From Bavinck to á Brakel: On the Road

Reading Herman Bavinck is good for the mind and good for the heart. No doubt. Yet Bavinck’s applications and intents differ from what are usually described as devotional or popular works of theology i.e. less technical. Depending on the attitude, that can be taken to mean the content has been ‘dumbed down’ in some cases or ‘more readable’ in others. Bavinck’s ‘Our Reasonable Faith’ is the cream of his massive dogmatics, and is still counts for a good systematic theology, as is Berkhof’s volume and his smaller ‘summary of doctrine’ as well. How shall we then read?

My friends over at Reformation Heritage Books have encouraged me to start reading Wilhelmus á Brakel (1633-1711) for devotional reading along side Scripture, and Bavinck’s dogmatics. They are doing more than trying to make me Dutch (although Muntendrop might just do it). Á Brakel’s multi-volume The Christian’s Reasonable Service (1999) is another fine translation and reprint of a Dutch Reformed classic that’s been hidden away since the early 18th century. Reformation Heritage Books and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary put their best efforts forward in a program and materials that emphasize scholarship and preaching. The sum of all goes to the practical (spiritual) application for the church: strong faith, strong spiritual life. And the results go from strength to strength.Á Brakel’s Service reads like a dogmatic, but is very pastoral in tone and emphasis, with the goal of promoting the spiritual life of the church in close communion with God. The question is; how can such an older work be played out in the post-everything world of ours?

The answer is: follow á Brakel. There is something there. Arie de Reuver’s book Sweet Communion, Trajectories of Spirituality from the Middle Ages through the Futher Reformation (Baker: 2007) has a great chapter on á Brakel’s spirituality. When á Brakel would walk to school for the week, his father Theodorus would lead him to the edge of the road and pray for his journey until he was out of sight. Wilhelmus himself would often pray the whole day’s walk. This caught my attention as especially familiar and one in which I personally identify with. What’s more, á Brakel’s spirituality and emphasis on piety is as perfect companion to Bavinck as Muntendrop is to Hagelslag .

Our bi-weekly series officially kicks off friday, June 5, and we may even include á Brakel giveaway somewhere in the course of the series.