New Year's Resolutions are a time for me to decided my reading for the next year. I have been trying to decide between reading Calvin's Institutes or Barth Dogmatics. I have perused Barth's first two volumes as I have followed Daniel Kirk's blog. But when it came down to it, I could not decide.
So it's both! It should be a good exercise as I understand what it means to be Presbyterian. Also, Barth had a tremendous respect for Calvin, here is what Barth said about Calvin in a letter. Also, by starting Barth on the Doctrine of God, I can compare with Calvin as he starts the Institutes with the Doctrine of God.
John Calvin is a cataract, a primeval forest, a demonic power, something directly down from Himalaya, absolutely Chinese, strange, mythological; I lack completely the means, the suction cups, even to assimilate this phenomenon, not to speak of presenting it adequately. What I receive is only a thin little stream and what I can then give out again is only a yet thinner extract of this little stream. I could gladly and profitably set myself down and spend all the rest of my life with just Calvin.
I pray that this year of reading along with my Bible study and reading would shape and form me into a man who loves Christ with my whole life blessing my family, church, and community. So, I will have to cut the number of novels or sports books that I would like to read, but it will be worth it.
What will you be reading this year?
