What Is Reformed Theology?

Is there such thing as Reformed Theology? Yes it is. Reformed Theology is not exclusively about Calvin's Theology. Why? Simple, because the Theology of Calvin Himself is not uniquely his own, but a crystallization of Augustine, Martin Bucer, church fathers, and the teaching Paul in the New Testament. Therefore, Reformed Theology is not about a particular person's theology but essentially all about certain principles. Calvinism philosophically speaking, even never of Calvin alone. Calvin only jump from the solid foundation of the giants of the past by deepening the core. In fact, Calvin himself was more concern toward the Christian life in general rather than Theology per se.

Institutes was written not for the purpose of Systematic Theology but a summary of Christian life, on how human place themselves in relation to God. But if Reformed Theology is not equal to Calvinism or Calvin's Theology, what is Reformed Theology then?  Perhaps myself, and many other will argue that basically, as long as people affirms these five pillars of Reformation they can be said as reformed in a very general and wide manner. Calvin expresses these five foundation in his works significantly. Although, Calvin put emphasis to Soli Deo Gloria aspect a lot more. No serious reformed thinkers will disagree in saying that reformed Theology basically rest in these five pillars, which all about God, His acts, and His Word.

But no one exactly know the detail of how these five Solas come into existence. It was through a gradual process of reforming and articulating, and  systematizing the experiences of faith in the light of the testimony of the Scripture five Solas now come as the form we know today. Perhaps Phillip Melanchthon was the first one to articulate two out of five as he wrote this articulation of his or Luther's theology, sola gratia justificanus et sola fide justificamur. Then afterwards, Lutheran scholar Theodore Engelder expresses three out of five as his article entitled, "Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fides." Later on, Emil Brunner, added Solus Christus and Soli Deo Gloria to the list, as Michael Allen argue in his classic book in the subject, Reformed Theology (2010). Arguably, the five Solas appear fully, and grouped together in the writing of Johan Baptise Mertz, The Church and The World (1965). 

Not just these five Solas are the basic of the Reformed Theology, they are also the bedrock of the Universal Reformation faith. Indeed, The sketch of History of the Church itself has brought about several traditions of Reformed, from Dutch Reformation, English Reformation and German Reformation. There were different nuances which contribute to the larger landscape of faith formation, we called them as Reformation Theology. Yet the plurality of Reformation Theology are not dissonance with each other as they are undergirded and glued in one solid theological foundation of five Solas. Five Solas is very foundational even we can says to be a Christian, one need to embrace Five Solas. Every Christian is actually Reformed and every Reformed is a Christian, who holds Reformed Theology, in a very broadest sense. 

As Reformed Christian, we need to re-affirm again these five pillars again and again, with a new and fresh articulation in response toward the culture that slowly swiping us away from the core foundational truth of faith. Take for instance the age of Plurality of our time. The pillar of Solus Christus has been attacked in all directions; his status as the only Lord, His Ultimate Salvific act, His historical identity and so on. The temptation for the church is to assume that the foundation are already settle. What we need to do is not to bring again the discussion of Reformed Theology but focus more on Reformed Spirituality. However, the big question for the church, how can we build spirituality apart from the core Theology? Without reaffirmation of Five Solas, the church will found their Spirituality is akin to what world presents eventually, rather than of what the Word of God elaborate. Without Five Solas, Reformed Theology lost their basic substance, and inherent meaning as Mihai Andorne argues that five Solas are  primarily Qualitative and not Quantitative principles. It is the "axiological principle." Yet so far, there is still lies a problem. How about Arminian Theology which often be claimed as contra-reformed Theology? Since using the criteria above we know that Arminian also dubbed to Five Solas as well. 

Therefore, up to this point we found out that apparently, five Sola aren't enough. Thus, we shall move from broad approach to more specific approach. Hence, we can argue and push further that Reformed Theology is a Theology that is not just rest in five Solas but also the other five, we known as TULIP. Both need to go together at hands, to form a conclusive pillar of identity of Reformed Theology. Many says that TULIP is also equal to Calvinism. Again, historically speaking, Calvin Himself did not develop His own system of thought nor Theology, he just systemized the Theology of the Scripture, not of his own. Loraine Boetnner in his book, The Reformed Doctrine of predestination (1932) was probably the first people who bring the idea of TULIP, as an acronym, to summarize Calvin's Theology in general. The five are, Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited atonement, Irresistible Grace, Perseverance of the Saints. We must be careful not to associated TULIP with Canon of Dort. It does not relate with a true historical sense as far I concern, since the word TULIP does not resonate with Dutch flower, as the flower called "TULP" in Dutch. Cannon of Dort did not produce this acronym. 

Beyond doubt, TULIP are good superstructure that best describes Calvin's articulation of Scripture but the idea in TULIP once again, are not exclusive grounded in Calvin's Theology alone, organically speaking in addition, the summary of the points has been chosen by Calvin himself. In conclusion, Five Solas are the pillars of Reformed Theology but will actually never be complete, without incorporating TULIP as well, which distinguished the Reformed Theology from the Arminian Theology for Arminian Theology deny the elements from TULIP but mostly of these two areas: Limited atonement and Irresistible Grace. Building from these two essences of Reformed Theology, Reformed confessions are the further extension of the Theology. In other words, If the five Solas and TULIP are to be the basic essences and foundational framework of Reformed Theology, the various Reformed Confessions are the meat, the fuller and deeper content that bring the fullest articulation, expresses in a form of official standard, written in the light of a dynamic Reformed Christian community in a particular time and place.