominations. The nation. They question is a natural one, but there are all illustrate good reasons for the OPC to be involved the need for in mission work here. a vigorous In the first place, the development proclamation of South Africa says nothing about the of a full-orbed spiritual state of the people. A nation can gospel in this be “developed” and, at the same time, nation. spiritually needy. • Lack Secondly, the development of South of Theologi- Africa is spotty and uneven. Sitting in a cal Knowledge traffic jam on one of Pretoria’s superhigh- among Church ways may cause one to think that South Leaders. As Africa is no different than the West. But in much of Africa, the level of theologi- In South Africa, there is a mixing of the when one pulls up to “the crossings” in cal and biblical knowledge is low within occult practices of “African traditional KwaMhlanga, where Mukhanyo Theologi- many black churches of South Africa. religion” with Christianity. On our first cal College is located, one gets an entirely Great numbers of pastors possess no Sunday of residence in South Africa, we different idea. theological training of any kind. There ate lunch in the home of Pastor Samson, Furthermore, the predominantly are many others whose entire training the pastor of several Reformed congrega- white Reformed denominations face a consists of a year of fairly low-level study tions. He told us that it was only during number of challenges within their own at a Bible institute. Contributing to this his time of study at Mukhanyo that he communities, and the erosion caused by challenge is the idea that “if you can’t do became convinced of the need to do away secularism and suspect theology poses anything else, you can always be a pas- with the ancestor shrine in his home. An- problems for them. tor.” As a result, biblical and theological cestor worship is quite prevalent within There are challenges that make mis- understanding among professing Chris- the church, but this is often defended sionary endeavor here both understand- tians is very poor—and that includes the as the proper “respect” enjoined by the able and welcome. These challenges exist basic doctrines of grace. This challenge fifth commandment. “Christian” funerals in both the black and the white communi- contributes to a number of the challenges are sometimes fraught with this kind of ties. syncretism.

OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER listed below. | • Witchcraft and Syncretism. Although • The Prosperity Gospel. The “prosper- CHALLENGES IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY witchcraft is seen throughout sub-Saharan ity gospel” has made inroads throughout Mukhanyo Theological College, Africa, its effect upon the churches in the Christian world; in Africa, however, where I teach, draws its students almost South Africa is more pronounced than its influence is greater because its false exclusively from the black community of I have experienced elsewhere. In other promises appeal especially to those South Africa (and other African nations). places, the problem is one of inconsisten- who perceive themselves as hopelessly NewHorizons NewHorizons The challenges to the gospel presented by cy—Christians backsliding into the use of poor. South Africa is no exception. For this community are many. Some of these practices they know to be non-Christian. example, the principle of “multiplication 14 in giving” was defended in class by one of Afrikaner and the other is English. This my students as meeting the need of the has also allowed me to see the gospel CONCLUSION poor to have “a word from Christ” that challenges affecting the white community. Is there work here for missionaries speaks hope to them in their poverty. The white Reformed churches on their to do? I hope that what I have said above Great numbers of people here have been own are not going to be able to fully meet has shown that there is. In light of these promised prosperity in the name of the gospel challenge faced by the nation challenges, I would substitute for the Christ, and, when the prosperity does as a whole. This community has much to question “Why has the OPC sent a mis- not materialize, they fall away from the do to put its own house in order. A few of sionary couple to South Africa” a different church. their challenges I mention below. question: “Why has the OPC sent only one • Large Cult Followings. One of the • Galloping Secularism. Although the missionary family to South Africa?” largest cults in South Africa is the Zion Afrikaans-speaking white Christian Church (popularly known as the community was once Congregation of the Reformed Church Ramotse, at which Dr. Wingard preached ZCC). The founder of this cult, Engenas overwhelm- Lekganyane, was treated by his followers ingly Christian as a quasi-deity. It is now led by two of his and largely grandsons. Near their home, in a neigh- Reformed, boring province, thousands gathered (by secularism has some estimates, over a million) over the now become Easter weekend. The line at the tollbooths rampant. The of those traveling there from the Pretoria Afrikaners are and Johannesburg area was reported to be no more likely twenty kilometers long. to be Christian • Major Social Challenges. There are than white major social issues in the South African people in the community that represent a challenge United States. to, and show the need for, the gospel Ignorance of of the free grace of God through Jesus the gospel is Christ. HIV/AIDS affects vast numbers widespread, of people, who need, in addition to and the churches for the most part are medical care, the hope that only Christ not growing. can provide. There is great frustration • Creeping Theological Liberalism. Once What’s and bitterness among the youth because a bastion of Reformed orthodoxy, the in- of unemployment and the lack of signs stitutions of higher theological education New of hope for a brighter future. There is in South Africa now exhibit the inroads often a spirit of entitlement, which is so made by theological liberalism. New ideas COMINGS/GOINGS destructive to the work ethic. These issues of biblical interpretation challenge the • Dr. and Mrs. James D. Knox, having have led many in the black community to view of an infallible and inerrant Word in concluded a seven-month furlough, place their hope in man-made social and many institutions. This has had an effect are scheduled to return to Uganda on political solutions, when the real need is even within ostensibly orthodox denomi- October 15. for a transformation of society that begins nations. • Rev. and Mrs. Mark E. Richline, with the transformation of individual • Political Resentment. The black after concluding a yearlong language OCTOBER 2012 hearts through the gospel of grace. community has no monopoly on politi- study program in Costa Rica, arrived in cal and social resentment. However we Montevideo, Uruguay, in mid-Septem- ber to take up their labors. CHALLENGES IN THE WHITE COMMUNITY may regard the justice of the situation, • The following missionary associates Although my primary calling is to many white South Africans believe that | teach at Mukhanyo Theological College, they have been politically marginalized. have concluded their terms of service NewHorizons I assist the pastor of an English-speaking A report that I received indicated that the and returned home: Miss Christina N. Hartwell (Cedar Presbyterian Church, congregation of the GKSA (Reformed segment of South African society least OPC, Hudsonville, Mich.), Asia; Miss Churches in South Africa). The congrega- likely to land a job, if unemployed, was Hyojung Lee (RCNZ), Asia; Mrs. tion is ethnically diverse, including white that of white males. Even when they are Joel LeMahieu (formerly Heather M. “English” South Africans, black South employed, many of them hold relatively Baumgardner, RPCNA), Uganda; Rev. Africans, ethnic Chinese, and a number menial jobs, and this presents a challenge and Mrs. Wendell S. Stoltzfus (pastor, of white families where one spouse is to the gospel. Covenant OPC, Reading, Pa.), Asia. 15 S t e w a r d s h i p The Rich Fool (Luke 12:13–21) ARTHUR J. FOX nce, when Jesus was teaching a This night your soul is required of you, god. He is opposed to relying upon that crowd, a man was having an argu- and the things you have prepared, whose wealth apart from God’s blessing upon it. O ment with his brother over a family will they be?” The Shorter Catechism (Q. 104) tells inheritance. He demanded that Jesus “tell Jesus’ application is simple and to the us, “In the fourth petition, which is, Give my brother to divide the inheritance with point: “So is the one who lays up treasure us this day our daily bread, we pray that of me.” Jesus refused to do so, replying, for himself and is not rich toward God.” God’s free gift we may receive a compe- “Man, who made me a judge or arbitra- He is a fool. In all his saving, the man did tent portion of the good things of this life, tor over you?” Building on this, Jesus told not consider that in addition to earning and enjoy his blessing with them.” Ah! the crowd to beware of covetousness, “for his wealth, he had not been concerned There’s Jesus’ lesson in a nutshell. Seek one’s life does not consist in the abun- to entrust his welfare to God. The Lord’s wealth, but do it in the proper propor- dance of his possessions.” brother makes the same point in James tion. Seek for a competent provision for One might be tempted to conclude 4:13–16: “Come now, you who say, ‘To- your future, but ask for God’s blessing to that Jesus is against wealth, but that is not day or tomorrow we will go into such and accompany it! That is all Jesus is con- the case. After all, God made Solomon such a town and spend a year there and cerned about. Such a concern will not one of the richest men in all of history. trade and make a profit’—yet you do not then degenerate into idolatry. But Solomon eventually lost his “Lord- know what tomorrow will bring. What is Finally, here is a simple test to apply centered” focus and fell into sin. Later your life? For you are a mist that appears to your attitude toward money. Are you Solomon warned, “The end of the matter; for a little time and then vanishes. Instead giving a portion of your gain to God as a all has been heard. Fear God and keep you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we tithe? If not, you have not recognized it as his commandments, for this is the whole will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you God’s gift and are not enjoying his bless- duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13). boast in your arrogance. All such boasting ing. Worldwide Outreach, anyone? Jesus’ teaching is consistent with is evil.” The point is, God is not opposed this. Similarly, Paul equates covetousness to wealth that is honestly gained, but he The author is pastor of Calvary OPC in with idolatry (Col. 3:5). We think that is opposed to wealth that becomes your Middletown, Pa. He quotes the ESV. if we get all we want, we will be happy. From there it is but a short step to equat- WORLDWIDE OUTREACH ing life with possessions. Hence, Jesus warns us about that. As he often did, Jesus reinforced his warning with a parable about a man who owned a lot of land that produced a large volume of crops and found he had no- where to store it all. After some thought,

OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER the man realized he had an opportunity. | So he planned to build bigger barns and store his grain away for the future. “And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” Sounds like a good retirement plan, doesn’t it? NewHorizons NewHorizons But God had not yet had his say! When he spoke, it was devastating: “Fool! 16 P r a y e r C a l e n d a r October 1. Ben and Heather Hopp, Haiti. Pray for the spiritual new growth. / Mr. and Mrs. M., Asia. Pray for Mr. M. growth of believers who faithfully attend worship servic- as he teaches a weekly “English Corner” Bible study es each week. / Todd and Cheryl Bordow, Rio Rancho, directed at non-believers. / Air Force chaplain Cornelius N.Mex. Pray that God would bring families with teenag- (and Deidre) Johnson. ers to the OPC of Rio Rancho. / Pray for Danny Olinger, 7. Missionary associates Mr. and Mrs. C., Asia. Pray for Christian Education general secretary, as he reports to Mr. C. as he assumes some leadership responsibilities the Committee on Christian Education, meeting Oct. for the Mission team. / Drew and Sonya Adcock, Wil- 1–3. liamsport, Pa. Pray that God would bring new families to 2. Home Missions general secretary Ross Graham. / Pray worship at Omega OPC. / Pray for the work of Andrew for missionary associates Jana Crum (Uruguay), Te s - Moody, OPC website editorial assistant. sara Raposa (Uganda), and Marcie Winslow (Haiti) as 8. Chad and Katie Mullinix, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Pray that they assist our missionary families. / Lou Ann Shafer, the people of Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church will grow music editor for the Psalter-Hymnal Committee. in grace and knowledge of Christ and have opportunities 3. Pray for Mark and Jeni Richline, Uruguay, as the family to spread the gospel. / Pray for the teaching being done adjusts to their new living and working situation in Mon- by missionary associates E. C., T. D., E. H., and T. L. L., tevideo. / Philip and Jenny Dharmawirya, Philadelphia, Asia. Pa. Pray for successful completion of the basement 9. Brian and Dorothy Wingard, South Africa. Pray for Dor- renovation project at Emmanuel Indonesian Protestant othy as she leads a women’s Bible study. / Stephen and Church. / Pat Clawson, Christian Education office secre- Catalina Payson, Mifflinburg, Pa. Pray that Providence tary. OPC will have a clearly defined vision for Reformed wit- 4. Larry and Holly Wilson, Airdrie, Alberta. Pray for unity ness, mission, and ministry. / Pray for the work of Kathy and growth within the congregation of Redeemer OPC. Bube, Loan Fund administrator. / Steve and Linda Larson, Uruguay. Pray for continued 10. Todd and Julie Wagenmaker, St. Louis, Mo. Pray for spiritual growth and maturity in the churches with which Gateway OPC’s Immigration and Composition Outreach they work. / Pray for yearlong intern opportunities for Ministries. / A Presbyterian Church in the Horn of seminary graduates. Africa. Pray for those providing guidance to the children 5. Mr. and Mrs. F., Asia. Pray for opportunities for Mr. F. to in the church. / Pray for the work of Doug Watson, staff talk to students about Christ. / Christopher and Della accountant. Chelpka, Tucson, Ariz. Pray that the people of Covenant 11. Mark and Michele Winder, Collierville, Tenn. Pray that OPC will grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. / recent visitors to Wolf River Presbyterian Church will Geoff (and Heather) Downey, yearlong intern at Trinity continue to attend. / Affiliated missionaries Jerry and OPC in Hatboro, Pa. Marilyn Farnik, Czech Republic. Pray for their efforts to 6. Brian and Sara Chang, Cottonwood, Ariz. Pray that the witness for Christ in their community. Lord would bless Verde Valley Reformed Chapel with

Many OP mission works engaged in significant outreach events over the summer months. Sovereign Grace Church in Davenport, Iowa, was able to engage a number OCTOBER 2012 of people in significant gospel conversations at a fair (shown at left). Hillsdale Church in Michigan had a Bible study series at the public library that was well attended.

Young people from throughout the presbytery distributed |

1,900 pieces of literature in the Cottonwood, Arizona, NewHorizons area in one day on behalf of Verde Valley Chapel. This is a sampling of what was done. Rejoice in the sowing and prayerfully look for a great harvest. Pray (1) that the Spirit will use this witness to bring many to a committed faith in Christ Jesus, (2) that God will be truly wor- shipped, and (3) that many will be brought in to the OPC’s mission works across North America and the Caribbean. 17 PRAYER CALENDAR ( cont.)

