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FORUM
CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Fall 2014
The Dearest Idols I Have Known
1
Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014
Forum
CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Providing Theological Leadership from the
president
for the Church
Volume 21, Number 3
Fall 2014
Idols of Our Time Julius T. Medenblik
Articles
3
Pleasure: The Greatest
Still Manufacturing!
Idol of Our Time
by John W. Cooper
“E
7
Idols of Our Time: What Does
the Church Have to Say?
very one of us is, even from our mother’s womb, a master
by Jul Medenblik craftsman of idols.”
John Calvin made this observation about humanity in his
commentary on Acts. This issue of the FORUM focuses on the all too
Called to Serve
present reality that we create and serve idols.
10
Be Holy Our idols are usually culturally approved and even endorsed. They
by John Rottman also have an individual “bent” that each of us has from “our mother’s
12 womb.” The shape of my particular idol is a little different from yours.
Making Her Way: A current idol category that has risen to the top in our 21st Century
Dr. Catherine González context is pleasure. Our society has made it a supreme value so that
by Kristy Manion
what we do and what we say and how we live is filtered through the
13 value grid of what is most pleasurable for us.
From the Ends of the Earth:
Dr. Justo González on Missions As you read through the FORUM, we hope you will find this
by Bruce Buursma issue informative about the work and ministry of Calvin Theological
14 Seminary.
Center for Excellence in Preaching We also hope that it will provoke self-reflection and communal
Celebrates Ten Year Anniversary conversation on how we must continue to be alert to the snares of idols
by Scott Hoezee
so that we do not continue to exchange “the truth of God for a lie,
15 and worship and serve created things rather than the Creator—who is
New Faces at CTS forever praised.” Romans 1:25
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Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014
Pleasure:
The Greatest Idol of Our Time
T
Overview Scripture’s warnings against called Jupiter, was the greatest
by John W. Cooper,
he First Commandment idolatry or its calls to seek first god who ruled the gods and
Professor of
requires us to worship God’s kingdom. We ought to Philosophical Theology goddesses of wealth, fertility,
God and nothing else. cultivate a lifestyle that finds pleasure, war, love, imperial
Jesus warns against pleasure in what is good and power, luck, nature, and the
trying to love and serve pleasing to God. We should like. Modern secular culture
both God and money (Matt. 6:24). Paul help our children to live this worships these powers too,
challenges the idolatry of the Athenians way, and we should reach but without the mythology
(Acts 17:16-23) and condemns wor- out to those who are trapped that symbolizes them. Like
shiping and serving creatures rather in hedonistic idolatry with polytheists, we idolize many
than the Creator (Rom. 1: 23-25). These the Gospel of true happiness things—affluence, power, sci-
admonitions are necessary for people through Jesus Christ. ence, technology, social status,
of all times and cultures—certainly food, drink, sex, drugs, pop culture,
ours. Pleasure and the sports, recreation, and leisure. But above
Our culture worships many idols— Idols of Our Time all we worship Pleasure—good feel-
wealth, power, freedom, science, tech- Postmodern people are not so dif- ings, enjoyment—as the high god over
nology, pop culture, sports, sex. Most of ferent than the Roman and Athenians the other gods. Cultures of other times
us want our idols to make us feel good. idolaters about whom Paul wrote. In and places value religion, community,
So perhaps our greatest idol is plea- Greco-Roman religion, Zeus, also tradition, power, wealth, knowledge,
sure or enjoyment, whether it makes us or reputation most highly. But in post-
mellow or gives us a rush. Consuming modern society we focus primarily on
as much as we can of whatever makes More than anything, our feelings. More than anything, we
us feel good becomes our “only comfort we want to be happy, want to be happy, feel good, enjoy plea-
in life and death.” A technical term for sure, and be excited about life with as
this way of life is hedonism. feel good, enjoy little pain, sadness, frustration, and
We Christians have been freed from pleasure, and be boredom as possible. We do not value
idolatry and hedonism to love and things primarily because they are
serve the Lord by the saving and sancti- excited about life with healthy, good, true, beautiful, or right
fying work of Jesus Christ and the Holy as little pain, sadness, but because we like them. Common
Spirit. But we are still tempted to love expressions suggest that feelings deter-
ourselves and the things of this world frustration, and mine what we think: “I’m comfortable
more than we should—sometimes even boredom as possible. with that proposal.” Advertis-
▼
more than God. We have not outgrown ers and politicians manipulate
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Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014
Pleasure: The Greatest
▼
Idol of Our Time
our emotions. Parenting is a non-stop is the God-ordained purpose of life. If and exercise. If our children give us
(and often unhappy) effort to keep kids God does not exist, then evolution has too much hassle about church or cate-
happy and feeling good, especially about wired us for happiness. If happiness is chism, we wave a white flag. “Pick your
themselves. We work for the weekend feeling good, as hedonism claims, then battles.” Reformed Christians are not
and labor for leisure. “TGIF”! feeling good is the purpose of life—the alone. People of all faith traditions face
“Have it your way!” “Supersize me!” standard by which all other obligations these challenges. Culture is transform-
Fast-food ads invoke the spirit of the and values should be judged. Thus ing religion, not the reverse.
age. The economy flounders with- hedonism is a world and life view Pleasure and enjoyment determine
out over-consumption, advertising shared by theists and atheists alike. morality as well. Hedonism affirms
manipulates our desires, and commu- Consider the implications for religion that all people have the right to seek
nity values encourage a self-indulgent and morality. happiness and enjoy life as they see
lifestyle. From made-to-order coffee fit, as long as they do not harm others.
