REFORMATION TODAY Rehoboth pictured in the background is a Namibian town, with a rich missionary history, south of Windhoek. The photos in this issue focus on Namibia (see page 3) Front cover: The Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary (NETS), Windhoek. In the foreground is one of the students, Petrus Mumbuu and Tina his wife. Contributors in this issue Robert Godfrey is the president of the Westminster Theological Seminary, California. Jim van Zyl is the author of the correspondence courses for The Bible Institute of South Africa, Kalk Bay, Cape (see page 32). Alec Taylor is pastor of Chelmsley Wood Reformed Baptist Church, Birmingham. Sharon James read history at Cambridge and theology at Toronto Baptist Seminary. Carey Family Confere nee Reports of the annual Carey Family Conference held in July at Quinta Hall, Shropshire have all been positive and encouraging. Speakers were Geoff Thomas, David Kingdon, Andrew King and Joachim Rieck of Namibia. Next year's conference has been booked at Cloverley Hall, Whitchurch, Shropshire for 3-10 August, 1996. A few miles from the M6 in Staffordshire, the Hall has extensive grounds, heated swimming pool, games room, playing fields and tennis courts. For details write to: David Jarrett, 6A Soar Close, Croesyceilog, Cwmbran, Gwent NP44 2PD. ii Editorial Reformation Today Unity with the Reformers and the Puritans 25th anniversary Apart from the subject of baptism and the nature of the Church as consisting of those called out of society (1 Cor 1: 1-2), Reformation Today was born out of the our experience over the last 25 years has first Carey Conference for ministers held confirmed the priceless worth of our in the first week of 1970. Reformed and Puritan heritage. This is reflected in Robert Godfrey's expositions A redi scovery in the 1960s of the on 'Luther's Journey to Righteousness' priceless worth of the Reformation (RT142, 146, 147). heritage confronted Baptists with the question, 'Do we become paedobaptist The rationale for our distinctive place in Presbyterians or do we remain Baptist? the evangelical spectrum is the combina­ Alternatively is there a halfway position tion of Reformational and Puritan theology or compromise on the issue?' combined with energetic enterprise to build upon the gathered church principles. Are we Reformed Baptists or Paedobaptist Presbyterians ? Hyper-Calvinism and evangelism At that first Carey Conference, 1970, Hyper-Calvinism has severely hampered David Kingdon expounded the many in the Strict and Particular Baptist Abrahamic Covenant which prepared the tradition. Misunderstanding of Calvinism way for the Mosaic Covenant but also has stunted growth and stifled missionary looked forward to the New Covenant. The passion. A great change came about when book Children of Abraham' confirmed William Carey went to India and Andrew that, far from being defective in covenant Fuller laboured theologicaJly and practically theology, Reformed Baptists alone do to promote and support the missionary justice to the unity and discontinuity of endeavour. The Puritans can help us greatly the Covenant of Grace. The gist of the in this subject. Those who read the Puritans matter lies in the word NOT in Hebrews are least likely to fal l into the errors of 8:9. In the most emphatic way the New hyper-Calvinism or Arminianism. Covenant is not like the Mosaic which embraced all Israel as a body. This Some recent RT articles in the Reformed inclusion is not now automatic. The and Puritan tradition are, 'God's love to writing of God's law on the heart and the non-elect' RT145; 'Is there a love of mind (new birth - see John 1:12,13 ) is God for all mankind?' RTJ38, both by imperative. The matter is personalised. It Bob Sheehan, and by the editor, 'John is no longer national (Matt 10:35,36). 3:16 and hyper-Calvinism' RTJ35 and 'The Redeemer's tears shed over lost A Baptist view means that we hold to the souls' RTJ46. Jim van Zyl's material in gathered view of the Church. This this issue provides a further antidote to fundamental subject is summed up in the hyperism as he expounds on the vital review of Leonard Verduin's book The theme of human responsibility as that Anatomy of a Hybrid. relates to divine sovereignty. Hyper-Calvinism in Britain is being pro­ moted by a very tiny constituency but one As from September 28 which is active to exploit undiscerning the editor is due to begin a busy editors to promote its cause. itinerary in Australia: Perth. Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane; The Charismatic movement Division over the Charismatic movement and from has affected most churches and the indices October 27-November 11 of RT show that about a dozen articles in Jakarta and the Lampung area of have appeared since the mid 1980s. In this South Sumatra, Indonesia. issue Alec Taylor supplies us with a sobering documentation of an area of abuse prevalent in some sections of the Charismatic movement. The review by What of the future? Sharon James of John MacArthur Jr's The work of church planting and the quest book Reckless Faith highlights the reck­ for revival are issues developed in the lessness of charismatic mysticism and concluding chapter of Our Baptist prophecies. Heritage which was published in 1993 for IFRB by Chapel Library. 2 In Chapel Library (led by Pastor LeeRoy Shelton, Jr Authoritarianism and Michael Snyder - see RT133) we have a tried and tested partnership in prayer Over the last 25 years we have sought to and effort as we seek to promote our great be relevant with an emphasis on the Puritan and Reformed heritage in many TODAY. Many issues have been languages. Our united vision is expressed addressed. Reformed Baptists around the in Psalm 2:8, 'Ask of me, and I will make world have been vexed over authoritari­ the nations your inheritance, the ends of anism. Can anything be done which will the earth your possession'. improve the situation rather than inflaming it? Should this matter be What of the future? Even though the addressed? Spiritual counsel is being scene is dark at present the long term sought and we aim to publish the outcome future is assured. The promise made to in the next issue. Habakkuk still stands; 'For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea' The need for effective evangelism (Hab 2:14). Over the last 25 years Reformed Baptist On account of being in Namibia for two churches have multiplied across the world. months, the editor apologises for the Will this continue? Will the increase lateness of this issue. accelerate? My prediction is that it will. To be effective evangelism must stem from spiritually healthy and united churches. References The sovereignty of God misunderstood 1. A synopsis by Bill James of Children will kill evangelism but rightly construed, of Abraham is obtainable from RT, for as Jim van Zyl shows in his article (p 15), £1.00 incl. postage. the sovereignty of God is a powe1ful 2. Chapel Library, 2603 W Wright St., encouragement. Pensacola, FL 32505, USA. 2 From left to right: Glendon Thompson who is an evangelist working alongside Martin Holdt of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Florida Park, SA; Beverley and Mark Nieuwoudt, Marcelle Rieck holding Kezia, and in front Joachim Rieck with Jonathan and Martin The editor problem is that when the news of better conditions is made known people are During the months of June and July we drawn from rural areas in quest of were engaged in ministry at Eastside employment. Many, perhaps most, Baptist Church, Windhoek, Namibia. experience disappointment since there At the same time Pastor Joachim Rieck simply are not enough jobs available for from that church was engaged m unskilled labourers. This urbanisation ministry in the UK and Germany. is a universal problem of which the most agonising example is Mexico Namibia, a land area about the size of City, rapidly becoming the poorest and Germany and France together, is largest conurbation on earth with a limited in its potential by a low rainfall horrendous 32 million anticipated and limited water supply. (Operation World - based on present growth rates) by the year 2000. The capital, Windhoek, must be one of the most beautiful small cities in the At Eastside Baptist Church my world (population ±150,000). It is principal role was pastoring and surrounded by mountains and many preaching. For ministry I used as a basis suburban homes make use of the aspect for 17 expositions the outline of The of rocky hillside. The poorer suburbs Apostles' Creed which provides a where I visited are better off economi­ wonderfully balanced overview of the call y than most parts of Africa. One Christian faith and is a statement which 3 Laban Mshalakele, pastor of Grace Baptist Dr Gerhard Buys, principal of NETS Church, Katatura unites believers over the centuries. discussion on baptism for TV. A However as an instrument of ecu­ previous engagement meant that I had menical unity today it is in adequate. reluctantly to decline the latter and the We face the imperative of clari ty about dynamic youth pastor at Eastside, Mark the sufficiency of Scripture whi ch can Nieuwoudt, took my place. In the event be nullified by tradition, and justifica­ he filled in so well that he has been tion by faith alone. It is not enough to invited to take a seri es of prime timi:: say, 'We believe in the forgiveness of TV devotionals. sins', because that could be by con­ fession to a priest. Imputed righteous­ Comparing thi s experi ence in Wind­ ness alone saves.