Against Reformed Catholicism

Last month, Mark Jones, a Presbyterian theologian and pastor, published an article at The Calvinist International entitled “Against Calvinism.” The click-baity title leads to an argument against the usefulness of the label “Calvinism.” He rightly points out the oddity of the baptist use of the term. Calvin himself fiercely attacked the radical anabaptists and would have …

Quotes on Social Inequality from the Protestant Tradition

I’ve posted a few articles on Christianity and inequality (see here, here, here, and here).  I list more quotes here, especially more from Calvin. I have also included quotes from Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, non-theologians and philosophers on inequality. Augustine (354 – 430) Peace between man and man is well-ordered concord. Domestic peace is the well-ordered concord between those …

Natural Duties and the Two Kingdoms

In my previous post on two-kingdom theology, I tried to make precise and concise distinctions and incorporate my other work on social hierarchy to develop an “anti-modern”  position in opposition to the modern variants of 2k theology. In this post, I further question the consistency of the most modern version put forward, namely, the 2k theology …

Anti-Modern Two-Kingdom Theology

In this post I outline my view of the two kingdoms. I, with Calvin and most others, widely separate the two kingdoms, but I do not follow the modern 2k advocates in saying that Christians and the Church have no social agenda. I argue that 2k theology calls for radical critique of modern life and …

Calvin’s Social Agenda

In my previous two posts (here and here), I have quoted from a series of sermons given by Calvin on 1 Corinthian 11:11-16. The sermons shed light on Calvin’s view of social hierarchy, social mobility, and social customs; and he sounds much more medieval than modern. In other posts and using other sources, I have …

The Importance of Social Customs in the Christian Tradition

Perhaps because the “sophisters, economists, and calculators [have] succeeded” (Edmund Burke), it is fashionable today for Christians to forget or dismiss the importance of social customs, traditions, and manners in the maintenance of societal order. These rarely receive consideration in discussions on Reformed social ethics; and, when considered, they are discarded as “old prejudices” or unreasoned habits useful …

Social Hierarchy in the Christian Tradition

Reformed Christian ethics has taken a social egalitarian turn. Recently, a few Reformed bloggers have criticized Christians for failing to support the “radical and inclusive social ethics” of the New Testament. Matthew Tuininga, in a couple interesting and well-written posts on the Presbyterian role in racial segregation (see here and here),[1] has condemned the southern …

Reformed Natural Theology – Part 3 (Pictet)

Part 1 and Part 2 Our discussion of Reformed natural theology concludes with an analysis of the work of Benedict Pictet (1655-1724). Pictet was Francis Turretin’s nephew and studied theology and philosophy under him. He was also Turretin’s assistant in the theology department of the Academy of Geneva. He later replaced Turretin as the chair …

Reformed Natural Theology – Part 1 (Calvin)

This is part 1 of a series on natural theology and reason in the Reformed tradition. See Part 2. Before directly discussing Calvin’s thinking on natural theology and reason, we must lay some theological groundwork. In particular, we will have to discuss what is called the duplex cognitio Dei. In Calvin, there is a twofold …

Matthew Henry and Calvin on Matt. 5:20

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (ESV) Isn’t Jesus referring to the need for imputed righteousness, not some inherent goodness? Many Calvinists today interpret Jesus to be pointing to the pharisees’ and scribes’ need for imputed righteousness. This is …