Happy Birthday, John Calvin!
In celebration of John Calvin, I wrote a post for The Resurgence on his amazing definition of “faith.” Calvin writes: “Now we shall have a proper definition of faith if we say it is a steady and certain knowledge of the Divine benevolence toward us, which being founded upon the truth of the gratuitous promise in Christ is both revealed to our minds and sealed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.”
I love this quote because it has all the basics of the Christian message. First, it is about “God’s favor towards us.” The holy creator of the universe focuses his goodness towards me? That’s unbelievable and mind blowing. Second, it includes the “gratuitous promise in Christ.” This is a cool way to say that Jesus’ love for us is extravagant and overabundant. John 1:16 describes this as “grace upon grace.” Third, the Holy Spirit works this into our minds and hearts for us. Thank God that I don’t have to muster faith, but that God freely gives to those who ask (Luke 11:11-13).
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10 responses to “John turns 500 today”
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John, Calvin wrote:
"Now we shall have a proper definition of faith if we say it is a steady and certain knowledge of the Divine benevolence toward us, which being founded upon the truth of the gratuitous promise in Christ is both revealed to our minds and sealed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit."
A pastoral question: What if that knowledge is not so steady and certain, say in the face of a crisis or tragedy.
Certainly, we believe that the Spirit gives faith and keeps us in the faith. But, we all know that faith is shaken sometimes and, to be honest, feels totally absent some other times.
I guess the "steady and certain knowledge" language makes me wonder if I am a Christian in those times.
He was quoting the Bible. Hebrews 11:1-"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Well, I got that. My question is what about when the sureness and the certainty are not there? I'm certainly wobbly on both from time to time.
Calvin wrote his theology through the lens of being a pastor. He is all about wobbliness and faith. After defining faith, he writes: "When we stress that faith ought to be certain and secure, we do not have in mind a certainty without doubt, or a security with any anxiety. Rather, we affirm that believers have a perpetual struggle with their own lack of faith, and are far from possessing a peaceful conscience, never interrupted by any disturbance. On the other hand, we want to deny that they may fall out of, or depart from, their confidence (fiducia) in the divine mercy, no matter how much they may be troubled."
The purpose of the post is to discuss his one sentence in which he was defining "faith" not articulting the relationship with faith and doubt
What an amazingly pastoral clarification from Calvin!
Well, that was what I was looking for. Especially since we confess that justification is through faith. I wasn't spoiling for a fight or anything.
Thanks for that wonderful quote re: wobbling, Justin!
For the really good pastoral stuff from Calvin check out Frank James' lecture on "The Calvin I Never Knew."
Free on iTunes (http://chuckthomas.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/the-calvin-i-never-knew/)
He found and translated some pastoral letters Calvin write to parishioners: miscarriage, death of a spouse, Servetus in prison, debilitating sickness. Rarely do you hear a lecture on Calvin that can make you cry.
Woot up that Johnny C, yeah.
I highly approve of that conical rakishly-tilted hot pink birthday hat that was added to the portrait of Calvin.
I'm sure John C would have been secretly pleased as well.