Scott Kamps
Nancy Pelosi infamously said of the 2,000-plus page healthcare bill that became Obamacare, “But we have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it...”
Reagan famously said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
George H.W. Bush notoriously said, “Read my lips: no new taxes.”
But the presidential quote I remember most came from Bill Clinton – and it’s not the quote about what he did not do with that woman.
I remember an interview around 2009 when Clinton was asked if he would ever consider being a house husband, he responded, “No. I have to go to work. I’m too much of a Calvinist. If I don’t work every day, I get nervous.”
Bill Clinton is too much of a Calvinist? Why would he say such a thing?
Calvinism is a hotly-debated topic, usually centering around predestination or one of the “five points” – known as TULIP.
While Calvinism certainly includes teachings on soteriology (i.e., Christian teachings about salvation) commonly referred to with the acronym TULIP, Calvinism is really a system of thinking that is much broader than only theology.
Calvinism is a comprehensive system of thought, including within its scope politics, society, science, art and theology. It presents a view of life and the universe as a whole: a world-view.
The fundamental principle that holds Calvinism together is a high view of God in all things.
This high view of God led Calvin and other Reformers to see all work (not just clergy’s work) as a calling from God. This led Protestants to do their work as unto the Lord, which meant they worked hard – even when no one was looking!
This Protestant (or Calvinist) work ethic emphasizes diligence, discipline and frugality, which flow naturally out of a person’s adherence to the values espoused by the Protestant faith, particularly Calvinism.
This is what Clinton was probably thinking of when he claimed to be a Calvinist.
Scott Kamps writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, thestableguy@frontier.com.