and hamburgers to customized apps Concern for our own happiness need
and playlists, to online dating services not be selfish but should make us want
and church growth strategies—every- If happiness is feeling others to feel good too. Empathy (feel-
thing is tailored to our tastes. The ing others’ feelings) makes us feel good
whole culture reinforces the illusion
good, as hedonism when others feel good. Also, if we help
that we are entitled to life just the way claims, then feeling others feel good, then they are more
we want it. And if this world does not likely to do the same for us. The Golden
please us, computers or drugs can
good is the purpose Rule is to grant others the same free-
access better ones. of life—the standard dom and opportunity for happiness as
Hedonism is not limited to the usual we want for ourselves. This principle
suspects—food, drink, sex, drugs, and
by which all other gives inclusivism and political correct-
consumer goods. Every aspect of life is obligations and ness the status of moral absolutes in
a source of pleasure. We also want reli- our society.
gion, morality, politics, relationships,
values should Changing attitudes about sex are
work, and recreation to make us feel be judged. a clear example. Everyone has sexual
good, especially about ourselves. Hedo- desires whether or not they are mar-
nism is not specific to one social class. ried and want children. The pleasure
Elite connoisseurs of fine art, sophis- principle implies that all adults should
ticated conversation, and gourmet The purpose of religion is to pro- be free to seek sexual satisfaction as
cuisine can be just as self-gratifying mote the healthy, happy, successful lives they see fit as long as they don’t harm
as tailgaters who gorge on beer and that God wants for each of us. Worship others. Thus we should permit all gen-
barbeque at football games and auto must always be upbeat and exciting. uinely consensual sex—male-female
races. Many who are not able to live the The presence of the Spirit is measured or same-sex, free or purchased, casual
hedonist’s dream envy it. Many who by emotional intensity. The staging and or in relationship, married or not. But
advocate for social justice confuse it music must cater to our tastes and get we should oppose sex with non-adults,
with the greatest pleasure for the great- our juices flowing. The service might involuntary prostitution, and cheat-
est number. The obesity epidemic is not be trite or disorderly, but it better not ing on commitments. This perspective
merely physical but symbolic of glut- be boring. Evangelism advertises the does not abandon morality but affirms
tony in every area of life. Our hearts, benefits of salvation without mention- hedonism instead of Judeo-Chris-
minds, and souls are as bloated and dis- ing sin and repentance. We want the tian morality. (Christians who favor
eased as our bodies from overindulging happiness that religion promises with- more progressive sexual ethics on the
on all kinds of pleasures. out taking up our cross. The spiritual basis of “Christ-like compassion” or
According to the U.S. Declaration of disciplines take too much time and “unconditional love” should ponder the
Independence, the pursuit of happiness effort, so we dabble at them like we diet worldview supporting it.)
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Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014
IDOLS OF OUR TIME
Idolatry steals from
Space does not allow us to consider deliver. Idolatry is not a sustainable life-
how hedonism pervades education,
God, undermines style, much less the key to flourishing.
popular culture, the economy, politics, human well-being, Hedonism is no exception.
recreation, and the other dimensions of
postmodern culture.
and distorts whatever Biblical Wisdom and the
is idolized. In the Experience of Pleasure
Idolatry in Scripture Pleasure is a wonderful aspect of
According to Scripture, idolatry is
case of hedonism, God’s creation and our relationship
an inevitable result of rejecting God. it makes true and with him (Ps. 16:11). He created us able
We were created in God’s image in a to enjoy the goodness and beauty of his
relationship of love and obedience,
lasting pleasure, presence and of everything he made, as
which means that relating to God is as enjoyment, and long as it works as designed. Food and
necessary as breathing air. When our drink, love and sex, family and com-
first parents tried to break away from
happiness impossible munity, nature and culture, productive
God, they opened a “God-shaped void” by cutting us off from labor, creative leisure, Sabbath rest—all
(C. S. Lewis) that we have been trying are God-ordained sources of good plea-
to fill ever since. We attach ourselves
their real source, by sure as we love and serve him and each
to God-substitutes, like lungs suck expecting more from other. In addition, God created us so
in water or poison gas instead of air. that our senses and feelings as well as
Paul saw and confronted the idolatry
them than they can our minds and spirits can help us dis-
of the Athenians, who even worshiped give, and by twisting cern what is right and good. We can
an Unknown God (Acts 17:16-23). taste whether food is good or bad, feel
He understood what happens when
everything else in life that we are well or sick, sense whether
humans turn away from God: We to produce them. a relationship is wholesome or not, and
worship creatures rather than the Cre- intuit right from wrong. We even have a
ator—humans, animals, birds, and sensus divinitatus, a sense of God. But if
reptiles (Rom. 1:25), food (Phil. 3:19), that creature. We rob God of what he we make good feelings our basic guide
money, self, and pleasure (2 Tim. 3:2-4). deserves. and ultimate goal of life, we will suffer
The idolatry of hedonism is not a recent We also give an idol what it does instead.
development. not deserve, and expect from it what it Human experience agrees with the
Idolatry steals from God, under- cannot deliver. Isaiah 44:6-20 ridicules wisdom of Scripture. Pleasure cannot
mines human well-being, and distorts the folly and futility of idolatry. Humans give us the lasting happiness and satis-
whatever is idolized. In the case of make gods from what is obviously not faction that we crave. Food, sex, music,
hedonism, it makes true and lasting divine—a tree in this text. Half the tree sports, money, fame, love, and success
pleasure, enjoyment, and happiness is used for construction and fuel, and might make us feel good for a while.
impossible by cutting us off from their the other half is made into a god. How But our desires return, and we must
real source, by expecting more from silly, the Prophet asserts. Even worse, satisfy them again and again. Pleasures
them than they can give, and by twisting humans act as though the idols made us that were once exciting and gratify-
everything else in life to produce them. even though we make them. But idols ing become boring or distasteful. Our
Let’s consider these consequences. do nothing because they are nothing, capacities for pleasure wane with sick-
Idolatry robs God by failing to give so the whole project is a colossal fail- ness and age. We wonder what playboy
him what we owe. He created us in his ure of self-deception. We waste time Hugh Hefner can still enjoy in his eight-
image, which means that we ought to and talent serving things that cannot ies. Even if life is pleasurable, can one
love, honor, trust, and obey him. When give us life or blessing. As a result, we enjoy death? Everlasting life and joy are
we substitute a creature for the Cre- must work even harder to make up gifts of God that cannot be pro-
▼
ator, we love, honor, trust, and obey the deficit caused by their failure to vided by anything in creation.
