GALVIN ANNIVERSARY

Evening Star, Issue 22413, 10 August 1936, Page 7

GALVIN ANNIVERSARY

COMMEMORATION SERVICE Gatherings have been held throughout New Zealand in the past week in commemoration of the four hundredth anniversary of John Calvin. A service was held in Knox Church yesterday morning, Mr J. L. Salmond, Moderator of the Presbytery, being the speaker. Presbyterian churches the world over were commemorating the anniversary of the publication of a great book, ‘ The Institutes of Christian Religion,’ written by John Calvin, of Geneva, the speaker stated. Though this book was published in 1536, it remained to this day the standard text bcok of reformed theology. THE REFORMATION.’ “ The movement we call the Reformation,” ho said, “ was a great spiritual awakening. It was a many-sided movement, it bad political, social, and religious aspects, but its dynamic was the genuine experience of salvation which came to several great men. It manifested itself in‘different forms. In Germany it brought the Lutheran Church into being, and was to some extent an assertion of the German spirit against external authority. Similarly in England it led to the establishment of the Church of England as the church of the English people—a definitely national institution. The most thoroughgoing form of the Reformation had its origin in Switzerland under the leadership of John Calvin.' The Genevan Reformation aimed hot at forming a new church, but at reforming the Catholic Church already in existence. It recognised no earthly head to the church. It stood for the priesthood of all believers with the Lord Jesus Christ as the only ruler and head of the church. It also exalted the Scriptures as the rule of . faith and doctrine, . thereby becoming known as the Church of the Word. The Reformed (or Presbyterian) Church, then, is no national institution.- The Presbyterian Church' is not exclusively the church of a large section of the Scottish people—it is a church that is truly catholic (universal) in its outreach and influence. • THE MAN. ‘‘ John Calvin was born in France in 1509. He was given a good education by his parents. At first destined for .the priesthood of the church, he later turned to law. While still-a young man he came into touch with Protestant teaching and through a genuine conversion experience. As a consequence of his new-found faith he became a diligent student of the Scriptures. At the early age of 26 he published his great theological treatise. There was really nothing essentially new in the teachings of Calvin. It was largely a matter of emphasis. Once again he' brought out into clear perspective the basic truths of the Christian religion freed from the accretions of ■ human, error and tradition. “ By strange and devious ways, Calvin became pastor and leader of the Reformed Church in Geneva. His great desire was to make the people of Geneva devout _ churchmen and godfearing, industrious, citizens. His task was no easy one. Like the Corinth of Paul’s day, Geneva' was a' frivolous, licentious city. But as a result of the work of Calvin and his friend Farel, the whole life of Geneva was changed, and it became in some ways' a model city, the cradle of the Genevan Reformation, and a city of refuge for Protestant exiles from other lands. HIS MESSAGE. " There are several distinctive things in the teachings of Calvin. The first concerned his doctrine of God. The God of Calvin was the Lord of Time and ■of Eternity, the Creator of all things, the Redeemer of Men, Who had graciously revealed Himself, in Jesus Christ. ’ Ip. the.presence of such a God, man is humbled and brought low and sees himself as a sinner in desperate need of divine grace. The next feature., of Calvin’s thought concerns man himself. While God is the determiner of human destiny that does not mean that man is to remain passive. Man’s duty is tb obey the will of God, and so to work in _ the world that it will; be brought into line with God’s purposes. All that a man does is to be done in order to promote the glory of God. A third feature follows from the above. If God is Lord over all, and man must not withdraw from His world, Christian men must throw themselves into the work of the world.. In the crafts, in commerce, in professions, and in public life, Christian men are to live out their faith. Calvin had no lesser ideal than this—to make the law of Christ supreme and regulative in all things, _ economic, social, political, ecclesiastical. Another feature of Calvin’s teachings was his passionate Jove for the Holy Catholic Church. He was no narrow sectist. The church for him was the refuge of sinners, and the place where forgiveness was mediated. It was not a special preserve for selfrighteous saints, but an ever-open door for repentant sinners. Hence Calvin was an ardent and consistent advocate of church union. He entertained'broad visions of a United Reformed Catholic Church. CALVIN’S INFLUENCE. “ Calvin’s influence has extended far beyond the borders of the Reformed Church. Probably for the first time in history he gave to the world a comprehensive Christianity—a view _of the Christian life as a divine calling no matter what daily work was performed. Such a view dignifies all human labour. For him Christian ethics had to be related to the counting house and the market place. He stood for an educated ministry and an educated people. Hence, he is numbered > among , the makers of modern education. An educated and ethically enlightened people can be trusted to govern themselves and to choose as leaders their best men. Hence the close connection between Calvinism and modern democracy must be noted. It is a significant historical fact that countries in which

Calvinism is influential have' been able to carry through social and political changes without turbulent revolutions. PRESENT-DAY SIGNIFICANCE. “ While we honour the memoir and recognise the influence of Calvin, the real issue for us,” said the speaker, “ is the significance of Calvin tor our own day. - While there are, some aspects of Calvinism which we' regard aa belonging to the sixteenth century, there are many which we must learn and relearn if the Presbyterian Church, is to continue to be a vital force in human life. It is said of the early... Christians that they out-thought, outlived, and out-died their pagan, opponents. • Calvin above all others recognised in Christianity » way of thought—the highway to ultimate truth. Were Calvin living to-day _he would be calling on the - Christian Church to restate the Eternal Gospel in the and in the language modem men and women can understand. He would demand the application of Christian ethical standards to all departments of human life and activity. Christ and His principles must be enthroned in our education, our politics, our commerce,' and in all our common life if He is to see of the travail 'of His soul and'-be satisfied. To measure up to Calvin’s standards our lay people must accept their responsibility for propagating the Faith both by life and by word. WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL. “ To-day we . need to recapture and re-emphasise Calvin’s teaching on the worth of, the individual man. There is grave danger of pur losing, sight: of this basic thought in the onrush .of Communism, Fascism, and mass movements of one kind and another. Today we live, in the midst of .’economio planning of great - organisations, of Government action, of high-powered industry, and often the last, thing thought of is the effect of all this, ion the human being for Whose service the business is earned on. Why is this? For the simple reason that men have ceased to believe in God in any real sense. Unless we believe in God we cannot attribute any real worth .to individual men and women. They are mere cogs in a great purposeless, machine. Christians to-day must say ‘No’ to all modern isms which deny the intrinsic value_ of every human soul. Our generation needs; to learn one thing above everything else—the : necessity of regaining a sense-, of the Living, Holy God. This is all-import-ant and basic.

“ To-day men and women need, ta recapture’ Calvin’s vision of a reunited Christian Church. In some lands the Christian Church is fighting for its life; in other lands it would appear as if Christianity were being driven into the catacombs. At times the Church with all its divisions seems weak and futile in the face of modern paganism, both crude and cultured. Yet a reunited Christian Church will not come about by man-made schemes. It will come, as in the days of the Reformers, with an awakening of vital religion—» rediscovery of Christ as a present reality and as a vitalising power.. In the reuniting of Christendom our Pretbyterian Church has a part to play,If we are true to Calvin we shall ever seek to be truly Catholic and truly evangelical, and welcome evidences of the working of God’s spirit in communions other than our own.”