Neo-Calvinism
A view held among orthodox Christians
A Dutch Reformed tradition that stresses Christ's lordship over every area of life and calls Christians to shape culture, work, and public life by a biblical worldview.
Also called: neo-Calvinist, Kuyperian, Kuyperianism, sphere sovereignty
What it means
Neo-Calvinism grew out of the Dutch Reformed revival of the late nineteenth century, especially the work of Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck. Its best-known conviction is that there is not one square inch of creation over which Christ does not claim lordship. Christians are called to serve him not only in church but in family, work, education, art, science, and politics.
Neo-Calvinists speak of "sphere sovereignty": family, church, state, school, and business each have their own God-given authority, and no one sphere should swallow another. They also stress common grace, by which God restrains sin and lets unbelievers contribute good things to the world, and the cultural mandate given at creation to fill and order the earth.
The church as an institution still preaches the gospel, while its members, formed by that preaching, carry Christ's lordship into their callings. Critics worry that the emphasis on transforming culture can blur the line between the church's mission and political programmes. Neo-Calvinism is a view held by many faithful Reformed Christians.
In Scripture
All things were created through and for Christ, and he reconciles all things to himself.
God tells humanity to be fruitful, fill the earth, and subdue it.
The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.
Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
We take every thought captive to obey Christ.
The exiles are told to seek the welfare of the city where God sent them.
Where it comes up
On this site: Church & state
Related terms
Two kingdomsA view held among orthodox Christians
The view that Christ rules the church and the civil order in different ways, so the church's calling is to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments rather than to pursue political programmes.
TheonomyA view held among orthodox Christians
The view that the civil laws of the Old Testament, including their penalties, remain the standard for civil government today unless the New Testament changes them.
ReformedTerm
The branch of Protestantism that grew from the Swiss and Genevan Reformation and is summarised in confessions such as Westminster and the 1689 London Baptist Confession.