What Is Calvinism?

The Term

Calvinism is a term that John Calvin did not like and one that often makes a wrong impression. It emerged as a term of insult from Lutherans trying to separate themselves emphatically from the Reformed doctrine of the Lord’s Supper. Although Calvin distanced himself from the term—just as Martin Luther protested the term Lutheran—it has nevertheless endured.

Calvinism involves much more than merely the theology of Calvin. First, there is much of Luther’s theology and Huldrych Zwingli’s theology in Calvin’s teaching, and there were quite a few other theologians who contributed to what is called Calvinism, including Philip Melanchthon, Martin Bucer, and Theodore Beza. It would be more accurate, then, to speak of Reformed Protestantism. Since, however, the term Calvinism is recognizable and widely used, it is still useful.

The Theology

Essential elements of Calvinist doctrine include the sovereignty of God as demonstrated in His creative power and His providential care, the authority of the Bible as the source and norm for all of life, and both the sinfulness and responsibility of man. Calvinism is distinguished by the abiding function of the law for the Christian life. In Calvin’s mind, the law of God as summarized in the Ten Commandments has continuing meaning and is regarded as the rule for the Christian life. Combined with a focus on the person and work of the Holy Spirit, Calvinism distinguishes justification and sanctification while stressing that both are vital, and stresses the importance of a godly lifestyle, a commitment to mercy, and a continuing reflection on law and justice as evidences of the true, saving faith by which alone we are justified.

Culturally, Calvinism (inside the church) led to resistance to the cult of images as a threat to the proclamation of the Word and (outside the church) to an impulse for art and culture as a means of worshiping God. The focus on the Word on the importance of knowing God resulted in a Calvinist “culture of reading” in schools, homes, and churches, which in turn made Calvinism a home for many intellectuals over the centuries. Calvinism’s openness to science comes from Calvin’s view that God is also revealed in creation. Scientific research contributes to the recognition of God, and this view gave great impetus to academics.

The phrase five-point Calvinism refers to the five doctrines formulated by the Reformed synod held in the Dutch city of Dordrecht (1618–19): total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. These doctrines are encapsulated in the acronym TULIP. The L in the acronym can be misleading, however. Christ’s work of atonement was not limited at all in its power—it fully redeems all to whom it applies. Yet the number of people profiting from that atonement is definite, offered only for those who possess genuine saving faith—the “elect” of God. More importantly, the theology of Calvin and of Calvinism is much more than these five points. In fact, it is not predestination that is the central theme of Calvinism; it is the glory of God.

The Lifestyle

Calvinism’s views on justification, sanctification, and the practice of church discipline have led to a way of life among Calvinists that is strongly shaped by the Bible. The principle of sola Scriptura and the function of the law have resulted in a church order that stresses the importance of preaching, the need for church discipline, and a distinction between the civil authorities and the government of the church. The understanding of the unity of Scripture results in a strong identification of the church with Old Testament Israel. This identification manifests itself in a predilection for the book of Psalms both in preaching and in liturgy. The singing of these psalms further strengthened this identification, indeed, because of another characteristic of Calvinism—the pilgrimage motif. The attitude captured in the saying “this world is not our home; we’re just a passing through” reduces the influence of nationalism and materialism and stimulates an ethic of work and service.

The Spread

The spread of Calvinism in the sixteenth century may justifiably be called impressive in terms of time and scope. By 1554, there were about half a million Reformed Christians in Europe, but as early as 1600 there were approximately ten million. From the very beginning, Calvinism was strongly internationally oriented and has remained so since. Factors relating to this rapid and extensive dissemination were, above all, Calvin’s Academy in Geneva, the universities of Heidelberg and Leiden, and many other Reformed academic institutions where theologians, lawyers, and rulers from all over Europe were trained. Calvinism had a massive impact on Western society and has also affected developments in church and theology in North America, the Far East (Indonesia, South Korea, Japan) and South Africa. Calvinism has exerted great influence in the fields of sociology, politics, economics, and law. Calvin, for example, developed a theory of the biblical right to interest rate recovery, which gave trade a vital impetus. But Calvinism through the centuries has been influential chiefly in the church and in theology.