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Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014
Pleasure: The Greatest
▼
Idol of Our Time
The feelings and desires of fallen toward pleasure, hedonism imperils wrong ways and expect too much hap-
humans are often unreliable and human welfare by undermining the piness from them. They squeeze out
deceptive. We can feel well in spite of divinely-designed benefits of marriage, more important things. Our lifestyle
undiagnosed cancer or an impend- family, education, the economy, justice, suffers from internal tension, spiritual
ing heart attack. Health-destroying morality, and religion. Hedonism is not laziness, immature discipleship, poor
amounts of salt, sugar, and fat make a sustainable lifestyle. It consumes more stewardship, and failure to seek first
our food taste delicious. We can crave than it produces, lives off the work and God’s kingdom.
substances that make us feel wonder- wealth of other people and previous In a pleasure-obsessed society, Chris-
ful while they kill us. One person can generations, and it fails to maintain a tians ought to live counter-culturally. We
feel certain about another’s feelings sound natural, social, economic, moral, ought to cultivate lifestyles which truly
(“s/he loves me”) but be completely and spiritual environment for future enjoy the good things that God gives us
mistaken. Morally wrong acts can feel generations. in ways and proportions that he intends.
so right and good. Human experience We can even take pleasure in avoiding
confirms the truth of Scripture that sin Pleasure in the Christian Life the hedonistic excesses which tempt us.
affects our whole being, including our God has freed us from the power of Empowered by God’s Word and Spirit,
feelings, desires, and even our compas- idolatry by the death and resurrection we can learn to enjoy choices that are
sion. Good feelings cannot be a reliable of Jesus Christ and the power of the motivated by love, justice, and steward-
guide to life. Holy Spirit. But we still wrestle with our ship, as well as our own satisfaction.
Good feelings also cannot be the sinful nature and its unruly desire for Asceticism—suppression of enjoy-
purpose of life. God created the world pleasure. The temptation to serve idols ment—is not the answer. We are
so that happiness, enjoyment, and plea- or serve idols along with God remains a created for enjoyment. The Westmin-
sure result when we love and obey him, challenge for us, as it was for the people ster Shorter Catechism states that our
love one another, and relate to nature of God in Scripture. Even if we do not ultimate purpose is “to glorify God
as he intended. They are not the goal of idolize worldly pleasures, we often and enjoy him forever.” The Heidelberg
life but outcomes of pursuing the goal. desire them in ways that do not fit God’s Catechism points to Jesus Christ as the
When we make them the bottom line, good will for creation and redemption. source of our true comfort and hap-
we work against God’s design, which We want pleasurable experiences far piness in life and death. Real pleasure
makes it so much harder to achieve too much, spend too much time and and happiness are aspects of the shalom
them. Consider some examples. Eating money pursuing them, and allow them that benefits all creatures in God’s
for pleasure rather than health under- to absorb too much of our mental and kingdom and reflects his good pleasure
mines health, which reduces pleasure. spiritual energy. We pursue them in and glory. We can radiate this joy in
Being good to others in order to feel our own lives, our families, churches,
good about ourselves diminishes our and in the public square. Then our chil-
moral character and gives us less reason Real pleasure and dren and hedonistic neighbors can see
to feel good about ourselves. Serving that real happiness does not come from
God so that he will make us happy is happiness are aspects idolizing pleasure but practicing the
loving ourselves more than him, which of the shalom that wisdom of Psalm 37:4: “Take delight
undermines the joy of a real relation- in the Lord, and he will give you the
ship with him. By bending all of life benefits all creatures desires of your heart.”
in God’s kingdom
and reflects his good
pleasure and glory.
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Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014
IDOLS OF OUR TIME
Idols of Our Time
What Does the Church Have to Say?
I
n his FORUM article, Professor Placing the people who are far from
by Jul Medenblik,
John Cooper persuasively Conversation within a President God to act like followers of
argues that “seeking after plea- Covenant Framework Christ. For example, when
sure” is one of the key idols “Thou shalt not …” is a Christian comes across a
of our age. This culturally still a phrase that domi- couple living together, the
approved idol mis-shapes lives, rela- nates our understanding of first step in the conversation
tionships and society; but how does the Ten Commandments. is to get to know them as
the church begin to re-shape lives, People expect the church to people before exploring what
relationships and society? say—“thou shalt not” have they know of their need to be
The Biblical framework of creation, premarital sex. “Thou shalt “rescued” by God followed by
fall, redemption and consummation not” have affairs, steal or take advan- a call to live in God’s framework when
is the larger narrative in which the tage of people. Good preaching and they have a relationship with Him.
mis-shaping and re-shaping of lives, good pastoral care will place the con- Such a sequencing in the conversa-
relationships and our society is to be versation in the context of covenant. tion of evangelism and discipleship can
placed. Living under the rule of God’s Exodus 20, for example, cannot be read make people nervous and you will even
Kingdom is to change how we live life apart from Exodus 19. God rescues hear the statement that we are “soft on
today even as we anticipate that God is His people and then invites them into sin,” with such an approach but we are
at work in forming a “new heaven and a relationship. Exodus 20 recalls that in good company. What do you think
new earth.” rescue and then the framework of that it meant to have Jesus be identified as
I have had the honor and the chal- relationship is developed. The Fall has a “friend of sinners?” It did mean that
lenge of preaching on money, sex and occurred, but the story of God’s ongo- he was accused of eating and drinking
power (places where people seek plea- ing grace continues. with them even while they were living
sure) to people who expect the church One result of this understanding a lifestyle contrary to God.
