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Cultivating Biblical Godliness
What Is Experiential Calvinism?
“There is no such thing as ‘dead Calvinism,’” writes author Ian Hamilton. Calvinism, simply put, is biblical Christianity. No mere human devised theological system, Calvinism is rooted in and shaped by God’s revelation in Holy Scripture. Hamilton asserts that Calvinism is “natively experiential.” In What Is Experiential Calvinism?, the author shows us that Calvinism is far richer and more profound than five points and helps us see that the lives and ministries of those who are true Calvinists pulse with living, Spirit-inspired, Christ-glorifying, God-centered truth.
Cultivating Biblical Godliness Series
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “The world today is looking for, and desperately needs, true Christians. I am never tired of saying that what the Church needs to do is not to organize evangelistic campaigns and attract outside people, but to begin herself to live the Christian life. If she did that, men and women would be crowding into our buildings. They would say, ‘What is the secret of this?’”
Many people who are new to the church need instruction in the most basic aspects of godly living. Even where churches are engaged heavily in discipleship, visitors and members often have gaps in their understanding and practice. One of the greatest needs of our time is for the Spirit of God to cultivate biblical godliness in us in order to put the glory of Christ on display through us, all to the glory of God the Father.
For these reasons, Joel Beeke and Ryan McGraw are coediting a series of booklets titled Cultivating Biblical Godliness. These booklets treat matters that are vital to Christian experience, and each contribution aims to address a wide variety of people and circumstances at a fundamental and introductory level. This includes teaching people what to believe in order to practice personal holiness as well as specific directions on how to cultivate biblical godliness in relation to issues that are common to God’s people.
The distinctive feature of this series is its experiential tone. While some booklet series aim to enlighten the mind, these booklets aim to warm the affections as well. The goal is to promote communion with the triune God and to transform the entire person in thought, speech, and behavior. To this end, we intend to include a wide range of authors whom the Spirit has blessed to skillfully stir up the church to personal holiness and affection to Christ through their preaching and writing ministries.
We need a Christianity that puts the transformative power of God in the gospel on display through developing a communion with God that is visible to the world. Our prayer is that through this series, the Lord would revive His church by producing Christians who are full of love for Christ, who deny themselves in order to follow Him at great personal cost, and who know the joys of walking with the triune God. This is the kind of Christianity that we need. This is the kind of Christianity that the triune God has used to turn the world upside down. May He be pleased to do so again.
Author
Ian Hamilton is minister to Cambridge Presbyterian Church in Cambridge England and author of The Erosion of Calvinist Orthodoxy.
Endorsement
“It is not every Christian book (or booklet in this case) that you read and find that nearly every line and thought are gems that urge you to stop reading and ponder and worship the living God of grace! But this is such a book! In a short compass, Ian Hamilton has wonderfully captured the experiential heart of true Calvinism: ‘deeply affectional, God-centered, cross-magnifying.
Cultivating Biblical Godliness Series
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “The world today is looking for, and desperately needs, true Christians. I am never tired of saying that what the Church needs to do is not to organize evangelistic campaigns and attract outside people, but to begin herself to live the Christian life. If she did that, men and women would be crowding into our buildings. They would say, ‘What is the secret of this?’”
Many people who are new to the church need instruction in the most basic aspects of godly living. Even where churches are engaged heavily in discipleship, visitors and members often have gaps in their understanding and practice. One of the greatest needs of our time is for the Spirit of God to cultivate biblical godliness in us in order to put the glory of Christ on display through us, all to the glory of God the Father.
For these reasons, Joel Beeke and Ryan McGraw are coediting a series of booklets titled Cultivating Biblical Godliness. These booklets treat matters that are vital to Christian experience, and each contribution aims to address a wide variety of people and circumstances at a fundamental and introductory level. This includes teaching people what to believe in order to practice personal holiness as well as specific directions on how to cultivate biblical godliness in relation to issues that are common to God’s people.
The distinctive feature of this series is its experiential tone. While some booklet series aim to enlighten the mind, these booklets aim to warm the affections as well. The goal is to promote communion with the triune God and to transform the entire person in thought, speech, and behavior. To this end, we intend to include a wide range of authors whom the Spirit has blessed to skillfully stir up the church to personal holiness and affection to Christ through their preaching and writing ministries.
We need a Christianity that puts the transformative power of God in the gospel on display through developing a communion with God that is visible to the world. Our prayer is that through this series, the Lord would revive His church by producing Christians who are full of love for Christ, who deny themselves in order to follow Him at great personal cost, and who know the joys of walking with the triune God. This is the kind of Christianity that we need. This is the kind of Christianity that the triune God has used to turn the world upside down. May He be pleased to do so again.
