Tulips on Fire: The Blazing Piety of the Dutch Calvinists

In the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation a movement emerged amongst the Dutch Calvinists. This movement became known as the Nadere Reformatie. It sought to diligently apply the vibrant doctrines of the Reformation, as expressed at the Synod of Dort, to every sphere of human life.

Whereas many modern Christians tend to oscillate between legalistic moral codes or libertine antinomianism, the leaders of the Nadere Reformatie offer a helpful path for standing firm upon the doctrine of justification by faith alone while pursuing true holiness by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Holiness is not found in the legalist's furrowed brow of self-effort, nor is it to be avoided by those who wave a false banner of grace over their pet sins. Instead, when we look at the example and teaching of this group of Dutch Christians from the 17th-18th century we find that we can rejoice in a salvation that is not won by our good works, while being spurred on to live out the implications of that salvation wherever we go, from the garden, to the dining table, from our workplace to the baseball diamond. Christ bought us and set us apart for holiness, and by His Spirit He truly brings about holiness within us, for our good and God's great glory.