Editorial Paragraphs
K Runia. Trowel & Sword, October 1961
Preamble: At the beginning of the eighth year of publication, the then editor, Prof. K. Runia gave some insight into the thought, planning and aspiration that went into the development of the still fledgling magazine, Trowel & Sword. Even then the concept of “Moving Forward By Looking Back” was well understood. ie. “What have we done in the past and how can we do it better”. This is far superior to the notion of, We are in decline so perhaps we should quit. At TSR we are still of the belief that there is a need for a denominational magazine to rebuild the unity of the Reformed Churches in Australia and with New Zealand. The Christian Church is under threat from forces both outside and within. In the words of Runia, “Before us is a GREAT CHALLENGE for all of us. Let us realise that the LORD BLESSES them who in faith seize upon the challenge put before them”.
Preface To Volume Eight
With this issue we begin another volume of ‘Trowel and Sword’. As Editor I would like to use this occasion to make some general remarks.
- This is the first issue prepared by the new “ASSOCIATED PRINTERS” in Geelong. In another article in this same issue you will find more particulars about the plans of the “Associated Printers“. We will therefore refrain from giving specific information about the Press itself. But we cannot refrain from expressing our great joy about the fact that such a CENTRAL PRESS has been established.
Much good work has been done in the past. Yet there was too much waste of time and money, because the several activities in the field of publishing were not sufficiently co-ordinated. UNITY IS STRENGTH! That is particularly true of a small denomination as our Reformed Churches. We just cannot afford to fritter away our limited resources. At the same time, of course, we must realise that all our efforts completely depend upon God. We have to do our utmost, but He has to give HIS INDISPENSABLE BLESSING!
- No doubt the new printing arrangement will give us the opportunity to make ALTERATIONS and IMPROVEMENTS in the publication of “Trowel and Sword.” We have decided to keep things, as they are now, for the first three months. We do not want to experience disappointment similar to those of last year. Although our readers may rest assured that also in the past year Editors and Publisher have done their utmost, yet we must admit that in many ways the result was far below the mark. We want to openly express our appreciation for the patience shown by our readers. To prevent repetitions some CAREFUL PLANNING has to be done. But we do promise that in the coming year we will go ahead and, God willing, will get several improvements of lasting importance.
- Expansion and improvement, however, are only possible, when all our readers, or even better, ALL THE MEMBERS of the Reformed denominations STAND SQUARELY BEHIND our magazine. We all should realise how great the VALUE AND INFLUENCE OF THE PRESS is. In this regard we can learn much from the ROMAN CATHOLICS. On the whole they are well aware of the value of their papers. Their spiritual leaders regularly urge them to support their own press. Pope Pius X, for example, said:
“In vain will you build churches, preach missions, found schools – all your work, all your efforts will be destroyed if you cannot at the same time wield the defensive and offensive weapon of a press that is Catholic, loyal and sincere. To be a Catholic, to call oneself a Catholic, nay to belong to Catholic organisations and associations, and at the same time to be indifferent to the interest of the Catholic press, is a patent absurdity”.
If we replace the word Catholic by REFORMED, we have a statement with which we can fully agree. We admit that ‘Trowel and Sword’ is but a weak attempt. We most certainly have by far not yet reached the ideal. Up till now ‘Trowel and Sword’ has perhaps too much been a theological magazine. I think we should try to make it much more a MAGAZINE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, covering all the aspects of family life. But all this is only possible if we have the full co-operation of all our Reformed people.
In the meantime we go onward. Before us is a GREAT CHALLENGE for all of us. Let us realise that the LORD BLESSES them who in faith seize upon the challenge put before them.
MISSION WORK IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Some of our readers may wonder why lately we published so little about the marvellous work that is going on among the aboriginals in Western Australia. We assure you that this silence is not at all due to lack of interest. On the contrary, we do follow this work WITH ALL THE INTEREST OF OUR HEART.
The only reason for our silence is the fact that the latest reports had already been published in all the local Church papers. It would not be justified to use some of our precious space for material which has already been read in the papers. But we do hope that in the future we will regularly receive information about the progress of the work.
