1997 Issue 4 - John Calvin: Theologian of the Burning Heart Part 3 - Counsel of Chalcedon
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Transcript of 1997 Issue 4 - John Calvin: Theologian of the Burning Heart Part 3 - Counsel of Chalcedon
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8/12/2019 1997 Issue 4 - John Calvin: Theologian of the Burning Heart Part 3 - Counsel of Chalcedon
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Ca,vin's abiding desire
for
true and lasting unity
in
the Church of Christ
Anyone
who
sees
in
CaIvln
the author of a
modem centrifugal
tendencies
in church
life
shows
that
he
has not read a
single line of him. "
- Wilhelni Niesel
No one who has
He
proceeds to shew
more fully in how complete
a manner Christians ought to
be united. The union ought
to be such that we shall form
one body nd
one soul
These words denote the
whole man. We ought to be
united,
not
in part only, but
in body and soul.
He
supports this by a powerful
argument, as ye have been
c lled in
one
hope o your
calling "We are called to
divided, how earnestly
should
we
cultivate brotherly
kindness How should we
dread every kind
of
animosity,
i we
duly
reflected that all who
separate us from brethren,
estrange us
from
the .
kingdom of God And yet,
strangely enough, while we
forget
the
duties which
brethren
owe
to each other,
we go
on
boasting that
we
are the sons
of
God. Let us
ever seriously
studied Calvin's
doctrine of the
Church can accuse
'JJolm QIalvin: Theologian of
the Burning Heart
learn from Paul, that
none
are
at
all fit for
that
inheritance who
are
not one
body and
one spirit."
him
of
being
schismatic. He
passio lately worked
for the unity
of
the Church
throughout the entirety of his
life. In 1544, Calvin wrote
to the Emperor Charles V on
"The Necessity
of
Reforming the Church." In
that wonderful defense
of
the
Reformation, Calvin wrote,
In like manner, the unity
of
the ChUrch, such as Paul
describes it, we protest we
hold sacred, and we
denounce anathema against
all
who
in
any way violate
it." In his commentary on
Ephesians 6:4, Calvin
reveals the duty
of
ecclesiastical unity.
nc\,.
CI is
Strew:I
one inheritance and one life;
and hence it follows, that we
cannot obtain etemallife
without living in mutual
harmony in this world. One
Divine invitation being
addressed to all, they ought
to be united in the same
profession of faith, and to
render every kind of
assistance to each other. Oh,
were this thought deeply
impressed upon our minds,
that
we
are subject to a law
which no more permits the
children of God to differ
among themselves than the
kingdom of heaven to be
Calvin goes
on
to
reveal the ouly
biblical basis of true
unity in the Church of Christ.
Let it, therefore, be a fixed
point, that a holy unity exists
amongst us, when,
consenting in pure doctrine,
we are united
in Christ
alone." Truth, conformity to
the Scriptures, is the
apostolic foundation
of
ecclesiastical unity. After
quoting Ephesians 4:12-15,
he wrote,
"Could he more plainly
comprise the whole unity
of
the Church
in
a holy
agreement in true doctrine,
than when he calls us back to
Christ and to faith, which is
May, 1997 TIlE O ~ S E L of Chalcedon
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included in
the
knowledge
of
case, true unity and biblical
him,
and
to obedience to the doctrine m nd te a
truth? Nor is any lengthened separation. Calvin,firmly
demonstration of this needed believed that truth must
by those who believe the come before
artificial
unity.
Church to
be
that sheepfold
n
the
Institutes,
he wrote,
of
which
Christ alone is the
Now let
them go and
Shepherd,
and
where his shout that we who have
voice
only
is heard, and withdrawn from their church
distinguished from the voice are heretics, since the sole
of
strangers. cause of our separation is
Calvin wanted nothing ' that they could in no way
more
than
for
God's
people bear the pure profession
of
to
be
the
unified body that truth. I forbear to mention
Christ
died
to make her.
He
that they have expelled us
called upon the Chllrch to
with
anathemas and curses -
live
together as brothers and more than sufficient reason
sisters,
to
serve one another, . to absolve us, unless they
and to
seek
those things that wish to condemn the apostles
make
for
unity and peace. also as schismatics, whose
The
above quotation case was like our own.
demonstrates that such a Christ, I say, forewarned his
unity
can
only exist when apostles that they would be
men
submit
to
the truths
of
cast out of synagogues for '
Scripture. This explains why his name's sake [John 16:2].
