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Even at 500, Calvin Inspires Today's Reformers
Historian Charles Hambrick-Stowe appeals to Calvin for UCC reform.
The deluge of tribute articles reminds us that John Calvin's 500th birthday is right around the corner. This week, Christians around the world will observe July 10, 1509, as a turning point in world history. The man who ridiculed relics and requested no tribute in death might shudder at the notoriety. But he would certainly appreciate learning how his voluminous writings have circulated the globe and equipped generations of gospel ministers.
Calvin might also like to know that his life's work still beckons church leaders today to call for reform. Historian and pastor Charles Hambrick-Stowe appealed to his legacy to encourage reform-minded mainline ministers during the UCC General Synod on June 28. A scholar with impressive breadth of expertise, Hambrick-Stowe now shepherds the flock as senior pastor of First Congregational Church in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Speaking for the Faithful and Welcoming luncheon, Hambrick-Stowe reviewed the heart of Calvin's theological vision for ministry and recapped what Congregationalists have lost by neglecting this key component of their heritage.
Calvin taught that salvation comes by faith alone through Jesus Christ, not by anything we do, Hambrick-Stowe explained. He bowed to the authority of Scripture, not to the papal office. And he sought to reform both the civil sphere and church life under a God who exercises sovereignty over all things. Yet the mention of Calvin's name elicits shrugs and shame in the UCC today, Hambrick-Stowe lamented.
"For many decades now in our denomination, Calvin has been seen – at best – as an embarrassment, the crusty old uncle that you wish would stop coming to family gatherings," he explained. "If Presbyterians still wanted to engage in conversation with Calvin that was their business, we were too progressive-minded for that and it wasn't too hard to ignore him as we adapted ourselves to modern, more supposedly relevant ways of thinking."
Today, the UCC engages in a wide variety of social reform efforts, exercising belief through charitable behavior. This activist tendency stems from the Calvinist legacy, according to Hambrick-Stowe. Yet something is missing, he insisted.
"But – and this, it seems to me, is the spiritual problem of the United Church of Christ – our commitment to faithful living is no longer rooted in a theology of redemption," Hambrick-Stowe said. "In many places and at many organizational levels of the church, the very concept of justification and sanctification are ignored or even rejected as obsolete, meaningless, or hurtful doctrines. Salvation is construed as getting in touch with your true self, perhaps especially your true gendered self, so if there is a theological emphasis at all it is on the doctrine of creation (‘God doesn't create junk') and, with regard to Jesus, the doctrine of the Incarnation, God-with-us, validating us just as we are. But . . . the Fall? Atonement? Reconciliation of sinful humanity with the God of holiness? Word that Christ died for our sins? Who in our churches knows what any of this means anymore?"
What a treasure it would be if, centuries later, Calvin's ecclesial descendants rediscovered his gift for pairing justification with sanctification. These are the great truths of Scripture that launched a Reformation 500 years ago and bring reformation still today.
"This is not dry doctrine, not mere dogma," Hambrick-Stowe said. "It is a vital expression of the Christian narrative. Our story as believers. God's story of human redemption. As preachers, when we get people into the biblical narrative, that gospel gets into the people. God's story becomes our story. Throughout the world people are finding hope in this gospel and as that happens churches are thriving. That is the hope for our people and our churches, whatever the future of the United Church of Christ as a denomination."
Public domain image of John Calvin: Leipzig 1854 via Wikimedia Commons.
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Comments
Why do we celebrate a man who taught that God predestines
some, many people to hell for no reason except for the glory
of God. What kind of God is that? My christian faith tells
me God in all loving, all forgiving, all merciful and God
desires that all mankind be saved.
Posted By: Tom Hansen | July 11, 2009 10:43 AM
Re Hansen's comments: Are we so sure of our simple minded explanations of God's truth? Is anything regarding the infinite God so easy to encapsulate, expecially in words? Paul said that if God, the potter, made vessels for common use and some for noble use, what argument do we have? I think predestination is not understood in the plane of time, but rather outside of time. It is probably the easiest way to explain something we couldn't understand anyway. I probably live my life more as an Arminian, but I love Calvin's exaltation of God as sovereign, King, and Lord over all. I think the UCC lost it's light years ago as it left Calvinistic doctrine.
Posted By: Anonymous | July 11, 2009 2:21 PM
An excellent article. Howere, what saddens me is how so many Christian leaders will spend vast ammounts of time reading the writings of men (good though they were) at the expence of reading and studying and obeying the one book given to us by God Hinself - which is, after all, the final authority.
