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Christianity &Society A Quarterly Journal for the Application of Christian Principles to Contemporary Society V. , N. , A Although the majority of the Reformers held the “two extremes,”—Bible teaching and Constantinian prin- ciples—in practice not all of them implemented the intolerant views of Constantinianism. And for this “praiseworthy inconsistency” in their Calvinism they deserve recognition and gratitude. This is the case, for instance, of Heinrich Bullinger (– ), the Zurich Reformer. In Bullinger we detect with great clearness and force the irreconcilable antagonism of the “two extremes” of strict Calvin- ism. We can even establish a remarkable parallel between Samuel Rutherford and the great Swiss Reformer. Like the Scotsman, Bullinger was a man of deep and refined love and sympathy. Besides being a great theologian—as was Rutherford—he was also famous for his letters, and in his immense correspondence Bullinger also reveals a sweet dispo- sition and a most loving spirit. Bullinger agreed with the other Reformers that heretics should be repressed and punished severely. He approved of the execution of Servetus, and in his Second Helvetic Confession he teaches that it is the duty of the magistrate to use the sword against blasphemers; heresy should be punished like murder or treason . Yet, despite these views, he tolerated Bernardino Occhino, who preached for some time to the Italian congregation in that city, but was deposed, without further punishment, for his Anabaptist and Unitarian leanings. He also toler- ated Laelio Sozini, who quietly died at Zurich in . Moreover, in a treatise on Roman Catholi- cism, Bullinger expresses the Christian and humane sentiment that no violence should be done to dissent- ers, and that faith is a free gift of God, which cannot be commanded or forbidden. —David Estrada, “Calvinism v. Constantinianism,” p. f. ISSN - £. (UK), $. (USA) Christianity & Society is the official organ of the K F, a Christian educational trust founded in . The Kuyper Foundation exists to promote a renaissance of Christian culture in society by furthering awareness of the implications of the Christian faith for every sphere of life, including the Church, family and State. Its vision of Christian society was expressed in the words of Abraham Kuyper, the Dutch Christian theologian and statesman, who said: “One desire has been the ruling passion of my life. One high motive has acted like a spur upon my mind and soul. And sooner than that I should seek escape from the sacred necessity that is laid upon me, let the breath of life fail me. It is this: that in spite of all worldly opposition, God’s holy ordinances shall be established again in the home, in the school and in the State for the good of the people; to carve as it were into the conscience of the nation the ordinances of the Lord, to which Bible and Creation bear witness, until the nation pays homage again to him.” The Foundation seeks to promote this vision of Chris- tian society by publishing literature, distributing audio-visual materials, and running lecture courses and conferences. The Kuyper Foundation is funded by voluntary donations from those who believe in the cause for which it works. More information on the ministry of the Foundation can be obtained from the address below or from the Foundation’s web site. T K F P. O. B , T, S , E E-mail: [email protected] World Wide Web: www.kuyper.org Tel. () Fax. () C P: Heinrich Bullinger A Quarterly Journal Christianity for the Application of Christian & Principles to Contemporary Society Society E V , N A, Stephen C. Perks A C Colin Wright R EDITORIAL Matthew Wright P R by Stephen C. Perks............................................................................... C FEATURES Stephen C. Perks is the Director C V C of The Kuyper Foundation. by David Estrada ................................................................................. David Estrada is Professor of Aesthetics and Philosophy at the C P F University of Barcelona in Spain. by Stephen C. Perks............................................................................... Derek Carlsen is pastor of the Church of Christian Liberty, W S: R, M J Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA by Derek Carlsen................................................................................... Doug Baker is a freelance writer living in Bloomington, Indiana. BOOK REVIEWS Crawford Gribben is a Research Ralph Smith, Paradox and Truth and Eternal Covenant Fellow at the Centre for Irish-Scottish Reviewed by Doug P. Baker ........................................................ Studies, Callum G. Brown, The Death of Christian Britain: Stephen Hayhow works in Understanding Secularisation – mobile communications. He was Reviewed by Crawford Gribben.................................................. ordained in the Reformed Presbyte- Alister McGrath, In the Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible rian Church in the USA. Reviewed by Stephen J. Hayhow................................................. Articles and reviews published in Christianity & Society represent the views Editorial office: Christianity & Society, P. O. Box , of the individual authors and should not be taken as an official position Taunton, Somerset, , England. endorsed by Christianity & Society or its editors. Readers are invited to Tel. () Fax. () submit previously unpublished articles for publication. A style-sheet can www.kuyper.org/Email: [email protected] be obtained from the Editorial office. It is requested that authors supply Subscriptions: four consecutive issues a brief biographical sketch or c.v. for the contributors panel above. Manuscripts will not be returned unless they are accompanied by a UK:£ Europe:£. (airmail). stamped addressed envelope. Letters and comments are invited, as well . as suitable anecdotes, questions, news items and feedback on any issues All other subscriptions:£ (airmail). raised. Advertisements are accepted at the discretion of the editors. All Payment by cheque: cheques should be in ster- ffi manuscripts should be sent to the editorial o ce in England. Corre- ling only drawn on a bank in the UK, made payable ffi spondence should be sent to the editorial o ce in England or by e-mail to “The Kuyper Foundation” and sent to: P. O. to: [email protected]. Christianity & Society is published quarterly by The Box , Taunton, Somerset, , England. Kuyper Foundation, a registered charity in England. Credit card payments: Please supply the fol- Designed and typeset by Avant Books, P. O. Box , Taunton, Somerset, lowing information: ( ) card number, ( ) expiry , England. date, ( ) name of card holder and ( ) card statement address (plus delivery name and address if different Printed by SD Print and Design, Kingsdale House, Martinet Road, from card holder and statement address). Credit Old Airfield Industrial Estate, Thornaby, Cleveland , England. card information may be sent to the address or fax number above, or emailed to: “[email protected]” Copyright © Christianity & Society . All rights reserved. (See the credit card payments form on p. ). Christianity & Society— moral grounds depending on the general state of the nation and the degree of common grace operative, but only in the same way that any group of citizens, Satanists, homosexuals E and paedophiles included, would be able to request special dispensations from the secular authorities. They would not be able, logically, to call the nation back to obedience to God’s word as a basic principle of the State’s legitimacy and P R authority since this would imply establishment of the Chris- tian faith. In constitutional terms the State would be to all By Stephen C. Perks intents and purposes unaccountable to God (the State would not be religiously neutral; rather, the established religion would be secular humanism or some other religion, though T issue of Christianity & Society presents two different ways this may not be readily perceived or acknowledged, espe- of looking at the political sphere of life, both of which have cially in the case of secular humanism). This was the case had representative positions in the history of Christian with ancient Rome. thought and practice. Some explanation of the differing This principle of complete separation of Church and approaches of these essays will help to put them into context. State underpinned much of the Radical Reformation and is Dr Estrada’s essay, “Calvinism versus Constantinian- today being revived in the idea of Principled Pluralism. The ism,” is a critique of the religious persecutions that have too basic premiss behind Principled Pluralism is the idea that the often taken place in the name of Christ. I fully endorse his State should not be a religious institution and therefore criticism of the many religious persecutions that have taken should not interfere with religious matters in any way; place in the history of the Church. I agree that Protestants instead it should respect and preserve people’s religious have also persecuted people for “religious” crimes that have freedom. It is this idea that I wish to take issue with here. In no basis in the Bible, that such persecutions have been a my article on “Christianity as a Political Faith” I argue that tragic mistake and that the justification for such persecutions the kingdom of God is primarily a political order and that has been unbiblical. It is important to remember, however, therefore Christianity is primarily a political faith. Religion that Dr Estrada is not arguing for a secular State. Rather, he
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