Calvinism (Introduction to John Calvin's Reformed Theology)

Summary

This script offers an insightful overview of John Calvin and Calvinism, emphasizing Calvin's radical approach to reforming Christianity. It outlines the key tenets of Calvinist theology, including the sovereignty of God, predestination, and the absence of free will. The video uses the acronym TULIP to explain the Five Points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. It also touches on the iconoclastic practices of Calvinists, their plain dress, and the spread of Calvinism across Europe under various names.

Takeaways

• 😀 John Calvin is considered the father of reformed Christianity, but he was not the one who started the Reformation; that was Martin Luther.
• 🏛️ Calvin was a radical reformer who aimed to create a theology and church structure distinct from the Catholic Church, starting from scratch.
• 📚 Calvin's 'Institutes of the Christian Religion' is a foundational work of systematic theology in the Reformation, outlining his theological system.
• 🛐 The core of Calvinist theology is the sovereignty of God, who has absolute control over everything, including the doctrine of predestination.
• 🕍 Predestination in Calvinism suggests that God has chosen certain individuals for salvation before they are even born, eliminating the concept of free will.
• 🌐 The acronym TULIP is used to remember the Five Points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints.
• 👕 Calvinists are known for their iconoclasm, rejecting religious icons and ornamentation in churches, and favoring plain dress as a sign of humility.
• 🎨 Iconic Calvinist art, such as Rembrandt's 'Anatomy Lesson,' often features plain, unadorned clothing and settings, reflecting their theological beliefs.
• 🗣️ Calvinists, known as Presbyterians in Scotland, Puritans or Separatists in England, and Huguenots in France, had significant impacts on the religious landscape of these regions.
• 🌟 Calvinism emphasizes a theology without free will, where God's election is unconditional, and His grace is irresistible, leading to a strict moral code among its followers.

Q & A

Who is John Calvin and why is he significant?

John Calvin was a French theologian who settled in Geneva, Switzerland, and is considered the father of Reformed Christianity. He is significant because he was a radical reformer who sought to create a theology and church structure distinct from the Catholic Church, emphasizing a truly reformed approach rather than mere modifications to existing doctrines.

What is the main theme of John Calvin's 'Institutes of the Christian Religion'?

The main theme of John Calvin's 'Institutes of the Christian Religion' is the systematic presentation of his theological beliefs, with a strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God, which underpins all aspects of Calvinist theology.

What is the doctrine of predestination as explained in the script?

The doctrine of predestination, as explained in the script, is the belief that God has chosen certain individuals, known as the elect, to go to heaven before they are even born. This means that their salvation is not contingent on their actions or decisions but is solely based on God's sovereign will.

How does the concept of free will relate to Calvinist theology?

In Calvinist theology, the concept of free will is largely rejected. It is believed that if God is truly sovereign, then the idea of free will would undermine God's omnipotence, making God subject to human decisions and actions.

What is the acronym TULIP and how does it relate to Calvinism?

TULIP is an acronym representing the Five Points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. It is a mnemonic device to help remember the core tenets of Calvinist theology.

What does 'Total Depravity' mean in the context of Calvinism?

In Calvinism, 'Total Depravity' refers to the belief that human beings are inherently sinful and incapable of choosing God or accepting God's grace without divine intervention. It implies that humans are completely unable to contribute to their own salvation.

What is 'Unconditional Election' and why is it important in Calvinism?

Unconditional Election is the belief that God's choice of the elect is not based on any foreseen actions or merits of the individual. It is purely an act of God's grace, and this concept is crucial in Calvinism as it underscores the idea that salvation is entirely God's decision, not influenced by human actions.

Can you explain 'Limited Atonement' in Calvinist theology?

Limited Atonement in Calvinist theology means that Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross was intended only for the elect, those chosen by God for salvation. It is not a universal atonement where Christ's death could potentially save all people, but rather it is specific to those whom God has chosen.

What does 'Irresistible Grace' signify in the context of Calvinism?

Irresistible Grace signifies that once God has chosen someone for salvation, that person cannot resist the divine grace. It implies that the elect will inevitably be saved because God's grace is so powerful that it cannot be overcome by human will or actions to the contrary.

What is the 'Perseverance of the Saints' and why is it a key doctrine in Calvinism?