Jesus said
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
15 "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
John 16:13-15 NASU
Surely there can be no doubt that every believer who regularly ask God to lead him/her into all truth finds that that is just what Jesus does throught the ministry of the Holy Spirit as we read God's Word. How much better would the Chriche's ministry be today if all we believe and all we do were governed by the revealing ministry of the Holy Spirit as we diligently seek God's will for His Church.
Posted By: Howard Wreford-Glanvill | July 11, 2009 4:12 PM
Thank you for a timely article, the strength of which is its demonstration of the ongoing relevance of Calvin's teaching for parts of the church which are not self-consciously conservative and where pressure to conform to Calvin's opinions is the exception rather than the norm. Unless I am very mistaken, the predominant supposition among conservative Protestants caught up in the 500th anniversary hoopla is that _they_ are the virtual curators of the Calvin heritage and that most of the legacy of Calvin is to be found in their own churches. Thanks for the broadened horizons!
Posted By: Ken Stewart | July 11, 2009 5:24 PM
Yes, John Calvin was right when he said: That we are saved by faith alone......However, what Jesus said in John 3:16 and 17 is very clear:
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (NKJV)
Who-so-ever or who-ever means that ANYONE in the world can be born again or saved. The belief that God predestines so many, many people are going to hell, and there isn't anything they can do about it, I believe comes straight from Satan himself. I agree with the post below:
"Why do we celebrate a man who taught that God predestines
some, many people to hell for no reason except for the glory
of God. What kind of God is that? My christian faith tells
me God in all loving, all forgiving, all merciful and God
desires that all mankind be saved."
Posted By: Jeff Kerley | July 11, 2009 11:20 PM
I Think all mankind is predestined to sin and many will be lost because they are too lazy to know Christ. There are many books written to "set the sinner straight" by explaining parts of the Bible. I've learned to check what I read against the bible itself and in doing so found many errors by authors who have missed or assumed an incorrect context. The Bible is often misquoted, misused, mis- represented,and applied badly even by the most sincere christian. Jesus is our "kinsman redeemer", He paid the price for our sinful lives and gave us the means to exscape our predestined sinful natures. It is now up to us to repent of our sins and change our hearts, to be "born again" as it were, and ask the holy spirit to help us be as our Master and Lord is. Calvin was right far more than he was wrong and he didn't say things to to give you the impression the Bible wasn't telling you everything you need for your salvation like some modern "theologians" do.
Posted By: Archie Wallace | July 12, 2009 9:07 AM
Collin: Thank you for sharing the important information concerning the United Church of Christ and by reminding us of the essential element possessed by all Reformers who came before us - the authority of Scripture. The historical migration of churches from the essential doctrine of salvation to a misplaced belief that the "human self" can be reformed or rehabilitated continues to lead churches and a watching society away from (as Hambrick-Stowe elegantly stated) “........commitment to faithful living is no longer rooted in a theology of redemption.†Theology which is not dependent upon God must fill the vacuum with human effort. Soteriologically starved doctrine is only possible when Christians abandon the authority and sufficiency of God's Word. I am encouraged that faithful ministers are still working within the UCC and appreciate Collin's reporting of it. Thank you.
Posted By: John Hill | July 12, 2009 4:07 PM
If the sovereign God DESIRES that all mankind be saved, then rest assured that all mankind WILL BE saved. In that case, prayer and evangelism would be pointless. Of course, Scripture teaches no such thing.
Who can resurrect the deadened, helpless, sinful soul of man?
Who can freely make a choice to be born?
Who can bind the hands or loosen the grip of a sovereign, all powerful, fatherly God?
Can God's holiness be compromised for the sake of our feeble ability to understand Holy fairness and compassion?
Pride belongs to those who raise their hands and say "Indeed. I can."
Not the labors of my hands can fulfill the laws demands.
Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone.
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Few who malign Calvin have actually read Calvin. If a blog entry can accurately reflect the teaching of Scripture, perhaps documents written (nearly) five-hundred years ago could do so as well. I'll leave it to you to consider which is a wiser investment of time.
The central teaching of Scripture concerns God's gracious accomplishment of our eternal redemption in Christ's work, and the Holy Spirit's application of that accomplishment to us.
The cross didn't just make it possible to be redeemed. By it, Christ actually, effectually redeemed us. Nothing left for us to mess up.
Salvation belongs to the Lord. His love is steadfast and unshakeable - as strong as death. He has redeemed His people of all our transgressions. Thanks be to God for such aimed, directed mercy to undeserving, irresponsible sinners like us. Only on the broken and downcast has He has chosen to set His affection. Amazing love. How can it be?
Posted By: Anonymous | July 16, 2009 11:29 PM