World-Formative Christianity

The saints are responsible for the structure of the social world in which they find themselves. The structure is not simply part of the order of nature; to the contrary, it is the result of human decision, and be concerted effort it can be altered. Indeed, it should be altered, for it is a fallen structure (p. 3).

I have suggested that the emergence of original Calvinism represented a fundamental alteration in Christian sensibility, from the vision and practice of turning away from the social world in order to seek closer union with God to the vision and practice of working to reform the social world in obedience to God (p. 11).

Nicholas Wolterstorff, Until Justice and Peace Embrace (Eerdmans, 1983)

Chandler on Cannibalistic Reformed

Matt Chandler was recently interviewed by the Leadership Journal in which he quipped about being Reformed and the danger associated with it:

I'm unapologetically Reformed, but nine times out of ten I cannot stand the Reformed community. I don't want to be around them. I don't want to read their blogs. They can be cannibalistic, self-indulgent, non-missional, and angry. It's silly and sad at the same time. Reformed doctrine should lead to a deep sense of humility and patience with others. How it produces such arrogance baffles me.

New Calvinism is a young movement, and young people are often arrogant. Life hasn't had a chance to beat the trash out of them yet. I'll tell the young people in my sermons, "You can't get into theological battles while you still live with your mom." Or, "You can nail your 95 theses to the door once you own one." Before these 20 year olds begin passionately defending their view of Scripture, I want to see that they are being obedient to it.

All things Calvin

These past two weeks Reformed bloggers have been buzzing with the coverage of many important events surrounding the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth this year. Yes, Calvin is turning 500 this year! It's his quincentennary! To be exact, his birthday will be celebrated on July 10, 2009.

The sixteenth century Reformator is no doubt the most influential figure in the history of the church. His life, piety, theology, and action have had continuing, profound effects in various private and public domains both within and beyond the church which were transformed as a result.

This year is a very opportune time to read the Institutes for those of us who haven't done so, or just read a few sections of his masterpiece. It is also a good time to go deep into the essential tenets of the Reformed theology, knowing that there is a great incentive to do so namely there are hundreds of thousands of people out there who are doing the same thing this year.

Below is my attempt to list all things Calvin online as of today (albeit it is incomplete). You will likely to encounter household names in the Reformed circle offering their thoughts on how Calvin has influenced them and the world.

1. The Calvin 500 blog. Fostering a healthy discussion for an international community about events, conferences, tours, reviews, studies, discussions, and developments related to the 2009 quincentenary of Calvin’s birth.

2. Monergism on John Calvin. One of the best sources for commentaries, essays, articles, multimedia on Calvin.

3. Martin Downes collects audio links to Calvin.

4. Knowing the Truth radio program features many scholars who will discuss Calvin during the month of January.

5. Reformation 21 is blogging the Institutes.

6. Princeton Seminary is also blogging the Institutes

7. Scott Clark offers his take on Calvin-related books.

8. Martin Lynk reads the Institutes and provides his daily reflections on it.

What is interesting is the big anticipation of heaps of books that will be published this year on Calvin. Here is a case in point, which have enjoyed positive reviews and one that I have been wanting to purchase: John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, Doxology, edited by Burk Parsons. See the Table of Content and Sample Chapter. Also an interview with Dr Parsons on the book.












Finally, I thought I end this post with the statues of the leading Reformation figures in the Reformation Wall Geneva: (left to right) Theodore Beza (1519 – 1605), John Calvin (1509 – 1564), William Farel (1489 – 1565), and John Knox (c.1513 – 1572).

Bahaya Menjadi Seorang Reformed

Saya tidak akan ragu mengaku bahwa saya seorang Calvinist, dan berpijak kepada teologi Reformed. Namun konfiksi seperti ini saya sadar betul dapat dengan mudah membawa seseorang menjadi arogan dan membuatnya merasa superior dibanding orang yang berseberangan. Tanpa sadar, bahaya tersebut mempersempit konsepsi kita tentang tubuh Kristus, sehingga pola pikir kita menjadi binary: Either kamu reformed atau bukan reformed. Tidak beda dengan label-label lain yg sama fatal-nya seperti "Orang Kristen yang penuh Roh Kudus atau tidak ada Roh Kudus" yang beredar di kalangan Karismatik.

Ray Ortlund menulis sebuah artikel tentang isu diatas dengan menarik persamaan dengan apa yang terjadi dengan jemaat Galatia yang begitu membanggakan keliwat batas trademark mereka: Sunat. Berikut cuplikan artikelnya:

I believe in the sovereignty of God, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Solas of the Reformation, I believe that grace precedes faith in regeneration. Theologically, I am Reformed. Sociologically, I am simply a Christian – or at least I want to be. The tricky thing about our hearts is that they can turn even a good thing into an engine of oppression. It happens when our theological distinctives make us aloof from other Christians. That’s when, functionally, we relocate ourselves outside the gospel and inside Galatianism.

The Judaizers in Galatia did not see their distinctive – the rite of circumcision – as problematic. They could claim biblical authority for it in Genesis 17 and the Abrahamic covenant. But their distinctive functioned as an addition to the all-sufficiency of Jesus himself. Today the flash point is not circumcision. It can be Reformed theology. But no matter how well argued our position is biblically, if it functions in our hearts as an addition to Jesus, it ends up as a form of legalistic divisiveness.

My Reformed friend, can you move among other Christian groups and really enjoy them? Do you admire them? Even if you disagree with them in some ways, do you learn from them? What is the emotional tilt of your heart – toward them or away from them? If your Reformed theology has morphed functionally into Galatian sociology, the remedy is not to abandon your Reformed theology. The remedy is to take your Reformed theology to a deeper level. Let it reduce you to Jesus only. Let it humble you. Let this gracious doctrine make you a fun person to be around. The proof that we are Reformed will be all the wonderful Christians we discover around us who are not Reformed. Amazing people. Heroic people. Blood-bought people. People with whom we are eternally one – in Christ alone.

John Piper memberi beberapa tips yang penting ttg bagaimana kita dapat mengkotbahkan dan mengajar Calvinism tanpa kedengaran seperti orang paling arogan didunia. Tiga point yang menurut saya perlu digarisbawahi adalah sbb:

- Speak of your own brokenness in regard to these things (ie., Calvinistic teachings like TULIP) and how they are precious to you and why and how they minister to your soul and help you live your life.

- Make Spurgeon and Whitefield your models rather than Owen or Calvin, because the former were evangelists and won many people to Christ in a way that is nearer to our own day.

- Work the five points out from the "I" in tulip not the "U". That is, show people that they don't really want to take final credit for their coming to Christ. They don't want to stand before God at the judgment day and respond to the question, "Why did you believe and others with your opportunities didn't?" with the answer, "Well, I guess I was smarter, or more spiritual." They want to say, "By grace I was brought to faith." Which is "irresistible grace." That is, grace that triumphs over all resistance in the end.