5 Things Orthodox Christians Should Know About Reformed Christianity

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The Reformed tradition is known for central hallmarks and has multiple expressions in churches. While reformed churches can have differences, they come from a similar mold. To help Orthodox Christians dialogue with Calvinists, we have gathered five key things Orthodox Christians need to know about the Reformed.

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1. Not all Reformed Christians are Calvinists

Followers of the Reformed tradition generally refer to themselves as Reformed or as Calvinist. However, the term “Reformed” is far broader and encompasses a wider range of Protestant theologians and traditions beyond those directly influenced by John Calvin. “Calvinist” specifically refers to those who follow Calvin’s theological system. So while all Calvinists would call themselves Reformed, not all who consider themselves Reformed would then also call themselves Calvinist.

2. Reformed Christians hold to the Five Points

The Five Points of Calvinism (or TULIP) are as follows: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Eternal Preservation (or Perseverance) of the Saints. All of these points naturally flow within one another. According to the Reformed tradition, man is totally depraved because we inherited Adam’s guilt and a sinful nature from Adam, who is the Federal Head before God of the unregenerate human race. Because of this depravity, God must elect some people to be saved.

Therefore Christ’s saving atonement works only for them. God will call that person to believe. And that person will believe sooner or later. The saved man will never fall away because God has chosen him, Christ died for him, and “God’s call and his gifts are irrevocable” (Romans 8). The Westminster Confession, a primary confessional document for the beliefs of Reformed Christians, says:

They, whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally, nor finally, fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved. This perseverance of the saints depends not on their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father…

WCF 17. 1, 2

3. Reformed Christians believe in Sola Scriptura

The Reformed tradition believes that God reveals himself in three main ways: the natural world, through Jesus, and through the Bible. It is mainly in the Bible that God speaks to people and gives the testimony of his Son. The Reformed thus believe in the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, or the Bible alone. This essentially means that since the Bible is God’s primary and ordinary mode of revelation to people, it should be followed and interpreted. Practically, other doctrines about Scripture arise from Sola Scriptura:

• The inspiration of Scripture: Scripture is God-breathed and sufficient for the believer
• The sufficiency of Scripture: Scripture is final rule of faith for doctrine and practice for the believer
• The self-interpretation of Scripture: Scripture will interpret itself, using the “clear passages in light of the unclear” hermeneutic, and the individual believer must find out what Scripture says (note the objectivity) and not what Scripture means for me (subjectivity).

Scripture should then regulate all doctrine for the believer, even practice. In short, if something cannot be found in Scripture or deduced from common sense, it is forbidden. Westminster elaborates:

All things of Scripture are not alike plain in themselves…yet those things which are necessary to be known…are so clearly profounded in some place of Scripture or other.

WCF 1.7

4. Reformed Christians believe in the regulative principle of worship

This is more common in conservative Reformed circles, but it carries over from Sola Scriptura. The idea is that Scripture should regulate public Christian worship, and that whatever is not commanded in Scripture is forbidden. A Reformed church that follows this idea may have worship that looks like this:

• Opening greeting (usually from an Epistle of St. Paul or a Psalm)
• Singing of a hymn
• Reading of the Law (to feel conviction of sin)
• Silent confession and prayer
• Rejoicing in forgiveness (another hymn here)
• Prayer of needs
• Singing and collection of tithes and offerings
• Sermon (the bulk of time here—45 minutes is common)
• Blessing and dismissal
• Final hymn

Reformed Christians will support this with Scripture verses and ideas from Scripture. Some churches will apply the Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW) more liberally or conservatively than others. Some denominations will have the congregation sing Psalms and hymns, others will include saying the Apostles’ Creed. These differences are minor, but stem from a concern to apply the same principle.

4. The Eucharist is just a symbol

Reformed Christians believe the Eucharist is a sacrament where believers are spiritually nourished and united with Christ. While they believe in a real presence of Christ, they do not believe the bread and wine literally become Christ’s body and blood, as the Eastern Orthodox (and Roman Catholics) do. Instead, they understand it as a spiritual and symbolic reception of Christ’s body and blood through faith. 

According to the Westminster Confession of Faith:

Worthy receivers outwardly partaking of the visible elements of this sacrament, do then also, inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually, receive and feed upon the benefits of Christ crucified…yet as really, but spiritually.

WCF 29.7

In other words, they believe that no physical change in the bread and wine take place. So, when a believer receives in faith, he spiritually partakes of Christ’s body and blood while only physically receiving bread and wine. The participation occurs through the presence and action of the Holy Spirit, in which the Spirit brings the person spiritually up to Christ, as opposed to Christ coming down.

If a man were to receive Communion in an unworthy manner, he would be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Because of this belief, Reformed churches often fence the table and do not allow those who are members of a visible church to receive. If someone is visiting, some churches will have a card for the person to fill out or have the person talk to the pastor to ensure they are spiritually prepared.

Keep Reading: Who Can Receive Communion In An Orthodox Church?

Additionally, some Reformed churches do not give Communion every week like most Orthodox churches do. For example, one of our parishioners’ former home church gave Communion only four times per year. Some churches fear their members will not be spiritually prepared to receive Communion weekly.

6. Reformed Christians believe in “true” salvation

Lastly, most Reformed Christians (and Evangelicals) will make a distinction between “true Christians” and “professing Christians”. True Christians are those who have been born again by the Holy Spirit, while professing Christians are those who believe they are true Christians but are not. They may even have some fruits of true Christianity, but are not true Christians. This language often occurs in sermons on “true and false faith”.

It is also important to note that for Protestants, a “true believer” will be holding to a personal saving faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross in spite of their church position or affiliation. For instance, a Roman Catholic or Orthodox who is a true believer will believe in salvation by faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone. They will be “Protestant at heart.”

How to dialogue with Reformed Christians

Now that we know a few things about what Reformed Christians believe, let’s discuss how to dialogue with them. First, we must make clear that it is impossible to argue someone into belief. Belief is a consent of the will. Ultimately, the best way to dialogue is to start with open-mindedness and asking questions. Ask them what they believe and why, and allow them to explain it to you before you make assumptions. Here are some other things to consider when discussing theology and faith:

1. Be charitable and humble. “Let everything you do be done in love,” writes St. Paul. We need to not assume things of the other side. We must also consider nuance and avoid the sin of pride.
   
2. Know your Bible. Reformed Christians know their Bible backwards and forwards, and so should you.
   
3. Begin on their ground. Protestants use an entirely different canon of Scripture. Their Bible has fewer books than ours, and they consider our “extra” books as later additions to justify unbiblical doctrines (i.e. prayer to the saints). Use their canon in discussions, not ours.
   
4. Ask questions. If you don’t know what they believe on something, simply ask. This helps create an atmosphere of trust and understanding.
   
5. Read. Reformed Christians rend to be highly intellectual. Study your own faith in books to know what you believe. Orthodox catechisms and books about the faith are common in America today. Studying about the Reformed faith also helps dialogue.
   
6. Admit what you don’t know. If you don’t know something, be honest, admit to it, and try to get an answer later.
   
7. Know where you agree. Orthodox and Reformed Christians have many things in common, including our high regard for Scripture and the Fathers, and the dogmas of the Trinity and the Incarnation (among other things). Knowing these things helps strengthen kinship and makes the conversation more productive.

Read More: What Bible Do Orthodox Christians Use?