Jan Karel Van Baalen
From Encyclopedia Reformata
Contents |
Life and Work
Jan Karel Van Baalen was born April 8, 1890 at The Hague, in the Netherlands. He was the son of the Rev. Henri Wilhelm Van Baalen and counted among his ancestors the Rev. A. Brummelkamp and Albertus Van Raalte, leaders of the Dutch Reformed Secession. He studied at Nijmegen Gymnasium (1903-1905), Kampen Reformed Gymnasium (1905-09); and at Kampen Theological School (1909-1914) before immigration to America at age twenty-four.
In 1914 he came to Princeton Seminary to pursue graduate theological studies which he completed in 1916. The outbreak of World War I led to the decision to remain in the United States. He married Christine Fris and in 1917, and ordained in his first charge, Ada, Michigan. Then he served at Munster, Indiana (1920), and Pease, Minnesota (1926). Van Baalen began his writing career as a controversialist on the side of Kuyperian Calvinism during the “common grace” controversy of 1921-1928. He continued to serve various churches within the Christian Reformed Church: Twelfth Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan (1929); Mount Vernon, Washington (1943) and finally at First Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (1950).
His life was not without sorrow. A son, Jan Karel, was killed in France in World War II when he was only twenty years old. This loss led to the writing of his inspiring little book Comfort to Spare. At three different times Van Baalen served as member of the Board of Trustees of Calvin College and Seminary. He suffered a great loss in the passing of his faithful helpmeet; he later married Miss Nora Mae Vredeveld. This servant of the Lord made a rich contribution to the church as a preacher and writer. Especially his books on the cults and the Heidelberg Catechism have been widely used. He became pastor Emeritus and retired in 1955 and living at Lynden, Washington. He died on June 27, 1968, at the age of 78.
Estimate
Personal
Said Rev. Gilbert Holkeboer,
Trail-blazing is a lonely life. “J.K.” was one of the trail-blazers—he was always far ahead of the crowd. This is a lonely place to be, but there must always be those who are willing to be ahead. … And he was a theologian of merit. His writings attest to this, and one regrets that he didn’t have the stamina in his retirement years to write more. Not only was he a student of the older and Reformed theologians, but his interest in modern theologians, liberal and orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic, remained intense to the end. Life was intense for him, so intense that he was inclined to be brusk. … This bruskness might be a flaw, but others of us have flaws of not being intense enough about our studies and work. All of us have weaknesses, some obvious, some not so obvious. He would be the first to admit his imperfections. He did everything intensely and with a desire for perfection. whether it was reading Hans Küng or cleaning his pipes.
Authority on the Cults
The Reverend Jan Karel Van Baalen came to be recognized as an authority on the subjects of cults. “Jan Karel van Baalen laid the groundwork for much of twentieth-century countercult apologetics.” His diligent research, voluminous correspondence with leaders of the cults, wide reading, and continuing efforts to keep informed on the latest teachings and happenings in the world of cultism have earned for him the reputation of authority. In his pastorates in large and small communities across the United States and in Canada, he has personally worked with cultists. He has remained alert to the growth and development of the cults, and has closely followed the changing history of cultism in America, As preacher, pastor, teacher, and author, the Rev, van Baalen sought to make the Christian gospel and doctrine vital. This concern early led him to see the cults for what they are: major challenges and alternatives to the Christian faith, He is convinced that a thorough knowledge of what the Bible teaches and of what the cults teach is the best way to meet these challenges.
Bibliography
Van Baalen was a unique personality, a gifted writer and until the end of his life a diligent student. For 17 years he wrote the Sunday School Lesson for The Banner. During his later years he wrote for a department in De Wachter, Called “Uit het Jonge Westen.” He authored the following books:
Writings:
- The Ritschlians and the pre-existence of Christ. [1920] Physical descrip: p. 493-514; 28 cm. General Note: Reprinted from The Princeton Theological Review, vol. XVIII, no.3, July 1920. General Note: Cover title. Personal subject: Ritschl, Albrecht, 1822-1889. The Ritschlians and the pre-existence of Christ, part II. [1920] Physical descrip: p. 611-637; 28 cm. General Note: Reprinted from The Princeton Theological Review, vol.18, no.4, Oct. 1920. General Note: Cover title. Personal subject: Ritschl, Albrecht, 1822-1889.
- The Chaos of Cults: A Study of Present-day Isms. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans; Revised editions: 1951, 1956, 1960(3), 1962(4). Physical descrip: 414 p. 23 cm. Bibliography note: Bibliography: p. 401-414. Subject term: Sects--United States.
- [Chaos of cults. Spanish] El caos de las sectas / J.K. Van Baalen. Grand Rapids, Mich.: T.E.L.L., 1969, 1978 Physical descrip: 372 p. 19 cm. General Note: Translation of: The chaos of cults. Bibliography note: Includes bibliography. Subject term: Sects--United States.
