VERDUIN’S THE REFORMERS AND THEIR STEPCHILDREN
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In The Reformers and their Stepchildren, the author Leonard Verduin focuses on the relationship between the Magisterial Reformer’s and the Radical Reformers (what the author calls ‘the Stepchildren’).Verduin’s controversial thesis is that when the ‘second front’ of the Radical Reformers started, the Magisterial Reformers (Luther, Zwingli, Calvin) made a theological (and political) shift contrary to the direction of progress which began in the early days of the Reformation.Verduin believed that the Magisterial Reformers heated reaction towards the Radical Reformers was thoroughly unbiblical in two important ways: (1) the Magisterial Reformers reverted back to Constantine’s Sacrementalism which blurred the identity (or at minimum, the role) of the Church and the State and (2) an ecclesiology which lacks the Biblical prerequisite of voluntary membership on the basis of faith in Christ.These two errors spawned other errors mentioned in the book such as the use of political coercion against the Stepchildren and the persecutions expressed against those who believed in believer’s baptism.
The book is organized into various chapters, each titled after a various derogatory name given by the Reformers to the Radicals. These names drew important aspect of the disagreement between the Reformers and their stepchildren. All the names which are the chapter titles are in the original language which the name originated from.
One of the book’s strength is that very few books concerning the Radical Reformation have receive as much attention as this one did among those who identify themselves with Reformed Theology.It is also stimulating for those who are sympathetic towards the Reformers to consider who these Radicals were that the Reformers dealt with.A further strength of the book is that it provided much documentation.As with any controversial thesis, having many references from primary sources in order to substantiate one’s conclusion is always a plus.Reading the explanatory footnotes and checking the endnotes in the back of the book to know the source of the quotation was actually a delight for me.
The book repeatedly would cite the Reformers’ own words or the words of their followers. These extensive quotes provide much force behind the author’s argument that the Reformers shifted from the early days of the Reformation. For instance, I was surprised to read on page 198 from the early Zwingli who believed that infant baptism was wrong and “ought not to be done.” The author then documents on page 199 of Zwingli compromising during another occasion until finally he renounced his earlier position and fully embraced infants.
One of the weaker chapters in the book was the first chapter titled “Donatisten”. It is a surprise to me that the author viewed the original Donatists of the fourth century in a favorable light. This is new to me, as my limited experience with various sources for church history has portrayed the Donatist as heretical. This interpretation of the Donatists as simply reacting against Constantine’s merger of Church and state was heavily dependent upon secondary sources rather than primary sources. In addition, the author avoided interaction with the Donatist’s theology to see whether they were heretics and he writes on the footnote on page 34 that there were dissenting heretical Donatist groups and that other Donatists disowned the heretical Donatists. It was rather unsatisfactory to see the author’s assertion was just left at that with no further documentation provided. For the caliber of the author’s scholarship throughout the book, this seems inexcusable, especially since the author was trying to present to them as being biblical.
The book could have also been strengthened if the author was able to expound more on the Biblical text that he cited against the Reformers.
Though a small peripheral issue, I also believed that other weaknesses in the book arises when the book goes on to discuss things beyond the treatment of the Reformers and their Stepchildren.On pages 274 and 275, as the last chapter is about to close, the author discusses about the problem of Christians’ vocation as a policeman or an agent of the State.The author simply concludes that it is better to leave such an assignment to unregenerate men.My own biases is clearly shown here, having been a former Marine for six years and a veteran of the first year in Iraq in 2003, but it appear that the author’s counsel that it is better for Christians to stay away from being servants of the state is contrary to the spirit of Luke 3:14, where John the Baptist didn’t tell a group of soldiers to depart from the military, but rather commands them to be upright, which assumes that it was possible.
