The past couple of editorials have commented on the decisions of recent meetings of Classis East of the Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC). This editorial examines the recommendations passed by the classis that reconvened on February 8, 2024. The classis put Christ on trial and found him guilty and worthy of death. There was a total rejection of Christ. I emphasize that. There was also a total rejection of Christ over against the witness to Christ that was first found within the PRC herself and afterward, when she crucified Christ and he arose in the Reformed Protestant Churches, as that witness came from the Reformed Protestant pulpits, on the pages of this magazine, and in speeches. That witness also came through the testimony of the members of the Reformed Protestant Churches who have spoken loudly in their own personal lives to the truth of Christ.

That this rejection was over against that witness, I also firmly believe and emphasize. The PRC rejected Christ, having heard him clearly speak to her. I would go so far as to say that the recent classical decision would not have been possible without that witness. The Lord has used that witness to harden the PRC in her departure from the truth and specifically her denial of justification by faith alone. The PRC has exonerated her Norman Shepherd and by doing so has given approval to his theology, a theology that in short can be summarized as teaching that there is that which man must do to have the possession of his salvation. This theology must also be taken all the way to the judgment day. There is that which man must do in that day too to possess his salvation.

The theology is a denial of the gospel and thus also a rejection of Christ. We have warned, and we will continue to warn with the hope that perhaps someone—someone—might hear and be drawn out. If it does not please the Lord so to do, we warn and continue to warn so long as God gives us a voice in order that the apostasy of the Protestant Reformed denomination be driven faster and faster by her rejection of that witness.

In the rest of the issue, there is Reverend Bomers’ beginning response to a vile letter that was sent out under the name of Christ by a faithless elder of the soon-to-be disbanded congregation of Zion Reformed Protestant Church. There are also the regular rubric Running Footmen filled by Ryan Schipper and two other excellent contributions. James Jansma writes “Vain Jangling.” Rome had her Tetzel, who peddled a worthless scrap of paper that forgave no one and saved nobody. The PRC has her Cammenga, who peddles a worthless grace and a damning gospel. Jeremy Langerak writes “Labor! Labor! Labor!” Labor is do not labor. Wonderful paradox! Labor is to cease from your evil works and to rest in Christ’s work alone! Labor is do not labor but believe! The paradox is solved in Christ, who performed all the labor for our salvation. The hardest thing for a man to do is to rest in Christ. Labor for it!

May the Lord use this issue of Sword and Shield for your edification and the tearing down of the kingdom of darkness.