Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 83:330 (Apr 1926)
Article: Calvinistic View Of Church And State
Author: A. v. C. P. Huizinga

BSac 83:330 (April 1926) p. 174

Calvinistic View Of Church And State

A. v. C. P. Huizinga

Thompson, CONN

I.

The respective positions of Church and State, when closely observed, are not so far apart as the vehement conflicts between them would lead us at first to suppose. Both refer to God in justification of the authority which they exercise. The Church would fain leaven society into spontaneous and ready response to the gospel of Christ. Similarly every government endeavors to cultivate in its citizens a free and hearty co-operation. We must here bear in mind, however, that the Church has a more direct bearing upon the conscience of her members than the State has, even when its government is never so perfect an expression of the society which it regulates. In keeping with this fact the Church addresses herself more exclusively to the individual as such, and primarily for his spiritual interests. The State naturally views the individual as part of society and in his more external bearings as a citizen. It should therefore be clear that the sphere and the methods of church activities should be distinctly Christian, and always rely exclusively on moral suasion. No constraint but the love of Christ is to be her compelling power over a gainsaying and disobedient people. Only with spiritual weapons may she “go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in.” All true gospel teaching asks only for a voluntary assent from those to whom it goes out.

The Christian church, however, feels assured of final victory because of the need of man. Thus the Church responds in spiritual nurture to the native need of individual man, to bring him to the fulness of Christ, while governments restrain individual man in behalf of society. In fine, Church and State both claim the authority of God. But the Church rests this claim on special grace in the revelation of Christ, for the positive bringing in of the kingdom of God upon earth. The state on the other

BSac 83:330 (April 1926) p. 175

hand relies on the common grace of God as a restraint upon the curse of sinful man. It follows that the position of the Church is more ideally conceived, but for this very reason less capable of application in the visible actuality of this world. For this same reason it becomes at once a very debatable question whether any visible church can make good these ideal claims, and extend them over those who do not freely recognize them.

From the nature of the Church and of the State their respective spheres and relations are in principle at least readily determined. The church as the foreshadowing of the future kingdom of God and the state as maintaining the present cohesion of social life, bear to each other the appr...