DUTCH TREAT- Cal Fox's Blog

Welcome to Re/FORMED LIVING!  http://www.reformedliving.org/

This website is the portal to the writing of Calvin (Cal) Fox.   I hope you will browse and discover material that will be interesting and helpful to living a Re/Formed life, that is, a life being formed by the Word of God in all aspects!  Pro Rege!

My Theology is grounded in the Bible as primarily understood by the 16th Century Reformers, especially John Calvin.  Calvinism is far more than the 5 famous doctrines having to do with Salvation.  It is about the Sovereignty of God over all and is actually a World View to live by.  (Many who call themselves Calvinists do not grasp this or do not want to do so.) The Calvinist worldview was developed by the Dutch Theologian, Abraham Kuyper(1837-1920), and it is known as Kuyperism or Neo-Calvinism.   Kuyper proclaimed, “there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’" Amen!  The post below is a list of the key principles of Neo-Calvinism.  

I am Calvin Fox, ordained as a Baptist Minister of the Gospel, according to the usage of the Baptist General Conference, in 1961. Retired from the Pastorate, I am now a lay-theologian in the Reformed, Covenant and Neo-Calvinist Tradition. (The Principles of Neo-calvinism are outlined below the photo.) We are also now confirmed Anglicans, having come to appreciate Liturgical, Eucharistic Worship. My formal education was at the University of Connecticut and Lincoln Christian Seminary.

Our 45 years of Ministry has included Pastoring full time and part time in a variety of churches, from urban to suburban to rural. We have been blessed in ministry to college students, as well as in Evangelism and church planting in several States.  I have also had many years experience working in Social Services both in Connecticut and Massachusetts.  Retired, my wife and I live in Springfield Massachusetts.

I share a vision seen by Abraham Kuyper.  However, I would amend what he wrote to read, “One desire is the ruling passion of my life. One high motive has acted like a spur upon my mind and soul.  God’s holy ordinances [Law] must be established again in the home, in the school and in the public and civic lives of Believers for the good of the Nation; to carve as it were into the conscience of all Christians the ordinances [Law] of the Lord, to which the Bible and Creation bear witness, until the Church thus pays homage again to God in our Nation.”

ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF NEO-CALVINISM

Creation, Fall and Redemption: What God Formed, Sin Deformed and Grace shall Reform

God's Creation is good. It has been radically corrupted by the Fall. Redemption includes restoration of that Creation in Christ

Rejection of Dualism.
Dualism is common in much Christian thinking. The most notable dualism is between Nature and Grace. Neo-Calvinists maintain that Grace restores Nature (and that the Church, as Salt and Light, is meant to transform Culture)

Jesus is Lord over all of Creation.
Jesus' lordship extends through every area and aspect of life-it is not restricted to the sphere of church or of personal piety.

All of life is to be Redeemed- Reformed
The work of Jesus on the cross was intended to defeat Evil in all areas of life. The resurrection of Jesus is meant to lead to the renewal of all life for both individuals and Society.

Cultural Mandate
Genesis 1:26-28 is the mandate from God to Humanity to care for and cultivate all of Creation, including Culture and Civilization, to God's glory

The Role of Law.
Law is more than the Decalogue. It is the Torah (Five Books of Moses) and begins with the creation ordinances (Norms) established by God as His will for the living of life in all Spheres

Sphere Sovereignty.
The Spheres are God-given Institutions (Marriage, Family, Faith Community (Church), Civil Government and Civic Community. Each of these Institutions has boundaries that mark off its sphere of responsibility and influence. All are responsible to God. In relation to each other, they are autonomous (sovereign), but cooperative.