Dear Editor:

Will you please give me a little space in regard to an article written in the July-August edition under the title, “Godliness or Narrowmindedness” by James Veldman.

Now if the meaning of narrowmindedness is understood to be “Intolerance or prejudice,” it is never justified but it is sometimes confused with strictness or steadfastness then it is allowed, yea even demanded of us.

Truth can never be mixed with untruth, therefore we Protestant Reformed only have the truth. Consult Rev. Vandenberg’s articles in the April and May editions.

True believers in Christ and His Word are those that believe the Bible and all its teachings and not only believe certain parts and deny other parts thereof.

The discourse Paul makes in Romans 14 and I Cor. 10 is about Jewish customs and does not refer to our New Testament sabbath. For concerning the New Testament sabbath all churches originally were very strict or conservative. Ask old people and they will confirm this.

All other denominations differ with us, not because they have changed their confessions but are become worldly minded.

Attending a major league baseball game to the glory of God I would like to have made clear to me. I have asked this question many a time and as answers I have received the following: 1. What’s wrong with it? 2. I can’t see any wrong in it. 3. It does me a lot of good. 4. If I go to a baseball game I don’t go to a place of ill reputation or a saloon and get drunk.

At first I was a little shocked to hear such an answer as under number four and that from a youth of one of our churches, but after meditating on this answer it revealed a lot to me. It means, I don’t care about any society life in our churches. I don’t like to study the Bible or confessions. I have a lot of spending money and an enormous lot of idle time so the best place to spend it according to my opinion, is at bowling alleys, baseball games, basketball, etc. Proof for this is the small attendance at our societies and the poor preparation of those that still attend. See also Rev. Vandenberg’s radio address of Sept. 8.

If I understand Mr. Veldman correctly, he means to say we were narrow minded in our recent controversy, but this is far from the truth and weighed all arguments for and against till it became very obvious and even today more so, that they were heretics and schismatics and we must thank God that He saved the truth for us in giving us leaders that are strict and steadfast, yea unmovable in the truth.

In the last portion of Mr. Veldman’s contribution I read that a Catholic is just as convinced of the truth as we are. I have never met such a one. They are always more or less in fear and doubt and no wonder for believing is a gift of God worked in our hearts through the Holy Spirit and the Spirit does not assure us when we err.

In closing Mr. Veldman mentions our glorious truth. Question: “Why is our truth glorious if others have just as much right to their opinions as we have to ours?” To me this seems to be somewhat of an apology for criticizing our steadfastness and others’ worldly-mindedness.

May God give us grace not only to believe in theory but also to live the truth and say with the Psalmist, “A day in thy courts is better than a thousand,” singing with unfeigned lips, “Oh, how love I thy law, it is my meditation all the day,” walking the narrow path that leadeth unto glory.

Thank you.