Tag: Reformed Church

“The Sacrifice of Praise” by Herman Bavinck (Translated & Edited by Cameron Clausing and Gregory Parker Jr.)

~ Bob Hayton ~ 1 Comment

Herman Bavinck is a Dutch Reformed theologian from the late 19th and early 20th century, known for a four volume work on systematic theology called Reformed Dogmatics. In the past few decades, his work has become more widely known in English-speaking circles and he is renowned as a Reformed scholar clearly equal with the likes of B.B. Warfield. A newly translated work published by Hendrickson Publishers shows another side to Bavinck: he was a churchman with pastoral concern for the practical Christian faith of the average believer.

The Sacrifice of Praise was first published in Dutch in 1901 and went through several reprintings and editions over the next twenty years. The editors of this edition estimate that around 40,000 copies of the work were produced during that time. In 1920 the work was translated into English by John Dolfin a Reformed pastor in western Michigan. The translators of this work wanted to capture Bavinck’s style more directly and fix some errors in the translation. They also wanted to highlight the many Scriptural references in Bavinck’s writing by providing chapter and verse references — using the text of the English Standard Version (ESV) where possible.

As for the content of this work, it “is best understood as a work of catechetical theology, suitable for sharing with baptized Christians on the occasion of their public profession of faith and admission to the Lord’s table” (pg. xi-xii). The book focuses on the call for Christians to publicly confess Christ. “Lips that acknowledge [Christ]” are “a sacrifice of praise,” according to Hebrews 13:15; and it is this passage which gives the book its title.

Bavinck writes with warmth and life. Each page is replete with biblical references. He treats all sides of his topic and goes from baptism and parental instruction, to church confessions, to Christian unity in the faith and Christian duty in the public sphere, and ends with an exultation in the ultimate confession the Church will share with Christ in heaven. He exults in his Lord and his joy is contagious.

I must admit I found the first four chapters (of 12) a bit challenging. They contain a heavy dose of traditional covenant theology and an assumption of infant baptism (albeit with a distinction made that baptism does not regenerate or save the child). The background provided in the introduction prepares the reader by rehashing some of the Dutch Reformed Church controversies of the era when Bavinck wrote. As a Baptist who appreciates Reformed theology I still found those chapters slightly difficult. The rest of the work was more directly relevant, but even in those first few chapters there is much that can be gleaned on the importance of training our children to know and confess Christ. As a side note, I found it intriguing that Bavinck admits “in the New Testament baptism was mostly administered to adults” and only later “became generally acceptable” (p. 34).

Baptist quibbles aside, I found the work practical and helpful. He covers the topic from both a personal and familial perspective as well as from a corporate and even universal point of view. He details the opposition that we face in standing up for Christ and laments the loss of Christian unity in his day. His thoughts, grounded in Scripture as they are, remain helpful for every era. A concluding paragraph from his chapter on the universality of confession provides a sample of Bavinck’s style:

Thus godliness is beneficial toward all things, having the promise not only of the future but also of the present life. Whoever seeks first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, to them all things will be added [Matt. 6:33]. The best Christian is the best citizen. With their confession, they neither stand outside of nor in opposition to the natural life. But highly and proudly, they carry their confession into the world and everywhere plant the banner of the cross. The gospel of Christ is a joyful message for all creation — for mind and heart, for soul and body, for family and society, for science and art. For it delivers from guilt and redeems from death. “It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” [Rom. 1:16]. (p. 57)

Now for a small amount of criticism: I believe the editors missed several Scripture references. The first sentence in the quote above could have a reference to 1 Tim. 4:8; Rom. 14:17 could be added on p. 10, Eph. 6:4 on p. 16, and 1 Thess. 1:9 on p. 85, to name a few more. Additionally, the ESV is used for the verses at the top of each chapter, yet there is an odd case with chapter 5. There the verse quoted is Acts 8:37 (found in the footnote but not the text). I would think at least a note would be in order explaining that the verse in Bavinck’s text is not included in modern versions (like the ESV) today (and why). There was also one glaring misprint in the endnotes section (note 1 for chapter 4 appears as note 49).

To sum up my review, I found The Sacrifice of Praise to be an attractively packaged book and a helpful introduction to Bavinck and his theological writing. I greatly enjoyed interacting with his material. Even if you are not Reformed, you will benefit from this book.

For those who are Reformed, the foreword mentions that this work by Bavinck could be read with two other similar works intended to teach believers: The Wonderful Works of God (an overview of Christian doctrine from a Reformed perspective – to be republished by Westminster Books later this year), and Saved by Grace: The Holy Spirit’s Work in Calling and Regeneration (a work explaining/defending infant baptism). These works may be worth getting and reading along with this fantastic work.

Learn more about this book by looking at the preview available at Amazon or Christianbook.com.