Calvin, a lover
of
unity .
Now
those synagogues
of
among professing brothers, which
he
speaks were then
could never tolerate a union considered lawful churches.
with
the
Roman Catholic Since, therefore, it is clear
Church.
The
light of the that we have been
cast
out,
gospel
had
been and we are ready to show
extinguished
in
that that this happened for
communion. It kept up the Christ's sake, surely the case
name
of
Church,
but
in its ought to be investigated
doctrine, ceremonies, and before any decision is made
form,
it
had so degenerated about us, one way
or
the
from a true Church that other. But I willingly grant
God's
people
had
the duty to them this pomt,
i
they so
separate from her. n such a desire. For it
is
enough for
12 I THE COUNSEL ofChalcedon May, 1997
me that it behooved
us
to
withdraw
from
them that we
might
come to
Christ.
{IV:2:8}
We have already
referenced Calvin's letter to
the Roman Catholic Sadolet.
This letter was a brilliant,
warmhearted defense
of
the
Protestant cause and saved
the Genevan church from
Sadolet's intrigues.
n
that
. letter, Calvin discusses the
relationship between biblical
truth and ecclesiastical unity.
Because
of
modem
misunderstandings
of
this
relationship, I will quote him
at length.
s
you read
portions
of
Calvin's letter,
remember that he is
respondingto Sadolet's
charge that the Reformation
leaders and doctrines are
destructive
of
the unity of
the Church.
But here we are met by
what you say, when
in
order
to palliate matters, you
allege that though your
, manners should e irregular,
that is no reason why
we
should make a schism
in
the
holy Church. t is scarcely
.possible that the minds
of
the
coIIiIIibil people should
not
be greatly alienated from you
by the many examples
of
cruelty, avarice,
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intemperance, arrogance, What has he to do with that
and recalls
them
to their
insolence, lust, and all sorts contumacious and rude
posts. For thus, 0 Lord,
of wickedness, which are
humility, which, despising
were all thy servants
openly manifested by men of
the majesty of God, only
dispersed, so that they c01lld
your order, but none of those
looks up with reverence to ,
not, by any possibility, hear
things would have driven us
men? Have done with empty
the command, but had
to the attempt which we
names of virtue, employed
almost
fOJ:gotten
their leader,
made under a much stronger merely as cloaks for vice, and their service, and their
necessity. That necessity
and
let
us exhibit the thing
military
oath.
In
order to
was, that the light of divine
itself in its true colours.
bring them together when
truth had been extinguished,
Ours be the humility, which,
thus scattered, I raised not a
the word of God buried, the
beginning with the lowest,
foreign standard, but that
virtue of Christ left in
and paying respect to each in
noble banner
of
thine whom
profound oblivion, and the
his degree, yields the highest we must follow,
i we would
pastoral office subverted.
honour and respect to the
be classed among thy people.
Meanwhile, impiety so
Church, in subordination,
stalked abroad, that almost however, to Christ the
But the most serious
no doctrine of religion was
Church's head; ours the
charge of all is, that we have
pure from admixture, no
, obedience, which, while it
ceremony free from error, no
disposes us to listen to our
attempted to dismember the
part, however minute, of
elders and superiors, tests all
Spouse of Christ. Were that
divine worship untarnished
obedience by the word of
true, both you and the whole
by superstition. Do those
God; in fine, ours the
world
might
well regard us
who contend against such
Church, whose supreme care
as desperate.
But
I will not
evils declare war against the
t
is humbly and religiously
admit the charge, uuless you
Church, and not rather assist to venerate the word
of
God, can make out tli at the Spouse
her in her extreme distress?
and submit to its authority.
of Christ is dismembered by
And yet you would take
those who desire to present
credit for your obedience and
her as a chaste virgin to
humility in refraining,
As to the charge of Christ,-who are animated by
through veneration for the
forsaking the Church, which a degree
of
holy zeal to
Church, from applying your
they were wont to bring preserve her spotless for
hand to the removal of these
against me, there is nothing Christ,-who seeing her
abominations. What has a
of which my conscience polluted by base seducers,
Christian man to do with that accuses me, unless, indeed, recall her to conjugal
prevaricating obedience,
he is to be considered a fidelity,- who unhesitatingly
which, while the word of deserter, who, seeing the
wage war against
all
the
God is licentiously
soldiers routed and scattered, adulterers
whom
'they detect
contemned, yields its
and abandoning the ranks,
laying snares for her chastity.
