Aspects Of Calvin 's Ministry

In a time of chaos, the words, “God is in control,” can bring peace to believers and non-believers alike. This phrase has found its way to bumper stickers, Hallmark cards, and Facebook post, and in many ways it has become a junk drawer phrase – one that we pull out when we need a comforting cliché. When pandemonium breaks loose and we seem to have lost all control, then it is convenient for God to be in “control.” But what about when things are not? What if things are relatively normal.

The Protestant Reformation of the Catholic Church devastated the religious unity of Christian Europe, resulting in a great deal of antagonism, which in turn led to the persecutions, denial of civil rights, expulsion, and ultimately the torture and death of many men, women and children. The ongoing conflict was not consigned to one distinct European nation, but was experienced in every European nation that the Catholic Church ruled and reigned. There was no worldview in Europe at that time that allowed for the religious differences of men to coexist peaceably.

11) Calvin’s ideas were similar to Luther’s, as they were both anti-witch and felt them to be Devil’s spawn. Even the most influential person in religion and politics at the time, Pope Innocent VII, stated in his “The Witch Bull,” that people should “remove all impediments…to exercise their office of inquisition and to proceed to the correction, imprisonment, and punishment of the aforesaid persons for their said offences and crime...” (Doc. 9) The fact that the highest ranking power in religion acknowledged the existence of witches in the world led to a whirlwind of accusation and chaos. In the end, all three religious leaders had a strong influence on the people’s beliefs. It is quite obvious that they are biased towards their cause, and therefore are not necessarily believable or reliable in their observations. They basically scared people in order to gain loyalty and so people would accept and follow their sayings. This is shown in the diary entry of a young Protestant boy in Document 12. “I suffered terribly from fear of Hell and...had, the fears that I was in.” (Doc. 12) He is basically stating his fears of the devil and hell, as a result of the beliefs placed in his head by religion. This is a more reliable source because a diary entry usually shows true emotions and beliefs. The religious

The Protestant Reformation began during the Renaissance time period, it was the attempt to reform the Roman Catholic church. It led to the creation of Protestant churches. This reformation began after multiple church leaders started demanding individuals to supply them with such large quantities of goods, food, and money that individuals did not have much left to provide to their own family. Several believed if they did not contribute and present the church with what they asked, they would be denied entrance to heaven once they passed away. People saw how the church thrived while those who contributed were ravenous and penniless. Martin Luther, a monk, noticed several inaccuracies between what the Roman Catholic Church practiced and the Bible as he studied the Bible. He decided to speak out by creating the 95 Theses, and nailing it on the entrance of a catholic church. Protestants who had similar view as Luther’s began Luther-ism. John Calvin, had very similar views as Luther and was even inspired by him to reform the Catholic Church as well. I most admire Martin Luther because of how he spoke up and protested against the Roman Catholic church when he knew it could put him in danger, but I am most similar to John Calvin because of how he believes in predestination and how faith is revealed by living a righteous life.

Calvinism is a form of protestant that was formed during the reformation. Weber argues that it is the Calvinist’s beliefs that helped bring about social change and modern capitalism. For example one of Calvinists

The Eucharist or communion has been celebrated for over 2000 years in the church; however, the frequency of the practice varies greatly across churches. For example, the non-denominational church that I grew up in, celebrated communion every Sunday with consistency and the focal point of each service. (It was so routine I could quote what was going to be said.) Now, I am part of a church that celebrates communion once per month as a conclusion to the sermon. Another major difference between the two churches is who is welcome to participate in communion. For instance, my first church greatly expressed that only those who profess Christ could partake and must not receive communion in an unworthy. Evidently, the church’s view of Atonement (Penal Substitution) influenced a memorial view of communion. Also, the leader’s interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11:29 influenced this approach to communion. As our weekly reading pointed out, “Most who take the Memorial View do not have a place for grace in their theology beyond salvation” (Peterson 3). Therefore, during

