Banner of Truth: Commencing 55th Year

Our denominational periodical bears a rich heritage. As we commence its fifty-fifth year of publication, we do well to acknowledge its historical roots as well as expound its future direction.

Our Banner of Truth has its roots in New Jersey soil as a primarily Dutch periodical, entitled Banier der Waarheid. Our monthly was first published in the spring of J934 as a 10”x14”, 6-page, fold-out paper under the co-editorship of Rev. J. Van Zweden (Dutch section) and Elder A. Breeman (English section), with administration entrusted to Mr. H. Drost of Clifton, New Jersey. In 1939 this format was exchanged for a 7”x10”, 16-page booklet, with an annual subscription rate of 50 cents per year! In 1946, Mr. Henry Prol assumed administrative duties. The transition to a primarily English periodical took place in September, 1952, at which time Rev. Van Zweden assumed English editorship and Rev. W.C. Lamain Dutch editorship.

In 1957, the publication of our church paper was transferred to Grand Rapids, and published twice per month in an 8-page format until 1962, when it reverted to a monthly of 12 pages. In December of 1964 it appeared in an 8½”x11” format as a monthly of 16 to 20 pages. At this time, the former periodical, Timothy, merged with the Banner of Truth, and has proved to be a valuable asset ever since. Since Rev. Lamain’s death in 1984, I have been appointed to serve as editor with the assistance of Elder G. Moerdyk. In 1985, an updated format was introduced and our periodical was expanded to 28 pages per issue. In the interim, James Van Stee, Sr., James DeMeester, and presently, Elder Henry Langerak have conscientiously served as administrators. It behooves us to acknowledge gratefully the service God has granted to be performed for us as a denomination in the pages of our Banner of Truth — particularly by our two former editors, Reverends Van Zweden and Lamain, both of whom served in this capacity for more than 30 years. Ever since its origin, the Banner of Truth has served us well as a faithful guide for young and old. Even a casual perusal of past Banners will rapidly confirm this truth. We trust that the Lord will continue to grant us a periodical that unabashedly declares His entire counsel for young and old, and that He may continue to bless the ongoing efforts of our present Banner of Truth committee, editors, administrator, typesetters, secretary, printers, volunteers and all those who write for us.

As we commence our 55th year of publication, it is fitting that we pause to consider the rich name our periodical bears: The Banner of Truth. This name has been drawn from Psalm 60:4, “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” To properly under-

stand this name — banner of truth, we must know three things: first, why this banner is needed and what it represents; secondly, by whom and to whom this banner is given; and thirdly, what must be done with this banner and why.

The Banner of Truth: Jesus Christ

David has the Messiah, Jesus Christ, in mind when he writes about a “banner.” A banner is a flag, and in Bible times, a flag represented four things.

First, when lifted up and displayed, a flag served as a sign of union. Much as in the United States and Canada, it represented the government of a people which was united on the basis of citizenship.

David saw by faith that the entire citizenry of the living church was united in Jesus Christ who bore the government of the Church upon His shoulders (Is. 9:6). Though differing greatly in nationality, in outward circumstances, in background and education, in gifts and character, and particularly in spiritual leadings, the entire elect Church is both eternally and temporally united (via experiential misery) at the cross of Calvary where the Messiah is lifted up as the Brazen Serpent on her behalf (Jn. 3:14–15). At Calvary, the saints of all ages — from Adam to the last elect to be sovereignly drawn by the Father, converge around their Banner, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, as the sum and substance of the gospel.

This flag goes beyond the unity of the stars and stripes or the maple leaf, for this flag is dipped in unitive blood. This flag is the greater Joseph’s coat of righteousness dipped in atoning blood. This banner forms a blood-unity stronger than all earthly ties.

Jesus is the Banner of everlasting union between a holy God and a needy sinner. At Calvary, He is the lifted-up answer to the cries of all God’s chosen Jobs for a Daysman to lay His hands on both God and man (Job 9:33). May this glorious Savior, who is now uplifted at the right hand of the Father, “whither all the articles of our faith lead us” (Lord’s Supper form), continue to be the vital sign of union throughout our future Banner of Truth issues.

Secondly, an uplifted flag in Bible times was a symbol of both offensive and defensive warfare — offensive in the sense that as long as it remained uplifted, its soldiers fought on with confidence; defensive in the sense that it was always the chief object of attack. After a battle, when the field was strewn with wounded and dead soldiers, a heap of dead bodies could often be found in one place: where the standard-bearer and his flag fell. The enemy knew all too well that if the standard-bearer and his flag perished, the victory was theirs.

