The Calvinist International
Though it triggers some Presbyterians to say so out loud, John Calvin was not a Sabbatarian. He did have a strict Sunday practice (and thus he most likely did not go lawn bowling on that day…), but this was always explained as a matter of human and not divine law. In fact, Calvin argues that […]
The Protestant argument for church polity has consistently argued that rule by presbyters was the earlier form of church government and that mono-episcopacy was a later practical development in the early church. This may have been legitimate and beneficial but was by no means universally binding on all future churches in all other locations. The […]
Over at my personal blog, I’ve written something on what is probably very peculiar to most readers, the practice of head of household voting in the church. I try to give a general context to the question and some pastoral wisdom as to how to make the decision. Here’s part of the conclusion: So am […]
It can be readily admitted that, among the recent school of “two kingdoms” thought, Matthew Tuininga represents some valuable emphases. Over against cheap criticisms of the doctrine, he has consistently affirmed the role of Scripture in public theology and he has put considerably more emphasis (see comments) on the relationship between creation and redemption than […]
Our friends and occasional associates Dr. Jordan Ballor and Mr. Brad Littlejohn have published a very helpful article on the variety of views on church discipline among Reformed churches in the 16th century. Their article goes a long way at clearing up the supposed Geneva-Zurich bifurcation, and they even chart some of the earliest forms of […]
Brad Littlejohn has a very helpful post on the question of the church’s constituency, whether it should be conceived as made up of individuals or of families. This is a question that often arises in conversations about patriarchy, ecclesiocentrism, and basic relations between church and state. Mr. Littlejohn is also right to point to the […]
This is a continuation of our previous essay. Now we move to our own consideration of John Calvin. We will first treat his theoretical principles and then examine his particular application of those principles, noting his unique political application, but also showing the way in which it does not break from the more basic principles […]