God talk

 If we are to look and understand the future it is important to look at what has been.  As you read the blog one finds during creation and the early societies of humans, how technology and culture matured.  Can the Master theologian, Herman Bavinck teach us anything for the 21st century?  Humanity has indeed dominated nature and we can surely see the scars on God’s image.   Genesis tells us that the creation was ‘good’ but human greed and selfishness has wasted a lot of planet earth.   Even if we never read the Bible, we can still see the horror of human activities on the earth.   How does Herman Bavinck deal with these questions? So, today we are going to look at this final theme and we will look at the theatre in which these horrific actions have taken place. On Page 162 Reformed Ethics Bavinck begins by saying, “Our dominion over nature has been weakened and robbed of its spiritual character, but it has not been eliminated. Dominion has been imp...

  We continue looking at virtues through Bavincks lens.   These are some verses he quotes.   The words moral excellence translated by ἀρετή aretē in the followings verses is important for the discussion so be aware of this before looking at what is said after the Bible quotations 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 2 Peter 1:5   9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; 1 Peter 2:9   (NASB) Herman Bavinck the master theologian then gives a de...

  Bavinck then moves on to what the Reformers thought about natural good and moral good.   I am especially interested in John Calvin and his Institutes. I started to think about the lack of Aristotle in the Institutes of the Christian Religion.   Obviously if one reads Aquinas’ Summa Theologai he is found everywhere. The Unmoved Mover and so on.    In the philosophy of Kalam in Islam Aristotle is very important as the philosophy was used as an argument for the relationship of God and Creation although at places with corrections.   John Calvin dumps Aristotle like a brick! Why? Perhaps we will find out a little more about these things in these pages. Let’s begin with a quote from Bavinck this puts the theatre in place for what Calvin and other Reformers will act out; “Protestants, more in line with Augustine, thought differently. Luther wrote that Aristotle can give rules for only the natural, temporary, perishable life." Natural moral theory emphasi...