Calvinism And 1959

Prof. K. Runia. Trowel & Sword, April 1959

Preamble: It seems somewhat ironic that while we worship an unchanging and unchangeable God, Christians, including Reformed Christians, are constantly trying to change the church and themselves on the pretext of “keeping up with the times”. Last week our post looked at whether we should be calling ourselves “Calvinists” or “Christians”. This week’s article by Prof. Klaas Runia, written 16 years earlier, takes for granted that we are Calvinists and urges 1959 be a year of commemoration of John Calvin’s birthday (450 years) and 400 years since the publishing of his “Institutes”. Today Calvin and Calvinism hardly rates a mention; and these days, when (or if) we still celebrate Reformation day, it is more likely to be a celebration of Martin Luther than John Calvin.

Calvinism and 1959

Perhaps some of our readers ask themselves the question: why this combination of Calvinism and the year 1959 in the heading of this article?

The answer is very simple. 1959 is a year of commemoration for the Calvinists all over the world. And that in two regards. First it will be 450 years ago that the great Reformer John Calvin was born in Noyon, France.

Secondly it will be 400 years ago that the final edition of his masterpiece, the Institutes of the Christian Religion, was published by Calvin himself.

Are these two facts not worth to be commemorated by the Calvinists of today? The answer can only be: Yes, of course. And therefore in many countries preparations are made to celebrate these facts by special conferences, lectures, publications, etc.

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At the same time, however, these same two facts call us to reflection upon the situation of present-day Calvinism. Is Calvinism of our day still the Calvinism of John Calvin? Or, to put it in a more personal way: Are we, who call ourselves Calvinists, indeed Calvinists? Or is it only a name?

In the Banner of January 2, 1959, the Editor, the Rev. John Vander Ploeg, tells a story about the inaugural address given by a Dr. John Newton Thomas, when he was installed in the chair of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary.

“In the opening paragraphs the speaker introduced an imaginary Martian visitor who asks: What is the cardinal principle of your theology in the Reformed Churches? When he is told it is the sovereignty of God, he sets out to visit a representative group of Southern Presbyterian Churches to hear their ministers preach.

“Later he returns, and reports that he does not understand, seeing he has been visiting Southern Presbyterian Churches for six months or more and has yet to hear the first sermon on the sovereignty of God. He doubts whether it is true that this is the cardinal doctrine, the distinctive principle of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.

The person addressed then settles the argument by drawing & small, dust covered black book from his shelf containing the Confession of Faith (the Westminster Confession), which he hand’s to the imaginary visitor from Mars.

‘After studying it for a moment, the telling, not to say the crushing reply is made ‘Yes, here it is. But in my judgement, sir, if I may be permitted to say so, the convictions which are vital, the doctrines which are real, are the truths your prophets herald from the pulpit, the counsels your pastors whisper at the bedside of the sick and dying. I care nothing for a doctrine which reposes cadaverously in your Confession, however beautifully embalmed or perfect its state of preservation. I am interested, not in the dead, but in the living!”

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I am interested, not in the dead, but in the living!

Rev. Vander Ploeg applies this to his readers from the Christian Reformed Church. But have not we to do the same here in Australia?

O no, it will not be as bad as it is pictured by Dr. Thomas, when he speaks of his church. When I glance through the sermons of our ministers which are published in the “Word of Salvation” I find sound Reformed preaching.

But what about us personally? Are we real Calvinists? Do we personally live out of the basic principle of Calvin’s teaching: the sovereignty of God, revealed in Jesus Christ?

To quote Rev. Vander Ploeg again (with some slight variations): “Are we really believing it? God is sovereign means that He is supreme in power and authority. His sovereignty is gracious, just, and also absolute. Of Him and through Him and unto Him are all things. Everything revolves about Him even as all the planets in our solar system revolve about the sun. Either God is sovereign or else He is not”.

Would a visitor from Mars be able to detect this if he visited the Reformed Churches of Australia and New Zealand? Would Paul, Augustine and Calvin recognise us as their spiritual sons in this, if they could return to Earth, and be with us for the next six months?

Are we true Calvinists?

I think we had better alter the question. For Calvinism wants only to be the expression of the Biblical revelation, the revelation in Christ.

Are we true Christians?

Paul and Augustine and Calvin will not come to visit us this year. But One will be present, in our congregations, in our families, in our personal life. Always and everywhere. Jesus Christ, the Lord of Calvin will be there. He is our Lord too,

The best commemoration of John Calvin will be a life of total obedience and trust in Jesus Christ. Then we are true spiritual sons and daughters of John Calvin.

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It is, however, also fitting to give special attention to the life and work of Calvin in this year’s issues of our magazine. We will not do that to glorify Calvin. He himself did not like that at all. In one of his letters he once wrote that he did not want his followers to be called Calvinists. Not the servant is important, but the Master. Soli Deo gloria”.

But is it not the honour of God, if we give proof to appreciate his gifts to his Church? John Calvin was such a gift: One of the greatest gifts. And in commemorating John Calvin we want to thank the Lord for his goodness towards his Church.

Here then follow a few of our plans for this year.

In the May issue we will give some information about commemorations in various parts of the world. This survey will certainly help us to see again that Calvinism is a true world-movement.

In June we plan to publish a joint article of the Rev. R. Swanton ( Presb.), Dr. Leon Morris (Anglo) and myself on the Status and Prospect of Calvinism in Australia”.

For July Prof. Barkley will write an article on the Life of Calvin, followed in August by an article from the pen of Prof. Schep on Calvin as the author of Commentaries.

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Finally I would give an advice in the form of a request.

I would advise all our sessions to set aside one special Sunday to observe the two facts that mark this year as a year of commemoration for all Calvinists. Probably the best date would be the Sunday preceding 10 July, the birthday of Calvin. That would mean Sunday, the 5th of July. I would like all the sessions to ask their minister to have a special sermon of commemoration.

And may I request the editors of the “Word of Salvation” to ask one of the ministers to provide for this occasion a special sermon, that will be published before July 5, so that these facts can be commemorated also in the reading services?

We, who received such a rich inheritance, owe much gratitude to God, who blessed us so abundantly in giving us this inheritance!

K. Runia

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