The similar phrase 'Worldly Christianity' is one used by Bonhoeffer. It's J Gresham Machen that I want to line up most closely with. See his Christianity and culture here. Having done commentaries on Proverbs (Heavenly Wisdom) and Song of Songs (Heavenly Love), a matching title for Ecclesiastes would be Heavenly Worldliness. For my stance on worldliness, see 3 posts here.

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Our second morning paper on Wednesday was by Lyndsay Brown on Calvin and mission. He began by noting available articles on the subject. These have come chiefly since the 1970s.
Lyndsay referred to Ralph Watson's thesis that there have been great periods of mission – Carey, Hudson Taylor, Post WW2, taking opportunity to refer to the great growth going on today in some places.
Watson (Stephen Neil is the same) says nothing about Calvin and mission. Others too say that Calvin said little or nothing about mission. In all the Calvin celebrations going on there seems to be little reference to evangelism and mission.
However, Calvin certainly does have a coherent theology of mission and was involved in mission. It is true he was very busy with challenges from without and within and perhaps there was a lack of organisation in the early Reformed churches.
It is said that apart from the abortive mission to Rio Calvin showed no interest outside Europe but the rest of the world was very much unknown and exploration was chiefly in the hand of Romanists.
1. A coherent theology of mission
His coherent theology centred on the sovereignty and providence of God. He was not embarrassed at all at the free offer of the gospel. He often wrote about the need to reach all sorts of people, without exception. He was convinced of God's desire for the salvation of all sorts and urged going out.
Some misunderstand his exposition of the great commission, where he seeks to deny the continuing apostolic authority of Rome, not denying the importance of the church taking the gospel to all places.
Convinced of the sovereignty of God in election Calvin still taught that God uses the means of preaching.
2. Ways and means of putting this into practice
1. Preaching
2. Prayer
3. Emphasis on the Word
4. Emphasis on a gentle manner
5. Training
6. Use of literature
7. Concern to reach out to magistrates and rulers
8. Public debate with his opponents
The Reformation has been described as a great missionary movement, which it was. Geneva was very much a centre for missions. In a six year period some 2000 went out altogether, chiefly to France. It has been described as one of the greatest home missions ever. Calvin also had an impact on the Netherlands, the UK (Knox, etc), Hungary, etc.
Calvin was passionate about mission – so should we be. He wanted the gospel to go to all.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi Gary,

Sorry for two comments in one day, but I'm so glad to hear this note sounded by Lynsey Brown about Cavlin's missiology. It sounds like it has been a fascinating paper, and a much needed corrective to many unhelpful treatments of Reformation missiology.

As I'm learning Spanish here in Peru I'm using two main Bible versions to help my understanding. The first is a kind of Good News Bible which makes for easy reading until I know more vocab and grammar. The other is the Reina Valera (1960 Revision) which makes mention in its preface of the liberating influence of the Reformation in terms of vernacular Scripture.

Thanks once again for this live blogging, it is being eagerly received.

Blessings,
Andrew