Introduction
You may or may not know that the official title of our denomination is the Calvinistic Methodist or Presbyterian Church of Wales. On the English-speaking side of our Connexion we tend to use the term Presbyterian, but on the Welsh-speaking side the term Calvinistic Methodist is still often used. In Welsh “Calvinistic Methodism” is translated as Methodistiaeth Galfinaidd – or “Galvanized Methodists” as one elderly Welsh lady called them in English! (Oh, that we were indeed galvanized Methodists – electrified into action by the power of the Holy Spirit! ) But we are, in fact, Calvinist, not galvanized Methodists.
All Presbyterian churches are Calvinist (in name at least, if not always in doctrine). It was Calvin who first set up the Presbyterian system of church government in Geneva, with the church controlled by a group of elders rather than just one minister or priest.
Another word which is used as a synonym for Calvinist or Presbyterian is “Reformed” – as in Dutch Reformed Church, or United Reformed Church. Our Presbyterian churches sprang out of the Reformation, and in particular the Calvinistic Reformation centred in Geneva . (How we, in Wales, came also to be Methodists is another story, for another day! )
500 years of Calvinism
But why am I talking about Calvinism and Presbyterianism? Well on the 10th July 1509 John Calvin was born. That means that two weeks ago we celebrated his 500th. anniversary.
[ For information about Calvin's life may I recommend the article in the July Treasury by by Rev. Dr Eifion Evans. http://www.ebc Presbyterian Church of Wales.org.uk/en/publications/treasury/09-07-01.pdf ]
Last year I gave a sermon on Luther and the Reformation, so we can’t let Calvin’s anniversary go by without reference to him also. He was just as important as Luther – although perhaps he does not feature so much in the public mind. This is partly because Calvin was a self-effacing man. He was also rather reserved and perhaps a bit distant in his manner. (Luther, on the other hand was very much a man of the people, even a bit crude at times, he was quick tempered and had a pretty interesting and eventful life.) Calvin’s life was less exiting to read about.
But Calvin was a man of influence, whose thinking has tremendously influenced our modern world. We have heard a lot about Charles Darwin over the last few months as the media have been celebrating his 200th anniversary. There is no doubt that Darwin is a highly significant figure, and worth commemorating. He has changed the whole aspect of biological sciences. But what about Calvin? I don’t recall seeing even one television programme about him, yet Calvin’s influence has spread far wider than even Darwin’s.
Calvinism has greatly shaped our modern world. The early Pilgrim Fathers and most of the first settlers in America were Calvinists – either Puritans, or Dutch Reformed Church, or Scots-Irish Presbyterians. The so-called Protestant work-ethic ( by which we mean largely, Calvinist, work-ethic) has made possible the Industrial Revolution and the commercial success of Britain as a nation.
Modern science and technology owes a great deal to Protestant influence. Where would science be if we still had to look to the Pope to tell us whether or not the Earth went around the Sun. Galileo was persecuted by the Catholic Church of his time. He wouldn’t have had that problem had he been a Calvinist! ( Galileo was born in 1564 – the year in which Calvin died.) There might not have been modern scientific advance without the Reformation.
Yes, Calvin has been very influential but the world takes very little notice and generally ignores Calvin. I did an Internet search for Calvin and came up with:
· Calvin and Hobbes, the cartoon characters
· Calvin Klein, the underwear designer
· and finally, John Calvin the reformer.
And when the world does take note of Calvinism it is usually in a hostile way. The stereotypical view is of the dour Wee Free in the Highlands of Scotland or the bigoted Ulster Protestant. The word Calvinist, to most people, suggests someone who wants to stop you enjoying yourself.
So is this true? What was Calvin really like?
Is it possible to be a moderate Calvinist?
Can you be a Calvinist and enjoy yourself?
Is Calvinism relevant to the modern world?
I shall attempt to address some of these questions now. In doing so I know that many of you were not brought up as Presbyterians. You come from Baptist, Methodist, Anglican, Roman Catholic, or Pentecostal backgrounds. You may not feel that you are Calvinists.
The same could be said of many who were brought up in our Connexion. As a denomination we have never made a great deal about being Calvinists, and most members of the Presbyterian Church of Wales probably would not be able to say much about Calvinist theology.
So first of all, an outline of his life:
John Calvin
John Calvin (10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564), né Jean Cauvin, was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530. After religious tensions provoked a violent uprising against Protestants in France, Calvin fled to Basel, Switzerland, where in 1536 he published the first edition of his seminal work Institutes of the Christian Religion. In that year, Calvin was invited by William Farel to help reform the church in Geneva. The city council resisted the implementation of Calvin and Farel’s ideas, and both men were expelled. At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin proceeded to Strasbourg, where he became the minister of a church of French refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and was eventually invited back to lead its church. Following his return, he introduced new forms of church government and liturgy, despite the opposition of several powerful families in the city who tried to curb his authority. (Wikipedia)
What did Calvin believe?
The priesthood of all believers
Calvin believed that all Christian believers have access to God through Jesus Christ, without having to go through a priest.
The Presbyterian system
He believed that the local church should be run by a group of elders who are all equal in status. One of the elders is the minister who has special role of teaching and pastoral care. This is the Presbyterian system of church government. There is no hierarchy as there is in the Episcopal churches. Ministers, officers, elders and members are all equal in status – they just have different roles with regard to leadership.
There are no bishops. In the Presbyterian Church of Wales, for example, we have a Moderator and we also have a General Secretary – but in no way do I regard either of these people as my boss! We are equal in status.
God’s grace and man’s depravity
Calvin believed in the grace of God and in the complete sinfulness of human nature. Without God’s grace there is no way we can please God. Human beings are made in the image of God, but that image was spoilt by sin. We are unable to find God by their own effort, we need God’s grace in the first place to even begin to seek him. We can not reach up to God by our own effort – he has to reach down to us to raise us up.
Election and predestination
Calvin believed in the sovereignty of God and in the eternal security of those who believe truly in Jesus. Like the Apostle Paul Calvin believed in predestination and the election of those who believe.
( Romans 8: 28 – 30 ) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
This is a very knotty and controversial topic which I do not intend to go into now. Suffice to say that it is found in the Bible, in the writings of Paul, and that it requires quite a lot of theological and philosophical subtlety to discuss this topic in a way which is not over simplistic.
The Great Exchange
These are some of the themes that Calvin and the Calvinists stressed but what was at the very centre of Calvin’s faith may be seen in these words:
“This is the wonderful exchange which, out of his measureless benevolence, He has made with us;
· that, becoming Son of man with us, He has made us sons of God with Him;
· that, by His descent to earth, He has prepared an ascent to heaven for us;
· that, by taking on our mortality, he has conferred His immortality upon us;
· that, accepting our weakness, He has strengthened us by His power;
· that, receiving our poverty into Himself, He has transferred His wealth to us;
· that,taking the weight of our iniquity upon Himself (which oppressed us), He has clothed us with His righteousness.”
Conclusion
If you were to ask me “Are you a Calvinist?” I would say, “Yes, but a Christian first. Then a Calvinist, then a member of the Presbyterian Church of Wales if you were to ask me, “Do you believe everything Calvin taught?” Then I would have to say, “No”. And that is true probably of most Presbyterian Church of Wales ministers. For Calvin, and for us, the most important thing is to be a Christian, a follower of Christ.
[Sermon preached at the Brecon Presbyrian Church, 19th. July 2009 ]
