Comments on: A Passionate Pastor

By: Dwight

Dwight — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:20:21 +0000

This reminds me of the way Jonathan Edwards has been caricatured by most of the academic world in the US. If you took the average American Lit or Religion course at a US college and then read Edwards yourself, you’d think you were studying two different people.

By: D. Philip Veitch

D. Philip Veitch — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:07:54 +0000

Excellent post. We need reviews about the impact of John Calvin on Anglicanism. It is there in the Elizabethan, Jacobean and Caroline period, Archbishop Laud excepted. Recommend tying in with Ref21, a blogsite that is following Calvin in the 500th anniversary and is blogging the magnum opus, Calvin’s Institutes.
Philip

By: Craig

Craig — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:42:09 +0000

For me, it is incredibly freeing to understand my (fallen) nature and the character of a powerfully sovereign God. This helps me to understand who I am, where I belong and where I am going. A deep understanding of a sovereign God who is fully engaged in every aspect of His creation makes it easier for me to expect the Holy Spirit to regularly pierce the barrier between the “now” and the “not yet”. Calvin’s work is instrumental in this. I am looking forward to reading this book.

By: danny

danny — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:46:50 +0000

John Calvin wrote A LOT about the person and works of the Holy Spirit. Most guys that deal with such topics are not ivory tower theologians.

By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:58:38 +0000

It is a good book. For those who don’t want to read a whole book, the September issue of Christianity Today has a cover story on Calvin. (I couldn’t link it online, but i bet the church library has it). A quote re: total depravity: “(A)ccording to Calvin, only by seeing ourselves as we really are, in our utter perversity and alienation, can we fully enter into salvation’s benefits. A serious doctrine of original sin calls for a radical doctrine of redemptive grace.” Also, re: predestination: “The true Calvinist preaches the gospel promiscuously to all persons everywhere, aware that God alone infallibly knows all those who belong to him.”

By: Laura Ellen

Laura Ellen — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 20:13:48 +0000

Steve, I’ve wanted to learn more about Calvin, so I’ll get that book from the library at Sewanee and read it. You are the epitome of a passionate pastor! I feel so very blessed that I was one of your sheep when I lived in Mount Pleasant. It’s good to reconnect with you via Facebook!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:34:12 +0000

Thanks for making the book recommendations. Sometimes so much has been written about an historical figure it’s hard to know where to begin or what’s accurate.

By: Mark Cooke

Mark Cooke — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:26:32 +0000

Steve, I had the privelege of taking “The Life of Jean Calvin” as an elective in seminary from a Reformation scholar. I could never understand the severe caricatures after that. Keep sighing and keep teaching that hungry flock!