Letters to a Young Calvinist – Part 3 (Finally!)

Never thought I would get so much out of a 127 page book! Dan and I have talked about this book a lot and he is thinking about using it as a basis for our high school lessons this year!

After 4 years of Bible college, I felt the term “worldview” was shoved down our throats – actually, I am thankful! My first semester at RBC, I took a class called “Gateway to Excellence” (it’s name has since been changed), but it was mostly about worldviews and how to create/shape one. Almost every class hit on worldviews – but I look back and realize that much of what I think and how I view life, came out of those classes. I am thankful I had Christ-centered theology and teachers, dedicated to teaching us what it means to look at life through the lense of the Bible.

Letters to a Young Calvinist hit on this topic of “worldviews” as well. Since I went to the college that changed their name to Kuyper College, the quote by Abraham Kuyper was also spoken of: “There is not a single square inch of creation concerning which Christ does not say, ‘Mine’!” The book hit on this very quote as well – it says, “there’s no corner of creation that is immune from his lordship, no “secular” sphere of life that is neutral with respect to the Creator’s sovereignty.” Really it’s just a rephrasing of Abraham Kuyper’s quote, but I liked how they used the word “secular.” I have heard the terms “sacred vs. secular” thrown around often. But really, in the roots of Calvinism, there is no versus. Christ reigns over EVERYTHING. There is nothing that is separate from him. He is Lord over EVERYTHING. Now I don’t know about you, but that is extremely comforting! To know that nothing happens out of His knowledge. To know that everything is truly God’s! I hear some people being so possessive about what they own – whether it be a car, a computer, property, or even money. The way I view it is that everything I have really ISN’T mine because really it’s all a gift from God. EVERYTHING I have is a gift from God! My money, our vehicles, our house, the computer I am typing on. In a split second, God could take it away. I had to learn this lesson early in life when I thought basketball was life. God took it away in a split second and today, I thank Him for that. I thank Him for teaching me that my life is not my own – the stuff I have is not my own. God has graciously blessed me with certain things, and I have to use them soley for His kingdom and not my own gain. So, since Christ is sovereign over everything, why do we worry :)? (Btw…I ask myself that same question daily!).

That leads me to another point the book makes: “What were we created for? To be God’s image bearers.” Honestly, that is so humbling – that God would choose ME, to be HIS image bearer? Shnikees, that makes me feel a little timid because I sure don’t feel worthy! I know I botch His image often in my sinful nature! Praise God for grace and forgiveness is all I have to say! The books says…”God places us in creation as his ambassadors…but also as his co-laborers, entrusting to us the task of unfolding all the potential that’s packed in to creation. When God calls creation into being, he announces that it’s “very good,” but he doesn’t say that it’s finished! Creation doesn’t come into existence ready-made with schools, art museums, and farm; those are begging to be unpacked.” I never really thought about that!!! How beautiful it is to think that God created us, but realized we would continue to serve Him. Granted this is before sin came into the world, but still. Daily we have the task of bearing God’s image daily, in the workplace, schools, gas stations, on the roads, and in our homes. It’s a high calling, but what better task could we be doing, except that of serving our Creator and King?

Another good point the book makes is how we relate to creation with regards to sin. “Things aren’t sinful; what’s sinful is how we relate to them, what we do with them. And this comes down to a matter of what we love and how we love.” So true! We end up loving things in the wrong way. The book says, “we love creation instead of the Creator.” Think about humans. Think about sex. Sex in itself is not bad – it’s all how we use it and relate to others with it. The lust of others is a sin. How we use our own sexuality in relation to others can be sinful. Within the context of marriage? That is how God created sex to be. Is it bad to be passionate about your husband or wife? To be “crazy” over them so to speak? Of course not! God created sex perfectly – WE distorted it. Same with drinking. God made grapes that make great wines – God even turned water INTO wine. But it’s US who distorts it. It’s US, who abuse it. Our “love” gets mixed up, once again. How we “relate” to sex and drinking is messed up. WE are messed up :)! THAT, is why we need to fall on our knees in thankfulness to God for giving us another chance through His Son, Jesus Christ. We have distorted so much in the world – God has called us to be a part of the redeeming process. Everything is tainted with sin – so as Christ image bearers, how do we right the wrongs in the world? It seems like a monumental task, but remember, Christ suffered the most monumental task – death on a cross. So as we try to live as Christ did, remember what you were created for, and who you were created by!

After reading this book and doing these reflections on certain quotes from the book, it has only made me more speechless as to what Christ has done for us. I know Reformers are great at thinking about “how great our sin and misery are,” but I think that it only draws us to grace. I do think we need to move beyond that, especially since Christ did arise and give us new life, but realizing that we ALL need grace, is a good starting point. To realize that without Christ, we are nothing, and to realize that with HIM, we are everything in His eyes.

So if you get a chance, read this book. It will make you question some things. It will make you think. I am still wrestling with some of the things it talked about. But I am thankful for that. Let me know what you think of it, it you ever pick it up!