Comments on: In Recognition of John Calvin

By: Pascal Denault

Pascal Denault — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:14:27 +0000

Je ne connais pas de “John” Calvin, mais uniquement Jean Calvin…
Merci Bill pour cet autre bon article et pour tout votre bon travail.

Pascal Denault, Québec

By: Bill Muehlenberg

Bill Muehlenberg — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 03:15:20 +0000

Thanks Michael

As a non-Catholic I do not fully share all your concerns. And since I am neither a Calvinist nor a Lutheran, I do not feel the need to defend their positions. The purpose of the article was simply to highlight the impact and influence of Calvin – something which even an agnostic could do. I said not everyone would agree with him.

I try, as C.S. Lewis did, to promote “mere Christianity”. I hope people who come here can share in that vision. Sure, I have plenty of theological preferences and biases – but so does everyone. If people want to respectfully and politely debate some of these theological differences, that is one thing. But if people want to engage in sectarian warfare, they can – just not here. There are hundreds of websites devoted to bashing Protestants, just as there are hundreds of websites devoted to bashing Catholics. It is not my aim to go down that path here.

I know I am just being a glutton for punishment by having a website like this, trying as I do to unite folk as at least co-belligerents. But often things just degenerate into belligerency! Pray for wisdom as I seek to keep this site on an even keel, and bring glory to God.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

By: Michael Webb

Michael Webb — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:23:18 +0000

The doctrines of John Calvin and Luther are at odds with the first 1,500 years of the Church. Calvin and Luther’s rejections, loathings, revisions of certain sacraments and also their completely different worship services which reject the Catholic Mass ( and by extension the Mass of the Eastern Rite Catholics and even the Orthodox Eastern Christianity) is novelty adn rupture from historical church living tradition of real time Christian peoples.
Even when calvinist admire St Augustine or any of the other Church fathers of the earliest centuries, they need to admit that these same church fathers were Catholics, celebrated the Mass that is loathed and dreaded as a blasphemy by many Protestants etc etc as per the other Catholic doctrines. How do you Calvinists reconcile the huge differences between your beliefs and that of real people, real Catholic Christians for the first 1,500 years before Calvin was born. And of course the same Chrsitianity continued right through to today by the same Church?
Michael Webb

By: Wanda Wilkening

Wanda Wilkening — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:44:54 +0000

I agree with your appraisal, Bill! Another unique contribution Calvin made was to the French language. I think it was McNeill (or perhaps Schaff?) who pointed out how Calvin was responsible for making French such a literary language. His Institutes are still considered one of the best examples of classic French ever written.
Wanda Wilkening, USA

By: Barry Koh

Barry Koh — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:49:48 +0000

You are right, Bill. I was going to say that, it’s funny.
Barry Koh

By: Bill Muehlenberg

Bill Muehlenberg — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:23:28 +0000

Thanks Barry

But it might be even worse than you suggest. Perhaps most Christians today, if asked about Martin Luther, would confuse the 16th century Reformer with Martin Luther King, the 20th century American civil rights leader. I have heard it happen – more than once!

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

By: Barry Koh

Barry Koh — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:09:23 +0000

Bill,
If you ask Christians today if they have heard of Martin Luther they would likely say yes, but for John Calvin, most answers would be in the negative; and those who at least heard of the name would be those with some association with the Presbyterians and the Reformed churches. The political side of Calvin is not as familiar to many as his doctrinal aspect regarding salvation through the sovereign will of God in election or predestination. This is a doctrine that still divides the church and is quite unsettling in the minds of many. But the Reformed churches must be credited for their good and sound expository preaching from the Word.
Barry Koh

By: David Palmer

David Palmer — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:44:04 +0000

Well done, Bill.

Presbyterians have been doing and will continue doing various things to celebrate Calvin’s birth.

I did an article on Calvin and Worship for the Sydney Anglican website found here: www.sydneyanglicans.net/ministry/theology/calvin_and_rethinking_corporate_worship/

Love your website Benno, but where is that article?

Calvin’s fourfold teaching on the Christian LIfe (Institutes Book 3, Chapters vi-x) is well worth reading whilst the I agree with Bill the section on prayer including the Lord’s Prayer is magnificent.

David Palmer

By: Bill Muehlenberg

Bill Muehlenberg — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:52:14 +0000

Thanks Andrew

Some years ago a noted Australian atheist attacked me in a newspaper column when I wrote that it was Christianity, not atheism, that has produced most of the charitable organisations. She said there were all kinds of secular groups, such as the Red Cross! I replied: Just what do you think the cross stands for in the Red Cross? And I pointed out Dunant’s Calvinist faith. Needless to say, she did not reply!

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

By: Andrew Campbell

Andrew Campbell — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:45:22 +0000

This year is also the 150th anniversary of the Red Cross, perhaps the most influential non government agency working to alleviate suffering, especially through war. It is no co-indicence that Henri Dunant, it’s founder, came from John Calvin’s Geneva. Though in later life Henri Dunant was not so outspoken about his faith, there’s no doubt the Calvinism of his childhood formed his worldview; and gave him a compassion for the needy. Geneva today is what it is, a world centre for care of the needy, as a result of the ministry of John Calvin.
Andrew Campbell