homage to human vanity?
raises the leader's standard, And what but this have we
May,
1997
TIlE COUNSEL
of
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done? Had not your faction
of a.Church attempted, nay,
violated her chastity, by
strange doctrines? Had she
not been viole.ndy prostituted
by your numberless
superstitious? Had she not
been defiled by that vilest
species of adultery, the
worship of images? And
because, forsooth, we did not
suffer you so
to
insult the
sacred chamber of Christ, we
are said to have lacerated his
Spouse
ButI
tell
you
that
that laceration, of which you
falsely accuse us, is
witueSsed not obscurely
among yourselves;-a
laceration not only of the
Church, but of Christ
himself, who is there beheld
miserably mangled. How
can the'Church adhere to the '
Spouse, which she has him
not in safety? For where is
the safety of Christ, while
the glory of his justice, and
holiness, and wisdom is
transferred elsewhere?
"But
it
seems, before
we
kindled strife,
ll
was
tranquillity and peace True
among pastors, and also
among the common people,
stupor and sloth had caused,
that there were almost no
controversies respecting
religion. But in the schools,
how lustily did sophists
brawl? Youcannot,
therefore, take credit for a
tranquil kingdom; when
there was tranquillity for no
other reason than because
Christ was silent. I adlnit,
that,
on
the revival of the
gospel, great disputes arose,
where
ll was
quietuess
before. But that is unjustly
imputed to our Reformers,
who, during the whole
course
of
our proceedings,
desired nothing more than
,that religion being revived, ,
the Churches, which discord
hadscattered'and'dispersed,
might be gathered together
into true
unity.
And not to
go backupoiJ. old
transactions, what sacrifices
did they, on a late occasion,
decline to make, merely that
,they might procure peace to
the Churches? But
ll
their
efforts are rendered vain by
your opposition. For, while
they desire peace, that along
with it the kingdom of Christ
may flourish, and you, on the
other hand, think that all
which is gained to Christ is
lost to you, it is not strange
that you strenuously resist.
And you have arts by which
you can in one day overturn
ll
that they accomplish for
the glory of Christ in many
104 t
THE COUNSEL
ofChalcedon
May, 199'7
months. I
will
not
overwhelm you with words,
because ()ne word will make
the matter clear. Our
Reformers ()ffered to render
an
account of their doctrine.
f
overcome
in
argument,
they decline not to submit.
To
wh()m,
then, is it owing
that the
Church
enjoys not
perfect peace, and the light
of truth?
Go now, 1 lld
charge us as seditious, in not
permitting the Church to be
quiet
The
Lord grant, Sadolet,
that you and
all
your party
may at length perceive; that
the only true bond of
Ecclesiastical unity would
exist i f Christ the Lord, who
hath reconciled us
t()
God the
Father, were to gather us out
of our present dispersion into
the fellowship of his body,
that so, through his one Word
and Spirit, we might join
together with one heart and
one
soul."
t
hence appears that
Calvin demonstrated a wise
balance between
commitment
to
truth and
passion for unity. Calvin
yeamed for the day in which
the schisms which then
s h t t e r ~ d ~ Church's unity
would be happily and
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biblically resolved. But a
God-honoring unity cannot
be achieved by silencing the
voice
of truth. Nevertheless,
sacraments, that wherever
they perceive these things
to
be, there they may consider
the church to exist.
we must use wisdom. Whenever, therefore, it
Passion for the truth does not happens, by the Lord's
others the path by which
they might glorify God and
enjoy him forever. His
commitment to the truth
made
him
an approachable,
tender pastor, who loved the
Church of Christ, led many
to true godliness, and
protected her from many
enemies and false friends. It
was this same love for God's
Word and zeal
to
see all men
walking in its light that made
permit
us
to separate from
churches who proclaim the
truths of God's Word, have a
form of godly discipline, and
administer the sacraments.
