May 1996 New Horizons

Into All the World

by Mark T. Bube

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void. For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.' Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is ... Read more

Presenting the Gospel to Muslims

by Victor Atallah

Is there a magic formula for calling Muslims to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? What has been written and said by many experts in the last twenty years claims that there is. Many attempts have been made to formulate a quick and easy method to convince (or even entice) Muslims to turn to "Christianity." They have all failed. We must admit that there have been few well-equipped and qualified missionary attempts to establish Christ's church among Muslims. Even today, most of the expatriate missionary endeavors in the Muslim world are not consciously grounded on biblical principles. In fact, one cannot but wonder whether the majority of that missionary force would be qualified to evangelize (let alone disciple) people in the lands from which they come. As Reformed people, we should not have expected a different result. The purpose of this article is not to refute any arguments or present an analysis of the missionary scene among Muslims. That will not help the average people in our churches, ... Read more

Richard B. Gaffin, Sr., 1907-1996

by John P. Galbraith

An historical memoir in appreciation of a faithful servant of Christ and his church, whose ministry was inextricably intertwined with the beginning of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and of its ministry to the nations. Richard B. Gaffin, bearer of the glad tidings of Jesus Christ, entered glory on the Lord's Day, February 4, 1996, in his eighty-ninth year. We can almost hear the Lord saying to him, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord." Mr. Gaffin had been preceded into glory by Pauline, his wife of fifty-eight years, in 1989. He is survived by their four children, Margaret (Pope), Richard, Jr., Harold, and John, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He was, with his wife, a missionary to the Chinese people from 1935 to 1976, at first on the Chinese mainland, then on the island of Taiwan. Before he left Taiwan in 1976, a first-ever indigenous Reformed denomination had been established there. Mr. Gaffin was a delightful person, good-humored, with an ... Read more