The Office of Believers—and Church Membership

Gise J. Van Baren is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Once upon a time (children's stories and perhaps "parables" should begin that way) there was a man who was a carpenter -- a very good one at that. From his youth he had been developing his talents. He spent unending hours practicing and seeking to perfect this art. He lived in a ramshackle, old house (badly in need of repair), but he did not have the time to take care of that. He anticipated a call from the...