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Dec 9, 2024 | 
thebanner.org | Aaron Vriesman
Contrary to our natural tendency to view sin favorably, sin is ugly and disturbing. The Bible contains many stories that are downright disturbing. Perhaps you have read the stories of Lot and his daughters (Gen. 19:30-38), the Levite and his concubine (Judges 19), Amnon and Tamar (2 Sam. 13), or Jephthah and his daughter (Judges 11), to name a few.
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Nov 20, 2024 | 
theaquilareport.com | Aaron Vriesman
The Abide Project began, not as an attempt to chart a new direction, but precisely to avoid it. The only unprecedented developments have been the deliberate attempts to protest and defy the decisions of Synod, and the subsequent failure of classes to keep such congregations accountable.
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Nov 4, 2024 | 
theaquilareport.com | Aaron Vriesman
My prayer is that everyone in the CRC will be able to articulate the gospel and would unashamedly spread this good news. While the evangelical world has the gospel, they are adrift without a confessional tradition to ground them. Many have floated in the directions of the prosperity gospel or Christian nationalism or pastoral personality cults.
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Oct 25, 2024 | 
thebanner.org | Aaron Vriesman
Multiple laments have been published about Synod 2024. For sure, its decisions were tough and the fallout tremendous. The reactions have gone beyond disappointment. Some have said Synod 2024 represents a “new direction.” Its decisions have been described as “reckless, arbitrary, and unimaginable in any other age.” One writer characterized it as, “The Babylonians have struck.”However, upon looking back at synods of the past 20 years or so, the decisions of the past three synods come as no surprise.
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Aug 6, 2024 | 
theaquilareport.com | Aaron Vriesman
Reporting on violence against Christians in Nigeria is slim. Christianity Today has covered some attacks. The BBC did a story in 2022. Newsweek recently published an opinion piece. It is difficult to find reports or stories of persecution in Nigeria. Christians are being killed in Nigeria, and few people are even noticing. The United States government is turning a blind eye.
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Jul 26, 2024 | 
thebanner.org | Aaron Vriesman
“After our journey there, we want the world to know that you haven’t heard half of it.” In 2019, Alheri Magaji spoke about her Adara community in Kaduna State of Nigeria during an event hosted by the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. She told the audience about how her ethnic group suffered vicious attacks carried out from mid-February through April of that year that left about 400 dead and displaced thousands in her community. “I spoke to a woman whose limbs were cut off.
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Jul 16, 2024 | 
theaquilareport.com | Aaron Vriesman
Synod 2022 clarified that “unchastity” in the Heidelberg Catechism “encompasses adultery, premarital sex, extra-marital sex, polyamory, pornography and homosexual sex,” all of which are violations of the Seventh Commandment…That Synod instructs churches who have made public statements, by their actions or in any form of media, which directly contradict synod’s decision on unchastity to repent and to honor their covenant commitments to the CRCNA.
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Mar 22, 2024 | 
thebanner.org | Aaron Vriesman
As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner. The two criminals crucified with Jesus (Luke 23:39-43) are a microcosm of humanity under suffering. One says, “Aren’t you the Messiah?
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Mar 22, 2024 | 
thebanner.org | Siddharth Kara |Aaron Vriesman
The lithium-ion battery that powers your cellphone, laptop, tablet, or electric vehicle has a key ingredient called cobalt. Seventy-five percent of the world’s cobalt comes from one country and is mined essentially with slave labor. Siddharth Kara’s deep dive into the cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is an eye-opener that will make you think twice about upgrading your electronic devices.
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Feb 2, 2024 | 
thebanner.org | Aaron Vriesman
Annabelle Driesenga was a 96-year-old member of the North Blendon CRC congregation who died in 2022. She lived in a second-floor apartment up a steep set of stairs. She walked up and down those stairs until the final months of her life. She was at every worship service, every ladies Bible study, and every sewing group. Annabelle was constantly serving others. For 10 years, she helped a handicapped neighbor get into bed at night.
