1997 Issue 2 - John Calvin: Theologian of the Burning Heart - Counsel of Chalcedon

8/12/2019 1997 Issue 2 - John Calvin: Theologian of the Burning Heart - Counsel of Chalcedon

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A message to correct . his Church, who brought of a Reformation movementmisconceptions her back to the faith once for that would effect manyconcerning the ministry . all delivered to the.saints, generations yet unborn andand life of John Calvin, and to the Scriptures which refonn a of society by theand to refute the gave her life. Word of Ciod. I consider itpernicious yet prevalent The Reformation was not only my privilege, butnotion that the doctrinal

filled with men and womenmy sworn duty as a member

emphasis of the Protestant of great piety, passion, and of the Church ofJesus ChristReformation inevitably learning. Luther will and son of the Protestanttends toward ecclesiastical forever inspireus with his Refonnation, to rememberdisunity, pastoral neglect, courage, love for life, and and defend the doctrine andand pride. commitment to the ministry of the most

For those acquaintedwith foundational doctrine of imminent of Refonnedthe great men and justification through faith theologians and pastors,movements of the John Calvin.16th centUly My theme isProtestant very specific. Reformation, the would like to .names of Luther, considerJohnCilvin, Calvin as theMelanchthon, Theologian of theCranmer, Beza, and Burning Heart. '

Bucer, the doctrines of sola alone. For her personal This title not only captures .gratia, sola fide, and sola sacrifice, commitment to the the great zeal with whichscriptura producecontinual Reformation doctrines, and the Holy Spirit filled the

thanksgiving to Ciod for love for Ciod s people, heart of this man to advancerescuing his Church from Marguerite, Queen of the cause of Christthe abyss of spiritual Navarre, will be throughoutaU Christendom,darkness in which she was remembered as a nursing but it serves to refute certatnthen engulfed. I is highly mother in Christ's Church, erroneous ideas that persistappropriate that we should who in its darkest days, concerning his doctrine andcommemoratethat blessed preserved the faithful ministry. For in spite ofdeliverance. In so .doing, Christians in France from abundant evidence to thewe praise and bless the the tyrannous ann of Rome. contra ),; detractors from .

name of the most HighYet it was in John Calvin Calvin and the Protestant

Ciod, who did not allow the that commitmentto and Reformationmaintain thattruths of is Word to remain knowledgeof Scripture, their doctrinal emphasis wascorrupted forever by men of mental precision, and cold, unloving, and divisive.depraved minds,but who in pastoral fervency were Their criticisms takehis own time, raised up a united by Ciod's providence various forms. It is oftennew generation of leaders in to make him the spokesman maintained thatJohn Calvin

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(Vatican /I), Protestants and to the Reformation innd other Reformation. - ,leaders were academic should not hold the ,grudges ,general, biblical doctrineminds who produced of their religious fathers. , was never considered antheological treatises, but They should seek a happy end.in itself. , In thewho 'rVere lacking in union with the papacy on dedicatory address of hispersonal warmth and the basis of common Institutes, Calvin revealed

pastoral love for Ciod's religious truths which both ' the practical result of pure .people. Others encourage , churches endorse. doctrine as well as his 'us to l ~ tgo of our particular A closer examinatiori of purpose in writing: to lay a 'Reformation. creeds and the doctrine and life of John foundation for true 'confessions. These; after all, Calvin will uncover the godliness. He ,Wrote:"are divisive. What we must groundlessness of these "My purpose (inwrltirig)do today is emphasize what criticisms as well as the was solely to transmitwe have in common with , ,danger of forsaking the certain rudiments ,by Whichall Christian denominations. doctrinal confessions of the those who are touched withThere is no more common Reformation in favor ora any zeal for religion mightcriticism of John Calvin, the broad-based ecumenism. be shaped to true godliness.Protestant Reformation, and ' Most importantly, Calvin's And I undertook this laborour Reformed Presbyterian ',life and ministry reveals the , especially for our French ' :churches than that their ' piety, love, and pastoral counbymen, very many ofdoctrinal narrowness


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redemptive work, and holyWord.

