Observations from Calvin

I've always wanted to read "Institutes of the Christian Religion" by John Calvin, so I was thrilled when Josh Shultz chose that text as the focus for his Tuesday morning Bible study. This weekend, I began the reading for the first class and I have not been disappointed. A few observations, the first being a bit of a tangent:

In ch V, "The Knowledge of God the Creator", Calvin addresses the attempt by some in his day to deny the existence of the Creator God by appealing to nature itself. Sound familiar? He writes:

"...they set God aside, the while using 'nature', which for them is the artificer of all things, as a cloak. they see such exquisite workmanship in their individual members, from mouth and eyes and even to their very toenails. Here also they substitute nature for God. But such agile motions of the soul, such excellent faculties, such rare gifts, especially bear upon the face of them a divinity that does not allow itself readily to be hidden... by praising nature they suppress God's name as far as they can."

I was amazed to read statements from the 1500's that sound like a commentary on the popular thoughts of our day. There truly is nothing new under the sun.

Second, and much more important, I was thrilled to discover the tenderness, passion, and emotion that is evident in Calvin's faith. Like many, I have heard repeatedly that Calvin's approach to Christianity is severe, rigid, and dry. I didn't necessarily believe that opinion, since it typically comes from those who oppose Calvinism, but I didn't have any firsthand evidence to the contrary.

Even in the initial pages this charge proves to be blatantly false. Consider this extended quote:

"Moreover, although our mind cannot apprehend God without rendering some honor to Him, it will not suffice simply to hold that there is one whom all ought to honor and adore, unless we are persuaded that He is the fountain of every good, and that we must seek nothing elsewhere than in Him. This I take to mean that not only does He sustain this universe by His boundless might, regulate it by His wisdom, preserve it by His goodness, and especially rule mankind by His righteousness and judgment, bear with it in His mercy, watch over it by His protection; but also that no drop will be found either of wisdom and light, or of righteousness or power or rectitude, or of genuine truth, which does not flow from Him, and of which He is not the cause. Thus we may learn to await and seek all those things from Him, and thankfully to ascribe them once received, to Him."

Wonderful, powerful, and encouraging words. I am looking forward to reading more from this classic volume that has inspired so many.