Tuesday, April 7, 2026

It is the 7th of April 2026. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

 

When I was a kid, I was fascinated with the Nintendo Power Hotline- a 1-800 number you could call when you got stumped in the last levels of Mario Bros or Zelda. I had a dream of having my own hotline for answering all of your sports trivia and stats questions. That didn’t work out. But decades later, we have email, I have a podcast, and the flood of emails and questions has continued. I got a “hey Dan, I need some church history help” question from one of our favorites here- he is Dr. Rick in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, there on the Flambeau Falls west of the Chippewa River Valley.

Dr. Rick got a book for his wife- “Abide in Christ” by Andrew Murray- he admitted that he got Andrew Murray confused with Iain Murray and wondered about Andrew’s life and place in the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa and Apartheid. It’s all super interesting- let’s dig in.

Iain Murray is one of the founders of the Puritan Banner of Truth publishing house- he served under Martin Lloyd Jones and is a retired pastor and author today, in his 90s.

Andrew Murray Jr has a Scottish connection, but is more aligned with the history of revivalism and missions coming out of South Africa and the Dutch Reformed Church there.

The Dutch Reformed- Calvinists in the Netherlands (if that helps) made their way to the Cape Colony in South Africa in the 1650s with assistance from the Dutch East India Company. In the 1820’s, the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa became an autonomous body, importing many Scottish Presbyterians when South Africa came under British Control. One of the Scots to come was Andrew Murray Sr. He would send his sons back to Aberdeen to study theology, his second son being our Andrew Murray Jr. While in Scotland, and then in the Netherlands, Jr. came under the influence of the broader “Reveil” movement- something akin to the Great Awakening in America.

After 1848, Andrew will be back in South Africa, where he served as a pastor, an author of over 250 books, and an advocate for missions.

His works were especially popular in the world of “higher life” or “full sanctification” groups associated with some Wesleyans and Charismatic groups, but it is worth noting that he stands more in the Reformed tradition with its emphasis on passivity and union with Christ. “Union with Christ” is a standard phrase- a favorite of Calvin for understanding Justification and sanctification- how we are saved and then what that life looks like. And so, the book you got your wife, Dr. Rick, “Abide in Christ,” a series of devotional writings on passages from John 15 to 17- it has 31 short chapters and so perhaps a good project to work through in a month like May (I just counted my knuckles- April only has 30, May has 31).

Dr. Rick wondered what the connection was between Andrew and the Dutch Reformed in South Africa and the Apartheid. It was Murray’s Dutch church that tried to struggle with the so-called “heathen” problem. As missions and evangelism were key, meaning converting and baptizing their non-White neighbors. The church officially stated that these non-White believers should be integrated into the one church, but then got weak-kneed and stated that because of the “weakness” of the white population, they could set up “sister” congregations that were… well, separate but equal?

The Story of the Dutch Reformed and their struggle with Apartheid is its own story- but I would point you to the 1982 Belhar Confession- something akin to the Barmen Confession in Germany against the NAZI’s- Belhar argued that apartheid is a theological heresy in failing to see the union all believers have in Christ- and so we see Murray’s “Union” language not just for the individual believer but the whole church.

Thanks for the question- We don’t have a 1-800 or hotline, but you can send me your questions at Danv@1517.org.

 

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary and Colossians 3:

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 7th of April 2026, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man who probably doesn’t need to use his knuckles or mnemonic devices to remember simple things- he’s Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man whose inability to remember the order of months and the alphabet might surprise you… Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.