The first sections of hismagnum opus breathe thespirit of devotion to (jodand practical piety which

characterize the ProtestantRefonnation.Now, the knowledge of

(jod, as I understand it, isthat by which we not onlyconceive that there is a (jodbut also grasp what befits usand is proper to his glory, infine, what is to our .

advantage to know of

him willing service. Nay,unless they establish theircomplete happiness in him,they will never givethemselves truly andSincerely to him. {I:.2:1}

What we know about(jod from his Word, i.e.,biblical doctrine, is designedto lead us to worship (jodmore purely and love himmore deeply. Theology,therefore, or the knowledgeof (jod, is not an academicstudy for ivory-tower

What is (jodl Men whopose this question are merelytoying with idlespeculations. It is moreimportant for us to know ofwhat sort he is and what is

consistent with his nature.What good is it to professwith Epicurus some sort of(jod who has cast aside thecare of the world only toamuse himself in idlenesslWhat help is it, in short, toknow a (jod with whomwe have nothing to dol

him. Indeed, we shallnot say that, properlyspeaking, (jod isknown where there isno true religion orpiety ... It will notsuffice simply to hold

We must learn that every goodthing we have received flows

from his hand, and that his gloryand grace is the highest good

which we are blessed to enjoy.

Rather, our knowledgeshould serve first toteach us fear andreverence, with it asour guide and teacher,we should learn toseek every good fromhim, and, having

that there is One whom allought to honor and adore,unless we are also persuadedthat he is the foundation ofevery good, and that wemust seek nothing elsewherethan in him .... 1 call pietythat reverence joined withlove of (jod which theknowledge of his benefitsinduces. For until men

recognize that they oweeverything to (jod, that theyare nourished by his fatherlycare, that he is the Author oftheir every good, that theyshould seek nothing beyondhim - they will never yield

intellectuals. It is the pursuitof every true Christian. Forall of us must know who(jod is, be awed by hissplendid glory andattributes, and humbled byhis mercies. We must learnthat every good thing wehave received flows from hishand, and that his glory andgrace is the highest good

which we are blessed toenjoy. Refonned theologytherefore, is not divorcedfrom the concerns ofChristian living. It is thefoundation apart from which

. rue piety cannot exist.

received it, to credit itto his account. For how can

the thought of (jodpenetrate your mind withoutyour realizing that, since youare his handiwork, you havebeen made overand boundto his command by right ofcreation, that you owe yourlife to himl- that whateveryou undertake, whateveryou do, ought to be ascribedto himl If this be so, it nowassuredly follows that yourlife if wickedly corruptunless it be disposed to hisservice, seeing that his willought to be for us the law bywhich we live. {1: 2: 2}

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congregations thatfoundation upon which agodly life may be vigilantlyand vibrantly pursued. Forthese reasons and manyothers, we must hate the

notion of turning away fromourReformation heritageinfavor of pietisticapproachesto Christianity that arebased upon uncheckedemotionalism and individualsubjectivism. Nor can webe content with a broad orfund.amentalist Christianitythat emphasizes only a few

aspects of Clod's Wordwhile neglecting theweightier matters of the law.To choose either option overthe Reformation is to tumaway from Clod, SCripture,and Christ himself.

Moreover, t is oursolemn duty to defend thedoctrinal emphasis of Calvinand the Reformation. Notonly does Scripture require itof us, but the need of the

hour demands it. In a anera of ecclesiasticalandcultural collapse, faithfuladherence to and defense ofbiblical doctrine is the wayto rebuild the ancientfoundations of Christendom.These have gradually beeneroding over the past 00years because men have

gotten away fTom biblicaldoctrine, and have becomemore concerned with churchgrowth, individualisticholiness, and broad-basedecumenism than they havewith defending the faith

once for all delivered to thesaints. It is in this hour thatthe legacy of Calvin and theReformation become farmore than simply remindersof a glorious past. Theybecome

beacons in thedarkness for our generation,pointing out the pathwhereby we may onceagain enjoy the covenantblessings of Christ the King.upon our churches, families,and nation.

Calvin s motto was Prompte etsincere in opere Domini

( Promptly and sincerely in selVingthe Lord ) and was pictured by aflaming heart held in two handsextended to (jod, TO E

CONTINUED)

Spring ible Conference

Feb):1lary, 997 * HE COUNSEL of Chalcedon * 5

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1997 Issue 2 - John Calvin: Theologian of the Burning Heart - Counsel of Chalcedon