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Neo-Calvinism Part 1: What is in a Name?
by Derek Melleby*
Disclaimer: This introduction to Neo-Calvinism is not to be
taken as exhaustive. I do not pretend to know all of the complex details of the
tradition. I am simply attempting to provide an outline of the basics, as I have
been taught.
Depending on where you live and move and have your being, the mention of
"Calvinism" or John Calvin is either met with great applause and cheer or with
hesitation and fear. I happen to live in the latter. In Lancaster, PA, I have
found, especially among evangelicals, that Calvinism is synonymous with
predestination. And many people have a difficult time accepting a God, or
worshipping a God, that "chooses" some people and doesn't choose others. While
one could spend all day arguing the finer points of Calvinism (well, actually,
one could spend a lifetime, and many do), I would like to put forth a different
way of thinking about Calvinism in regards to Neo-Calvinism.
Neo-Calvinism comes from the Dutch Reformed tradition (Dutch Calvinism).
Calvinism here distinguishes itself from Catholicism. In order to get to the
meat of Neo-Calvinism, here's my proposal (all my Neo-Cal friends, get ready to
click the "comment" link!): let's substitute Calvinism with Protestantism. In
this regard, Neo-Calvinism (Neo-Protestantism) would stay true to many of the
tenants of the reformation, including Martin Luther’s response to the corruption
of the Catholic Church in the 16th Century, and the Solas. (Notice I did not
mention TULIP, or five-point Calvinism. If the Neo-Calvinists would still have
me, I'd like to separate myself from some of the common understandings of
Calvinism. If you don't understand this parenthetical statement, consider
yourself blessed, don't worry about it, and keep reading!)
Now, moving on to the "neo" part of Neo-Calvinism. Once again, here's my
proposal: let's substitute "Neo" with "Nuanced." There we have it. When talking
about Neo-Calvinism, I think of it as Nuanced-Protestantism.
Future posts will attempt to unpack what is meant by Nuanced-Protestantism; or
better, what elements of the Christian faith this tradition (Neo-Calvinism)
tends to emphasize. For now, at the risk of adding more confusing terminology,
allow me to offer a summarizing statement: Neo-Calvinism is not just reformed,
it is reformational. Whereas reformed theology tends to emphasize the
reformation and purity of the Church, reformational theology, while based on
solid doctrine, uses this doctrinal basis to be about the reformation of all
areas of life.
The Dutchman Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) is one of the "fathers" of the
Neo-Calvinist tradition. Kuyper believed that the Bible, Christian theology, and
Christian spirituality should be the framework from which all Christians engage
the world and culture in order to bring every area of life under the Reign and
Lordship of Jesus Christ (this is what Jesus meant when he preached "the Kingdom
of God "). To embody this belief, Kuyper was a pastor, professor, and
philosopher. He founded a newspaper, a university, and a political party. At one
time, he was simultaneously the editor and chief of a national newspaper, the
president of a university, and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
My friend Byron Borger provides this summary of what is meant by
reformational, especially as it pertains to the
academy:
A word coined to describe a new brand
of Calvinists who take the ideas of the Protestant Reformation beyond
theology and abstract debates about the nature of the atonement and church
life and rather seek to bring about Christian cultural change and social
transformation. Serious, lasting change, however, can only come about after
serious and radical re-formation of the philosophical assumptions currently
deforming each sphere of culture. Reformational folk realize that to be
"light in the darkness," we need to re-think the inner structures of each
academic discipline which shape each area of life.
To summarize: (1) I propose that Neo-Calvinism could better be
understood as "Nuanced-Protestantism," and (2) I propose that Neo-Calvinism
attempts to be reformational, not just reformed.
© Coalition for Christian Outreach 2005
Part 1: What is in a Name?
Part 2: Introductory Reading
Part 3: The
Holy Bible
Part 4: CREATION, Fall, Redemption
Part 5: Creation, FALL, Redemption
Part 6: Creation, Fall, REDEMPTION
Part 7: Structure and Direction
Part 8: Sphere Sovereignty
Part 9: Final Remarks and
Seerveld's Summary
 *Derek
Melleby is the Director of the
Center for Parent/Youth
Understanding's College Transition Initiative, in partnership with the
CCO (Coalition for Christian Outreach).
This initiative helps college bound high school juniors and seniors, and their
parents, successfully make the transition from high school to college. Derek
graduated from
Bloomsburg
University
in 2000 with a B.A. in Political Science. While at Bloomsburg, Derek was the
president of Athletes in Action, a sports ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.
After graduating, Derek was on staff at the Evangelical Free Church of Hershey
through the CCO (the Coalition for Christian Outreach). In 2004, he completed a M.A. in
Higher Education at
Geneva
College. He is the
coauthor of
The Outrageous Idea of Academic Faithfulness: A Guide for Students
(Brazos Press). His wife, Heidi, is a public high school teacher and they live
in
Mount Joy, PA.
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