Argument Quote by Oliver D. Crisp
“There are constraints on what counts as "Reformed." It's more than a name or a label. It's about belonging to a particular theological stream or tradition, which is shaped in important respects by particular thinkers and their work, particular arguments and ideas, a particular community (especially, particular church communities, denominations, and so on), particular liturgies or ways of worshipping and living out the Christian life, and particular confessions that inform the practices of these communities.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Reformed Theology: An Introduction by Oliver D. Crisp, 2020
The quote explains that being Reformed involves more than a label; it requires alignment with a specific theological tradition, its thinkers, arguments, community practices, worship styles, and confessional standards.
In simple terms: Being Reformed means belonging to a distinct theological tradition, not just a name.
Key Takeaway
Identify the core beliefs and practices that define your faith community.
Themes
theology
identity
tradition
community
confession
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
theoretical
educational
When to use this quote
- church membership
- seminary education
- personal study of confessions
- participation in worship
- denominational dialogue
Key Concepts
Reformation history
doctrinal distinctives
ecclesiology
liturgical practice
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern which traditions truly shape your faith?
- What role should community play in defining belief?
A Different Perspective
The definition can be exclusionary, limiting openness to diverse interpretations within Christianity.
![“The book [Saving Calvinism] itself is not recommending that we move the borders, so to speak. It is recommending that we look at what lies within the confessional bounds of Reformed thought.” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e7b/oliver-d-crisp-12863_book_the-book-saving-calvinism-itself-is-not_1612566.jpg)
![“The atonement chapter [from the book Saving Calvinism] shows how there are real riches in Reformed theology that most Christians today have no idea about.” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/13b/oliver-d-crisp-12863_atonement_the-atonement-chapter-from-the-book-savi_1441682.jpg)
![“[John Calvin's] treatment of the person and work of Christ, of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, of prayer and liturgy, of the sacraments, and of the way in which we have an in-built sense of the divine that we suppress to our great sorrow - these are all immense contributions to…” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4ef/oliver-d-crisp-12863_believer_john-calvin-s-treatment-of-the-person-an_62415.jpg)
![“What I am trying to argue here [Save Calvinism] and in other works before this one is that the Reformed tradition as I have characterized it is much broader and richer than many of us today imagine. It is not just about "Five Points," and it was never just about [John ] Calvin's thought.” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cb/oliver-d-crisp-12863_arguing_what-i-am-trying-to-argue-here-save-calv_134263.jpg)
![“[John Calvin] writes clearly, directly, without artifice, and gets straight to the practical heart of the matter.” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/872/oliver-d-crisp-12863_artifice_john-calvin-writes-clearly-directly-with_309224.jpg)
![“In the chapter on the nature of the atonement [in the book saving Calvinism] I argue that it is a mistake to think that penal substitution is the only option on the doctrine of atonement.” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5fe/oliver-d-crisp-12863_arguing_in-the-chapter-on-the-nature-of-the-aton_377313.jpg)
![“Reading [John] Calvin is a breath of fresh air.” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e14/oliver-d-crisp-12863_air_reading-john-calvin-is-a-breath-of-fresh_529860.jpg)
![“To my mind [ Jonathan Edwards] is an interesting figure because he is both a canonical Reformed thinker, and yet also someone that pushed the envelope in a number of key areas of theology.” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/45c/oliver-d-crisp-12863_areas_to-my-mind-jonathan-edwards-is-an-intere_588690.jpg)
![“[Jonathan] Edwards definitely shows up in the book [Saving Calvinism]. He appears as one of the interlocutors in the chapter on free will, the other being the Southern Presbyterian theologian John Girardeau.” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/37e/oliver-d-crisp-12863_book_jonathan-edwards-definitely-shows-up-in_710749.jpg)
