vin into a narrow-minded, legalistic pies, 2s has often happened. He i ‘much more, in ight ofthe feedom of Chistian, a fighter forthe humana. the humanity of those who believe, At this point refer once again to thee from which this humanity, goodness, and friendliness radiates, Unity ofthe Church {have to conclude, and inthe lst sentences would like to addres a basi sition of Calvin that one shoud no forget: i el forthe unity ofthe chute “The Geneva Reformer wus an ecimenical teacher ofthe church. He suffer under every kindof division, And although he didnot valve the teaching = the Zarich Reformer, Zing, wnity was reached in the Consensus Tigurins (1549) In close collaboration with hie friend Philipp Melanchthon, Co Sought 4 nion with Luther, which finaly broke down with Melanhti however. Shorty before Luther died Calvin took anew inkistive and ase “Melancthos to deliver a comprehensive ete to Lather. There was ret = sternation in Geneva when Melenchthons reply arrived induding the fem that Calvin knew well enough that Lather was x stadborn, snorting 0, ‘one could not approach with uch alter Calvin rebuked Melsnehthonin2= “answering writing Lather isthe highly honored father and beloved teach= sal, “Calvin sought conversation and community offi lso wi the Ror ‘catholic Chareh He was ofthe opinion thatthe teaching of Augustine mas = ‘common basis. The Geneva Reformer ueenly asked all his students 0 nd sive for the unity ofthe charch tireless. Solan Leithe pp. 339-34 CHAPTER 21 Calvin's Theological Realism and the Lasting Influence of His Theology John Leith susie teen of Chitin ft, sithogh tela aon speed ies ag. Cain's intention in witing he tues aston erate, Sateen of Cran ath bat sma of tah or epi tee ‘ion in which he lived and to which his ministey extended in the mille ofthe sient cen. The sinter dted byte comrencaf hot ‘sat hore and itera olde atl the ne eee ey lnguge. teen wih his mute ars sateen of Chess kh ‘sey pet ann mow anc nr ea hose that have appeared in the last half-century with the expres a" ne express purpose of -pesking tote modem mind. In aseing the popes of Cake ten, fee heaton mrt bead wy Cars un hang ‘ein commenti, hte nd ts hve manned tee eee ower four and a ha centuries after they were written. an hes ofthis papers tht Clin helical witgs ave cali scutes gore shen pve ars on ime and males hn per Shep newts and stations Bibel chlas he aed Se en sus to cut through pretense, ostentation, the baroque and to distinguis i zl fom wht ilo. He bad he eerabecapacy tone ‘ey a ad speak bout hem har and eontetdy. Ths sexe a sats ab ower the tens of un sda ia eel cg “ny Christian thelogy ta sprue to people ober Lowry Calhoun mich ay seo hs centre Jehan crn Regn powelnd e-‘ated Chis ian faith with clarity and precision and with an emphasis on the ‘Concrete revelation of God in Jesus Crist and on the simple rales of ‘man lif. His own comments aboot the sens of reality as an important fet ‘theology throw light upon the continuing influence of Calvin's theology “wo set mor pris ht pyc gin nd asin ines hig {nd pote, aml liens and egy on the one hand and {tah and hoe ad ove toned Gd on th ote te ral fo Ch {hn ath and Gisian theology The fess demand rine ane igi: ot simple mrevdnes nr technical competence no thethum one (hough a hee ave ther lacs) but fundamen ‘din in eitations toe ono acknowledge what 20. The en thon storey he Semon onthe Mount he sayings tint deal with 7 Split mite res crescent bat icin on cyt nen hie imi the pecs ofa bet order men deat at te pe iter ens at at eran Jou teaching era that of ighhestedwstenuy Baton Eun yep that ety shoul esque esl = tral cer ees candi inde ee! of al ho ‘bow se “This capacity tse tings asthe ar and tsps abot them in cle: and simple Inline sentences so that unsophisiested people ean wi: Sands dtnguites both the teaching of us and Cais theology = Invch contemporary heslgy that oe cleve and ohty sophie ELL Mascl once decribed cersn moder hesoge as oth sophie dae: ophiatel in tat oly «highly trained inet could dev ih min oops. ond ink Cty worl practicing ihe thoght his poston ob oe" Clin theo Tether sopistated nor naive bat cise and plaaspohen aboot world abou human eens and about Gos saation of is people, = hrtian gospel A caps tosetbings the ara to spe abou = in simple concrete ements i efeted in le ne character (Calvi theology. 