The 'Perseverance of the Saints' is the belief that those who are elected by God will certainly persevere and ultimately be saved. It is a key doctrine in Calvinism because it asserts that once God has chosen someone, they are secure in their salvation and cannot fall away or lose their election.

How did Calvinism influence the design of churches and the attire of its followers?

Calvinism influenced the design of churches by advocating for simplicity and the removal of religious icons, leading to plain, unadorned interiors. As for attire, Calvinists, including Puritans, favored plain and modest clothing, rejecting ornamentation and bright colors as signs of vanity, reflecting their belief in the primacy of spiritual over material concerns.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to John Calvin and Calvinism

The speaker begins by emphasizing the importance of not selling drugs to children, then transitions into an introduction to John Calvin, the founder of Reformed Christianity. Calvin, a Frenchman who settled in Geneva, Switzerland, is distinguished from Martin Luther by his radical approach to reforming the church and theology. Unlike Luther, who sought to modify existing Catholic doctrines, Calvin aimed to create a theology and church structure entirely distinct from the Catholic Church. His seminal work, 'Institutes of the Christian Religion,' outlines a systematic theological framework grounded in the sovereignty of God, which is foundational to Calvinist thought. The speaker also introduces the concept of predestination, suggesting that God's sovereignty extends to choosing who will be saved, even before birth.

05:03

🌟 The Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP)

The speaker explains the core tenets of Calvinism using the acronym TULIP. 'Total depravity' refers to the Calvinist belief that humans are incapable of choosing God without divine intervention. 'Unconditional election' highlights that God's choice of the 'elect' is not based on human merit or actions. 'Limited atonement' asserts that Jesus' sacrifice was for the elect only, not for all humanity. 'Irresistible grace' conveys that once God has chosen someone, they cannot resist His grace. Finally, 'Perseverance of the Saints' means that those elected by God are assured of their salvation and cannot lose it. The speaker uses a hypothetical scenario involving a character named Stephen to illustrate the concept of predestination and the impact of God's sovereignty on human actions and fate.

10:05

🏛️ Calvinist Practices and Iconoclasm

The speaker discusses the practical expressions of Calvinism, particularly in terms of church aesthetics and personal conduct. Calvinists are known for their iconoclasm, the rejection of religious icons and decorations in churches, in favor of simplicity and unadorned spaces. This reflects their belief that God should not be represented through physical art or ornamentation. The speaker also touches on the plain dress and modest lifestyle of Calvinists, contrasting with the ornate clothing and vanity associated with other Christian traditions. The video concludes with a brief overview of the spread of Calvinism and its regional variations, such as Presbyterians in Scotland, Puritans or Separatists in England, and Huguenots in France, inviting viewers to explore these topics further.

Keywords

💡John Calvin

John Calvin was a French theologian, pastor, and reformer who played a pivotal role in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. In the video, he is described as the father of reformed Christianity, emphasizing his radical approach to reforming the church by starting from scratch rather than merely tweaking existing Catholic doctrines.

💡Calvinism

Calvinism is a system of Christian theology that was developed by John Calvin and his followers. It is characterized by its belief in the sovereignty of God, predestination, and the belief in the 'Five Points of Calvinism'. The video explains that Calvinism is a theology that emphasizes God's absolute control over everything, which is central to understanding the doctrines presented.

💡Reformation

The Reformation refers to a major schism in Western Christianity that began in the 16th century. The video discusses how John Calvin was a key figure in the Reformation, distinguishing himself from Martin Luther by advocating for a more radical reform that went beyond the Catholic Church's doctrines.

💡Institutes of the Christian Religion

This is a seminal work by John Calvin, often considered the first work of systematic theology in the Reformation. The video highlights its importance as it lays out Calvin's theological framework, which is foundational to understanding Calvinism.

💡Sovereignty of God

The concept of the 'sovereignty of God' is central to Calvinist theology. It asserts that God has absolute control over everything. The video uses this concept to explain the doctrine of predestination, emphasizing that without the belief in God's sovereignty, Calvinist theology does not hold.

💡Predestination

Predestination is the doctrine in Calvinism that certain individuals are chosen by God for salvation before their birth. The video uses a hypothetical scenario with a character named Stephen to illustrate the concept, explaining that if God is sovereign, then predestination is a logical consequence of His control over all things.

