Kirche und Zivilgesellschaft – Reformatorische Impulse und Gestaltungsaufgabe der Kirchen in Europa

Church and Civil Society – Impulses of Reformed Theology and the Role of the Churches in Shaping Europe. This contribution seeks to answer the role religions and churches, especially the Reformed churches, could play in developing and consolidating civil society and democracy. This study will examine the role of the Church in the Central and Eastern European social and political contexts. Therefore, we will first make an overview of the specifics of this phenomenon in the context of the region's recent history. Then we will look for the normative and substantive meanings of the term for the present going beyond its contextual definition. Finally, we will take note of the impulses of Reformed theology that can contribute to the strengthening of civil society and democratic culture. Will we do this in the context of the particular approach of Reformed theology, in the theological context of the threefold offices (triplex munus) of Christ. The Church, which shares in the royal, priestly and prophetic offices of Christ, shall assume special responsibilities in the life of the society following the threefold ministry of his Lord. In social and diaconal service, the Church must offer new, innovative solutions that promote quality of life (royal office) by working for a culture of reconciliation and compassion. The Church can move from the interior life of piety into the social sphere (priestly office), and through self-criticism and sober social critique, it can advocate for those most disadvantaged by political, economic and social processes (prophetic office). This paper is an edited version of a presentation given at the 2018 German-Hungarian Reformed Theological Conference in Soest, Westphalia. The author attended this conference with an esteemed colleague Béla S. Visky, and now dedicates this paper to him with much appreciation and love on his 60th birthday. Keywords: civil society, contextuality of churches, reconciliation, advocacy, threefold offices of Christ

A just and civilised humanity: An integrative model between reformed theology and the ideology of Pancasila

This study aimed to produce a model of integration between theology (reformed) and ideology (Pancasila) to realise a just and civilised humanity (second sila of Pancasila). This research is based on the paradigm of naturalism with qualitative methods and the approach applied is historical and integrative. The research results produced an integrative model between Reformed Theology and the ideology of Pancasila that rejects the understanding and practice of capitalism, religious fundamentalism, communism, and racism. This study pointed out that these four understandings and practices contradict the basic principles of a just and civilised humanity based on theological and ideological studies.Contribution: This study produced four fundamental clues for all Indonesian citizens, especially Christians, namely the source, basis, pillars, and dual role as citizens and kingdoms of God in the fight for the formation of a just and civilised humanity.

Luther and Calvin, and The Christian Work Ethics

The aim of this research is to explain and describe the relationship between reformed theology and the reform of European Christians' views on the nature of the church in life as followers of Jesus. The aim of this research is to explain and describe the relationship between reformed theology and the reform of European Christians' views on the nature of the church in life as followers of Jesus. The research method used is qualitative with data collection techniques, literature studies and data analysis is descriptive qualitative. The results showed that Luther's theology of vocations in all areas of life and Calvin's theology of predestination, sanctification, and justification became the basis for changes in the work ethic of European society at that time. They see work and the results of work are part of faith, therefore they work hard, value time, and appreciate the results of work or material. Therefore, work and work are part of the life of faith. In later developments, there was an excessive appreciation of material or capitalism because of the secularization of work culture, which was originally part of faith. In fact, this Capitalism is not in accordance with Christian ethics. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan dan mendeskripsikan hubungan antara teologi reformator dengan pandangan orang Kristen Eropa reformasi tentang hakikat gereja dalam kehidupan sebagai pengikut Yesus. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menjelaskan dan mendeskripsikan hubungan antara teologi reformator dengan pandangan orang Eropa Kristen tentang hakikat gereja dalam kehidupan sebagai pengikut Yesus. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kualitatif dengan teknik pengumpulan data, studi kepustakaan dan analisis data adalah deskriptif kualitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa teologi panggilan Luther di segala bidang kehidupan dan teologi predestinasi, pengudusan dan pembenaran Calvin menjadi dasar perubahan etos kerja masyarakat Eropa saat itu. Mereka melihat kerja dan hasil kerja adalah bagian dari iman, oleh karena itu mereka bekerja keras, menghargai waktu dan menghargai hasil kerja atau materi. Jadi bekerja adalah bagian dari kehidupan iman. Dalam perkembangan selanjutnya, terjadi apresiasi yang berlebihan terhadap material atau kapitalisme karena sekularisasi budaya kerja yang semula merupakan bagian dari keimanan. Padahal, Kapitalisme ini tidak sesuai dengan etika Kristen.

Further Reforming a Reformed Theology of Law

Early Reformed theology of law was very similar to Thomas Aquinas’s, although it also dissented from aspects of his work. This early Reformed thinking about law came to influential expression in the Marrow of Modern Divinity. The Marrow’s theology of law focused on concerns of Reformed soteriology while continuing to resemble much of Thomas’s scheme. This revised Reformed approach was generally helpful, yet did not give enough attention to the movement of redemptive history. Therefore, this article proposes a theology of law that incorporates earlier Reformed developments but also seeks to reform them further by taking redemptive-historical considerations into fuller account.

Salvation and Victory by Christ’s Death and Resurrection in the Ancient Church

The theme of this article arises from Reformed theology, namely, how did authoritative Christian authors of the second to the fifth centuries AD think about salvation by Christ’s substitutionary and atoning death? How do their views relate to the ‘Christus Victor’ theology that is sometimes propagated nowadays as a more biblical alternative to the traditional Reformed soteriology, and which is considered the dominant approach in the ancient church? Can traces of Christ giving ‘satisfaction’ for God’s offended honor or for his wrath against sin be found in the first centuries? Did any church fathers hold that Christ vicariously bore God’s punishment for the sins of humankind? What was meant by the ransom that Christ had to pay, and to whom did he pay it: to God or to the devil, or were these considered invidious alternatives? This article demonstrates that in their interpretations of biblical texts, the church fathers did indeed address most of these questions. However, a continuous debate on such questions remained, so that the church of those centuries did not create a standard doctrine about the rationale of salvation by Christ, which testifies to varied understandings of it.

Focus. De Geest van Christus en de Christus van de Geest

N.a.v.: Cornelis van der Kooi, This Incredibly Benevolent Force: The Holy Spirit in Reformed Theology and Spirituality (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2018)176 p., $ 38.00 (ISBN 9780802876133) en Gijsbert van den Brink, Eveline van Staalduine-Sulman en Maarten Wisse (red.), The Spirit Is Moving: New Pathways in Pneumatology: Studies Presented to Professor Cornelis van der Kooi on the Occasion of His Retirement [Studies in Reformed Theology, 38] (Leiden: Brill, 2019) 410 p., € 143,00 (ISBN 9789004391734).

Overcoming the World: Bavinck on Faith and Knowledge

After A Short Biographical Introduction, This Article Argues That Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Theology Displays His Appreciation For The Catholicity Of The Church. This Attitude Appears Most Strongly In His Interest In Epistemology. For Bavinck, Faith And Knowledge Form An Essential Unity. He Intends To Avoid Subjectivity While Incorporating The Modern Epistemological Turn To The Human Subject. This Is His Most Original And Most Important Contribution To Theology. According To Bavinck, Faith Overcomes The World By Viewing It As God’s Fallen Creation On Its Way To Final Restoration Through Christ’s Redemption. The Appendix Offers The First English Translation Of Thus Far Unnoticed Theses On Faith And Knowledge. KEYWORDS: Herman Bavinck, Neo-Calvinism, Theological Catholicity, Christian Epistemology, General Revelation, Subjectivity