March – April 2025 | Reformed Herald

When a copy of Luther’s 95 Theses reached Pope Leo X, he “dismissed the document as nothing more than the ramblings of a drunken German who, he believed, would think differently when sober” (Nichols, Martin Luther, 34).  Eight months later, in July 1518, the pope “issued a summons to Luther to appear before him in […]

But Lazarus had to die another day.Mary had to bear anotherfuneral. Martha had to trust the friend who kept awaywhen no Word shook her brother’ssecond burial. How lightly we imagine Jesus’ tears,shattering future glory into flattened space. God knows what it would be in coming yearsto heave the rolled off stones back into place. Mrs.

On more than one occasion, I have been asked the question, “What do you think about Douglas Wilson?”  I have been asked this question by individuals who have come to the church I pastor, by individuals who worked for Canon Press (the publishing company Wilson founded), and by individuals desiring to leave the CREC (Communion

On March 23, 2022, members of the Permanent Welcoming Committee had a teleconference meeting with Rev. Kevin Pulliam and the consistorial members of his north-central Iowa church who had decided to leave the Reformed Church in America. The question on the cyber table was all about the hand and the glove. Would this meet and

Editorial note: this is a summary of a tribute speech given at Dr. Walker’s surprise retirement dinner on January 10, 2025. The original speech included a citation of Shel Silverstein’s “The Unicorn” from Inside Folk Songs. Although copyright issues prevent us from quoting the words, the lyrics and a recording by the Irish Rovers can

Unlikely Empress and Champion of the Weak Theodora is a departure from women introduced in past articles. Not only was she born more than a millennium earlier, but her beginnings were humbler. She did not grow up with nurturing Christian parents or educational opportunities. Her childhood was traumatic. She came from a poor family in

The Greek term chara appears throughout the New Testament. It is translated by the word joy and refers to a feeling of inner happiness. Holy Scripture refers here to an emotion, a sense of delight and gladness. The remarkable thing about the biblical teaching is that joy is commanded by God. Our duty is clearly

An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.(Proverbs 16:27-28). Most of the words that flow out of one’s mouth are not neutral; they either edify or tear down others. Many of us grew up

In the Church today, it is well accepted that to deny oneself something is better than to indulge in something.  It is thought that being poor is better than being rich.  I would like to question if this is really biblical.  The evidence in the Bible is that self-denial of this kind is not what

The Reformed Herald recently had the opportunity to speak with our new Mission 2025 Director Bill Lapp. Or perhaps we should say “reintroduce,” since many years ago, Bill was the founding pastor of our church in Mitchell, SD. We asked Bill to share with us a little about his life and family. I was born in Eureka,