Calvin Comes to Church

July 12, 2009

Psalm 24 and Ephesians 1:1-14

(This sermon draws heavily on an article by Christopher Elwood, professor of historical theology at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, “When Calvin Came to Call,” Ideas for Church Leaders, Spring 2009, published by the Presbyterian Church, USA. It was also assisted by Cliff Kirkpatrick’s “The Legacy of John Calvin for a World He Could Never Have Imagined,” Witherspoon Network News, Winter 2009.)

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John Calvin died in Geneva, Switzerland in 1564. So the historians would have us believe.

But imagine if he came to church today … arriving a little late … sliding into a back pew.

No telling how you’d feel, but this preacher would be more than a bit nervous. And it wouldn’t just be on account of the man’s age: all 500 years and 2 days.

It wouldn’t be the way he was dressed, either – black robe, fur collar and black cap with flaps covering his ears. In his day, there was no central heat or air conditioning in church buildings. Everyone dressed like that. Nowadays folks dress all kinds of ways. So let’s not judge a book by its cover.

Perhaps his arrival would stir a few whispers among you. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s him … It’s John Knox!”

Truth is, he hates it when we can’t keep our “Johns” straight. Knox was Scottish, and Calvin, French to the core. John Calvin spent no time whatsoever in Scotland … and wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a kilt. But I digress.

No, it’s not his name or nationality that throws me, but the fact that one of the most revolutionary figures in all of Christian history is among us. This sixteenth century reformer dedicated his life and ministry to overhauling Christian knowledge and practice. He labored hard and risked death to free the church from bondage to what passed for conventional wisdom – the “traditional” teachings of the church – so that we might hear God speak more directly to us through Scripture.

Now, here he sits … among us. Hooked nose, pointy beard, funny clothes and stern demeanor, listening and watching the goings-on of worship. Whether we recognize him or not, we sense he has a stake in all this. There’s an aura of concentration showing on him. He is both curious and convinced. Curious to see what we are doing, and convinced about what he would do to declare the majesty and grandeur of God.

That’s why I’m nervous. I worry that he wants to see whether we are up to his standards … whether we’ve kept the faith “decently and in order” over the years … or let it drift. Not that anyone ever comes to worship to judge anyone else!

Yeah, Calvin knows that the role of the church is not simply to repeat and relive the past, not even his past. He understands – and rejoices – that the Church is “reformed and always being reformed.” The process of change, responding to the needs of the world, never ends for God’s people. Calvin does not expect us to be exactly the same now as we were 444 years ago.

Yet … Here he is, this blast from the past … a man who is larger than life … a guy who left a bigger imprint on the world even than Michael Jackson. (Can you imagine?) Such is the influence he’s had.

We can’t help but wonder, what’s on his mind as he sits down among us? What is he saying to himself about us as he settles in?

Look around the sanctuary for clues. Try seeing things through Calvin’s eyes. Does our sanctuary pass muster with him? Maybe. After all, this sanctuary is kind of plain. And Calvin never put much stock in graven images, icons or idols. I bet he likes the simplicity of this space.

Well, the stained glass windows might raise his eyebrows. But somebody here will set him straight. Those windows aren’t objects of worship. And they don’t substitute for the preaching of God’s good news. They are here to enhance the telling of our faith story. Really, that’s all they are.

And what about the bulletin in his hand? That’s the next thing Mr. C sees.

He observes that each person has one; and is astounded that we can create so many in one week. Obviously, we’ve come a long way from the days of the Gutenberg printing press. That’s what Calvin had in his day as an advanced technological marvel. (Does the church actually own its own printing press, he wonders.) Whoever works in our office must really be good, setting the individual letter blocks, 1 by 1, to form all those words! He reckons they must be richly paid – one, even two Francs a week!

More importantly, Calvin realizes that if each person has a bulletin, the whole congregation must know how to read! Education was one of his main goals in Geneva. And it looks like his work is paying dividends here. Even little children get activity bags that help them think and learn about God! It’s enough to make the stern old fellow break into a smile under his funny cap. Almost!

Glancing at his own image on the cover, he scowls, but then nods favorably at what is inside. Our liturgy isn’t much different from the one he used. We still enter God’s presence aware of our sin, but reminded of our pardon in Christ. Proclamation of the Word has central place. And the final part of the service allows us to respond to God’s grace, and to spread that grace to neighbors in need.

In a quiet moment, Mr. Calvin flips to the back cover. He sees that we have on our staff Elizabeth Stafford. And in front of her name it says, “Reverend”! Right below that, numerous other women are listed as elders and deacons!

Calvin’s heart skips a beat. He used to believe that certain Bible passages express “an inviolable [absolute] rule” prohibiting women from ordained ministry.

Too bad he’s not here on a day when Bonnie is preaching or praying. Her faithful and loving expressions might persuade him on the spot that this old church of his is still reforming and being reformed – not by mortals, but God, in the power of the Spirit, and the example of Christ – and that other Bible verses foster (rather than exclude) women’s voices, in the certainty “there is no longer male or female; but all are one in Christ Jesus.”

With a flash of insight, Calvin might even discover that some of his cherished beliefs are more bound by culture than scripture, and should no longer be slavishly held. While sitting here among us, Calvin decides, as he did in other situations, that women clergy and officers of the church are not a scandal to the gospel after all, but a “matter of indifference.” God has called forth gifts from all of us to strengthen and build up the whole body of Christ.

That leads him to another “Aha!” moment. Various people are leading today’s service … and they aren’t all clergy. His fine old notion of the Priesthood of All Believers has survived intact over all the centuries. Thanks be to God!

The ministries of all members are still celebrated and encouraged. That’s part of what makes us a community of faith – a community through Christ and in Christ – where each person adds to the common good.

Once again, Calvin’s wants to break into a smile. And this time, he does.

Not that he’s beaming about our accomplishments. Calvin knows that ultimate sovereignty and power over the church and creation belong to God. So his gladness is not aimed at us, but at our Creator and Redeemer who continues to call people to fullness of life in Jesus Christ and to fellowship with each other.

The fact that we are welcoming new members today is one more example of that – one more example that the church is in good hands, and that God hasn’t given up yet on the grand experiment of drawing people to this glorious life.

Though we are different in many ways from the church he first knew, constrained today by far different challenges than he ever faced, John Calvin, our guest, rejoices that the church is still on the right path, and ponders Paul’s words:

“Just as [God] chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless” and “just as God destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, so God continues to call men and women to “live for the praise of his glory,” marking us, one and all, “with the seal of the Holy Spirit.”

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In less time than Calvin usually took to preach the sermon alone – an hour or so every Sunday – our worship service ends. With the postlude still playing several people try to greet our honorable guest in person.

Friendly congregation that we are, these folks want to greet him, maybe ask a few questions, and invite him to stay for coffee.

But already he’s gone from our sight. Who knew a 500 year old could move so fast?

But there are other churches he will visit. And several gifts he leaves behind … for us. Among them …

• the chance for worship to be a time of rest and relief from a chaotic world,

• the opportunity to honor God,

• a nudge to live faithful lives, learning all we can from scripture and each other,

• A set of practices for orderly life in church and in the world,

• and the assurance that God’s sovereign rule is closer now than when we began.

From the pew where he sat and other pews near by, the life everlasting comes into view.

Thanks be to God!

And happy birthday, John Calvin, faithful servant of Christ.