In
Calvin's theology,
disagreement Ver
theological minutiae is
permission, that the church is
administered by pastors,
whatever kind of persons
they be, if we see there the
marks of the church, it will
e
better not
to
break the
unity.
never a sufficient cause
to separate from
brothers in Christ.
In
our day, we see this in
issues like exclusive
psalm singing and
theonomy. Calvin
condemned such
actions as truly divisive
Passion for the
truth
does
not
permit us
to
separate
from churches who proclaim
the
truths of
God's Word
Calvin an
uncompromising
promoter of true and
lasting unity
in
the
Body of Christ. In the
final analysis, the
doctrinal fidelity and
inflexibility that
Calvin, the
have a form of godly
.discipline, and
administer the
saCramen1s. "
in the Church. In his letter
to
the Genevan Church upon
his expUlsion from the city,
he wrote:
In this matter I quite
agree with Capito. This, in
brief, was the sum of our
discussion: that among
Christians there ougbt to be
so great a dislike of schism,
as that they may always
avoid it so far as lies in their
power. That there ought to
prevail among them such a
reverence for the ministry of
the word and of the
Lessons for the
Reformation, and
Reformed denominations are
Reformed Churches on the most frequently criticized for
Eve of
the
21st Century today, is the only legitimate
It is my prayer that this
brief sketch of one portion of
Calvin's life has thoroughly
refuted the many prejudices
that continue to surround the
Reformation and Calvin's
place in it. Doctrinal
earnestness did not make
Calvin unloving or
impractical. It humbled him
before God, made him a
lover of men, and
invigorated him
to
show
source for true godliness,
pastoral love, and
ecclesiastical unity.
As we approach the 21st
century,
we
must not
contemplate abandoning our
glorious heritage for a
moment
I t
is true that
men
are vociferously calling for
ecclesiastical unity
in
our
day, claiming that allegiance
to
old creeds and confessions
is anathema to unity. I
May,
1997
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would remind the reader,
however, that with respect
to
Rome, her
old
heresies have
not died,
i n c ~
Vatican II,
she has
drifted
further away
fromthe gospel than shewas
in Calvin's day. Though a
terrible perversion of the .
gospel, Anninianism reigns
i l l many-churches and has ' '
lulled them into 'a false sense '
of
then-standing in
Christ. Reformation
churches will gladly
cooperate and even
unite
ith
other
communions proVided
this one foundation be
agreed upon by all
parties. The only basis
for unity lies in full .
agreement with God's truth.
As the creeds and .
confessions
of
the Protestant
Reformation remmn the most
accurate statement
of
the
system oftnttl l iii God's
perfect Word,
to
abandon
them is to dishonor Christ
and any foundation for true
unity.
Sadly, the Reformation is
often the source of our
history lessons and .
theological disputes'rather
than the work of our
reformed congregations. A
large percentage of our
churches remirin in
theological infancy and
practical error. They
do
not
demonstrate knowledge of
and fidelity to our stated
standards and catechisms,
pastoral warmth, and unity
that a love for God's truth
must always produce. It is a
time for God's reformed
people to become serious
about continuing the great
task ofreforrning Christ's
Church, a work commanded
by Christ in Scripture,
warmly pursued in Calvin's
day, and absolutely
necessary for the future of
Christendom. May Calvin's
impassioned defense before
Emperor Charles V inspired
this generation
to
lay aside
comprottrise, narrowness,
and ignorance, and pursue
the goals of Reformation set
forth in God's inspired Word,
... we will never
repent of
having begun, and of
having proceeded
thus
far.
The
Holy Spiri t is a faithful
16 THE COUNSEL of Chalcedon May, 1997
and
unerring witness to
our
doctrine. We know,
l '
say, that it is,
he
eternal
truth
of God that we
preacb. e are, indeed;
desirous, as we ought to be,
that our
ministry inay
prove salutary to
the
world; but to give
it
tbis
effect belongs to God, not
to us.
If
to punish partly
the ingratitude,
and
partly
the
stubbornness
o
those
to'whom we desire to
do good, success
must
prove desperate and
all things go to worse,
I will say what it befits
a Christian man to
say, and
what
all who
are
true to this holy
profession wiiI subscribe:
ewill die, but in
death
even
be
conquerors, not
only because'
through
it we
sball have a sure passage to
a better life, but because
we know that our blood
will be
as
seed to propagate
the Divine true which men
now despise.
-John
Calvin