The book then addresses the Church and discipleship and looks at some basic questions, baptism, the body of Christ and the visible Church-Community. The book also covers Saints – members called by God. Included in this chapter is sanctification

One of the well-known ways he motivated others was by, “Inventing the practices of Calvinism; which is based off the concept that God has sovereignty in giving humans eternal salvation”. With Calvinism came many ideas that were highly practiced. On the other hand, Calvinism motivated people to argue because of how highly debatable this topic was. Another way that Calvin motivated others during his time was that “His ideas brought along republican equality principles and introduced elected government in the church and state”. People were motivated to follow his model because of these new ideas. He was also the one who brought the government so as he brought these new ideas, people started to follow him more. Calvin also did well letting the people contribute in his path because he “Contacted reformers in other countries who wanted the same as he did to make the Reformation go on”. This was a good idea because it allowed people to share their ideas as well. These people had the same vision as Calvin, so he was able to work with them. This motivated others because of his perseverance and ability to make things

Therefore people had no choice but live honestly and faithfully. Calvin’s thought was contributed greatly to the formation of Capitalist Ideology.

When the German friar Martin Luther nailed his protests against Catholic doctrines to the door of WIttenberg’s cathedral, he ignited a fire of religious reform, known as the Protestant Reformation, that divided peoples, brought down rulers, and ignited the spiritual passion of millions of men and women. A somber and severe religious leader, John Calvin of Geneva, elaborated Martin Luther’s ideas, and in turn created Calvinism. Calvinism became the dominant religious philosophy not only of the New England Puritans but of other American settlers as well. Calvin wrote out his basic doctrine in a Latin tome, named Institutes of the Christian Religion. Calvin

In John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion he spends a great deal of time expounding his doctrine of God's Divine providence in all of creation. He explains not only how God continually governs the laws of nature, but also how God governs man's actions and intentions to bring about His own Divine Will. Calvin believes that God's providence is so encompassing in creation that even a man's own actions, in many ways, are decreed by God. Because of this belief there arises the question, "Does Calvin leave room for the free will of man?"

The Lutheran Reformation is particularly associated with the German territories and the pervasive personal influence of one charismatic individual Martin Luther. Luther’s concern was the doctrine of justification, which formed his central point of his religious thoughts. The Lutheran Reformation was initially an academic movement, concerned primarily with reforming the teaching of theology at the University of Wittenberg (McGrath 2007). The Lutheran began in 1822 this happen after Luther’s return to Wittenberg from his enforced isolation in Wartburg. Luther was condemned for “false doctrine” by the Diet of Worms in 1512 (Noll 2000).

At an early age, John Calvin found his calling to God to the chagrin of his father, who wanted him to be a lawyer. This calling to God helped Calvin bring about changes to the church. Even though Calvin traveled to some isolated spots in Europe preaching his sermons, the changes occurred all throughout Europe and then into the Americas. All these changes began humbly in France in the early 1500's.

Martin Luther and John Calvin were both leaders in the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther was a monk, or priest, in the Augustinian friars’ order and his ideals were that Catholicism were corrupting the New Testament beliefs and people were saved by faith alone not by buying their way into heaven. John Calvin studied law “but in 1533 he experienced a religious crisis, as a result of which he converted from Catholicism to Protestantism. Calvin believed that God had specifically selected him to reform the church” (McKay et al., 2015, pg. 448). “The cornerstone of Calvin’s theology was his belief in the absolute sovereignty and omnipotence of God and the total weakness of humanity” (McKay et al., 2015, pg. 448).

Calvin was trained to be a humanist and had a broad approach to a holistic educational model. Knox used the same approach in his model. Knox also argued that the bible was simple to read, despite the laity not being able to read and having to depend on the clergy because he feared that they would become too powerful. He thought the bible was full of revelations and that only trained people should be able to teach the church. Knox believed in predestination and providence, which could be fulfilled through obedience. Through conversion, the will of God is revealed and freedom allows for obedience so that you will be able to understand the will of God. Knox also believed that everyone should have access to education, even if the church had to fund it.