To Win the Battle But Lose the War—Common Grace and the Janssen Controversy

In "To Win the Battle But Lose the War—Common Grace and the Janssen Controversy," Herman Hanko discusses the historical controversy surrounding the doctrine of common grace within the Protestant Reformed Churches, particularly focusing on the case of Prof. Ralph Janssen. Janssen's teachings, which were deemed heretical for their denial of the divine inspiration of Scripture and reliance on common grace, led to his condemnation in 1922; however, the failure of church authorities to address the underlying issue of common grace allowed its acceptance to flourish, ultimately leading to the adoption of views that Janssen espoused. Hanko argues that this neglect resulted in a significant theological decline within the Christian Reformed Church, illustrating the importance of addressing foundational doctrines to prevent future apostasy.