to pile on guilt when dealing with these is that Christians should not expect
hot topics. From various surveys it is Placing the Conversation
clear that the message many people, within the Reality of Wisdom
especially young people, expect to hear What are some ways Another avenue to explore is what
from the church is that having money Professor Cooper identifies as wisdom.
is bad, sex is dangerous and power
that the church Wisdom literature looks at the world
is illegitimate. While this is a sim- can frame the and identifies themes for a fruitful life.
plistic characterization, the preacher In our current age that is dominated
who brings a message on any of these
conversation so those by post-modernism, we are individual-
three topics is entering into a field of who have ears can istic in our judgments and focused on
landmines. our feelings as the ultimate measure of
What are some ways that the church
hear? How do we help what is “good” for me even if it is not
can frame the conversation so those people live wisely and “good” for you.
who have ears can hear? How do we At the same time, the experiences
help people live wisely and well in
well in keeping with a of others can still serve as a
relationship with God?
▼
keeping with a relationship with God? testimony to the created order.
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Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014
Idols of Our Time: What Does
▼
the Church Have to Say?
A recent summer television show that
Churches need on the street to answer questions rang-
our family has watched is “Married at to affirm that the ing from current events to history to
First Sight.” In this reality show, three even questions on Bible knowledge.
couples are matched up by four iden-
“love of money” is “Leno may ask, “Who was the wife of
tified experts. The first sight of each easy to hide. This Noah?” Answer: “Joan of Arc.”
other for these couples is when they One Scripture passage that is con-
meet before an officiant. They meet and
“love of money” sistently misunderstood is 1 Timothy
get married and then proceed to a hon- danger is something 6:10. In this text, Paul warns that “the
eymoon and begin living life together. love of money is a root of all kinds of
After thirty days, these couples get to
for all people, no evil. Some people, eager for money,
decide if they will remain together or matter their socio- have wandered from the faith and
will they seek a divorce. pierced themselves with many griefs.”
During the course of this particu-
economic level, to The usual twisting of this passage is
lar show, “wisdom reality” is shared. be alerted to and to to conclude that “money is the root of
For example, the show highlights the all kinds of evil.” As Jamie Smith has
statistic that couples who live together
be discipled about. so insightfully argued in Desiring the
before marriage are twice as likely Kingdom, we are shaped by love and
to divorce than those who do not our discipleship is a matter of develop-
live together. Another wise insight is article begins by noting the elusive and ing appropriate loves.
given after one of the couples becomes exhausting search for pleasure. As part of my journey of life, I was
physically intimate before they really The article goes on to note that the an attorney in Palm Beach, Florida.
know each other. In response, the quest for fame, fortune and sexual This playground of the rich and famous
experts share that physical intimacy variety is like getting hooked on is where I could see six Rolls Royces in
is no substitute and it can actually get drugs; once you have a little of it, a “ten-minute” period while picking up
in the way of life-long intimacy. There you want more. The author then notes mail from the post office. It was while
is also a statistic that notes that mar- that numerous academic studies are a member of Lake Worth Christian
ried persons rate a higher satisfaction under-scoring what faith communities Reformed Church that I heard a guest
in the area of sexual relationships have taught for generations: it is better preacher “put down” people who
and intimacy that those who are not to give than to receive, and satisfaction owned Cadillacs. What that guest
married. does not come from extrinsic benefits pastor did not know is that a member
What is particularly striking is that like material wealth but from intrinsic of the church ran the body and repair
this show is not on a “Christian” net- ones, such as better relationships with shop for a Cadillac dealer. He felt that
work, but on mainstream television. others. the pastor, but also the church had
The wisdom of our created reality is The Church can use the wisdom judged him and his vocation.
shining in a place where one might not that is still in the created order to point Churches need to affirm that the
expect it. That wisdom can become the people to the Creator. “love of money” is easy to hide. This
basis for conversations and has even The Church can use the truth con- “love of money” danger is some-
helped me as a parent talk to my own tained in the world to point people to thing for all people, no matter their
children about relationships. the truth of Scripture. socio-economic level, to be alerted to
Another place where I recently and to be discipled about. The church
encountered wisdom at work was in a Placing the Conversation must spend more time correcting mis-
New York Times op-ed piece by Arthur within “Corrected” Biblical quoted and misunderstood Scripture
Brooks. In the article “Love People, Not Knowledge and helping people understand the
Pleasure” (July 18, 2014) Mr. Brooks When Jay Leno was hosting “The fullness of Scripture.
starts by uncovering the wisdom of Tonight Show,” he did something called One particular area that the church
a 10th Century Spanish Prince. The “Jay-Walking” where he asked people needs to correct is the perspective that
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Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014
IDOLS OF OUR TIME
sexuality has been “repressed” by the though the more will never be enough. our communities, do we hide behind
church. The church can rightfully note In an age of anxiety, where will the masks of pleasure? Identifying the
that sexual desire and expression is there be security and certainty? In idol of pleasure is a first step in helping
part of the created order as designed an age that seeks pleasure, where will a community to see clearly that the sin
by God even as we also note the bro- there be satisfaction? The Rolling is not “out there” alone, but it is also
kenness of our sexuality since the Fall. Stones sounded the cry—“I Can’t Get “in here.”
God designed sex for certain purposes No Satisfaction”—but they did not pro- Acts 4:32-37 is immediately followed
and fulfillment comes by following vide the pathway to where satisfaction by the story of Ananias and Sapphira.
that design. may be found. These two church people tried to gain a
Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-35 pro- certain reputation by manipulating the
Framing a Picture of a vide vignettes into the life of the early testimony that they were shaping about
“Better” Life—Full Life church as a community of provision, land that they sold and how much they
vs. the Fleeting Nature of connection and service to one another. then gave to the church. They were
Pleasure We are still called to live a life as a seeking a measure of fame even while
Pastor Tim Keller of Redeemer community formed by God to be a they held back some of the proceeds.