1.Calin deliberately and intentionally rejected speculation in thes (Reb Calhoun, “The orp fr hit Wallin Maing pl ens =| tian K: Andon asl The Comision op Nis Fning the Met Chah 9e pp 3836 "TEL Mua ou, Wh Helo How We How (Londo: Dato toe To 1885, 9 18. Glvins Theli Realiom -al works. He abided bythe old principle of minimal theological development. %e did not eek to create new doctrines if ld doctrines wold do, very auch 1 the tradition of the theologians of Niceea and Chalcedon. tn his sep 0 Sadolet, Calvin wrote ‘ou are just asi candid when you aver that we have eGuced the people. by thorny and sable questions, nd s entice ther by that philosophy of Which Pal bids Christians beware (Col 28). What Do you member ‘what kindof time it was whea the Reforms appre, end whet Kind of doctrine candidates forthe minute lesned Inthe seo You oursc now that ts mere sophisy and 30 twised, involved, tortuous and Puzzling, badecholastic heology)might well be decided a5 2 pete of te ‘et mag The-denser the darker in which anyone shrouded «sujet tnd the more he pualed Rimseif and others with maging ridley, the _rstes hs fire for curve and learning. And when howe who had beca formed in that workshop wished to cazeyhe Fait thei laring to she ol wih wht cl ak they ei he ac “ain vigorous) rected theology that he persed fantasy cntrved by ‘vuman beings, even if this theology were very clever ‘This emphasis upon a ple and concrete theologrs pervasive inal of “avi! writings, In his sermons on Timothy he cecatet When T eapourid on Holy Scripture 1 must abways make this my rue: thet those who heat me 2 teceive profit fom the teaching ! pa forward ard beefed unto sale “on. Ihave not that affection and i'd not procure the eifcation of those “ho hear me, Lam a serdege,peoaning God's word” The congregation hat “nila esponsibility todstinguith th concrete a real fiom the fncfol and ‘ecutive: and also those who read Holy Seripare a who come tothe = “on to hear iti they are looking fr some sly speculations if they are com iaghere ass pastime, they are guy of profaning sucha oly ting!" Inthe Imsitites Calvin explicit ruled out the discasion of speculative’ -iestions. He would not attempt to answer what God was doing before he cre 1 the worl or whether the word of God would have become incarnate ean beings had not sinned ® These quetions didnot deci impinge upon 2. Joh Cain, “py Sade in Cab Tho Trt ibe Cis ‘Cass wl 22 asap: Wms 1958) 9 33 “Garin eon on Tam. 167 om Cait pe ua pian ome aca sed CO eb W. Ba, E Ck and Ree ond el etched Son, 195-1900) 59 ale, St 9396 5. Joe Cain sites ft Chin Regn oF ates nd TNE tsp: Winn 1960 cee insted‘naman salvation and, moreover, Calvin knew of no way to answer hem. The ‘ology has sits purpose not answers forthe conundrums ef thehumgn min but restoration of human beings who have been breken by sin and unbei. “Theology fr Calvin lea modee enterprise and s dependent wen lation. In rejecting the traditional schoasti Tebogy, Cavin said In his se “From on Job US:1-10; “They wan to inure shout tht which God has never reveled, and se out tho things which He wants tobe hidden, Now we know whe bbasnot spoken, He wits ust remain sles, nor does He want wt gre lm fo sk what willbe — but rather hat we eemain uninformed whe He doe nt techs, This four weal wisdom — tha of not wanting ‘now more than hat wih God shows usin His instruction. Inthe same sermon Calvin spoke of the scholastic theologian as “lever pe ple beavee