Author
Ian Hamilton is minister to Cambridge Presbyterian Church in Cambridge England and author of The Erosion of Calvinist Orthodoxy.
Endorsement
“It is not every Christian book (or booklet in this case) that you read and find that nearly every line and thought are gems that urge you to stop reading and ponder and worship the living God of grace! But this is such a book! In a short compass, Ian Hamilton has wonderfully captured the experiential heart of true Calvinism: ‘deeply affectional, God-centered, cross-magnifying.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
17 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Ian Hamilton
69 books20 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Robert Ian Hamilton was a British literary critic, reviewer, biographer, poet, magazine editor and publisher.
Robert Ian Hamilton was a British literary critic, reviewer, biographer, poet, magazine editor and publisher.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 16, 2015
Each year, I put together a “top ten list,” books that have personally encouraged me; books that I would commend to others. It is unusual to include a booklet in such a list but after reading Iain Hamilton’s, What is Experiential Calvinism this book will certainly make the top ten list in 2015.
Calvinism is quite possibly one of the most misrepresented system thoughts – both in the church and in the marketplace of ideas. Christians and non-Christians alike slice and dice this theological system into a cruel concoction which has nothing to do with Calvinism. This twisting and maniacal maneuvering made famous by the likes of critics such as David Hunt does nothing to serve people. Rather, it confuses the unsuspecting and irritates those who no better.
But Hamilton makes this much clear. While Calvinism as such is a theological system, it is much more than a system. It is at the very warp and woof of biblical theology. “Experiential Calvinism” writes Hamilton, has one preeminent concern: to glorify God.”
A substantial part of the book is committed to summarizing the main components of experiential Calvinism. The author presents eight in particular. Instead of summarizing each point, readers are encouraged to dig into Hamilton’s work so as to discover the deeper realities behind each component. The eight points are summarized as follows:
The experiential Calvinist honors God’s unconditional sovereignty. The author cites B.B. Warfield, who argues, “Calvinists are humble souls, who, in the quiet of retired lives, have caught a vision of God in His glory and are cherishing in their hearts that vital flame of complete dependence on Him which is the very essence of Calvinism.”
The experiential Calvinist cherishes God’s grace.
The experiential Calvinist has a deep sense of the sinfulness of sin.
The experiential Calvinist lives before God’s face.
The experiential Calvinist shapes all of life by the revelation of God’s unimpeachable holiness.
The experiential Calvinist is content and satisfied with scriptural worship.
The experiential Calvinist pursues godly catholicity.
The experiential Calvinist cultivates communion with God.
I stand with a handful of other Reformed minded people who take exception to the so-called Regulative Principle which is described in the sixth component. Hamilton obviously writes with the best of intentions but get boxed in by a mindset which canonized the past and neglects elements of contemporary worship. Certainly, there is much drivel in the contemporary music scene. But much good is being accomplished as well. To ignore some of the songs being written by artists such as Stewart Townend, Matt Redman, and Chris Tomlin is a mistake. Perhaps 1 Corinthians 10:31 should guide this discussion about worship.
This of course, is a minor criticism in light of the whole. Indeed, this concern is a mere “bump in the road” and should not distract readers from devouring the rest of the book. Iain Hamilton has served the church well by boiling down the essence of Calvinism which will lead people in the right direction for all the right reasons.
What is Experiential Calvinism is a must-read. It is both corrective and Christ-centered and offers the right blend of admonition and encouragement. My hope is that thousands and thousands of people will literally consume this little book and benefit immensely from the godly wisdom here.
www.baldreformer.wordpress.com
Calvinism is quite possibly one of the most misrepresented system thoughts – both in the church and in the marketplace of ideas. Christians and non-Christians alike slice and dice this theological system into a cruel concoction which has nothing to do with Calvinism. This twisting and maniacal maneuvering made famous by the likes of critics such as David Hunt does nothing to serve people. Rather, it confuses the unsuspecting and irritates those who no better.
But Hamilton makes this much clear. While Calvinism as such is a theological system, it is much more than a system. It is at the very warp and woof of biblical theology. “Experiential Calvinism” writes Hamilton, has one preeminent concern: to glorify God.”
A substantial part of the book is committed to summarizing the main components of experiential Calvinism. The author presents eight in particular. Instead of summarizing each point, readers are encouraged to dig into Hamilton’s work so as to discover the deeper realities behind each component. The eight points are summarized as follows:
The experiential Calvinist honors God’s unconditional sovereignty. The author cites B.B. Warfield, who argues, “Calvinists are humble souls, who, in the quiet of retired lives, have caught a vision of God in His glory and are cherishing in their hearts that vital flame of complete dependence on Him which is the very essence of Calvinism.”