How good our Lord is that He has given us this opportunity to discharge our missionary task. His ways with our small Churches are wonderful indeed!
LOCAL CHURCH PAPERS
This is, of course, a touchy subject for the editor of “Trowel and Sword”. Too easily readers and editors of local papers may explain any comment from our side as originated by a spirit of competition.
But let us state at the outset that we are NOT at all AGAINST local church papers! On the contrary, we are WHOLEHEARTEDLY in FAVOUR OF THEM. At least, if they meet their specific purpose.
The purpose of a local church paper is to supply information about the activities and problems of the local church (or: for that matter, of the classis concerned). A very good example is, in our opinion, the new monthly newsletter for the Reformed Church of Auckland and the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Bucklands Beach, called: “Peninsula Journal”. This newsletter limits itself strictly to local news, and in this way serves a very necessary purpose in the life of these two Churches. We want to congratulate the sessions, editors and voluntary publishers with this new “baby”. At the same time we do hope that in the future, when ‘Trowel and Sword’ returns to a fortnightly publication, it will be possible to have a COMBINATION OF LOCAL PAPERS WITH OUR MAGAZINE, as is already being done in some congregations. If both ‘Trowel and Sword’ and the local paper have the same size, it would not be too difficult to slip the local bulletin as a loose leaflet into it. The great advantage of such a combination would be that all members of the congregation receive (and, as we hope, read!) the local and the general paper!
THE IMPORTANCE OF A TRULY CHRISTIAN LIFE
The other day I read a very interesting and disturbing article about the progress and expansion of the Islam in Africa. I cannot go into all the details, but there are two points which I should like to mention here. One of the topics discussed was: “WHY DID SO MANY CHRISTIAN CHURCHES, which in the past centuries had been established in Africa, notably in North Africa, WHITTLE AWAY? Was it persecution? Was it fire and sword? No! The real reasons were: SAFETY, SECURITY and ENJOYMENT!
In many Muslim countries the taxes were much higher for the Christian than for the Muslim. In other cases the Muslim stood a much higher chance of promotion and of appointments in the Civil Service than Christians. Sometimes a Christian was compelled to wear a distinctive dress. In other words, the Muslims did not make it impossible to be a Christian, they only made it inconvenient and expensive – and conspicuous. And so the descendants of men and women who defied the wild lions,’ the roasting chairs and the crowds howling for innocent blood, gradually over the years drifted away from the faith”,
And, then, there is the second point. Sometimes the population hailed the Muslims as liberators. Egypt, for example, was very easily overrun by a tiny Arab force. Why? Because her professedly Christian population was WEARY OF THE OPPRESSION OF A PROFESSEDLY CHRISTIAN .ADMINISTRATION. The administrators professed to be Christians, but in reality they were corrupt and cruel. And the same has happened in many other places in Africa. Even in quite modern times whole tribes have gone over to Islam because Christian leaders and administrators were morally inferior.
It will not be necessary to draw the lesson from this segment of Christian history. A TRULY CHRISTIAN LIFE is not only a mighty witness. It is an INDISPENSABLE WITNESS! Without it we are not merely deficient witnesses. Without it we are stumbling blocks! Our Churches are professedly Reformed. Are we also Reformed in life, in walk and talk? The future of Calvinism in Australia depends as much on Reformed doctrine as on a Reformed way of life. My own father often warned us as children: Be careful, boys and girls, the world looks at you. And he always added: and the world is right in doing so. If we profess to belong to Christ we should live as those belonging to Christ. Or to say it in Paul’s words: “IF WE LIVE BY THE SPIRIT LET US ALSO WALK BY THE SPIRIT” (Gal.5:25).
To realise and practise this would no doubt be the BEST COMMEMORATION OF THE REFORMATION, at the end of this month. It is not enough to say: Luther and Calvin and all the others were great men of God and we are thankful for what they have done for the Reformation of the Church. A true commemoration of their work is, first of all, a matter of DOING the same as they did: Trust in God’s sovereign grace and walk in the way of His commandments.
K.RUNIA.
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