Presbyterian Church in New York witness in this world. They wanted the pleasure of a certain
City consistently asks what is “the sin What is striking about these pictures reputation for generosity even though
underneath the sin?” By that he means is that this is a community marked by they were gripped by greed and turned
that we must understand what is going transparency and authenticity. For the to lies rather than the Lord. Ananias
on underneath the surface and even community to meet a need, the need and Sapphira are found out and they
the sin we see. had to be identified and expressed. In are struck down—dead. The commu-
In the case of misuse of money, sex nity is shaken to the core. “Great fear
and power as tools to seek pleasure, seized the whole church and all who
the reality is that people are using A person may use heard about these events.” Acts 5:11
created things to fill an ultimate need— Idols are deadly. Even idols having
connection to God and to one another. the greedy gathering to do with pleasure are deadly. As fol-
A person may use the greedy gathering of wealth to fill a lowers of Christ, we need to not only be
of wealth to fill a gnawing sensation aware and watch out for idols, we need
that their worth and well-being is not gnawing sensation to warn others about the idols of our
secure. As a result, that gnawing sensa- that their worth time. Witnesses point to danger as well
tion causes them to “gather more” even as to grace.
and well-being is
not secure. As a
result, that gnawing
sensation causes them
to “gather more” even
though the more will
never be enough.
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Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014
Called to Serve
Be Holy
For the Convocation that opened the 139th Academic Year at Calvin Theological Seminary, Professor
of Preaching John Rottman presented what he does best—a preached sermon entitled BE HOLY
that offered both challenge and support to an academic community of faculty, students, and staff.
Here is an excerpt from that sermon address, based on I Peter 1:13–2:3, in which Rottman led the
community through a kaleidoscope of stories and insights that candidly exposed our resistance
to holiness and its boundaries. Nevertheless, the boundaries designed by God are meant for our
good, for our life. And he intends us to choose holiness within community. No more “push and
pull of all those unholy desires in our lives.” Instead, a place in community that percolates with
the Holy Spirit and God where “is working overtime to reestablish holiness in and among us.”
W
hen human beings violate
1 Peter 1:13-2:3 (New International Readers Version) the boundaries that God
So prepare your minds for action. God who gave him glory. So your faith put into his creation for
Control yourselves. Put your hope and hope are in God. them, they fail to flourish and even
completely in the grace that will You have made yourselves pure by die. For example, when human beings
be given to you when Jesus Christ obeying the truth. So you have an violate God’s boundaries for sexuality,
returns. honest and true love for your brothers they find their mar- by John Rottman
You should obey. You shouldn’t give and sisters. Love each other deeply, riages falling apart, Professor of Preaching
in to evil longings. They controlled from the heart. sexually trans-
your life when you didn’t know any You have been born again by means mitted diseases
better. The one who chose you is holy. of the living word of God. His word running rampant,
So you should be holy in all that you lasts forever. You were not born again the grisly practice
do. It is written, “Be holy, because I am from a seed that will die. You were born of abortion becom-
holy.” You call on a Father who judges from a seed that can’t die. It is written, ing commonplace.
each person’s work without favoring
“All people are like grass. Turning away from
one over another. So live your lives
All of their glory is like the God’s holy ways
as strangers here. Have the highest
flowers in the field. means travelling in
respect for God.
The grass dries up. The flowers the direction of death. Holy is all about
The blood of Christ set you free from
fall to the ground. living within and with respect for the
an empty way of life. That way of life
But the word of the Lord stands ways God made his world to work.
was handed down to you by your own
forever.” Peter mentions that when people turn
people long ago. You know that you
were not bought with things that can And that word was preached to you. away from being holy, deceit, hypocrisy,
pass away, like silver or gold. Instead, So get rid of every kind of evil. envy take over. Later, Peter mentions
you were bought by the priceless Stop telling lies. Don’t pretend to be debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies,
blood of Christ. He is a perfect lamb. something you are not. Stop wanting and carousing as the deathly products
He doesn’t have any flaws at all. He was what others have. Don’t speak against of an unholy life. Turn from the Holy
chosen before God created the world. each other. God to live in unholy ways, then death
But he came into the world in these last Like babies that were just born, and degradation will surely follow.
days for you. you should long for the pure milk of So what hope do we have, even if
Because of what Christ has done, God’s word. It will help you grow up as
we really were to ask for holiness? In a
you believe in God. It was God who believers. You can do it now that you
raised him from the dead. And it was
world stricken by unholy rave desires,
have tasted how good the Lord is.
10
Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014Holiness is human
beings fully alive.
Holy is what we were
what are the chances that places like made to be. Maybe see the new life that God has given my
Calvin Seminary can become a Holy brother Bill in prison.” New life. Born
place and for faculty, staff and students
we asking for greater again. Holy.
to become holy people. Peter points to holiness wouldn’t be If God can do it there, I know God
God and reminds us about how the can—and will—work his holy mys-
holy creator God was not content to let so bad after all. tery of transformation here at Calvin
his deeply loved creation languish in Seminary. God is all about making us
unholy suffering and death. Peter tells holy, renovating and saving what sin
us how God hatched a plan to redeem working overtime to reestablish holi- and evil aim to wreck. God is all about
his people. God moves in all his triune ness in and among us. making Calvin Seminary into more
power to reestablish holiness. Last night I taught the opening and more a holy place where God’s love
Remember that The word “holy” Calvin Seminary class in one of the and God’s life flows and flourishes.
