In describing Dutch Reformed Christians, people come with all sorts of things (some positive and some negative). Things like: thoughtful, doctrinal, , Heidelberg Catechism, Christian Reformed, Calvinistic, Kuyperian, neo-Calvinist are some of the “positive” characteristics. Cold, the frozen chosen, arrogant, Dutch ghetto, etc. are some of the negative characteristics. These things – both positive and negative – may be true but they are not the whole picture.I am reading Arie de Reuver’s book: Sweet Communion: Trajectories of Sprituality from the Middle Ages through the Further Reformation. It is an academic study of five Dutch Christians/theologians/pastors of the Further Reformation: Willem Teelinck, Theodorus a’ Brakel, Guiljelmus Saldenus, Wilhelmus a’ Brakel, and Herman Witsuis. They are “Dutch Puritans” if you will. Far from being cold, stuffy doctrinalists these Dutch Reformed Christians are warm pietists that border on being mystical (before dealing with these five Dutch Christians, de Reuver outlines the mysticism and piety of Medieval Bernard of Clairvaux and Thomas a’ Kempis).Rather than succumbing to the stereotypes of Dutch Christianity, I am trying to mine the treasures of our past so that we have a holistic and robust faith that is rooted in Reformed theology (doctrinal), a “reformation” of the heart (pietistic), and seeks to be transformative in the world (transformation).