12. Brad Hertzog, Queens, N.Y. Pray for men who can lead coordinator for Christian Education. to be raised up and brought in to Reformation Presbyte- 22. Sacha and Martina Walicord, Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Pray rian Church. / Pray for Foreign Missions general secre- for a new worship location for Knox Presbyterian Church, tary Mark Bube as he provides counsel and encourage- as the building they rent is being sold. / Heero and Anya ment to missionaries living overseas. / Navy chaplain Hacquebord, L’viv, Ukraine. Pray that seekers will clearly Bryan (and Shelly) Weaver. understand God’s Word. / Pray for the Great Commis- 13. Pray for Foreign Missions administrative assistant Linda sion Publications trustees meeting Oct. 22. Posthuma and secretary Janet Birkmann. / Ben and 23. Pray for new missionary associates Adam and Sarah Sarah Miller, Huntington, N.Y. Pray that God would Thompson, Sendai, Japan, as they settle into their new help Trinity OPC build redemptive relationships with the life and labors. / Andrew and Billie Moody, San Anto- unchurched and underchurched. / Jan Gregson, office nio, Tex. Pray that visitors will continue to attend worship manager and assistant to the director of finance. at San Antonio Reformed Church. / Carson Ryan, year- 14. Home Missions associate general secretary Dick Ger- long intern at Lake Sherwood OPC in Orlando, Fla. ber. / Pray for safe travel for James and Jenny Knox, 24. Everett and Kimberly Henes, Hillsdale, Mich. Pray M.D. and R.N., Nakaale, Uganda, as they conclude that the saints at Hillsdale OPC will be built up through their furlough and return to Uganda tomorrow. / Pray the Word and sacraments. / Woody and Laurie Lauer, for stated clerk George Cottenden as he puts the final Numazu, Japan. Pray for church members with major touches on the Minutes of the 79th General Assembly health problems. / Cerrone (and Yolanda) Brown, sum- for publication. mer intern at Emmanuel OPC in Wilmington, Del. 15. Pray for Al and Laurie Tricarico, Nakaale, Uganda (on 25. Cal and Edie Cummings, Sendai, Japan. Pray that God furlough), as they maintain a busy furlough schedule. will work in the hearts of those attending Bible classes. / Vern and Olena Picknally, Fremont, Mich. Pray for / Kent and Laurie Harding, Doniphan, Mo. Pray for the God’s continued blessing on Fremont OPC’s Leadership right men to sense God’s call to serve as officers at Sov- Class. / Short-term missions coordinator David Nakhla ereign Grace Reformed Church. / Camden (and Erica) asks for prayer for construction teams going to refurbish Bucey, yearlong intern at Bethel Presbyterian Church in the Ishinomaki Chapel in Japan. Wheaton, Ill. 16. David and Rashel Robbins, Huntington, W.Va. Pray that 26. Carlos and Diana Cruz, San Juan, P.R. Pray that con- God would bless the outreach efforts of Trinity Pres- struction at Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada’s building byterian Church. / Eric and Dianna Tuininga, Mbale, will soon be completed. / Affiliated missionaries Craig Uganda. Pray for Eric as he works with and encour- and Ree Coulbourne, Urayasu, Japan, and Linda Karner, ages the pastors of local OPCU congregations. / David Chiba, Japan. / Mark (and Karissa) Soud, yearlong Haney, director of finance and planned giving for the intern at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Phoenix, Ariz. Committee on Coordination. 27. Kaz and Katie Yaegashi, Yamagata, Japan. Pray that 17. Pray for new missionary associates Christopher and God would bless and encourage the faithful members of Chloe Verdick, Nakaale, Uganda, as they assist the Yamagata Chapel. / John and Lois Hilbelink, Rockford, Uganda Mission. / Geoffrey and Sharon Willour, Ill. Pray for those taking the inquirers’ class at Provi- Cleveland, Ohio. Pray for outreach, church growth, and dence OPC. / David (and Jenna) DeRienzo, yearlong congregational solidarity at Lake OPC. / Army chaplain intern at Second Parish OPC in Portland, Maine. Kyle (and Laurel) Brown. 28. Jeremiah and Elizabeth Montgomery, State College, 18. Ken and Cressid Golden, Moline, Ill. Pray that God Pa. Pray that new families and individuals will come would bless the follow-up from the Streetfest outreach to Resurrection OPC. / Ben and Melanie Westerveld, and provide similar opportunities for Sovereign Grace Quebec, Canada. Pray for open doors as they seek OPC this fall. / David and Sunshine Okken, Nakaale, to make contacts and share the gospel. / David (and Uganda. Pray for Sunshine as she homeschools their Karen) Koenig, yearlong intern at Covenant OPC in children. Orland Park, Ill. 19. Pray for safety in travel for Foreign Missions associate 29. Pray for missionary associate Debra Blair, Quebec, general secretary Douglas Clawson. / Doug and Kristi Canada, as she assists with outreach programs at Bylsma, Beamsville, Ontario. Praise God for regular St-Marc Church. / Brandon and Laurie Wilkins, Crystal visitors at Living Hope Presbyterian Church and pray that Lake, Ill. Pray for Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church as they will desire to join the congregation. / Sarah Peder- they bear witness to the gospel in Crystal Lake. son, New Horizons proofreader. OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER

| 30. Roberto and Marieta Laranjo, Lowell, Mass. Pray for 20. John and Wenny Ro, Chicago, Ill. (downtown). Pray that a new facility for Igreja Presbiteriana Brasileira, as they God will bless Gospel Life Presbyterian Church’s Bible must move from their current location. / Pray that the studies in new areas of Chicago. / Pray for the labors of congregations of the Ethiopian Reformed Presbyterian missionary associates Erika Bulthuis, Heather Foss, Church will be a powerful witness in their communities. Leah Hopp, and Emily Pihl, Nakaale, Uganda. 31. Pray for the needs of retired missionaries Betty 21. Bob and Martha Wright, Nakaale, Uganda. Pray for Bob Andrews, Greet Rietkerk, Young and Mary Lou Son, as he oversees the physical plant and vehicle mainte-

NewHorizons NewHorizons and Fumi Uomoto. / Tim and Joanne Beauchamp, nance at the Karamoja Station. / Home Missions admin- Bridgton, Maine. Pray for steady growth, unity, and out- istrative assistant Sean Gregg. / Jim Scott, publications 18 reach at Pleasant Mountain Presbyterian Church. DOUGLAS L. WATSON Planning for a Minister’s Retirement h no! He’s talking about retirement again—funds, investments … blah, blah, blah … finance, hocus pocus, blah, blah, blah.…” Before your eyes glaze “Oover, read on. “I’m a minister, not a financier. Why should I be distracted from the work of ministry?” Don’t turn that page; read on.

“We have a retirement allowance in our pastor’s salary make adequate provision for the future during their ministry package. He can take care of his retirement however he wants. (Deut. 14:28–29). That’s his business.” Elders and sessions, don’t tune out; read on. Three, good stewardship to prepare for future needs is to Find out why churches and their ministers should plan for be practiced (Prov. 6:6–11; 10:5; 24:27). their minister’s retirement, how the church at large can help, In the New Testament, the same principles appear. One, the good it can do for the church, and the relief from distrac- the church is still to provide for the present and future care of tion it provides. So read on. her ministers and their families (Gal. 6:6; 1 Tim. 5:1–16). The New Testament teaches that ministers laboring in the sphere BIBLICAL UNDERPINNINGS1 of the church have the right to wages from the church (Matt. In the Old Testament, there are three principles that 10:10; 1 Tim. 5:17–18; 1 Cor. 9:3–14). Two, the church is bear on the matter of retirement planning for the church’s still to provide for the care of the needy. We see this in pre- ministers. One, the church was to provide for the present cept (Jas 2:14-16; 1 John 3:17) and example (Acts 2:44–45; and future support and care of God’s ministers, as seen in the 11:28–30; Rom. 15:25–27). Isn’t this why the Lord gave priests and Levites. Israel’s tithe supported them during the deacons to the church (Acts 6:1–6)? Surely, God’s needy min- years of their active service (Num. 18:21, 24, 25–28). But by isters, who are to be considered worthy of double honor (1 God’s direction, during their retirement (Num. 8:23–26), the Tim. 5:17), are numbered among them, along with their wid-

Old Testament church was still to support them for the rest of ows (1 Tim 5:5, 9–10). Three, preparation for future needs is OCTOBER 2012 their lives (Num. 18:31; Deut. 14:27; 18:1–8). They had no still to be practiced (Matt. 25:14-30; Luke 19:12–28). inheritance in Israel; God was their portion. He provided for The church must provide for her ministers, the needy them through his people—even the places of their permanent ones included. The Word of God calls for preparation, by good

homes in the cities set apart for them. stewardship, for the provision they will eventually need. |

Two, the Old Testament church was also to provide for NewHorizons the present and future support of the needy among God’s THE RESPONSIBILITY people. This included those beyond the years of regular ser- Responsibility to provide for ministers falls on the vice, including God’s Old Testament ministers who could not church. In the first place, it falls on the church at large. One of the reasons that the OPC, in good Presbyterian fashion, 1 Much of what follows was condensed and adapted from “An has diaconal committees at the presbytery level is to care for Outline of the Biblical Philosophy of Mutual Protection, Care and Dependence as the Principle Underlying the Program of the needy ministers among the other needy people in the church. Committee on Pensions.” See www.opc.org/pensions. The General Assembly’s standing Committee on Diaconal 19 Ministries (CDM) backs the presbyteries in fulfilling this put aside and well managed. If you do, you will find that you charge and contributes direct assistance to needy retired min- worry less and concentrate on ministry more—not vice versa. isters. The OPC also answers the Bible’s demands for prepara- A little preparation now will avoid much worry later, tion and good stewardship in the future care of her ministers when the years of your old age and inability to labor for the through the General Assembly’s Committee on Pensions Lord arrive. So at 28 or 58, don’t wait to implement biblical (COP) and Pension Fund. The CDM and COP constantly wisdom to prepare for retirement. But there is another facet seek, by God’s grace, to improve in their respective areas of to your responsibility that you may not have recognized. You service and to work together to improve the OPC’s care of are responsible to see to the best use of the Lord’s resources. her retired ministers, including needy ones. In the second place, does not the local congregation THE NEED bear responsibility to provide for its minister’s future retire- Poor retirement planning now can easily result in the ment? Elders and sessions, are you not obliged to oversee this need for diaconal care later. There are always some situations duty? It takes more to fulfill this responsibility than simply in which, in God’s providence, the diaconal care of aged and segregating a portion of his pay package on paper, calling it infirm ministers is unavoidable. Some, such as early minis- “retirement,” and leaving the minister to fend for himself. ters of the OPC, labor faithfully and self-sacrificially all their To properly oversee his provision for old age, it seems, the ministerial lives in small or poor churches, with no hope of session should at least make certain that those funds actually retirement funds, yet they serve God’s people. Some can- are being set aside. No one is suggesting that the session or not put money aside for retirement due to difficulties that individual elders must manage the investments themselves. exhaust their funds. Some are disabled early in life, and thus There are plenty of experts available for that. But the session have no hope of retirement funds. In such cases, with joyful needs to implement the biblical principles by arranging for thanks to the Lord for their labors, the OPC seeks to address the minister’s retirement funds to be set aside and work to his their needs as the diaconal funds of local churches, presbyter- later benefit. ies, and the Committees on Diaconal Ministries and Pensions One simple way to accomplish that is to use the church’s permit. But would it not be a pity if those resources had to be mechanism for retirement savings and investment, the OPC’s additionally burdened simply because local churches, along Pension Fund, and contribute the recommended amounts for with their ministers, failed to plan well? the pastor’s retirement allowance. In this manner, the local This points out a potential difficulty looming on the church works together with the church at large to fulfill the OPC’s horizon. Many of the church’s ministers will reach biblical mandates. There are other ways, and there are plenty retirement age in the next few years. Many will live longer of variables that are unique to each minister’s situation that a than their forefathers did. How many will have adequate session must consider. But elders and sessions, at least take on funds to support them and their wives for the rest of their the responsibility and get started. You will very likely help your lives? Possibly, fewer and fewer. The Committees on Diaconal minister take full advantage of tax relief now, as well as pre- Ministries and Pensions have begun to face that future now. pare for old age later. By this you become the Lord’s instru- They are working diligently, and now more closely together ment to use more efficiently the resources available for the than ever before, to plan and implement strategies to provide advance of his kingdom. But the buck doesn’t stop here. adequate resources for the needs that come along and to avoid In the third place, ministers themselves bear biblical the looming crisis. Sessions and ministers, you can help the responsibility. The Bible says, “If anyone does not provide for OPC avoid the crisis by diligently preparing for your pastor’s his own, and especially for members of his household, he has retirement, seeking God’s blessing upon it. denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5:8). Yes, we depend upon the Lord always for all that we Even if you live and labor to a ripe old age, the Lord requires need. We pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” We must you to provide for yourself and your wife for the rest of your always be ready to submit ourselves and our plans to God’s lives. If you go to be with the Lord before her, should you not providence and be ready to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER | provide for her continuing well-being? and do this or that” (Jas. 4:15). But planning for retirement is “But I’m only 28, for crying out loud! Why should I care an instrument the Lord might use to give us our daily bread in about retirement now?” The earlier you start, the more you later years. It is just as biblical as planning for the continuing can save and the longer the investments can grow. “I’m no well-being of Christ’s church. Retirement planning is impor- financial expert. I’m a minister. Why can’t I just concentrate tant; do it, and do it wisely. on ministry?” No one is saying that you must manage your in-