Blurbs:
“Herman Bavinck is best known as a dogmatician of great depth and scope. Yet like all of the greatest theologians, his concern for the church cannot be reduced to his scholarly contributions. He was also earnestly desired to encourage and nurture other believers in their faith, a fact to which these short addresses give remarkable testimony. In them, he discusses the whole idea of confessing Christ in the various stages of Christian discipleship, from baptism through to the Lord’s Supper and beyond. This is practical Reformed piety at its best: rooted in the Word, connected to the sacraments, and focused upon Christ.”
—Carl R. Trueman, Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies Grove City College, Pennsylvania

“In Bavinck’s own biography, participation in the Lord’s Supper was far from inconsequential. As Clausing and Parker note, the student-era Bavinck first took part after extended, careful reflection on the gospel and its fruit in his own life. Having done so, the sacrament proved a regular source of spiritual comfort to him. In The Sacrifice of Praise, we find a set of reflections on the Supper that are richly theological, pastoral, and practical. We owe Clausing and Parker a debt of gratitude for their work in presenting this text to us in a fresh new form.”
—James Eglinton, Meldrum Lecturer in Reformed Theology New College, University of Edinburgh

Where to Buy:
This book is available for purchase at the following sites: Westminster Bookstore, Christianbook.com, Amazon.com, or direct from Hendrickson.

Disclaimer:
This book was provided by the publisher. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a positive review.

“Reformation Women: Sixteenth-Century Figures Who Shaped Christianity’s Rebirth” by Rebecca VanDoodewaard

~ Bob Hayton ~ 1 Comment

The 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s nailing his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg is coming this October, and you can be sure dozens of books commemorating the Reformation and its significance will be published. It certainly is a good time to reflect on what the Reformation is all about.

Rebecca VanDoodewaard has written a book in this vein that highlights the often forgotten impact that women made in the key events of that tumultuous period. Her book Reformation Women: Sixteenth-Century Figures Who Shaped Christianity’s Rebirth is a fascinating read and will be an encouragement and inspiration to many who read it.

Her book borrows from a series of articles written in the 1800s and compiled into one volume by James Isaac Good in 1901 under the title Famous Women of the Reformed Church. In VanDoodewaard’s book, the content from Good is “revised, expanded, and corrected to make the stories of these remarkable women accessible for today’s church” (p. xiv). Many of the original chapters were removed and a chapter on Katherine Willoughby was added to adapt the work to its author’s purpose of highlighting lesser known Reformation-era women. Indeed, the stories of more recognizable figures, such as Katharina von Bora (Martin Luther’s wife) and Lady Jane Grey (the nine-day Protestant queen of England) are readily available elsewhere. The women included in this volume are largely forgotten, and that is part of the appeal of this short work.

Twelve women are detailed in this book, and their stories interweave with the progress of the Reformation in France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, England and beyond. Since many readers will be ignorant of the historical background, a brief introduction is provided to orient us to the major historical developments of the era. A “pastoral” conclusion aims to draw life lessons for Christian women today from the history contained in this volume. A timeline, and some family trees, round out the volume, which concludes with a detailed bibliography. In all, the book is less than 130 pages, so the treatment of any one character is by necessity not fully developed.

Reading through the stories of these women transports the reader into a very different age. Daring escapes, harrowing journeys, heartbreak and sorrows abound. Many of these ladies lost husband (or husbands) and children to religious war, or violent persecution. Some had children removed and placed in Roman Catholic families. Some saw family members betray them or deny the faith.  The plague, “sweating sickness” and other maladies devastated some, and others faced deprivation. In the midst of these trying circumstances, these women served their Lord and His church faithfully. They provided for the needy, sheltered the homeless, visited those in prison, secured the release of their friends and family sometimes, and one even led a Protestant army in the defense of their freedom. Many of these women were of noble birth, and some became queens, a few were scholars in their own right and kept up correspondence with leading Reformers.

From the descriptions above you can imagine how interesting this book is to read. And yet the stories are sad too: we don’t know enough about these women to truly appreciate their worth, and many died far too young. But what we do know is cause for reflection: we can thank God for those who worked so hard to preserve religious freedom and to keep the newly recovered faith intact. We can learn from their example of faithfulness under fire (which some endured quite literally) and be cautioned by those whose testimony was marred or confused through doctrinal laxity or temporary weakness. The examples provided do much to teach Christian women that timidity and quietness do not necessarily equate with godliness. These women were often bold and determined, yet they knew their place and served often alongside their husbands. The stories of these women is a compelling case in point that a complementarian position on women’s roles in the church need not mean that women have no meaningful contributions to make to the church and its ministry!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to encourage my girls to read it. This makes me want to read more of this period of church history, and I hope it has the same effect on others. I highly recommend this book.

Book Blurbs:

“Reformation Women is a book of rare quality and interest as Rebecca VanDoodewaard opens up a whole new dimension in the ongoing story of Christ’s church. We learn of the enormous contribution made by twelve women to the progress of the Reformation in the sixteenth century. Here we have women from diverse backgrounds—some of whose names we can hardly pronounce—whom God raised up and used in a remarkable way. You will be humbled and inspired by these pages and long to serve God better in whatever sphere you have been placed.” ~ Faith Cook, author of Lady Jane Grey: Nine Day Queen of England and several other Christian biographies and historical books

“Few accessible works exist on the heroines of the Reformation, so I read these biographies with the desire to learn. But I walked away with more than learning; I was challenged and inspired. I have new heroes of the faith, and so will every Christian who reads this wonderful collection.” ~ Jason Helopoulos, associate pastor, University Reformed Church, Lansing, Michigan

Where to Buy:

Disclaimer:

This book was provided by the publisher. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.