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.

Carey 01


The first session was chaired by Hugh Collier. The speaker was David Ellis (currently in Stowmarket but due to move soon to Hinckley and at one time a missionary in France). Readers of this blog will not need reminding that 2009 sees the 500th year of Calvin's birth so it was appropriate that we began with a paper on Calvin the pastor and theologian.
Beginning with an amusing reference to the response of a Swiss chocolatier to the Calvin anniversary, David went on to remind us of important aspects of Calvin's character and history. His burden was that Calvin was a real human being not the austere and lifeless plaster saint or tyrant sometimes presented. A man of action, he felt his heart was in God's hand. Fearless and determined, he sought to base all that he taught on Scripture, leaving a monumental legacy in his writings, especially the Institutes. Under his hand Geneva became a centre that had an incalculable impact in many countries – not just in Christian terms but as far as politics and democracy are concerned too. He was every inch a Frenchman, full of tenderness and affection towards his fellow countrymen. Calvin's greatest skill was putting things in their right place. How important that is. Often that is the problem in churches. Things are misplaced and given the wrong emphasis.
Calvin was a man with a sense of humour and a man with a great capacity for life long friendship. His brilliance and his capacity for hard work was evident at a young age. At the same time he was a very modest and by nature a very private man. (The nearest he comes to personal reference is in his preface to his work on the Psalms). His appetite for hard study affected his health and no doubt this was made worse by his temperament. He suffered from many diseases but his strong constitution no doubt helped him to live as long and to be as productive as he did.
Tracing his various movements David referred to a short stay in Italy where he and Mareau worked on a psalter. The two young men were often attractive to the ladies of the court. Calvin was always chiefly concerned to bear witness to them. It was en route from Noyon to Basle that he was eventually confronted in Geneva by Farel in a historic meeting. The rest, as they say, is history. How one explains this except as an act of God is difficult to see.
Reformation was the aim in Geneva. It was an uphill struggle and Calvin did not always get his way. Calvin's influence was very great. Apart from anything he trained many men for the ministry, including 88 men who went to France, 10 of them dying as martyrs He was from Picardy. They are known as 'the southerners of the north'. They have a Latin temperament and are great lovers of freedom. Calvin's obstinacy and quick temper were no doubt partly due to this. He confesses at one time about his temper 'I have not been able to tame this ferocious beast'.
David also spoke about his way of writing. He used popular proverbs (eg sickness comes on a horse and leaves on foot), sometimes earthy language and always plain and straightforward language. He was always fearful of not being clear enough.
Calvin was married for 8 years to the widow Idelette de Bure. She brought two sons to the marriage. They themselves had two children but they died as infants. This clearly affected him though he never let go of the fact of God's sovereignty.
Since the Apostle Paul there probably has not been a greater minister.
(David referred to a 1964 Puritan Paper on Calvin by O R Johnston worth checking out on these matters).

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