Jesus Christ was Satan’s chief object of attack, but as the Standard-bearer and Banner of His Church, He never fell. Even in death, not one of His bones was broken. He died to destroy him that had the power of death (Heb. 2:14). Until today, His Church finds that near His side the warfare is thickest — both offensively and defensively. Here the attacks are most severe, but also here their strength is most abundant. When faith’s eye is upon this uplifted Banner, they may say as Luther did to Melanchthon, “Come, Phillip, let us sing Psalm 46 and go forward, and let the devil do his worst.”

Again, a flag pledged the value of the cause. A faithful soldier in Bible times would frequently glance at the uplifted flag in the midst of battle to reassure himself that the cause he was fighting for was more important than his own life.

In parallel fashion, those have grown most in grace who have learned to look most to Jesus for value. Blessed are they who count His cause above their life. “We die,” said one martyr to his partner at the stake, “but let us take courage, for the cause of God shall prosper.”

Finally, after war, an uplifted flag spells victory. A victorious army would return to waiting wives and children with its blood-stained flag held high and to the fore.

This, too, is the Church’s eternal calling: to hold her bloodstained Savior high and to the fore — here, in part; once, perfectly. Would to God this Banner of Truth were more on the foreground within us and outside of us! How shall we ever esteem Him highly enough?

The Banner Given: By Whom and to Whom

“Thou hast given,” David says. That is, God the Father. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift,” Paul testified.

The Giver stands behind His Gift. The Banner is so great because God is both well-pleased only with His Son and because He Himself is Giver. In fact, precisely because He is sovereign Giver, He is well-pleased. It is sovereign pleasure that stands not only behind the agonizing cry of forsakenness on Calvary, but also behind Bethlehem’s cradle. No wonder we call Christmas the feast-day of the Father!

David’s “Thou” was rooted in the stillness of eternity, initiated temporally in Bethlehem’s manger, climaxed at Calvary, and ratified in the elect’s regeneration. And one day his “Thou” will be fulfilled forever, for Christ is an eternally-given Savior.

But to whom is He given? “To them that fear Thee,” i.e., to God-fearers. Not because they are God-fearing; rather, He who made room for Christ within them by planting childlike fear in their souls, will also provide Christ for them, apply Christ to them, and confirm Christ in them.

But what does it mean to fear God? John Brown’s simple definition is best: “To be God-fearing means to value the smiles and frowns of God more highly than the smiles and frowns of men.” To be God-fearing means to learn experientially to know God and His rights, self and our needs, Christ and His Lordship. It means to become ever more acquainted with corrupt nature in the first Adam and with perfect salvation in the Second Adam.

What Must be Done with this Banner and Why

“That it may be displayed because of the truth.” To display a flag, four things must transpire: it must be taken out of its case; it must be unfurled and lifted up; it must be carried and borne from place to place as the scene and plan of battle changes; and there must be wind to blow it, for a banner will hang like a dead flag without wind.

Spiritually, the application is unavoidable: the truth of God about Christ in the gospel must be taken off the dusty shelf, opened, read, searched. Without Scripture, Christ can never be found.

Christ must be lifted up by proclamation. He must be borne in daily walk through Spirit-wrought sanctification. His teachings must be put into practice by grace. But, above all, the wind of the Spirit must blow. Without the Spirit, all is dead and remains dead.

But why? Why must Christ be displayed — why must His Scriptures be searched, His Saviorhood be proclaimed, His yoke be borne, His Spirit be given?

“Because of the truth,” David says. The truth is worthy — worthy to be spoken of, written about, and proclaimed everywhere; worthy, because it is truth that sets a sinner free. And supremely worthy, because God is worthy — worthy to be served with heart, soul, mind and strength.

“Lord, as our Banner of Truth enters its 55th year, let it reflect Thy Banner. Let it remain centered upon Thee as Triune God. Let Christ be displayed as Alpha and Omega in its pages for the encouragement of lost sinners, for the edification of the established believer, for the sake of truth, and above all, for Thy Name’s sake.”

May God grant that our Banner of Truth may serve profitably each and every reader — also you, my friend. May it be an assisting tool to confirm in all of our lives, “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.”

Why must His Scriptures be searched,
His Saviorhood be proclaimed,
His yoke be borne, His Spirit be given?
“Because of the truth”

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Dr. J.R. Beeke is pastor of the First Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is the sixteenth and final article in a series of NRC committee reports.

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