has to do with separation. God is holy seminary’s prison classes. Twenty-five Early in his letter, Peter mentions
because he is totally separate from students, each of whom had strayed that when angels hear about advances
sin. But more than that, God is also from holiness in spectacular ways. One in the worldwide reclamation project
holy because he separates himself from of them whom I call Bill, took a hand- that Jesus is working in and among his
his creation in an important way. He gun, used it in anger, and ended up in people, they can’t get enough. When
gives his creatures an existence distinct prison for the rest of his life. the angels see what lengths God has
and separate from himself in order to The prospect of life in prison was gone to save and restore people like Bill
give them space and freedom, room to so daunting that Bill wondered about and like us, they shake their holy heads
live and love. God creates people, not taking his own life. How could he go in awe. “My God,” you can hear them
robots; people with their own created on after what he had done and where saying, “I can hardly believe it. Look at
space. God limits himself to give us he was? But God didn’t leave Bill alone, what God has done with him. Look at
real created life. In that sense too God even in prison. Some of his family kept what God has done with her.” Almost
is Holy, the holy creator … and the in touch and prayed for him. When unbelievable.
holy recreating redeemer. Calvin Seminary started its first prison Well, here we are, angels looking
So Peter reassures us that the day course, Bill decided to try it. There God on. As we face life’s battle with its
is coming when each one of us who introduced Bill to a few other people unholy desires, God places us within
belongs to Jesus will no longer feel who loved Jesus. When a new church a community of holy people. Calvin
the push and pull of all those unholy started a few months later, God gave Seminary, half church, half school.
desires in our lives. The day is coming Bill an opportunity to join the lead- Look around. God has gathered us as
when Jesus will kill off those inclina- ership team. Today, that small group people bought not with silver or gold,
tions to color outside the lines and will of six has grown to more than sixty. but with the precious blood Christ.
banish the death and destruction that Imagine a CRC church plant behind God places us within this seminary
comes along with it. fortified prison walls. God commis- community, a community percolating
But in the meantime, there is also sioned Bill to be a key leader there. with the Holy Spirit love of Jesus. A
grace for us in the middle of the battle. And in his spare time Bill “unoffi- place where smiles and loving words
Grace for Calvin Seminary students, cially” ministers to psychiatric-patient prompt us to say, yes, here we have
staff, and faculty. This God of grace prisoners. A few months ago, Bill’s tasted and seen that the Lord is good.
places us within a holy community, brother told me, “I want you to know You see, Holiness is life. Holiness is
percolating with his Holy Spirit. He that I have never been prouder of the human beings fully alive. Holy is what
places us in a community where he is church and of this seminary when I we were made to be.
11
Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014Called to Serve
Making Her Way
Dr. Catherine González on a Career of Firsts
as a Woman in Theological Education
O
ne afternoon in late she had “no idea” that women Mary was, González says, “a force
September, Calvin could not yet be ordained in of nature.” Yet it was Mary’s memora-
Seminary hosted its the Presbyterian Church. ble example that allowed González to
first-ever event exclusively for “I knew that my mother grow up “knowing that women could be
women: a candid conversa- opposed [the ordination of ministers.”
tion about navigating life as a women], but I didn’t know As González entered seminary, she
female pastor or theologian. that the whole church did!” discovered that it was the lectern, not the
The guest of honor was Dr. she says. pulpit, that was calling.
Catherine González, a pio- Her mother’s convictions “I realized I would just die if I couldn’t
neering theological scholar about women in ministry teach. I entered the Ph.D. program. I also
and ordained pastor in the Presbyterian aside, González says she always sensed wanted to officially represent the church
Church (USA). encouragement to work outside the in my teaching, so I sought ordination.
Local female pastors, denominational home. That’s when I found out I couldn’t have
leaders, seminarians, and others dis- “My mother had had a career, and her [sought ordination] earlier.”
cerning a call to ministry laughed and mother had had a career until they [each] González completed her Ph.D. in
empathized with González, punctuating were married, and married late … . systematic theology and the history of
her reflections with their own questions. My mother’s opinion was, ‘Marriage is doctrine at Boston University. She went
Newly-appointed Old Testament great, but have a career.’ [She valued] the on to become the first full-time female
professor Amanda Benckhuysen took sense of self that came with that.” professor in historical theology in the
the lead in interviewing González. González’s mother had a distant institutions where she taught; and one of
Benckhuysen’s colleagues, Professor cousin, Mary, whose father had been only two or three female faculty mem-
Mary VandenBerg (systematic theol- a Baptist pastor. Cousin Mary was bers nationwide instructing students in
ogy) and Professor Sarah Schreiber (Old ordained in the American Baptist subject areas more usually taught by
Testament, also new to the department), church in the 1890s. She later partici- men.
joined her as hosts. pated in the Azusa Street Revival and With good humor and a strong sense
Ordained in 1965, Dr. González returned to her home state of New York of call, González made her way as a
says she entered seminary intending to brimming with Pentecostal zeal, ready professor, first at the undergraduate and
pursue campus ministry. At the time, to plant churches. later at the graduate level. Male col-
leagues and their families “took me
under their wing,” she says; and when
students who opposed women’s ordina-
tion tried to cause her trouble, González
took it in stride.
“They would pull out their tape
recorders when I start[ed] to say any-
thing so that they could run back to their
presbyteries if I was teaching heresy. But
I gave grades,” she remembers, chuck-
ling. “There was a limit. If you’ve got
power, use it.”
With her academic career well under-
way, González met her husband-to-be at
a conference. He, too, was a theologian,
professor, and author. And he, too, had
blazed a trail in the field of theological
Participants at Catherine González’ workshop education.
12
Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014“When Justo and I married, he was vocation. It was almost as if I didn’t dare Yet holding that call at the center
the only Hispanic teaching on a tenure get married … . When I met Justo, I provides a rudder in times of doubt or
track in any seminary in the country,” already had such a strong sense of voca- difficulty. Prioritizing it gives shape to
she says. “So he was a great support.” tion. [I was able to embrace marriage the other vocations that characterize
For women making their own way and household life] without being scared many women’s lives, keeping it from
in ministry or theological education, of … not doing the theology.” being eclipsed by them.