they are specu, that st ay they cary themacies in the « nd have no steadiness!” “Anbition a wellascoriosty and speculation ed to fantary in tholog And frthermore, we thou nt gt nt ambition to follow what pes ‘en man o, who, sein tha they are applauded, avays want toh om lively doctrine a which to take pleasure. On the contrary twos what sll 16 ely people Inthe fea of God. And ai those ‘sho prt from te word of Goa put say al curios. And when th Come to sro let # not be to ve sme doctrine which pleases th cording othe fash, bt that the look to Be aught to profi tha i they be ited to serv God beter, to put thei cance in Hin? 2. Thsology ha sits porpoie, as has Been already indicated edi to sty idle arosy, Theology is practi, not theoretical, inteiing = transformation of hum if I an aid or helpt the sermon and tothe ingot Septare. The sermon, ot theology asthe primary place in Cavin ‘rarchy of responsible, The szelar ation oftheolgy an academic p ‘st is uninteigible nx Calvinist context. Theology sno amend ini vs means oan end namely a maansto preaching, teaching, and othe bul Lp of commonty of sins. A theslgy that snot preachabe and tach ad that doesnot ef the local congregation iby this very foc decane ‘ecsive. The ina test of theological validity aways the testimony of thes Spr othe trathulness ofthat doctrine ve a period of time inthe ie ot =~ 2. Cain sermon on ob 154-18 C033: 708.8 {Cavin seman Ti S558 CO SE (S58, Cabins het Realm Crit communi, “The hogan uksnt ode thaw teato renghon once yen hag wae tesa "3 Cabinwat rane of ears heed seastpiat ra om be bghaig te dbp opie Te fits Gmpty ad ey hich teense wah pee asthe pete oh content on rls eee nana te Bato, tne wrote Thescond eas tne he meer sas thee sen te pune By snl ene Cleo oo ‘och thelr nh meting wie wr expraed Te aeh Irie ratte made a oppose rab br Cae Si gn dhe haa sage inpanic mato oe ge apes een Soe be vo ‘Sererout haw anor shat tevia head sa erent ore, pct ahs enpass po anemia int conmetiutr spencer au nangesmasfoten ee tags Studer of Spa tne grate cal Lone ihn i betty odo sea hed i fcog ea et ee an of reli of Cain exes nt he esvampsin tat he ‘as cling to understand wat the author had ween oh he covion that th hemor of Ga &conenpeay cae ny Cs Penppson the Spa ae wre Gods tosaglone, bert expe of Clin nat nate cone esperar He “avin nid ht ly mut de wt te Got al 3 human icin th language rary mame eesee ee Cat doo pcos rd spay, Tay wacaed Soot trarhuman bogie qutpelichams pet cee coracin tie tle: wut teas teppei tsps eel tssion Moov gol tel, Cv nine ts res ee of ordiuy hen Sou Ta sean Can seed een cho tac nd atone ngage of lie Seley Se Patt othe impetn of Cabins iano of er tone ‘ati dining thr sig Tas made aeccsry he teoy fe “hod wih lied er Cains ah Neer ae ae heliport icone bral che ened tes en ‘ote htt tiny Chr an rel Cav canna Ste chee A moet cn ead ye eee ‘cay ecg 9. Cain, ints 144‘5 Simp icity isa remarkably apt description of Calvin’ person as wal of his theology. He aways prferzed one word rater than two or three words tnd a simple word over aguinst = sophisisted word. He opposed theatc tals in church ceremonies He advocated modeaton in ies He was aap son and aa theologien opposed to he pretentious, the pompous the ost ous, the baroque, the contrived, and the aril. On the ether hand, be stood for concrete diet discourse. Sirplcty fr Calvin was very loses cerity. The baroque, the ostentatious the pretentious, andthe wophisicatee coverup eal. The simple uncovers realy for all ose. “The simple cea linguage of ordinary dicourse uncovers te theo in’ actual faith 9s wel athe meaning of thelogial assertions, Wil: Hocking once declred that complicated and obtuse language always com "ap eonfsed thought. When rth is understood canbe expressed ins ple, pin lnguags. Simplicity aye bare te theologies conviction and ontet of theological ideas. 