Tag Archives: John Calvin

Forensic Friday: Calvin on Trent

By D. G. Hart | Published: February 11, 2011

We, indeed, willingly acknowledge, that believers ought to make daily increase in good works, and that the good works wherewith they are adorned by God, are sometimes distinguished by the name of righteousness. But since the whole value of works is derived from no other fountain than that of gratuitous acceptance, how absurd were it… Read More→

Posted in The Hinge | Also tagged , | 2 Comments

Act Two, Scene Three: How Soon They Forget

By D. G. Hart | Published: December 27, 2010

In his serialized review of VanDrunen’s Natural Law and the Two Kingdoms, Nelson Kloosterman finishes his inspection of the chapter on Calvin with the line, “Remember the Puritans.” This is a curious appeal because Kloosterman’s memory may not be as good as his review of VanDrunen is long. His major objection to 2k appears to… Read More→

Posted in Novus Ordo Seclorum | Also tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Otherworldly Thursday: Calvin on the Spiritual Life

By D. G. Hart | Published: December 16, 2010

As much as some critics may question my personal piety, I do daily attend to private worship and often make use of readings from the likes of the Reformers. (It grieves me to admit this since such public unction seems to be at odds with Christ’s own counsel to his followers in Matt 6: 5.)… Read More→

Posted in Piety without Exuberance, spirituality of the church | Also tagged , | 16 Comments

Neo-Calvinists Should Be Afraid, Very Afraid

By D. G. Hart | Published: November 28, 2010

I have said many times that the prefix “neo” is more important for understanding neo-Calvinism than the noun. But the more I read neo-Calvinists, I wonder if they actually read Calvin or simply make up what they contend to be the Reformed faith. Just this afternoon I was reading Henry Van Til’s A Calvinistic Concept… Read More→

Posted in Paleo Calvinism | Also tagged , , , | 70 Comments

Act Two, Scene Two: Cheap Shot

By D. G. Hart | Published: November 26, 2010

Actually, the title should be plural since in one of his first reviews of VanDrunen’s Natural Law and the Two Kingdoms Nelson Kloosterman decided to insert a [sic] after VanDrunen’s phrase, “the Reformed tradition of natural law and the two kingdoms.” Kloosterman explained, “Because we are in danger of annoying our readers, we shall now… Read More→

Posted in Paleo Calvinism | Also tagged , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Nelson Kloosterman May Not Be But I Am Thankful for David VanDrunen

By D. G. Hart | Published: November 25, 2010

The reason is that Dave is a Calvinist who knows his Bible and is turning up the heat on that turkey we know as neo-Calvinism. Ultimately, however, neo-Calvinism needs to be questioned not because of its struggle to accomplish what it set out to do but because it is so foreign to the message of… Read More→

Posted in Paleo Calvinism | Also tagged , , | 219 Comments

A Reformed Protestant by Any Other Name Has to Be Shorter

By D. G. Hart | Published: October 29, 2010

From my trip to Geneva last summer for the festivities to celebrate John Calvin’s 500th birthday I still recall the indignation of a professor from the University of Zurich during his plenary presentation. He complained about Calvinism as the designation for Protestants who come from the Swiss Reformation. Obviously, he has a point since the… Read More→

Posted in Old World Presbyterianism | Also tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

This Is Not a Program for Changing the World

By D. G. Hart | Published: October 11, 2010

The discordant note in the Kuyperian and Niebuhrian conceptions of Reformed Protestantism is to turn Calvinism not into the little engine that could but the big combine that did and did it some more. Aside from the lack of humility inherent in pointing to Reformed Protestantism as a world-transforming faith that affects every aspect of… Read More→

Posted in Paleo Calvinism | Also tagged , | 5 Comments

Where’s Waldo Wednesday: Keeping the Union Balls in the Air

By D. G. Hart | Published: September 1, 2010

So for my devotions this morning I used a prayer from Calvin and needed to pause to consider what I was requesting (I guess this an argument against forms). Calvin wrote (in French, of course): Grant, Almighty God, that since thou hast deigned in thy mercy to gather us to thy Church, and to enclose… Read More→

Posted in Application of Redemption | Also tagged , , | 1 Comment

Where’s Waldo Wednesday: Cornering the Market on Suffering

By D. G. Hart | Published: August 18, 2010

During interactions with advocates of union with Christ I have frequently heard remarks that suggest this doctrine takes account of the believer’s suffering in breathtaking ways. In fact, union is apparently so effective in accounting for the miseries of this life that it needs to be a regular part of counsel and preaching to Christians.… Read More→

Posted in Application of Redemption | Also tagged , , , , | 1 Comment