González stresses the importance of Unpacking the call takes patience And living into it serves God’s people
maintaining focus on their vocation. and creativity, González says. “It takes now and into the future, as those yet to
“One reason why I didn’t get married a while first of all to understand [your come make their way for the sake of the
earlier was that I had a strong sense that call], and second to figure out how to live church too.
if I married I would cut out my other it out given the options available to you.” —Kristy Manion
From the Ends of the Earth
Dr. Justo González on Missions
“T he United States
is now a mission
field just as much
of what God has done and is
doing in us,” he said, “and the
discovery of what God is doing
What’s more, he continued, “we may
even use the church as the last strong-
hold of the world we knew, under the
as China or Angola.” in others. And in that very pretext of doing everything ‘decently
Thus spoke Justo discovery God often tells us and in good order,’ or...that we must
González, the noted Cuban- something we need to know.” defend the Reformed tradition in its pris-
American church historian González’s appeal for a tine purity.”
and theologian, during a spirit of humility and mutual- But followers of Christ, González
Calvin Theological Semi- ity in mission is rooted in his said, “have to remember that we don’t
nary-sponsored lecture this understanding of the “sign of own the church. We are just stewards.
autumn. Gonzales, who Jonah” in the gospel accounts, It’s the Lord’s church. We can’t keep
authored the two-volume including Luke’s assertion that people out becomes we don’t like them
Story of Christianity and the three-vol- “for as Jonah became a sign to the people or don’t understand them ... . The local
ume History of Christian Thought, of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be church has to learn it is part of the great
addressed the sweeping shifts taking to this generation … . The people of church universal—not only through all
place in Christendom and the impact on Nineveh will arise at the judgment with the world, but through all the centuries.”
Christian ministry and mission in the this generation and condemn it: for they Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1937,
world today. repented at the preaching of Jonah, and González was educated in his home
“Mission is not—or should not be—a behold, something greater than Jonah is country and then immigrated to the U.S.
one-way enterprise,” he declared. “It is here.” to earn both his master’s and doctoral
not just a matter of Christians telling, He asserted that the sign of Jonah degrees at Yale University. Ordained in
giving, teaching, and others hearing, today is “ever present” among us—“but the United Methodist Church, he taught
receiving, learning. When Christians it is not directly present in the good, reli- at the Evangelical Seminary in Puerto
tell, they must also hear; when they gious people who follow our traditions Rico and at Candler School of Theology
give, they must also receive; when they and our customs. It is present in the new at Emory University in Atlanta.
teach, they must also learn. Otherwise, world that we are unable to understand, In addition to his epic treatises on
mission runs the risk of becoming just but where all authority has been given to church history and theology, González
another form of imperialism under the Jesus.” has written more than 100 academic
guise of faith.” González acknowledged that current books and 1,300 journal articles. He
In his presentation, González not only trends prompt many to “try to live in is married to Catherine Gunsalus
provided a broad overview of the history closed communities where we seek to González, an ordained Presbyterian
of missionary work but he also delved keep this new world from impinging on minister and expert in church history
into a deeper examination of the Great our lives. We may try to close our bor- and liturgy who is a professor emeritus
Commission and the development of a ders to any who are not quite like us—in at Columbia Theological Seminary in
theology of mission. culture, in color, in education and in Decatur, Georgia.
“Mission is both the announcement social standing.” —Bruce Buursma
13
Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014Called to Serve
Center for Excellence in Preaching
Celebrates Ten Year Anniversary
I
t began with a dream and a hope website houses a standing led by Seminary Professors
of the Seminary’s then-new pres- collection of resources to Jeff Weima, John Rottman,
ident, Neal Plantinga, around the put preachers in touch with Neal Plantinga, and Scott
year 2001. Preaching generally had a outstanding commentaries, Hoezee. The Center has also
high profile in the Christian Reformed books, and sample sermons. CELEBRATING co-sponsored big confer-
Church as well as in the Protestant tra- But the vast majority of 2004–2014 ence events like the annual
dition. John Calvin esteemed the Word visitors to the website gravi- TEN YEARS Symposium on Worship
preached as a key means of grace for the tate to the Lectionary-based and the Festival of Faith &
church, and thus Reformed churches sermon starter articles that are posted Writing and smaller one-day fall and
that bore the stamp of Calvin’s influ- every Monday morning with ideas for spring preaching conferences that have
ence had long accorded the sermon next Sunday’s sermon. These are the most featured outstanding preachers like
a particular place of prominence in viewed part of the website each week. Thomas G. Long, Mark Labberton, Craig
worship services. Given this history (And yes, the busiest day of the week Barnes, and Jeff Manion.
as well as the present-day importance for this part of the website is Saturday!) In its ten-year history and in addi-
of the weekly sermon, what could the These weekly postings provide the “jump tion to the generous funds provided
Seminary do to promote good preach- start” in creative thinking that many by many donors, the Center has been
ing? Plantinga found an answer: create pastors are looking for in order to craft a awarded two major grants. In 2008
a center whose sole purpose would be to fresh, invigorating sermon. The website’s the Center received $200,000 from the
help active preachers do their job better. archives now house sermon ideas on John Templeton Foundation to develop
By 2004 the Seminary had secured hundreds of preaching texts as well as for resources to help churches make positive
generous funds from a number of donors the entire Heidelberg Catechism. Over use of the insights of science in ministry
who quickly caught the vision for doing 750,000 pages have been downloaded. settings. More recently in the Fall of 2013
something to make preaching better. By Continuing Education seminars the Center was awarded a $500,000 grant
late spring of 2005, Rev. Scott Hoezee for pastors are another key part of the from Lilly Endowment aimed at refining
was selected as the Center’s new Director Center’s work. Among the most suc- how preaching is taught at the seminary
effective July 1 of that year. cessful one- and two-week seminars level and to form peer learning groups of
Since the Center got off the ground that have been offered the past decade pastors throughout North America.