💡Free Will

Free will is the power of making choices that are neither determined by natural causality nor predestined by a supernatural power. The video contrasts the Calvinist view, which rejects free will in favor of God's sovereignty, with the Catholic and humanist views that champion it.

💡TULIP

TULIP is an acronym representing the 'Five Points of Calvinism': Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. The video uses this acronym as a mnemonic device to explain the core beliefs of Calvinism, emphasizing the deterministic nature of salvation.

💡Iconoclasm

Iconoclasm refers to the rejection and destruction of religious icons and art. The video describes how Calvinists practiced iconoclasm by removing statues and paintings from churches, reflecting their belief that God should not be represented in physical forms.

💡Puritans

Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to 'purify' the Church of England from remnants of Roman Catholicism. The video explains that in England, Calvinists were known as Puritans, who were known for their plain dress and strict moral codes.

Highlights

Introduction to John Calvin and Calvinism, emphasizing Calvin's role as a radical reformer distinct from Martin Luther.

John Calvin's establishment in Geneva, Switzerland, and his foundational work, 'Institutes of the Christian Religion'.

Calvin's systematic theology built on logic and scripture, reflecting his background as a lawyer.

The core tenet of Calvinism: the sovereignty of God, implying absolute control over all things.

Discussion on predestination, where God's sovereignty leads to the conclusion of an elect chosen before birth.

The hypothetical scenario of Stephen Wright to illustrate the concept of predestination and its implications.

Critique of the Catholic and humanist views on free will as incompatible with Calvin's emphasis on God's sovereignty.

Explanation of the acronym TULIP to represent the Five Points of Calvinism.

Total depravity: the inability of humans to choose God without divine intervention.

Unconditional election: God's choice of the elect not based on human merit or actions.

Limited atonement: Jesus Christ's sacrifice for the elect only, not for everyone.

Irresistible grace: the notion that once God has chosen someone, they cannot resist His will.

Perseverance of the Saints: the assurance that the elect cannot lose their salvation.

Iconoclasm in Calvinist churches, reflecting a rejection of religious icons and ornamentation.

Description of Calvinist attire, emphasizing simplicity and a rejection of vanity.

Spread of Calvinism and its regional denominations: Presbyterians in Scotland, Puritans/Separatists in England, and Huguenots in France.

The practical implications of Calvinism on daily life, including dress and behavior.

Closing thoughts on Calvinism as a theology without free will, where election is unconditional and irresistible.