NewHorizons NewHorizons vestments yourself. You simply need, along with your session, The author is pastor of Redeemer OPC in Pearl City, Hawaii, and a to make the arrangements for your retirement funds to be member of the Committee on Pensions. 20 N e w s , V i e w s , R e v i e w s

ken, no. The apostle John wrote that this Participants in Carl Trueman’s installation service: (standing) George Cottenden, Carlton Wynne, Doug was to fulfill prophecy (John 19:31–37), Watson, Richard Gaffin, Trueman, Tom Sorkness, Todd Pruitt, and Derek Thomas; (seated) Sandy Finlayson and he quite likely had in mind that just as a Passover lamb in the Old Testament was not to have its bones broken (Ex. 12:46), so also the body of the final Passover Lamb was to remain intact. Furthermore, modern translations do not include the word broken in Jesus’ statement in the Upper Room, as given by Paul in 1 Cor. 11:24, because the word is not in the best manuscripts. Jesus’ breaking of the bread was simply part of the distribution process that he used. In 1976, an OPC ruling elder chal- lenged the General Assembly to rule that the words of institution for the Lord’s Supper, as given in our Directory of Wor- ship, should state that Jesus’ body was “broken, given for you,” not just “given Ministers CARL TRUEMAN INSTALLED for you.” An advisory committee reported • M. Jay Bennett, formerly a PCA that the KJV’s use of the word broken in Linda Finlayson minister, was installed as pastor of Neon 1 Cor. 11:24 isn’t based on the best On August 3, Cornerstone Presbyterian Reformed Presbyterian Church in Neon, manuscripts. Furthermore, Luke records Church in Ambler, Pennsylvania, cel- Ky., on June 29. that Jesus said that his body was “given for ebrated the installation of our new pastor, • John J. Schortmann, formerly an you”—not “broken for you.” The com- Westminster Seminary professor Carl evangelist working with Covenant OPC mittee asked this penetrating question: R. Trueman. Derek Thomas, a minister in Pensacola, Fla., was installed as pastor “Are we to hold that Luke isn’t represent- at First Presbyterian Church (ARPC) in of that congregation on June 9. ing what Jesus said properly?” The GA Columbia, South Carolina, preached a • On July 28, the Presbytery of the rejected the elder’s challenge, and the sermon from 2 Timothy 1:1–14. Todd Northwest dissolved the pastoral relation- OPC’s Directory for Worship therefore Pruitt, a pastor at Church of the Saviour ship between G. Mark Sumpter and does not include the word broken for the (independent) in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Faith OPC in Grants Pass, Ore., effective celebration of the Lord’s Supper. gave the charge to Dr. Trueman. George August 1, and approved his work as ex- The three-year-old can be comforted Cottenden, stated clerk of the General ecutive director of the Rogue Valley Youth that the Bible doesn’t contradict itself, Assembly (OPC), gave the charge to the for Christ–Grants Pass. and that Jesus is the perfect Passover congregation. • Carl R. Trueman, a professor at Lamb for sinners. Cornerstone is very thankful for Westminster Theological Seminary, was Roger W. Schmurr God’s provision of a new pastor, and we installed as (part-time) pastor of Corner- Georgetown, Tex. ask for the prayers of the church as Carl stone OPC in Ambler, Pa., on August 3. OCTOBER 2012 begins his ministry among us. Editor: Agreeing with the little girl, Larger Catechism 169 (supported by Heidelberg

Letters Catechism 75) declares that “the body |

Update of Christ was broken.” The official OPC NewHorizons WAS JESUS’ BODY BROKEN? proof text (1 Cor. 11:23–24 kjv) quotes Churches Editor: Jesus: “Take, eat: this is my body, which • Covenant OPC, in Pensacola, Fla., The three-year-old girl who won- is broken for you.” John Calvin explains formerly a mission work of Calvary OPC dered if Jesus’ broken body has been fixed in his commentary on 1 Corinthians that in Tallahassee, Fla., was received as an (Aug.–Sept., p. 15) will be glad to learn while no bone of Jesus was broken (John organized congregation by the Presbytery that Jesus’ body was never broken. Pierced 19:31–37), his body as a whole was broken as a sacrifice for us—beaten, flogged, of the South on June 9. and put to death for your sins, yes; bro- 21 NEWS, VIEWS, REVIEWS ( cont.)

