IN the DRIVER's SEAT Done School? Maybe Done Learning? Never! P.29
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JAN/FEB 2020 Reformed A MAGAZINE FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY Volume 39 Issue No. 2 CELEBRATING 35+ YEARS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT Done school? Maybe Done learning? Never! P.29 NOTA BENE p. 6 FROM THE EDITOR • BOOK REVIEWS • CROSSWORD • MOVIE REVIEWS Reformed PERSPECTIVE A MAGAZINE FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY Published monthly by the Foundation for the publication of a Reformed Social-Political Magazine (Reformed Perspective Foundation). For print magazine requests or to change your address, contact: Sherri Harsevoort - Reformed Perspective Administration, Box 1039, Carman, MB, R0G 0J0 [email protected] 1-204-751-0613 For Letters to the Editor, Advertising and Submissions, contact: E-mail: [email protected] Editor: Jon Dykstra Regular Contributors: Sharon Bratcher, Christine Farenhorst, Margaret Helder, Rob Slane, Michael Wagner Board of Directors: Bruce DeBoer (Chairman); Marty VanDriel (Treasurer); Chris deBoer (Executive Director); Aren Vreugdenhil; Aubrey Vandergaag; Sharon de Boer (Secretary) Template Design: Compass Creative Studio Inc. compasscreative.ca Art Direction, Design and Layout: Annelies Veurink www.facebook.com/FreshDesignByAnnelies Contact Address for Australia: Pro Ecclesia Publishers, PO Box 189, Kelmscott, W. Australia 6111 Copyright statement: Copyright in letters, articles, cartoons and any other material submitted to Reformed Perspective and accepted for publication remains with the author, but RP and its reciprocal organizations may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. This periodical is owned and operated by the Foundation for the publi cation of a Reformed Social-Political Magazine, a nonprofit organization, whose purpose is described in Article 2 of its constitution: “to publish periodically a magazine promoting Reformed principles in all spheres of life, especially the social, political and economic realms.” In carrying out its objectives, the society is bound by the Bible, God’s infallible Word, as it is summarized and confessed in the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort (Article 3 of the constitution). If you are interested in the work of Reformed Perspective Foundation and in the promotion of Reformed principles in all spheres of life, especially in your local area, and you need help, contact our editor at [email protected]. Registration: ISSN 0714-8208 Charitable Organization under Canada Income Tax Act Registration No. 118929272RR0001 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: One Beghin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R2J 3X5 reformedperspective.ca Cover painting is a 1529 portrait of Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach 2 / JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 CONTENTS MOVING INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT School eventually ends, but learning should be a life-long journey P.29 I STARTED MY BUSINESS FOR THE WRONG REASONS P.20 – Ryan Smith THE GREAT MOON HOAX OF 1835 P.21 CANADA HAS NO "RIGHT TO ABORTION" P.34 – Tabitha Ewert IN A NUTSHELL P.44 I WILL FIGHT FOR OUR THE GOSPEL COMES WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. WILL YOU? A HOUSE KEY MOVIE REVIEWS P.46 - Chris Gordon P.13 by Sharon Bratcher P.39 REFORMED PERSPECTIVE / 3 READER RESPONSE DEAR EDITOR, It is interesting that last year RP published two articles about on-line dating: Sharon Batcher’ “Online tool promotes friendship…and sometimes marriage” (Mar/Apr 2019) and Peter Riemersma’s “The Pros and Cons of Online Dating” (Nov/Dec 2019). This might indicate that there is an attraction in looking for a life-time companion from the safe privacy of your own home, rather than in a potentially embarrassing public space. As both authors point out, the steps from first meeting to mutual commitment must follow that path of walking together with the Lord. The most important ingredient of this process may well be the “Ask, Ask, Ask” as described in Riemersma’s article. Ask about their friends, ask about their participation in the body of Christ, ask about the way they prioritize their expenses. Yes, ask about their finances. Be on guard for evasive or contradicting statements. The sly tricks of Romance Scams may easily fool an unsuspecting, compassionate believer. It does happen. Jane Deglint 4 / JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 REFORMED PERSPECTIVE / 4 EDITORIAL No, complementarianism is not inherently misogynistic by Jon Dykstra omplementarianism is the belief that same calling, then won’t that get him so too complementarian submission isn’t that God made men and women devaluing his parishioners such that the what it has been made out to be. On the different and gave us different pastor will feel free to lord it over, and January 2nd episode of the What Have Cbut complementary roles in the