The experiential Calvinist cherishes God’s grace.
The experiential Calvinist has a deep sense of the sinfulness of sin.
The experiential Calvinist lives before God’s face.
The experiential Calvinist shapes all of life by the revelation of God’s unimpeachable holiness.
The experiential Calvinist is content and satisfied with scriptural worship.
The experiential Calvinist pursues godly catholicity.
The experiential Calvinist cultivates communion with God.
I stand with a handful of other Reformed minded people who take exception to the so-called Regulative Principle which is described in the sixth component. Hamilton obviously writes with the best of intentions but get boxed in by a mindset which canonized the past and neglects elements of contemporary worship. Certainly, there is much drivel in the contemporary music scene. But much good is being accomplished as well. To ignore some of the songs being written by artists such as Stewart Townend, Matt Redman, and Chris Tomlin is a mistake. Perhaps 1 Corinthians 10:31 should guide this discussion about worship.
This of course, is a minor criticism in light of the whole. Indeed, this concern is a mere “bump in the road” and should not distract readers from devouring the rest of the book. Iain Hamilton has served the church well by boiling down the essence of Calvinism which will lead people in the right direction for all the right reasons.
What is Experiential Calvinism is a must-read. It is both corrective and Christ-centered and offers the right blend of admonition and encouragement. My hope is that thousands and thousands of people will literally consume this little book and benefit immensely from the godly wisdom here.
www.baldreformer.wordpress.com
December 11, 2023
ple associate Calvinists with people who are cold, apathetic and unloving. That’s a terrible image to associate with any Christian. As someone who do hold to the doctrine of grace I grieve when people think of Calvinists in this way. Unfortunately over the years I have seen Calvinists who are this way: combative, unloving, cold and not warm at all. I do believe the doctrines of sovereign grace is true and is biblical. For my own personal spiritual journey I felt it was the doctrine commonly called Calvinism that actually changed me from someone cold, apathetic and unloving to someone whose heart breaks for people. It is in this vein that I appreciate Ian Hamilton’s booklet What is Experiential Calvinism?
After an introduction Ian Hamilton discusses the formative principle of Experiential Calvinism, then the foundational experience of Experiential Calvinism followed by a section on the fundamental features of Experiential Calvinism. The meat of this booklet was with the third section where the author highlighted eight marks of Experiential Calvinism.
I love that this was spiritually enriching and God-centered. I love how Hamilton quoted other godly Christians we love and respect from the past such as Spurgeon and Warfield and yet he didn’t do this in a way that sounds like a dry historical lecture. The quotes warms our hearts to God. More importantly I love how this is Gospel driven in the author’s presentation to love God more, from God being the well spring of Grace to knowing our sinfulness. This was a beautiful booklet.
There are some Calvinists who are mean; I think this is for them. There are critics of Calvinism who think Calvinists are mean; this is something they should also read. Seasoned and mature believers can also benefit from this as well. A Christianity lived out bearing the fruit of the Spirit pleases God; this helped me with that. I recommend it!
After an introduction Ian Hamilton discusses the formative principle of Experiential Calvinism, then the foundational experience of Experiential Calvinism followed by a section on the fundamental features of Experiential Calvinism. The meat of this booklet was with the third section where the author highlighted eight marks of Experiential Calvinism.
I love that this was spiritually enriching and God-centered. I love how Hamilton quoted other godly Christians we love and respect from the past such as Spurgeon and Warfield and yet he didn’t do this in a way that sounds like a dry historical lecture. The quotes warms our hearts to God. More importantly I love how this is Gospel driven in the author’s presentation to love God more, from God being the well spring of Grace to knowing our sinfulness. This was a beautiful booklet.
There are some Calvinists who are mean; I think this is for them. There are critics of Calvinism who think Calvinists are mean; this is something they should also read. Seasoned and mature believers can also benefit from this as well. A Christianity lived out bearing the fruit of the Spirit pleases God; this helped me with that. I recommend it!
November 9, 2018
This is a good primer in Calvinism, but its tilted towards those coming out of broad Evangelical backgrounds. Hamilton is a bit too devoted to the Puritans for my taste, although he does a great job of challenging the notion of Calvinism as merely a system of doctrine. Could probably dwell more on the sacraments, but again this seems more a Puritan than Presbyterian Calvinism that Hamilton is espousing.
