Happy Birthday, John Calvin!
July 10 is an important day. It is the birthday of John Calvin. Calvin, one of the great Reformers, was best known for his Biblical and philosophical analysis of Christianity that has become known as “Calvinism”. The reformers who preceded him were mostly known for their zeal. Calvin provided a distinct theology. John Calvin was born in 1509, and this year (2009) is the 500th Anniversary of the man’s birth.
One of the best known of Calvin’s sermons is entitled “What It Is to Know God”. Sermons were written out word for word in his time, so it still exists. Calvin begins, “By the knowledge of God, I understand that by which we not only conceive that there is some God, but also apprehend what it is for our interest, and conducive to His glory, what, in short, it is benefiting to know concerning Him.” He proceeds to share how we come to conceive that there is God, how we begin to understand God, and what it means to glorify Him.
Now, keep in mind, this was one sermon. Read over Calvin’s proposition again.
The fact is, this one sermon contains almost the whole of the purpose of Christian ministry.
I was thinking about this recently, while rereading Calvin’s sermon. So much of what is presented in churches today is either unbiblical (which means it is not Christian, incidentally) or it is baby food. No wonder so many American Christians are spiritual babies. Hebrews 5:12 – “You ought by now to be teachers, but you have need that one teach you again the first principles of the word of God; and are become such as have need of milk, rather than strong meat.”
Here is what I have concluded – and you may disagree if you like. John Calvin (and others from time to time) became a mature and great Christian because he had a great understanding of a great God. He disciplined himself to be aware of God’s presence at all times and in all circumstances of life. His life is an example for us all.
Human that we all are, apart from such self-discipline we bounce to extremes. It is easy to forget God in good times. And when times are difficult, we think God has abandoned us.
One thing John Calvin did not do was forget God. Nor did he ever consider that God had abandoned him. He reaped the benefits (called “blessings”) of this God – awareness, too. His heart was kept grateful, his ego was kept humble; his life was kept faithful, his mind was kept sharp. The greatest benefit was that Calvin’s influence has and will live through the ages.
Happy Birthday, John Calvin!