Neo-calvinism part 2: Relating to society

I don't intend to pick up right where the the Dutch left off. They left off at redeeming culture by progress and understanding. I believe that these are the wrong modernistic goals Christians should strive for in relating to society.

Yet, I return to the idea for the idea of redeeming creation and aspects of the world that God created good. The redemption of these things can extend into our culture. In our globallized world, we cannot reject culture either but we can define our terms to interact with it. The Amish tried to shut themselves out from it. The Mennonites give themselves a new set of rules. The legalists rely on morality or being 'good'. Neocalvinists focused creating Government, culture, arts, sciences, and progress. The Dutch went sideways on these issues. Some blame their doctrine of common grace in exalting good works and systems put in place to carry those out. These things essential left out God in claiming credit for accomplishments. Once in place, the christian charity was no longer needed since the government did it. The error was in their focus. Christians should rather focus on what God in the Bible says on our relation to society. (Not ranked)

1. We need to live peaceful quiet lives.
2. We must be the salt of the Earth.
3. We must be found in doing every good work.
4. We must not be caught up in civilian pursuits.
5. We must preach the whole Gospel.

I see the problem within how they extended the love of God to the world. They ascribed government and progress beside the gospel, rather than below it. These things are clearly civilian pursuits. We must first fight the war of faith. We must first and foremost put on the whole armor of God before we try to relate to the world. It is not understanding but it may be at times adversity. It is not progress but at times it is being a bible thumper. These things show that the sole ideas of progress and understanding in the world's eyes may be wrong, no matter how noble they appear. They can be in conflict with truth and that which gives real progress/change.

The Dutch were right in trying to display God's glory to the world. Unfortunately, temporal means within creation like government and law mean less when considering the glory of eternal goodness and grace. These human means are nothing in light of conveying God himself through the gospel. We should be found in them but only after being found pointing to God in every essential way.

Neo Calvinism part 1

I have recently begun to look into Dutch Calvinism again. Partly because of Kevin Shipp and his love of Bavinck. I have more particularly looked at neocalvinism, which later dropped the ball in the Netherlands. It is an aberration of Dutch Calvinism.

Essentially, neo-Calvinism is a cultural worldview that takes a cultural mandate to be fruitful, multiply, and subdue the earth. It is the idea that there is not one area of creation that Christ will not redeem. It draws heavily from amillenialism and from the idea of placing everything under Christs feet. This extends into religion as life and secular society. This is ok but when linked with the strong Dutch common grace ideas, there was a tendancy to be at peace with the world. It was extends into being involved with culture and government, at first trying to christianize it. Second, trying to be at peace with it for unity. A cultural mandate was seen to be as strong as the Great Commission by the Dutch. Neo-calvinism easily turned Dutch Calvinism's social aim into compromise with society for so called 'progress'. Progress not of the Christian faith but of secular social justice.

Furthermore, by pursuing this mandate, they failed on things more essential. The Netherlands became pretty unchristian pretty quick. This is where i want to pick up later to discuss how we aught to relate to the world.