Transcripts

all right so before I start talking

about John Calvin I want to make one

thing absolutely clear you should never

sell drugs to

Children hey there students I'm going to

talk to you a little bit about John

Calvin and Calvinism for those of you

who are studying the reformation and

just trying to wrap your brain around

Calvin and his doctrines uh you know in

case you get some questions about that

and that sort of thing so I'm going to

give you a brief introduction to

Calvinism well let's start off with the

founder John Calvin John Calvin uh was

in Geneva Switzerland he was uh French

ethnically but he settled in Switzerland

and he is the father of reformed

Christianity now what I mean by this is

not that he started the Reformation

that's more Martin Luther but there's

really this distinguishing

characteristic of Calvin that makes a

calvinist truly reformed where Martin

Luther wanted to just tweet some things

about the Catholic Church you know there

are Catholic doctrines he disagrees with

he gets rid of those he modifies

whatever John Calvin wants to start from

scratch really uh a truly reformed

theology and a Theology and a church

that really looks nothing like the

Catholic church of his day so just keep

in mind that he is a radical reformer

taking things in an entirely different

direction and not just coming up with

things that he disagrees with and

modifying them and John Calvin wrote

what is perhaps the first work of

systematic theology in the Reformation

his Institutes of the Christian religion

it's very important that you know this

book uh because this is where he writes

about all of his doctrines and comes up

with this system not just these are some

things about my theology but here is an

entire theological system kind of like

building a house or something like that

he's going to start uh you know start

from the bottom I guess kind of the

Drake of the Reformation or something

like that and and it's really founded

upon logic okay now Calvin there are

some things about Calvin's theology that

are not very palatable but you can't

really argue with his logic John Calvin

had been a lawyer so what he really does

is he takes scripture and he takes cold

hard logic and really puts them together

so you can reject Calvin's framework

outright but it's really hard to find

holes in it uh if you uh agree with it

from the foundation and the foundation

of calvinist theology is the sovereignty

of God that God has absolute control

over everything and without this there's

no calvinist Theology and everything

that you'll see from Calvinism comes

from this that God who is omnipotent

omniscient omnipresent that he is truly

Sovereign and he has

control and big part of this Doctrine is

the doctrine of predestination because

the thing is if God is Sovereign

then how does it make sense if he wants

people to go to heaven and they don't uh

joining me here is uh Steven Wright who

made a five on like all kinds of AP

exams so I figured I'd bring him in for

some uh some inspiration uh you know rub

his head a little bit for some good luck

on your behalf now Stephen could be

predestined all right when we're

thinking about predestination what this

is is that certain people are

predestined to go to heaven and others

are not even before they are born um

that God has picked out an elect all

right so let's say that God wants

Stephen to go to heaven and God sends me

to come and talk to Stephen and I say

Stephen I'd like to tell you a little

bit about Jesus Christ do you have a

minute uh for me to present the gospel

to you actually there are some children

over there and I think I'm going to go

sell some drugs to them so bye wow what

a waste of a five on all kinds of AP

exams right um you know what kind of

person sells drugs to Children a very

bad person all right and what you don't

know is that after Steven rolled off he

goes and he you know sells these drugs

these children but he doesn't realize

that people were on to him and those

people are the police and the police

were there there was a SWAT team but

then Steven who just happened to be

armed with all kinds of illegal weapons

grenades all that kind of stuff you know

shoots back D boom boom boom all that

kind of stuff and then uh you know kills

a few of the police and then he gets in

the car and he's driving off and he's

going real fast and he runs over an old

woman and the boy scout who's helping

her across the street and then Stephen

runs into a telephone pole and Bam he's

dead all right and the last thing that

he did was run over an old woman and a

Boy Scout after killing police officers

after selling drugs to Children I'm s

sorry you are going to hell do not pass

go do not collect salvation now the

thing is if God is Sovereign what if God

had chosen Stephen to go to heaven and

now God is faced with this well wait I

mean he didn't even want to hear the

gospel message he wanted to sell drunks

to kids and now I've got to send him to

hell even though I wanted him to go to

heaven and now I'm so

lonely what kind of God is that right

that's that's really uh that's not a

sovereign God okay a God who is really

at the mercy of what some person decides

to do um so this idea of

predestination is that God has picked

certain people out to join him and those

people do not have free will because the

idea of Free Will so championed by the

Catholic church and by humanist in the

Renaissance this idea of free will to

Calvin it goes against the sovereignty

of God that it makes God powerless and

not truly omnipotent omnipresent

omniscient uh which is why calvinist

theology pretty much does away with free

will entirely uh this is the most

radical of the Reformation theologies

that you'll see and the farthest away

from Catholic teaching on free will

[Music]

[Applause]

