Christian Traditions

What Is Reformed Theology?

Reformed theology, sometimes called Calvinism, is a stream of Protestant Christianity that flows from the Reformation work of John Calvin and others. More a theological tradition than a single church, it shapes Presbyterian, Reformed, Congregational, and some Baptist and other churches. Its governing conviction is the sovereignty and grace of God: that salvation is entirely God’s gift, planned and accomplished by him, so that all glory belongs to God alone. It treasures Scripture, the historic confessions, and worship centred on God’s greatness.

What they believe and treasure

Reformed Christians treasure the greatness of God. They emphasise that God is sovereign over all things and that salvation, from beginning to end, is his gracious work: he chooses, calls, saves, and keeps his people, so that no one can boast, and all thanks go to him. This is often summed up in the five 'solas' of the Reformation, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone, and to the glory of God alone.

The tradition prizes careful, biblical theology, expressed in confessions such as the Westminster Confession and the Three Forms of Unity, and it reads Scripture through the story of God’s covenant of grace. It calls believers to worship God reverently, live gratefully in response to grace, and see all of life as lived before the face of God.

What they share with all Christians

Reformed Christians confess the faith of the whole Church. They worship the one God and hold to Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, as the only Saviour, received by grace through faith.

These are the words of the one faith the Nicene Creed puts on the lips of every Christian: one God, one Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. On this the whole family stands together.

What is distinctive

What is distinctive is the strong emphasis on God’s sovereignty in salvation, including the doctrine of election, that God graciously chooses to save, and the 'doctrines of grace' often summarised by the word TULIP. Reformed worship also tends to be God-centred and Scripture-regulated, prizing simplicity and reverence.

Here Christians honestly and famously differ. Arminian believers, including many Methodists, Pentecostals, and others, stress that God’s grace is offered to all and can be freely received or resisted. Both sides love grace, honour Scripture, and worship the same Christ; they understand the mystery of God’s sovereignty and human freedom differently, and hold their views in good conscience. This is a difference within the family, not a division over the gospel itself.

What to expect if you visit

Reformed theology is taught in many kinds of church, so a visit depends on the congregation, most often Presbyterian or Reformed. Expect worship marked by reverence, strong congregational singing of hymns or psalms, and, above all, serious and thoughtful preaching of the Bible. Communion is shared with solemn joy. You can simply follow the order of service; the welcome is genuine even where the mood is weighty and God-centred.