in 2004, its programming has steadily are “Imaginative Reading for Creative Other activities sponsored by the
increased both in-house at the Seminary Preaching,” “The Preachers’ Oasis,” and Center are the Seminary’s “Book-of-the-
itself and throughout North America. “From Text to Sermon.” In addition Semester” program. This program has
Today the Center’s biggest “front door” to these seminars—typically offered in brought many award-winning authors
is its website. Visited by as many as the summer—dozens of regional events to interact with the Seminary commu-
10,000 different pastors every month, the have also been sponsored for pastors and nity, including Pulitzer Prize winners
Marilynne Robinson, Sonia Nazario, and
Elizabeth Strout and other award-win-
ning authors like Richard Rodriguez,
Gary Schmidt, and Walter Wangerin,
Jr. The Center also oversees the Jacob
Eppinga Rhetoric Center and the Ted
Spoelstra Toastmasters Club, both of
which aim to help students in develop-
ing good skills and instincts in oral and
written communication.
The Center for Excellence in Preach-
ing continues to fulfill the vision of doing
something positive to help current and
future preachers in their vital work of
proclaiming God’s Word.
Luke Powery leading a Preachers Conference session
14
Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014New Faces at Calvin Theological Seminary
I
n the Fall of 2014 Calvin Seminary welcomed a few new faces
to our faculty and staff. These men and women have all been
“Called to Serve” at Calvin Theological Seminary.
Amanda Danjuma Gibson Chloe King
Benckhuysen Lecturer in Pastoral Care Administrative Assistant
Associate Professor of to the Faculty and
Dr. Danjuma Gibson
Old Testament Academic Office
began a two-year lec-
Dr. Amanda Benck- tureship in Pastoral Mrs. Chloe King
huysen joined the fac- Care this summer. began in August as the
ulty this summer as He recently sustained Administrative Assis-
Associate Professor of his Ph.D. defense tant to the Faculty. She
Old Testament. Dr. Benckhuysen grad- at Garrett-Evangelical Theological delighted the search committee when
uated from Queen’s University in Kings- Seminary in Pastoral Theology, she confessed that she had discovered
ton, Ontario, with a Bachelor’s degree in Personality, & Culture. Dr. Gibson also Calvin Theological Seminary and this
English and Political Science. She then holds a Master of Arts in Christian open position through a web search
went on to study at Calvin Seminary Studies and a Master of Arts in Urban for seminaries in Michigan after her
where she earned her M.Div., then fur- Ministry from Trinity Evangelical family relocated to the midwest from
thered her education by attending the Divinity School as well as a Master of California. Chloe is originally from
University of St. Michael’s College in Business Administration from DePaul the Philippines and had been living in
Toronto where she received her Ph.D. in University. Dr. Gibson is a bi-vocational southern California where she complet-
Theology with a specialization in Bibli- pastor and has served Zion Faith Center ed her undergraduate education as well
cal Studies. Before returning to her sem- Bible Church in Chicago since 1999. as an M.A. in Christian Leadership from
inary alma mater, she had been teaching Danjuma is married and has one young Fuller Theological Seminary. Chloe is
at the University of Dubuque Theolog- daughter. married and has two daughters, ages 10
ical Seminary. Amanda is married and and 4.
has two young daughters. Robert Keeley
Director of Distance Sarah Schreiber
Aaron Einfeld Education Assistant Professor of
Director of Admissions Old Testament
Dr. Robert Keeley
and Enrollment
has taught in the Edu- Rev. Sarah Schreiber
Management
cation Department of was appointed Assis-
Mr. Aaron Einfeld Calvin College since tant Professor of Old
took up duties in June 2000 but he’s no strang- Testament after her
as our new Director of er to Calvin Seminary as he has taught successful interview at
Admissions and Enroll- education courses in our professional Synod this past June. Her interest in
ment Management. Aaron majored in masters program. With a background in ministry and theology was cultivated
Music Theory and Psychology at Cal- mathematics and great affinity for tech- during her Facing Your Future experi-
vin College, then completed a Master’s nology, Dr. Keeley was a good fit to serve ence at Calvin Theological Seminary.
Degree in Student Affairs and Higher as our part-time Director of Distance She is a graduate of Calvin College with
Education at Indiana State University. Education. You may recognize his name a B.A. in Religion, Greek, and Business.
He has several years of higher education as a Music reviewer for The Banner; he is She went on to receive her M.Div. at Cal-
experience working in the areas of ser- also a writer for Think Christian, think- vin Seminary. Sarah plans to complete
vice-learning, residence life, and most christian.reframemedia.com. He and his her Ph.D. in Christianity and Judaism
recently, admissions. Aaron is one year wife Laura are Co-directors of Chil- in Antiquity at the University of Notre
away, he hopes, from finishing a Ph.D. dren’s Ministries at Fourteenth Street Dame in 2015. She was recently ordained
at Michigan State University in Higher, Christian Reformed Church, in Holland, as a minister of the Word at Grace Chris-
Adult, and Lifelong Education. He is Michigan where they reside. tian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids.
married and has two young daughters. Sarah is married and has one son.
15
Calvin Seminary Forum • Fall 2014Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Grand Rapids, MI
3233 Burton Street SE Publications Mail Agreement No. 40063614 Permit No. 657
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 3475 Mainway, LCD STN 1
Burlington ON L7M 1A9
Distinguished
Each year Calvin Theological
Seminary is pleased to honor two
alumni who have made significant
Alumni Awards ministry contributions in the
Kingdom of God and have reflected
positively upon the values and
mission of CTS.
You are invited to submit
nominations (with brief statement
of rationale) by December 15, 2014
to: Rev. Jul Medenblik, President,
Calvin Theological Seminary (email:
sempres@calvinseminary.edu).
The recipients will be honored at
the Seminary’s Commencement on
Saturday, May 23, 2015.You can also read