now on to calvinist theology calvinist

theology can be easily explained to

English speakers with the acronym tulip

so just think of a flower and I'm going

to go over the Five Points of Calvinism

and these Five Points first start off

with total depravity of human beings

that you as a human being are unable to

choose God you were unable to use free

will you were unable to really even

freely except God's grace there is

nothing that you are capable of doing

it's all God all right so total

depravity of human beings then

unconditional election that God did not

elect you you might ask well why is it

that some people get to go to heaven and

some don't why are some part of the

elect and some not well the thing is

here that the election is unconditional

it had nothing to do with you anything

about you really it's not you know like

people are burning in Hell God's like

nothing personal

uh it's kind of like a teacher who

before the first day of class looks at

the role and decides these are going to

be my favorite students this this this

and this and I've not even met these

people and these are going to be my

favorites no matter what they do so the

election is without condition you did

not do anything to earn it that only

God's mercy resulted in you being

elected limited atonement okay because

while the Catholic Church teaches that

theoretically Jesus died for every one

that God would like for everyone to

accept um you know his lordship and go

to heaven and receive his grace John

Calvin believed that the atonement of

Jesus Christ was only for the elect so

that they could be saved the rest of

everybody else um well sorry like I said

nothing

personal irresistible Grace resistance

is futile all right this is something

from uh Star Trek there were these

villain called the Borg uh yeah I'm

going to nerd out for a second but they

would go around and they would

assimilate different races so they show

up and they tell you uh you know they go

up there and they say lower your Shields

resistance is futile and uh you know

just basically you get assimilated you

will be assimilated all right so I just

had my nerd moment but I'm a teacher so

I can do that uh that basically God is

kind of like these Borg on Star Trek uh

that you cannot resist you will be

assimilated the grace is irresistible

that once God Taps you on the shoulder

it wouldn't matter if there are a

million kids out there that you would

like to sell drugs to you are not going

to do that you are not going to be a

drug Pusher a cop killer or somebody who

runs over old ladies and boy scouts

because God has elected you and you are

going to be better than that not because

you are better than that but because God

has chosen you as one of his elect and

now you are going to act like it because

you're a great person no because God is

a great God and so you can't resist it

and the other thing is uh the

perseverance of the Saints which because

God elected you without condition there

was nothing that you did um because the

atonement was for the elect and because

the grace is irresistible uh there's

nothing you can do to lose it uh that

God elected you and God's not going to

decide that hey you know I'm Not So Into

You Anymore all right uh you know God's

not like some boyfriend or girlfriend or

something like that it's like hey you

know I used to feel this but don't

anymore it's not God okay God keeps his

promises makes his decisions and uh you

know you didn't do anything for it you

can't do anything to lose

it so that's basically it just think

about the elect and getting rid of Free

Will and letting God take care of the

whole thing I mean this is a real full

service God

here and that's really the premise there

is nothing you can do okay so if you're

thinking in terms of like hey I'd like

to go to heaven what can I do sorry

there's nothing you can do God's either

done it or or he

[Music]

hasn't let's talk about calvinist a

little bit as far as what a calvinist

would have looked like and what their

churches would have looked like one of

the things about Calvinism and what

makes Calvinists truly radical is their

iconic clasm uh this describes the

removal of statues and paintings and art

and all of that kind of stuff from

churches you walk into a c cathic Church

you may see a statue of the Virgin Mary

or a very nice stained glass and

pictures of the Saints and all of that

kind of stuff no when Calvinists took

over churches during the Reformation uh

you see here that uh churches in Li in

France are being looted uh where the

icons you see they're uh being taken you

see a fire going on there in the

background uh where they are

whitewashing the walls uh you see here

the destruction of religious icons and

Zurich that they're taking them out and

burning them and a calvinist church

would look more like this uh very

unadorned God is not about decoration if

you walk into a church where you see

nothing on the walls you know

whitewashed walls that sort of thing and

just a cross at the front uh that is in

the spirit of Calvinism and the reformed

tradition and as far as the way Puritans

dress they rejected ornamental clothing

uh if you look here at REM Brand's

Anatomy lesson he's portraying these

Dutchmen who are calvinist and they're

wearing very simple colors uh they're

not wearing a lot of bright colors Reds

greens all that kind of stuff you you

see them in very simple whites Browns

blacks and that sort of thing uh that

they did not believe in ornamentation

because fashion is a sign of vanity and

the Christian should not be vain uh

which kind of the irony of Calvinism is

that even though calvinism's not based

on Works uh they were some of the

strictest uh people during the time of

the Reformation when it came to how they

were supposed to act how they were

supposed to dress and all of that kind

of stuff and Calvinism spread outside of

Switzerland and it's very important for

you to know where the Calvinists are and

what they're called when you go to

Scotland uh the Calvinists are known as

Presbyterians and the Presbyterian

Church was founded by John Knox who was

a disciple of John Calvin in Scotland in

England Calvinists were known as either

Puritans or Separatists depending on

whether they wanted to purify the Church

of England or separate from it and then

in France they were known as hugenots uh

might want to check out my video on the

French Wars of religion if you haven't

already uh which goes into the struggles

between the hugenots and the Catholics

in France so that about wraps us up for

Calvinism just remember that it is a

theology without free will uh that God

has elected some people and if you're

elected you're in if not uh well sorry

nothing personal and there was nothing

you did to earn it and there is nothing

you could do to get rid of it plain

clothes plain

churches if you learned something you

like what you heard here want to learn

more go ahead and subscribe to my

channel I'd love that visit my website

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like dislike comment I would love to

hear from you and dialogue with you I'll

be back soon until next

[Applause]

[Music]

time so am I member of the elect