March 26, 2010

Is The Church Your Mother?

I’ve been reading the early Latin church father Cyprian this week, namely his work On the Unity of the Church. On several occasions Cyprian makes reference to the church as the Christians’ “mother”.

Some of you may read that and scratch your head, but first read what Cyprian had to say:

“…she is one mother, plentiful in the results of fruitfulness: from her womb we are born, by her milk we are nourished, by her spirit we are animated.” (Chapter 5)

and

“He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother.” (Chapter 6)

If you’re still scratching your head you may be surprised to know that this isn’t a concept restricted to the third century but is one espoused by the esteemed Reformed theologian John Calvin. Calvin writes:

“I shall start, then, with the church, into whose bosom God is pleased to gather his sons, not only that they may be nourished by her help and ministry as long as they are infants and children, but also that they may be guided by her motherly care until they mature and at last reach the goal of faith…for those to whom he is Father the church may also be Mother.”
Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion (Book IV)

The question I have for you is this: do you experience what Cyprian and Calvin describe? Is the church your Mother?

I trust you all find yourself in a church where you do hear the gracious words of the gospel each week and you are indeed “nourished” by her milk as Cyprian worded it. Sadly, I fear many experience the church not as their Mother but as a kind of unloving Uncle who is a taskmaster, leaving those under his care with the bellows of the Law and their work for the coming week. Then there are those who have such a low view of the church that it would best be described as a Mother they only visit on special occasions if at all. I sincerely pray you don’t find yourself in either scenario.

On the subject of Cyprian, you may be interested that earlier this week R. Scott Clark discussed another area where Reformed Christians are largely in agreement with him.

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January 12, 2010

Beeke Bonanza

I’m a little behind as I have been busy with other commitments, but I’ve just finished listening to Covenant Radio’s interview of Joel R. Beeke on his book The Soul of Life: The Piety of John Calvin.

I’d encourage you to listen to the broadcast for its edification, but also because you’ll be able to take advantage of a “Beeke Bonanza.” During the show two codes are given that will allow you to purchase Beeke’s The Soul of Life: The Piety of John Calvin and his Living For God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism at a discounted rate. This special is for Covenant Radio listeners only, so listen today!

Update: Please note that the offer is only valid until the 14th January!

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December 4, 2009

Humbly Petitioning God in Prayer

How should we approach God in prayer? Calvin says:

“This is what we should say: ‘Lord, I am a poor, wretched creature, and am unworthy to look up and to seek anything from you. Nevertheless you continually take me by the hand. Your reach is wide. Although I am far from you, do not withhold your grace from me. Despite all I have done, extend your boundless power even to me, and hear my request.’”

Quote from Sermons on the Beatitudes

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November 10, 2009

Calvin Beer in Geneva


via nytimes.com

Thanks to Mark Russell for pointing me to this link. I’d seen “Calvinus” beer around on the internet previously but had thought it was courtesy of Photoshop. I was wrong. I wonder if it would taste better than “Arminius”?

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October 26, 2009

Six Reasons Prayer Isn’t Superfluous

John Calvin offers six helpful reasons why prayer directed toward a sovereign God isn’t superfluous:

…it is very important for us to call upon him: First, that our hearts may be fired with a zealous and burning desire ever to seek, love and serve him, while we become accustomed in every need to flee to him as to a sacred anchor. Secondly, that there may enter our hearts no desire and no wish at all of which we should be ashamed to make him a witness, while we learn to set all our wishes before his eyes, and even to pour out our whole hearts. Thirdly, that we be prepared to receive his benefits with true gratitude of heart and thanksgiving, benefits that our prayer reminds us come from his hand [cf. Ps. 145:15-16]. Fourthly, moreover, that, having obtained what we were seeking, and being convinced that he has answered our prayers, we should be led to meditation upon his kindness more ardently. And fifthly, that at the same time we embrace with greater delight those things which we acknowledge to have been obtained by prayers. Finally, that use and experience may, according to the measure of our feebleness, confirm his providence, while we understand not only that he promises never to fail us, and of his own will opens the way to call upon him at the very point of necessity, but also that he ever extends his hand to help his own, not wet-nursing them with words but defending them with present help.

Quote by John Calvin taken from Institutes of the Christian Religion (Book Three, Chapter XX)

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October 23, 2009

Calvin & Worship Worthy of God

Consider the following quote by John Calvin and ask yourself whether your worship is “worthy of God”?  This should be a jolt to the many Reformed churches today who practice almost exclusive hymnody:

Moreover, that which St. Augustine has said is true, that no one is able to sing things worthy of God except that which he has received from him. Therefore, when we have looked thoroughly and searched here and there, we shall not find better songs nor more fitting for the purpose, than the Psalms of David, which the Holy Spirit spoke and made through him. And, moreover, when we sing them, we are certain that God puts in our mouths these, as if he himself were singing in us to exalt his glory.

Quote by John Calvin taken from John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor by W. Robert Godfrey.

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September 16, 2009

The Simplicity and Difficulty of Preaching

“It has always been God’s will to keep the guiding of his own church to himself, and that his Word should be received without contradiction. He has not given that privilege to any creature. And when Jesus Christ is ordained in the place of God the Father, it is because he is God manifested in the flesh, and the infallible truth itself, and his wisdom which was before all time. [1 Tim. 3:16].

Furthermore, when men speak they must not do it in their own name, nor put forward anything of their own fancy and brain, but they must faithfully set forth the thing that God has enjoined upon them and given them in charge. Thus you see why St. Paul uses this preface, as it were everywhere, that he is an apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence he holds it as a settled principle that if any man introduces himself to speak in his own name, there is nothing but rashness in him, for he takes upon himself what belongs to God only.”

John Calvin, Sermons on Ephesians, Banner of Truth. (pp. 8-9)

Read Todd Pedlar’s reflections on the above Calvin quote and on the simplicity and difficulty of preaching at In Principio … Deus.

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