theology, Charles the author include the emphasis on the Travelers and Retreaters Hodge, have ap- Sabbath, prayer, worship, and the local peared, written by church. Given the current deprecation of Calvary OPC in Volga, S.D., has a three-bedroom Andrew Hoffecker organized, confessional, and connectional apartment available for free, short-term use. and Paul Gutjahr. churches, Hoffecker’s presentation of If you are traveling through our area, or if you Previously, those Hodge’s nurturing theology, working in are a pastor needing a time of retreat, you are interested in the home and the church, provides en- welcome to use it. For details, contact Bob or Linda Munich at 605/697-6270, 605/695-0962, Hodge were limit- couragement for those who want to make 605/651-0840, or [email protected]. ed to the biography disciples for the Lord. written by his son, Hoffecker’s scrupulous and superb A. A. Hodge. biography of Charles Hodge provides speared, and crucified. Hoffecker’s book is the fifth in a readers with a flowing narrative of the life Yes, an advisory committee in 1976 series called American Reformed Biogra- of one of the most influential American did express a preference for a small group phies, and it continues the scholarly yet theologians. The book is thoroughly of Greek manuscripts that omit the word popularly accessible format. The book is grounded in primary sources and tem- “broken” in 1 Cor. 11:24. However, it divided into six divisions, which corre- pered by interaction with historians and also noted that the Directory for Worship spond to eras in Hodge’s life. Each divi- Hodge’s contemporaries. Hoffecker’s fine referred to Jesus’ “broken body.” Our new sion contains three to eight chapters. Full volume will be a standard resource for Directory retains the substance of that endnotes, a select bibliography, and an students of Hodge, Presbyterian history, phrase, speaking of Jesus’ “crucified body.” index facilitate access to the vast resourc- and the story of Princeton Seminary for Actually, a strong case (too complex es accessed by the author. The author’s years to come. to present here) can be made that the writing style comes across as relaxed, * * * manuscripts favored by the advisory com- casual, and congenial; as I read the book, mittee, however good they may be in gen- I felt as though I was in my living room Charles Hodge: Guardian of American eral, are defective in this verse. But even drinking coffee with the author while he Orthodoxy, by Paul C. Gutjahr. Pub- if their short text is correct, the nuances told me about Hodge. lished by Oxford Univ. Press, 2011. of the Greek are such that it implies, in Chapter 17 has the intriguing title Hardback (list price $74.00), paper- context, that Jesus’ body was broken (see, “Old School Nurture vs. New School back (list price $39.95), 518 pages. e.g., Meyer, Alford, Hodge, Barnett, and Revivalism.” The word nurture is not one Reviewed by OP professor Alan D. Ciampa/Rosner). What the shorter text that would be expected to head a list of Strange. Adapted from Mid-America implies, the longer text states. Hodge’s most used words, and a “nur- Journal of Theology 22 (2011): 205–6. James W. Scott turing Old School” may be thought to Paul Gut- Willow Grove, Pa. be an oxymoron. To many, Hodge was a jahr has writ- theological defender of slavery, the author ten a biogra- of a turgid systematic theology text that phy of Charles Reviews challenges the best students, and the Hodge editor of a punishing academic journal. (1797–1878) Charles Hodge: The Pride of Princeton, However, the author makes a convincing that is fair and by Andrew Hoffecker. Published case for Old School nurture, pointing historically by P&R, 2011. Paperback, 460 pages, out that Hodge’s mother taught him the contextual- list price $19.99. Reviewed by PCA Westminster Shorter Catechism at her ized, showing member Barry Waugh. knee (p. 153). Hodge’s father died when Hodge’s On Charles was an infant, and his mother this two and older brother, Hugh, were the

OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER hundredth strongest family influences on him. | anniversary of The nurturing model is developed “Those who cannot remember the founding further as Hoffecker relates how of Princeton Hodge confronted the neglect of the past are condemned to Seminary, two infant baptism by Presbyterians, repeat it” (Santayana). biographies of which he blames on the influences the man who of Charles Finney and revival- Learn your history at the OPC website NewHorizons NewHorizons developed ism (p. 155). Other aspects of the Princeton Old School nurture discussed by www.opc.org/machen.html 22 Southern Caribbean Reformation Conference Study Cruise Dayton, Ohio • Oct. 27

Hope OPC in Syracuse, N.Y., is sponsoring Covenant Presbyterian Church in Dayton, Ohio, a ten-day Southern Caribbean study cruise is hosting its annual conference on history on the Celebrity Equinox, sailing out of Ft. and theology on Saturday, October 27. The Lauderdale, Fla., February 1–11, 2013. Gerald Rev. Dr. L. Charles Jackson will make three Malkus, pastor of Hope OPC, will be lectur - presentations on ”Riots, Revolutions, and the ing throughout the journey on “The Wonderful Scottish Covenanters: The Work of Alexander Names of Jesus.” Cabins are limited. Members Henderson,”with time for questions. For more and friends of the OPC who are interested information, call Covenant Presbyterian Church in a time of wonderful fellowship, teaching, at 937/387-6699 or e-mail Mr. Brad Peppo at and spiritual renewal may contact Sovereign [email protected]. See also Covenant’s Cruises at 1-877/768-2784, ext. 112. website at www.cpcvandalia.com. importance in his time and world. of Hodge on politics and the Civil War. Letters from the Front: J. Gresham The book is well written, and its short Gutjahr is also, rightly, critical of some Machen’s Correspondence from World chapters are easy to read. The biographer, of the deficiencies of Hodge’s Scottish War I, edited by Barry Waugh. however, does not fully understand his Common Sense Realism. While Gutjahr Published by P&R Publishing, 2012. subject, as he is not a theologian in ad- does not find Hodge to be in the thrall of Hardback, 368 pages, list price dition to a historian. As a minor illustra- this philosophical view to the degree that $24.99. Reviewed by OP professor tion of this, he calls, at least twice, the earlier scholars did, he does not seem to D. G. Hart. forbidden fruit in Paradise an apple—a be as aware of the burgeoning body of Imag- common misconception among those not literature that attests to Hodge’s greater ine yourself well acquainted with the Bible. More sig- dependence on traditional Calvinism and being a nificantly, Gutjahr is not clear on Hodge’s acquits him of the charge of rational- professor in position on the imputation of Adam’s sin, ism. There is a growing recognition that your mid- the nature of penal substitution and the Hodge and his Princeton colleagues were thirties at atonement, his doctrine of Scripture, and never as captive to Scottish Realism as has a reputable other biblical and theological matters. been alleged, being more indebted to the theological These observations might prompt classic Reformed faith in general and the seminary. one to dismiss this work as shallow. That Westminster Standards in particular. You are also would be a mistake. Gutjahr has delved Everyone interested in nineteenth- a Pres- into the original sources, especially the century American church history or byterian Hodge papers at Princeton, and has come Presbyterian history should read this minister, up with many gems. His work on Hodge’s work. Both the OPC and the PCA can who preaches regularly and pitches in at background, family, and historical context claim Hodge as a forebear, particularly your local congregation. You are only an is good and at times insightful. He is as the “Northern” church. It was opined assistant professor, but you are sitting on sympathetic as one might expect a his- by some in his day that Thornwell was research for a couple of books that will torian to be who does not share Hodge’s respected, Dabney feared, and Hodge likely gain you promotion and tenure. theological convictions. Given Hodge’s loved. Gutjahr’s fine OCTOBER 2012 importance, such a work as this is an biography will give important addition to what one can only its readers a good Positions Available hope is a burgeoning body of literature idea of why Charles