These weaknesses are minor when one takes into consideration what one can learn here. It definitely made me reconsider my thoughts towards the Reformers. This book is not for the faint-hearted fans of the Reformers! If anything, it reinforces the Reformers’ teaching on sin, that no one is righteous and perfect. The book proves that the Reformers were no exception to the rule. Many times I cringed reading about the various torture and coercion upon the Radicals by the Magisterial Reformers. The accounts of the Stepchildren’s martyrdom was not easy to read, when one realizes that what was taking place was Christians murdering other Christians. The book is a tour de force memorial to the fact that the Reformation was just only beginning of the Reformation, and not the final end product! Having have much of my understanding of the Reformation impact upon theology, culture, and society from sources such as Timothy George, Francis Schaeffer, John Robbins and even Max Weber, that paint the Reformers impact in a positive light, The Reformers and their Stepchildren is a much needed balance to the historical account of the Reformation, the Reformers, and the source of religious freedom. I plan to study more on this in the future.
Cool, posted the day before its due. Copy-n-paste time! Thanks for making my workload lighter! 🙂
I am reading this book right now!
Hey there! Another worthwhile review of that book is found (contained within) here, http://www.ritchies.net/p4wk4.htm
I very much enjoyed yours as well. : )
thanks brother!
Back in the late 80’s, as a student at Reformed Bible College, I would visit Leonard Verduin. He would permit me to spend hours with him, listening as he would unfold the complexities of the reformation and the implications related to the radical reformation. Those were sweet days!
What a privilege that must have been Chris!
I appreciate your review. I have one thought to deal with. You stated, “The accounts of the Stepchildren’s martyrdom was not easy to read, when one realizes that what was taking place was Christians murdering other Christians.”
I agree that “murder” is the proper term. I commend you for stating it that way.
Now I ask that all who read this go read 1 John a few times, read all the passages in the Bible that have the word “murder” or “murderer,” and read Ezekiel 18.
God be with you.
Thanks for your input Vern. It’s a rather tragic side of history wasn’t it?
Hi,
Great review. I reworked some of your material for a bookstore catalog. I hope you don’t mind.
Shane.
Sure thing! Not a problem Shane!
Fantastic Book. Balanced review. You succeeded in keeping the bar of study extremely high.
This book actually caused this 5 point calvinist to drop the self title “reformed” and stick with “calvinist” which is my emphasis on soteriology and Christology. It also help me conclude that Constantinianism is at the root of a bulk of disagreement within Calvinistic churches.
Thanks !
Ron
Thank you for your comment Ron.
It is true, I think those of the Confessional Reformed Churches can be edified by reading this book.
please insert the word “caused” after the word “actually” in my post above.
Help= helped also.
sorry.
Ron
[…] tradition (such as David Black and others). There was an excellent book on the issue entitled "The Reformers and their Step-Children" (as seen here and here ). If those in the Reformation were capable of great errror when it came to […]
Having read the book “History of the Donatists” by David Benedict and Henry Clinton Graves, I was somewhat surprised that the reviewer felt they were an unfavorable “heretical sect”. For me the chapter on the Donatists in Verduin’s book is powerful! I would suggest the reading of “History of the Donatists” for those who would like to know more about them.
I’m going to have to check that book out sometime…and I see it’s from the same series. Thanks for letting me know.
It would be of great interest to myself to see more research into the relationship of “the stepchildren” and believers who followed the doctrines of Paul, e.g., the Cross, grace, faith, and the “mystery (Rom. 16:25.)
I think the relationship was a strained one historically
I am attempting to research more about the credibility of Verduin’s claims about the Donatists. I loved the book but hesitate to continue to recommend it when this aspect is suspect. If you have learned more since the writing of this review, I would love to hear about it.
[…] Christians that have done some evil things in the name of Christianity. I have been willing to own up that those who are Reformed historically isn’t perfect here in this area either. But I’m weary of those who hijack a post that focus on an evil done CURRENTLY to then talk […]
A deep book
Your review makes me think I would like the book to read this summer; I love books on theology, history and church/state relations!
Don’t forget there were Anabaptists that today’s Antifa is walking in their footsteps
You know how there’s bad Ana Baptist, the destructive kind? That’s like Antifa BLM today
Been lurking on your blog since you wrote your piece on Joel McDurmon and his historical error on Gramsci. That led to this book review which is up my alley.
I didn’t expect how Reformed Christians learning about how we are dependent upon Ana baptist view of church and state