Church even spiritually abuse, them? You podcast, Rachel Jankovic addressed and in marriage. It is also understood as It only follows, right? submission, and while she did so in the the opposite of egalitarianism, which, context of feminism, her point is equally aside from acknowledging the obvious OUR EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP applicable to egalitarianism. Jankovic reproductive differences, holds that Or might there be a way for someone said: God hasn’t given men and women called to a leadership role to be able to different roles in the Church or in lead without abusing followers? The central heresy of feminism is to marriage. In her Dec. 10 Christianity Today ar- believe that submission equal inferior- Egalitarians will sometimes accuse ticle, “What if I’m not the ‘submissive’ ity. We believe that Jesus submit- the complementarian position of being type?” Rebecca McLaughlin shows how ted his will to the Father’s without inherently misogynistic. They say that the male leadership that God prescribes is becoming less than God. [So] it is if men are told they are to lead in their the very opposite of misogyny. actually really important that we marriages and in the Church as well, this believe obedience and submission do will puff them up, and get them thinking “Husbands, love your wives, just as not mean inferiority. women are inferior. And then men will Christ loved the church and gave feel free to lord it over and even abuse himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25). How The leadership husbands and elders are women. Dr. Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr. did Christ love the church? By dying called to is not the dominating, power- is shown presenting this argument in the on a cross; by giving himself, naked corrupts “leadership” of the world, recent By What Standard? documentary and bleeding, to suffer for her; by but the dying-for-his-bride servant- where he puts it this way: putting her needs above his own; by leadership of Christ (Luke 22:25–26). sacrificing everything for her. I asked And the submission that wives are called This whole sexual abuse scandal thing myself how I would feel if this were the to does not make them any less the Image is a judgment of God on Southern command to wives. Ephesians 5:22 is of God than their husbands (Gen. 1:27). Baptists, because once you devalue a sometimes critiqued as a mandate for Just as Jesus’s submission to his Father’s woman to say she cannot preach on spousal abuse. Tragically, it has been didn’t diminish Him, so too our own the Lord’s Day…you are telling men misused that way. But the command to submission – whether as a wife to her it is okay to abuse her, like has been husbands makes that reading impos- husband (Eph 5:22) or a congregation documented. sible. How much more easily could an to our spiritual leaders (Heb. 13:17) – abuser twist a verse calling his wife to isn’t about inferiority. It is, instead, an I was struck by the irony of this ac- suffer for him, to give herself up for opportunity to imitate Christ! cusation coming from a pastor. Wouldn’t him, to die for him? Whether men or women, pastors or this same line of reasoning argue against parishioners, we are all called to submit leadership of any kind? If you put a pas- OUR EXAMPLE OF SUBMISSION to the will of our Father. So why would tor up on a pulpit and tell him he can Just as complementarian leadership is any Christians think submission must be preach but his parishioners do not have nothing like how egalitarians portray it, bad? RP REFORMED PERSPECTIVE / 5 In addition to the declarations on abortion (which do not exempt abortions due to rape or incest), the measures empower families of post-abortive women with the ability to sue abortionists for emotional distress, and the Colorado City version would also prohibit the sale of the contraceptive Plan B, which can News also function as an abortifacient. worth While these laws may not stand up noting to legal challenge, the attempt is BY JON DYKSTRA wonderful. Some towns have backed away from actions like this due to fears that they would get sued. However, towns like Waskom, Naples, Joaquin, Tenaha, Gilmer and now Rusk and Colorado City have decided to take a stand, even if it might come with a cost. The term “sanctuary city” was first popularized in the US in the 1980s, but back then it wasn’t about defending the unborn but, rather, about sheltering SANCTUARY CITIES FOR THE UNBORN? illegal immigrants. Since then, sanctuary cities have largely been used by the political Left with hundreds of cities n a brilliant twist, small no abortion clinics within city limits – it pledging to do what they can to American towns are taking was a symbol covered by the media obstruct the federal government’s a tactic, popular among the across the US, and even on the other I deportations of illegal immigrants. Left, and using it to defend side of the world. This was a small town Whatever we might think about the the unborn.