Julius Kim on John Calvin the Man and Why I Care | DG 2009
Why care about the man named John Calvin?
In his message, Julius Kim put it this way: “Calvin was a faith-possessed pilgrim, with a singular passion to known God, and to make Him known.”
Calvin points us to Christ, and his practical example of living for God’s glory merits examination.
Kim conducted this examination in two parts.
1. Knowing God: Calvin the student and scholar of the Word
Calvin was convinced that the core of our worship of and work for God must be based on the Word of God.
Nothing was more important to Calvin than getting this right.
Since he believed that God has revealed Himself in his word sufficiently and clearly, Calvin wanted people to read the Bible on their own. To know God themselves. Not to have everything spoon-fed through the church. The certain church of the middle ages was replaced by the certain scripture of the reformation. To Calvin, nothing was more important than getting this right.
We functionally reject the sufficiency of Scripture
In many areas, Julius Kim says, the Bible has been functionally rejected. We pay lip service to it only. Rationalism and emotionalism have become the foundation for our certainty and experience of God. Our minds and emotions become the final judge of what is true and right.
As one scholar put it:
“The worship of the church has become a feel-good experience rather than a meeting with the Holy God of the universe. Exciting music has become the new sacrament, mediating God’s presence in our lives. Sermons have become pop psychology, moralistic exercises in self help.”
If the Word is so key, what then does it principally teach?
Calvin committed himself to the daily, diligent study of the Word of God.
And what did he find? “What the scriptures principally teach is that God alone must receive glory,” wrote Calvin. “God alone must receive glory as the Savior of His people and the Lord of His church.”
We can’t properly discuss salvation until we get this right
Calvin took it further: “Once a Christian sees the glory of God as central, then a proper discussion of salvation can follow.” We can’t properly discuss salvation in the proper context if we are sitting in the squalor of a man-centered view of the Scriptures!
Calvin:
“It is not very sound theology to confine a man’s thoughts so much to himself, and not to set before him as the prime motive of his existence zeal to show for the glory of God. For we are born first above all for God, and not for ourselves.”
2. Making God known: How Calvin’s study of God’s word shaped his ministry
Here’s the statement that pricked my heart: “It’s one thing to know God more. Another thing to make Him known.” Calvin, as the shepherd and servant of the church, was keenly aware that he was to make God known.
I think this is where the heart of Calvin the reformer shows. Calvin did not want God’s glory to be a vague, abstract idea that never influenced Christian living. I dread the thought that often I have done just that.
Guest writer Daniel C. Wilson is covering the Desiring God National Conference.
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September 30, 2009