Happy 500th Birthday John Calvin - Party like it’s 1509!!
Now if you are asking "Who is this John Calvin and why are we celebrating him?" you are not alone! Opposing
the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century were 3 different Protestant sects: Lutheran, Anabaptist and
Reformed. The 'Father' of the Reformed tradition is considered John Calvin. John Calvin wrote
Institutes of the Christian Religion which systematically spelled out the tenets of the Reformed
Protestant faith and provided answers against what was seen as the unorthodox teachings at the time of the
Roman Catholic Church.
Central in all Calvin wrote was the idea of God's total sovereignty. Our Book of Order reflects this in
section G-2.0500:
"Central to this tradition is the affirmation of the majesty, holiness, and providence of God who
creates, sustains, rules, and redeems the world in the freedom of sovereign righteousness and love. Related
to this central affirmation of God's sovereignty are other great themes of the Reformed tradition: The election
of the people of God for service as well as for salvation; Covenant life marked by a disciplined concern for
order in the church according to the Word of God; A faithful stewardship that shuns ostentation and seeks
proper use of the gifts of God's creation; The recognition of the human tendency to idolatry and tyranny, which
calls the people of God to work for the transformation of society by seeking justice and living in obedience to
the Word of God."
For more information on John Calvin, please visit http://www.calvin500.com.
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