Another issue of Sword and Shield is hot off the presses, has hit your mailboxes, and has found its way into your hands. The new volume year is progressing well. The Lord continues to care for his righteous cause as it is represented by the publication of Sword and Shield.

We have had a number of exciting changes in the staff of the magazine, and in this issue you will notice some more. Beginning with this issue there is a new rubric in the magazine called Running Footmen. The rubric title reflects the fighting stance of the magazine. Sword and Shield was born as a fighting paper, which at the moment it was born had to contend for its very life against a storm of ferocious opposition. By God’s grace the publication continues its mission to witness to the distinctive Reformed truth over against the lies both old and new that corrupt that truth.

Sword and Shield was also born as a believer’s paper. The believer’s witness to the truth in the Protestant Reformed Churches had been silenced in the Standard Bearer through the tyrannical and intolerable censorship of the then-current editors, who were intent on destroying the historically sharp and distinctive witness of that magazine by turning it into the equivalent of a denominational rag containing Reformed milk toast that catered to the increasingly doctrineless and ecumenical tastes of the people. There was a spirit of ecumenicity that pervaded the denomination and found enthusiastic support on the staff of the Standard Bearer. The people get what they want, and they got what they wanted in the editors at the Standard Bearer: a new sound and a new direction. Instead of its historic stridency for the truth, the Standard Bearer began to walk around in silk slippers and whisper seductive things. That ecumenical spirit needed to silence the exposure and sharp condemnation of the lie about conditional covenant fellowship that had taken deep root in the denomination and which lie made possible a broader rapprochement with other Reformed churches.

Over against that and carrying out their calling from Christ to witness to and fight for the truth, a group of believers began the organization Reformed Believers Publishing and began the publication of the new magazine Sword and Shield. The magazine is the fighting paper of the Reformed believer and is part of the believer’s witness in the world. Reflecting this reality, we have begun a new rubric that will be staffed by a rotation of able and willing writers—Reformed believers all, both men and women.

In addition to the contribution from Mr. Garrett Varner this month for the new rubric, Mr. Tyler Ophoff continues his work in Understanding the Times, and Rev. Luke Bomers carries on his study of the sacrifices of the Old Testament as they are types of the one, great sacrifice of Jesus Christ made once upon the cross by which believers are made perfect forever. We also have an article by our newest writer, Mr. Earl Kamps, a meditation on Psalm 146.

As always, we desire that the truth found on these pages may be food for your souls and a sword in your hands.