April 3, 2022
“Amid the struggles with the world, flesh, and devil and within a Christian evangelical culture that is drowning itself in shallowness and trivia, the experiential Calvinist draws the sweetest comfort and encouragement from knowing that the sovereign Lord is fulfilling perfectly, though mysteriously, His perfect, holy, and eternal purposes. God’s sovereignty is not merely a doctrine to confess. It is a truth to rejoice in and take comfort from.” (page 21)
September 13, 2020
The writer is interesting, and the subject is a good one, but Al Martin did this same booklet before and so this one really didn't measure up to my personal expectations. I also felt that, while almost all he said was true, the basic theme can be presented in a way that is more thoroughly masculine and robust, and joy has a more prominent place. But still edifying.
Liked it.
Liked it.
November 12, 2023
This little booklet explores the blessings of the experience in our souls that Christianity carries through the vessel of Calvinism.
Hamilton shows how In the Spiritual reformation of our souls Calvinism’s central focus is not TULIP, rather the Calvinist eye is upon glorifying a sovereign and glorious God.
Hamilton shows how In the Spiritual reformation of our souls Calvinism’s central focus is not TULIP, rather the Calvinist eye is upon glorifying a sovereign and glorious God.
September 10, 2020
This book boils down to: How should the Christian live?
It is a short and easy read.
It is a short and easy read.
January 14, 2023
It emphasizes the individual's personal experience of God's grace and the transformative power of that grace in one's life.
April 26, 2024
good news
Short sweet and to the point. Encouraging. Will read it again soon. Highly recommended to anyone who believes the bible
Short sweet and to the point. Encouraging. Will read it again soon. Highly recommended to anyone who believes the bible
February 1, 2017
Excellent little book. Much to think about and meditate upon. Will be re-reading this a few more times.
Here is one of so many excellent passages in this book:
"Third, the experiential Calvinist had a deep sense of the sinfulness of sin. It is the greatest tragedy of our age that the supreme focus in much of the Christian church today is man, not God! Man and his needs, not God and his glory, is the organizing principle and central concern of much that passes for evangelical Christianity. Perhaps the greatest difference between us and our Reformation and Puritan forefathers is that they had high views of the glory of God and therefore deep views of the sinfulness of sin. We, in contrast, have shallow, user-friendly views of God, and therefore we have shallow, user-friendly views of sin and wrath! Where do people hear today that 'the greatest evil of sin,' as Goodwin wrote, 'lies in the injury by it done unto the honour and sovereign glory, and to the person of God himself, which is the thing that makes sin so heinous.'
"We live in a world where sin has been reduced to mean little more than a personal or social inconvenience. Sin disrupts relationships, destroys families, and disfigures society--truly, it does! But Goodwin recognized that the fundamental nature of sin is its hatred of and opposition to God."
[]
Here is one of so many excellent passages in this book:
"Third, the experiential Calvinist had a deep sense of the sinfulness of sin. It is the greatest tragedy of our age that the supreme focus in much of the Christian church today is man, not God! Man and his needs, not God and his glory, is the organizing principle and central concern of much that passes for evangelical Christianity. Perhaps the greatest difference between us and our Reformation and Puritan forefathers is that they had high views of the glory of God and therefore deep views of the sinfulness of sin. We, in contrast, have shallow, user-friendly views of God, and therefore we have shallow, user-friendly views of sin and wrath! Where do people hear today that 'the greatest evil of sin,' as Goodwin wrote, 'lies in the injury by it done unto the honour and sovereign glory, and to the person of God himself, which is the thing that makes sin so heinous.'
"We live in a world where sin has been reduced to mean little more than a personal or social inconvenience. Sin disrupts relationships, destroys families, and disfigures society--truly, it does! But Goodwin recognized that the fundamental nature of sin is its hatred of and opposition to God."
[]
December 14, 2016
A good little booklet that is a worthwhile read. Hamilton emphasizes how Calvinism is too often simply viewed as the five points, TULIP. Does it include those? Yes. But it is so much more and with the number of pages he is allotted he does a great job of explaining what is meant by experiential Calvinism, for it is ultimately biblical.
August 8, 2016
A favourite line from this little book...
"Can we dare call ourselves Calvinists if prayer is not one of the pulse beats of our congregational and personal life? Surely it is prayer that most manifests our conviction that God the Holy Spirit is the great convincer, convicter, and applier of Christ's saving merits to sinners."
"Can we dare call ourselves Calvinists if prayer is not one of the pulse beats of our congregational and personal life? Surely it is prayer that most manifests our conviction that God the Holy Spirit is the great convincer, convicter, and applier of Christ's saving merits to sinners."
August 6, 2015
Worth noting that the listed author on Goodreads is incorrect. It is authored by a different Ian Hamilton.
November 3, 2015
There is no such thing as a boastful calvinist. The doctrines of grace humble and compel.
August 10, 2016
An excellent booklet; every line of it is pure gold.
August 19, 2016
Stirring. A compelling corrective to what the author calls "academic Calvinism".
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews