I am currently writing a critical reflection of my time in Hamilton, Ontario in which I want to make mention of the influence of the Dutch Reformed community in the area. Reflecting upon my conversations and observations with many neo-calvinists/reformed types [If you are one of these folks- Thank You, Thank you] I am thinking of making the following large scale interpretation. If any dutch reformed/neo calvinists are reading this then please comemnt and let me know if this is a fair broad-stroked assessment. I do not want to offend and realise that I am an outsider who does not know Dutch Calvinism from within.
Two types: I am deliberately exaggerating the tendencies and am offering a caricature.
Type A: Non-Missional Dutch Calvinism: This group value and stand by their reformed heritage and Dutch heritage. They see Christ’s Lordship as being exercised over all of life, including church, family, and economic life. Their is a tendency to create Christian schools, Businesses which honour Christ. However, the focus on these things is not missional. Inone sense they would seek to create a new Geneva, and function their lives, as much as possible, within the dutch reformed community. This group are concerned about shaping their own lives and community. Evangelism is not high on the agenda, not church planting.
Type B: Missional Neo-Calvinists: This group are similar to Type A but see the Lordship of Christ as being something which should propel people to shape their lives under God with an outward focus. A missional focus, that of being a blessing to the world, is involved in the spheres of businesses, arts , media and family. This group are concerned about shaping and influencing the world. They are concerned about evangelism and church planting and more likely to work with non-Dutch organisations.
I think both groups have major strengths in the rejection of a dualistic view of the Christian life.
I think overall that is a pretty good caricature, Jon. I have had a lot of experience with Type A, growing up in those circles. I have had less experience with Type B partly because they exist in far smaller numbers. What you might add to the description of Type A is that they are legalist, preservationist, and sometimes characterized more by a verbal assent to the Lordship of Christ over all of life that does not follow through in action. If you want to be harsh, you might label some of them nominalists. In my experience I would have little trouble doing that.
Type B’s, I would argue, are more faithful in living in the transforming power of the gospel, but only insofar as they shed their “Dutchness.” I am of Dutch heritage myself, but I have largely rejected the Dutch subculture which exists among the children and grandchildren of immigrants in North America (it is much more prevalent in Canadian-Dutch families than in American-Dutch families). I firmly believe that any theological expression that remains encased in a particular ethnicity is both ineffective and unfaithful. Many Reformed people of Dutch heritage in North America still uphold and seek to preserve a clique built around those who share that same heritage. Unfortunately many do it without even realizing they are doing it. Now that I have left those circles, many I interact with critique neo-calvinism for its cultural exclusivity. Another critique I have heard of it is that it holds on to cultural transformation at the expense of conversion and evangelism.
That being said, I think that missional neo-Calvinism is a very good thing, and hope that it grows and flourishes. Those of us who see its merits need to work hard to break it free of its current cultural encasing and work to make it a viable worldview for all Christians to embrace. It certainly has that potential.
By: Jake on August 15, 2008
at 2:27 pm
I also wrote a paper recently offering a historical analysis and critical look at the Christian Reformed Church in North America. If you are interested in reading that for further insight into the Dutch Reformed community, let me know and I’ll email it to you.
By: Jake on August 15, 2008
at 2:29 pm
Thanks Jake for your reply. It would be good to see your essay. I was inspired to see a church plant in Hamilton (PCA) which seemed to be bringing together missional neo-calvinism, cultural relevancy, orthodoxy and evangelism. And all the members were not from one ethnicity. Great Stuff
I have come to neo-calvinism, from reformed evangelicalism (Carson, Piper, et al). I see its strengths in critiquing dualism but not alot of evangelism. However, I think that the resources with neo-calvinism are a gift to the Church.
If you could send me that essay that would be great. my e-mail is jonswales@[nospam]hotmail.co.uk
I also listen to a lot of Driscoll but I wish he,[ and Piper], would get there hands on neo-calvinism and cultural transformation more.
By: jonswales on August 15, 2008
at 3:10 pm
Okay, Jon, once I get home from work I’ll send the paper to you. It’s on my hard drive at home.
It does seem like it’s hard to find that healthy balance. There always seems to be too much of one thing or not enough of something else. I was part of that church plant in Hamilton before my wife and I moved to Florida, and I agree. It was really great stuff. It was hard to leave behind.
In our efforts to make known the Kingdom of God in this world, I think it is important to remember that when Jesus came and brought the Kingdom he announced it first with his words, proclaiming the gospels and making disciples, and then making it known by his deeds and sending them out to do the same. The tendency often in neglecting the proclamation of the Gospel is a capitulation to theological liberalism, while neglecting the embodiment of the gospel in deed produces that rigid fundamentalism/legalism. We really need to work to find the middle ground.
By: Jake on August 15, 2008
at 4:29 pm
We can forget about the Dutch and N.Amer. Dutch immigrant culture & the {Names removed by Blog Owner}
The English speaking world and culture has it’s own (better) neocalvinistic witness. See the following:
http://stevebishop.blogspot.com/
http://www.dooy.salford.ac.uk/
http://www.reformational.org.uk/
http://www.allofliferedeemed.co.uk/
Also see these two:
http://kuyperian.blogspot.com/
http://reformatorische.blogspot.com/
By: Baus on August 16, 2008
at 7:01 am
Thanks Baus. (It took me a while to see your message as it was put in the spam list.)
I am aware of the UK scene.See West Yorkshire School of Christian studies. http://www.wysocs.org.uk/
Also http://www.reformational.org.uk/
The interesting thing about the Dutch scene is that neo-calvinism is the theological DNA of some of these churches. I don’t know any denominations, nor churches, in the UK where this is true. When calvinism is on the whole a ‘dirty word’ then you don’t get many exploring the variety within it.
By: jonswales on August 16, 2008
at 8:37 am
can’t help, Jon, but think the broad brushstrokes are just a bit too broad to capture this diverse group. on the other hand a public blog post may not be the best place to be more specific about the groups you have in mind. there is considerable diversity across the so-called “dutch reformed” denominations, and what’s more there is quite a bit of diversity within these denominations.
Jake–with all due respect, you are pretty free in your use of labels, which makes one wonder if you have an ax to grind! Again, without context and without more specifics it’s hard to assess your claims.
By: dave b on August 17, 2008
at 10:23 pm
But I don’t know of any native Netherlands or immigrant Dutch churches that have not abandoned, squandered, lost, or distorted their neocalvinistic heritage.
Do you?
Which Dutch churches do you see as carrying a neocalvinistic torch?
I think confessional presbyterian/reformed churches in the UK (what few there may be these days) are in a better position to reconsider the fidelity of genuine neocalvinism than are most Dutch churches.
I suppose the Calvinistic Diocese of Sydney, Australia would be more receptive than the mainline Anglican establishment.
What’s your impression?
By: Baus on August 18, 2008
at 4:32 am
Dave: Yeah I know that its broad brush strokes. My paper was more of a theological reflection so I don;t have to be hard & fast and can have more interpretative leeway than usual. I think a distinction between missional and non-missional dutch reformed is useful. However I would also say that there can be missional, non-missional Anglican churches. The question is what we define as ‘missional’? I would include evangelism in being missional.
Greg: I wouldn’t agree with you about state of Dutch church. Missional or not, there are so many strengths.
Neo-Calvinist church congregations in the UK= 0. If you know of one then let me know.
Thanks for the comments everyone. I suggest that if we want to continue a discussion, in the light of Dave’s comments, we continue via e-mail.
By: jonswales on August 18, 2008
at 6:42 am
Dave, I do admit that it is occasionally hard to be completely objective in discussions like this. And as I spend more time outside those circles I’m sure I will gain a better perspective.
By: Jake Belder on August 18, 2008
at 11:58 pm
I don’t know about other elders or members of the congregation/denomination [IPC in middle-west London], but elder Graham Weeks (bearded fellow far right) is certainly a neocalvinist.
He’d know more, I’d bet.
By: Baus on August 20, 2008
at 2:52 am
Jake: I’d like to see your paper.
Jon you can see my Mark commentary at my web site. I’d be interested in your comments.
It’s interesting: which church isn’t into increasing its own “market share”? Isn’t that part of the problem we face?
Here in Australia the stimulation of the post-WWII Dutch reformed migration came to expression in the emergence of Christian parent-controlled schools. The problem was that the Kuyperian perspective that gave a critical foundation to these schools challenged the underlying rationale of public education – but the entire challenge was blunted by a subsequent refusal and inability to see Christian higher education as part of the entire endeavour. You can read my view on that if you like http://www.freewebs.com/brucewearne/ACHEA.PDF
Keep up the good work
By: Bruce Wearne on August 20, 2008
at 11:51 am
Thanks Baus, I had a look at the website. Steve Bishop has linked this discussion to his blog so hopefully we may get some other take on missional/non missional calvinism.
these lectures by Mike Goheen seem to look at the missional implications of neo calvinism. http://www.churchbootcamp.com/
By: jonswales on August 20, 2008
at 12:15 pm
Without getting this too much…
Most of the “missional theology” in N. America has bubbled up within Reformed circles. Acutally, its a cross-pollination of Leslie Newbigin (Anglical/Church of South India) and Reformed/Presbyterian centers such as Calvin Sem, Western Theological Sem, and Princeton Sem. by corollary evangelicals influenced by reformed thought such as Stanley Grenz, Dallas Willard, and John Franke.
These conversations are renewing the historically Dutch Reformed Churches in N. America such as the Christian Reformed Church and The Reformed Church in America, and the Reformed Church of Canada. There are a few Dutch reformed groups that remain isolationist but they are few a far between.
See http://reformed.net/church/timeline.shtml for a good overview of dutch reformed history in N. America.
Moreover, I think that the RCA and CRC are experiencing an amazing and profound revival. I would love to answer more direct questions if you have them. I am a pastor/church planter in Washington state USA with the Reformed Church in America. I lived in West Michigan for many years (the Dutch Mecca of N. America) and count many dutch reformed pastors and theologians as friends.
By: Brandon Beebe on September 26, 2008
at 9:12 pm