- Christianity Versus The Cults. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans [1958] Physical descrip: 136 p. 22 cm. General Note: Sects. A hard-cover volume of 136 pages designed especially as “A Popular Aid for Christian Workers.” Contains the essential material of “The Chaos of Cults” in a condensed and concise form
- Comfort to spare; brief talks to sorrowing hearts, by Rev. J. K. Van Baalen, B.D. Grand Rapids, Mich., Wm. B. Eerdmans [1946] Physical descrip: 88 p. 21 cm. Series (Home devotional library) General Note: "First printing, November, 1946." Subject term: Consolation.
- The Gist of the Cults: Christianity versus False Religion / by J. K. Van Baalen. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1944. Physical descrip: 64 p. 19 cm. Edition: Rev. and enl. [between 1944 and 1960], c1944. Physical descrip: 71 p.; 20 cm. Subject term: Sects--United States. A brief summary of the teachings of some of the major cults
- The Heritage of the Fathers: A Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1948. Physical descrip: 640 p. 24 cm. Title subject: Heidelberger Katechismus.
- If Thou Shalt Confess / by J. K. Van Baalen. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1945, 1953, 1962, 1964. Physical descrip: 65 p.; 17 cm. Subject term: Christian life. If Thou Shalt Confess, 1962. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Revised, 1970. A very pointed exposition -of the implications of professing faith in Christ.
- The journey of man: and other sermons / by Jan Karel Van Baalen. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1935. Physical descrip: 184 p.; 20 cm. Corporate subject: Christian Reformed Church--Sermons. Subject term: Sermons, American.
- Kagawa the Christian, by Jan Karel Van Baalen. Grand Rapids, Mich., Eerdmans [c1936] Physical descrip: 110 p. 20 cm. General Note: "First edition." Bibliography note: "References": p. 109-110. Personal subject: Kagawa, Toyohiko, 1888-1960.
- Let us plead together; a personal talk with non-confessing church members. Grand Rapids, Reformed Press [19--] Physical descrip: 71 p. 18 cm. Subject term: Christian life. ISBN: 0524062781 (microfiche)
- De loochening der gemeene gratie: gereformeerd of doopersch? / door Jan Karel Van Baalen. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans-Sevensma, 1922. Physical descrip: 92 p.; 24 cm. Subject term: Grace (Theology)
- Nieuwigheid en dwaling: de loochening der gemeene gratie. Nogmaals gewogen en te licht bevonden / Door Jan Karel Van Baalen. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans-Sevensma, 1923. Physical descrip: 202 p.; 1923. Bibliography note: Includes bibliographical references. Subject term: Grace (Theology) Subject term: Providence and government of God.
- Our birthright and the mess of meat: isms of today analyzed and compared with the Heidelberg Catechism / by Jan Karel Van Baalen. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1929. Physical descrip: 287 p.; 21 cm. Bibliography note: Includes bibliographical references. Title subject: Heidelberger Katechismus. Subject term: Sects--United States.
- Our Christian heritage; an exposition of the apostolic creed, the ten commandents [sic] and the Lords prayer, by Jan Karel van Baalen. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1949 [c1948] Physical descrip: 423 p. 24 cm. Bibliography note: Bibliographical footnotes. Title subject: Apostles' Creed. Title subject: Ten commandments. Title subject: Lord's prayer.
- The Pound in a Napkin: a plea for better church music / by Jan Karel Van Baalen. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1939. Physical descrip: 64 p.; 20 cm. Bibliography note: Includes bibliographical references. Subject term: Music in churches. Subject term: Church music--Christian Reformed Church. Subject term: Choirs (Music)
- When Hearts Grow Faint; instructions on how to live a life of joy. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans [1960] Physical descrip: 119 p. 21 cm. Subject term: Consolation. The instructions given in this book on how to live a life of joy are good instructions. They are instructions that can be followed _ and used to good purpose, “they are drawn from a living experience with Christ and the Scriptures, a loving concern for people as they are, and a joyful acceptance of life. This book is, quite frankly, for the fainthearted. That is to say, it is for most of us, Who does nut experience weariness in fighting the devil inside, who doe’s not almost weekly experience sorrow — his own or another’s, who does not daily find that life is marked by disappointment? To those of us whose hearts grow faint, the author has one, all-inclusive instruction: Surrender your difficulties and disappointments to God. Keeping this in mind, we are ready to receive the specific instructions here given on how to live a life of joy amid our duties and temptations.
Reference
- Gilbert Holkeboer, "Rev. Jan Karel Van Baalen, 1890-1968" The Banner (Aug 23, 1968): 19.
- Calvin College, Grand Rapids MI, Heritage Hall, Biography file