6 The realism of Calvin's theology also comes to expression in his wi ingest to face dificulis. Calvin was vel aware of the evidences of di atom inthe wold, angng from the inability of some methers to nurse the ‘babies tothe unresponsiveness of people to Seesons. When Calvin was op istic he ertimated tat only 20 percent ofthe heater fa sermon respon: fd when he was pessimistic he reduced the numero 10 percent. What th: basv ofthese ferences? Calvin was awa ofthe ealityof damnation an rately efosed to ignore i ow explain it aay, 2 id some of his cone poraries. Cris of Intute 3.21.24 righty ote that Cavin to simply ate ‘tes darmation tothe wll of God. The laws in his answer tothe question bs long been pointed out. Cries, however, have oo ofen forgot to give Cavs «edit fr facing» concrete rest in human ile and experienc. 7 Calvin’ theology alo i relic int rmphasis upon saci ‘Calvin's theology had a ts purpoe, aha lead been indicted, the ef tion of human beings and of the chutch This emphasis upon elifeation< be earied forward in Calvi insistence upon the transformation of ume= ‘feta corespond t the image of God, For Calvin the Christian life fs nos ply being not simply believing, bat eo doing Theology has as its purpos onfdenc in God, 10 that prions eho once lived aimlessly now under their lives ae fellment of te purposes of God 0 that people who or: took what they could fom society now sek ive in such a way that har Ie shall be enhanced othe glory of God, Calin intended nt only to expr ‘theology in concrete, simple sentences, but to embody it conereeyin hur Iie and cornmunity 2 well ei the structures of ech and eae. ‘Calvin theology i aise in that it authentically rect the ith Calvin's Telia Raton ‘he write, Cain's theology isnot the figment of his mind but the concrete ‘tem of what Ga is actually doing in th word in Calvin's on ie a Geneva, and in the church. Calvin's ie was congruent with the thology be Behind the situs and its power to persuade people is the reality of 2 ‘heologian who actualy believes thatthe Lord God eign and that in fess Gris this Go has brought salvation tothe people. Cavin’ Institutes tans: parent tothe ith of Calvin himse!fand, moreover othe ith ofthe beaver ll good theology ought to become lke the sacraments under the power OF the Holy Spirit, sansparent tothe very presence of God about which theology pals 9 Calvin was «dgological waist Theological doctrines correspond to aly The doctrine of he Hinks the way Go is Calvin never dreamt that vou ca have the conclusions or consequences of Christian faith without the Foundations of tht Fath inthe personal stvity ofthe rune God. Chistian oeteines, such ete Trinity are not meaningful was of relating tothe word, Sra understanding of extensor the mutable grammar of fh They have reference fo what God has done in ceaton and bumea history and othe be- I hima Calvin's theologies elim was qualified by hie doctrine sccgmmodaton) God accommodates himsel nhs revelation ta human sin sn BAERS Hence here is 2 brokenness and frapmentariaess in ou kel edge of God. Modesty and sobsiety re mark of god thealogy. Yet doctines, secommodated 0 humaa limitations, acknowledge Gd as hei Calvin never sed the language and chetovi of theology to deceive people or to evade toe ‘gia commitment ‘Calvin's thelogical realism means thatthe substance of theology sakes precedence oer theological method and that the theological realty deter ‘nines method and herve. Willam Bowes has emphaated Calis an ay and daub Yer Calvin always wild and intended to belie. He never |siesanyevdence of thinking tht one an hve the its of faith without the [th Compared to that of other human beings Calvin's ie exhibited 3 1e- saakableconsseney of practice, of personhood and faith. 1 is this realism ‘hit makes his theology persuasive not only in th siatenth century but alo at the end ofthe twentieth century 10. Boas bn Cain: Sian Coty tit (New ok Onto Une “ty Pe 198).