Evangelist/Organizing Pastor: Heritage Reformed on the longtime professor at Princeton Hodge was loved |

Presbyterian Church in Royston, Ga., seeks a minis - NewHorizons Seminary. by family, students, ter for mission work in northeast Georgia. He needs Gutjahr’s work enjoys distance, both and all who knew to preach Christ from all the Scriptures, apply the personally and chronologically, that A. him, while at the Word effectively to all ages present, emphasize the ordinary means of grace, demonstrate an earnest A. Hodge’s work on his father naturally same time being a commitment to the regulative principle at morning could not possess. In this respect, he is ju- churchman of great and evening worship, equip men to lead their fami - dicious in his view of Hodge on the ques- significance. lies, and have a love for singing psalms and hymns. Contact Jon Davis at [email protected]; HRPC, tion of slavery, assessing him critically, * * * P.O. Box 171, Bowersville, GA 30516. but fairly. He is nuanced in his treatment 23 NEWS, VIEWS, REVIEWS ( cont.)

Although you are single, you are deeply age of thirty-six, only two years before he EXTREME MAKEOVER: OPC EDITION involved in family matters and have a was to give a series of endowed lectures Jon Sanchez special attachment to your mother, who at Union Seminary (Richmond), which is a widow. formed the basis for his book entitled The On July 9, a group of more than thirty These are the circumstances of your Origin of Paul’s Religion (1921). It was not people came from nine churches across life when your country goes to war. You what any of his friends or family members the country (see page 2) to transform the believe that your nation should stay out of would have expected, though they would inside, outside, and grounds of New Cov- the conflict. You even argue with fam- not have been surprised to read about enant OPC in South San Francisco. We bit ily members about the nation’s foreign how many plays he saw in the theaters of off more than we could chew, but we had policy. Paris. a great time doing what we could. Considering these circumstances, During the war, Machen wrote The participants were a huge blessing would you drop everything, even though numerous letters to his family (primarily to our small church, and their involve- you are a man of routine, and find a way his mother). Barry Waugh has transcribed, ment stirred up our own members to in- to assist in the war effort? edited, and annotated those letters in this creased unity, renewed vigor for Christ’s This is the dilemma that J. Gresham volume. It is a welcome contribution, if church, and deeper friendships. We are Machen faced in 1917, when the United only because it is the first publication of delighted with our new building, and our States entered World War I. Nothing in his Machen’s correspondence. His observa- desire to spread the good news through- life would have led anyone to believe that tions about people, politics, routines, out our community is at an all-time high. he would join the Young Men’s Christian plays, books, cities, and religious activities Could your church benefit from such Association (an organization about which would be worthwhile in their own right an event? If you would like to lead the he had serious theological reservations) to anyone who admires this conservative next Extreme Makeover: OPC Edition for the last eleven months of the war. But Presbyterian. But to see his reflections for your church, contact David Nakhla at he did just that—leaving behind work, during a war that devastated Europe is all [email protected]. family, comfort, and habits to endure the more valuable. serious hardships and expose himself to These letters reveal no New Covenant OPC getting an extreme makeover life-threatening dangers. David Brainerd– His work in France largely consisted like saint, who of cooking hot chocolate and stocking the thought only of Y Hut. He wrote to his mother, “I feel as others after glorify- though I were making John Wanamaker ing God. Machen

OCTOBER 2012 OCTOBER look like a piker. Do you prefer Star, was human, and | Horseshoe, or Battle Ax chewing to- both his foibles and bacco?… And then I have handkerchiefs, his virtues come fountain pens, many kinds of cigars, through. This is all cakes, cigarettes, candles, letter paper, the more reason to jam, tooth-brushes, a library, etc.” Only appreciate Waugh’s after the armistice did he begin to teach effort. We need NewHorizons NewHorizons and preach to soldiers responsible for heroes who are not 24 stabilizing Europe. He did all of this at the one-dimensional.