Calvin's Contributions to Protestantism 'Almost Superhuman', Pastor Expresses

Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 Posted: 8:37:29PM HKT

The St Pierre Cathedral in Geneva where John Calvin preached.

John Calvin's service to Protestantism was nearly 'superhuman', according to the senior pastor of a Reformed congregation in Singapore.

"There are a few men that made a lasting and notable impact in the world today in a religious or ecclesiastical sense," said The Rev Dr Jack Sin, of Maranatha Bible-Presbyterian Church, adding that Calvin’s writings and teachings, so influential in the 16th century, continue to be widely taught and propagated throughout the Reformed community worldwide.

Dr Sin was preaching at Miri Reformed Church in commemoration of the Calvin Quincentenary celebrations this year. His sermon was also submitted recently as a contribution to a Chinese Reformed weblog conference currently ongoing.

In his sermon/essay on John Calvin’s spiritual influence on and legacy to the modern world, the Reformed academic described the Reformer’s contributions to Protestant theology and summarised his achievements.

Many of Calvin’s theological views remain relevant today, wrote Dr Sin.

These include his understanding of church polity and discipline, the regulative principle of Sabbath worship, the doctrine of predestination, sovereignty of God, the understanding of the two sacraments especially the spiritual presence of Christ in the administration of the Holy Communion, God’s providence, the relationship between church and state, covenant theology and other major theological themes.

Calvin’s magnum opus Institutes of the Christian Religion contributed to what became known as ‘Christian vocation’ and the ‘Protestant work ethic’. According to this concept, the labourer should see his vocation and labour as a divine calling; no legitimate labour is in itself demeaning; and therefore even the lowliest labourer has dignity as he fulfills his calling.

Moreover, the pastor pointed out that the historic Reformed creeds and confessions like the Belgic Confession, the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Confession draw their ‘inspiration’ from Calvin’s writings and teachings “in a tangible manner”.

Beyond his theological contributions, Calvin gave the Reformed movement a pattern of Church government.

This was Presbyterianism, which mobilised the laity and enabled Reformed believers to survive, organise, and flourish despite state opposition and persecution, according to Dr Sin.

He also helped create a city, Geneva, “which embodied the Reformed faith and lived it out”. This inspired others to reform their communities in like manner.

Calvin fashioned the Reformed faith into an international movement, with a sense of brotherhood which crossed national boundaries. The Reformer held the network together from Geneva by keeping a ‘vast’ correspondence with Reformed leaders throughout Europe, advising, encouraging, exhorting and rebuking.

Finally, Calvin made the Reformed faith into the “great Protestant ‘missionary’ movement of the 16th century”.

Geneva became an international training centre for Reformed pastors, preachers, theologians and missionaries. The Genevan Academy founded by Calvin in 1559 and headed by the psalm-translator Theodore Beza attracted students from across Europe. Beginning with 162 students, the Academy grew to an enrollment of some 1,600 within six years.

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Edmond Chua
edmond@christianpost.com