their approach. Still, all of the ser-

mons retained an expository charac-

ter and in almost every case, nuggets

of insight that were not apparent ona straight-forward reading of the textcame as a result of digging into theoriginal languages. While it seemedto naturally flow from the preacher's

style rather than purposely insertedfor this occasion, these references tothe original ianguages was suitablegiven Calvin's emphasis on the for-ma1 training of ministers includingthe teaching of Hebrew and Greek.Preaching from Calvin's pulpit andbefore a congregation that includ-

ed many renowned preachers andscholars is an unusual expenence,and most acknowledged that theyfelt an unusual sense of prinlege asthey prepared for this assignment.Ugandan archbishop Rev. HenryOrombi reflected the sentiment ofmany when he contrasted his "fear

of standing in the pulpit of JohnCalvin" with his desire to "be a faith-ful servant of Jesus Chnst." Notinghow much he still had to leam in theschool of grace, he noted, "l am nota very good student, but He is a veryn 4 t i P n t t e c e h c r "

It is tempting, but ultimately unveri-fiable, to claim Cahrn's endorsementas justification for our or.rn uews.Yet, I do agree with the delegatewho. rvalking lrom the sanctuary af-ter the last evening, suggested to methat Calvin would've approved ofthis conference, ''if for no other rea-son, than the God-glonfying, Christ-uplifting preaching which we haveheard from this pulpit." It was thepower of the word whrch was centralto Calvin's vision for the growth ofthe church, and for at least five daysin early July 2009, that power wasevident from Calvins pulpit.

Calvin's 500thPersonal reflectionsRAY PENNINGS

If we celebrated the fiftieth or one-hundredth anniver-SZI] (or multiple there-of) for every event of historical significance, therewould not be time for much else. However, that the 500th anniversary of

John Calvins birth on July 10, 2009 prompted conferences around the rvorld,

the publication of manl' volumes, and articles in newspapers including theWashington Post, Nclr \brh Times and the Wall Street Journal, is indicative of

John Calvin's signi fr cance.Born and raised rn a Reformed setting, I have always considerecl J,.hn Cal-

vin as a person o[ ireat significance although admittedly, his personality hasalways seemed al-'r..i and hard to identify with. Truth be told. as a ihrid (and

even still), I find \tanrn Luther's character more interesting. ,lllhruqh as Imatured and incre.rs::ljv read in Reformed theology, there u'as l;::..' ioubt inmy mind that I ri'rs i L.rl\1nist. What impressed me since m\' :rc:.1{e years,

when I first tackle; :le Instifutes, was that in Calvin is [r'ru:r; .i svstem thatnot only made sen-- ..i horv I might stand justified befr.rc lio.i :lter I die,but also how I mi*h: ii.,ntv God while I am alive. Being .rlrr.c ',vis s!)methingmore than a preFi:.i::.':. for etemity and being made readr' :.' i:c. I was nowequipped to realjr' .:',':

And so Geneva. :: Ilerre's Cathedral, the I-auditoire ;ni hrstorical sitesassociated wrth C:.',-.:. :eve speclal significance and I L.okcd fonvard to theopportunity [o e\:{:-..:.1' them first-hand. My first imp:.'ssions were dis-appointing. On li.': r.r:;rda)' I arrived, Geneva hosted a rive-type event. Iwandered from r:-.r :..:.:. io explore old Geneva and r,l'as me: bv crowds whoseemed dressed::.. ' : 'J :. ' :.r ga1'pride parade than a Calrin ...n[erence. I no-

ticed a downtou:: -:r':;.i that sported period-cartoorrs pt'rs'.rd on its walls,mocking Cah'rn ;:.: ;.ii:rism. Throughout the citl'u'erc advertisementsfor a Calvin plai' . :'. ::iher investigation, it appeared the production was"a caustic look .:: .,'.'.-.:. $'hich, the website assured, was not redemptivetowards Calvin " \rl:'..i j llearly was not excited about the Calvin I had cometo celebrate.

That changed li..: ::':r: :.rming as several hundred, perhaps as many as athousand, gathr':.:* : :'.r '::irp at the historic St. Pierres Cathedral. There rssomething abou: .:r.:-::.r:.J:n{ the physical space that Calvrn inhabited thathelps understan- :.-.. r.i:'...i-\' rn a different way Knowing that Calvrn suf-fered various ph'.::-.:. .::.:'..'its. I climbed the steps from the iower city to thecathedral (93 unc'..::. :i.ri rnd felt some pain in my knees. The privilege ofsitting in St. Pierc: . :ri...r:;r. dav after day, listening to the faithful expositionof God's word. rc:'..:.:. j :'.. t'rf rvhat it must have been like to live in Genevaand to hear the ::... ::'::-llng s'hich Calvin delivered. I realized that thethousands of rei'.:i.:.:. 'r :..' -.rrne to Geneva took in that preaching, and even-tually fanned ou: : ::-':.'. -..unlries in the world which in Gods providence.caused the sprea; : ':.: i.:-':rned faith. I also realized how privileged we arein our day, wher.: ::.',:,- -: .1,: ibundance of literature in print and electronicform, while fir'e -'::.'-:.':- li.' :he pnnted word was still relatively scarce, and

l2 Christ ian Renewal Septembel 09,2009

- t t . h ^ f t h p n n - ' r ' -

I have written elsewhere (http://cardus.calcomment/ar-

ticle/l109/) on why I think Calvin, in spite of some mis-

grvings, would have been pleased with this commemora-

tion. There are two impressions that will linger longest in

my own mind.The first is the comprehensiveness of the effect of Calvin-

ism. Every continent (save Antarctica) was represented.To worship in this historic cathedral, where refugees from

many countries gathered in the 16th century and weretaught the Reformed faith, only to be subsequently usedby God to spread the gospel of sovereign grace back to

their home countries, uniting heart and voice in worshipof a God who in providence arranges the affairs of thisworld to accomplish His purposes, is truly awe-inspiring.My day-job consists of devising strategies to assist orga-nizations in accomplishing objectives. But to stand in anassembly gathered from around the world and to reflecton the history that brought us all together, is to realizehow small man and his plans really are and how great

God is. That greatness is not only reflected in the geo-graphic scope of the attendees' addresses, but also in the

effects of the ideas of John Calvin for every sphere of life.The second impression that lingers is the worship expe-

rience - both the preaching and the singing. The voices ofworshippers enthusiastically singing psalms in praise oftheir maker, the echo of their song reverberating throughthe cathedral, send shivers up the spine. To hear preach-ers faithfully extolling the sovereignty and glory of God,opening the Word with clarity and power, was soul-re-freshing. It inspired me with wonder at what glory mightbe like.

The contrast of this worship experience with Geneva'santipathy towards Calvin was stark. The civic-sponsoredplay "concluded with the Calvin character lifting a shroudfrom statues of Calvin and three other Protestant reform-ers, then tuming to the stone Calvin and berating himfor his repressive ruIe." The motives for such animosityare a tangrble exampie of the biblical truth which Calvinso often reminded his audience: the natural heart is en-mity against God with Christ nothing more than a fool-ish stumbling-block to unbelievers. The counterculturalmessage of Calvinism - that God, not man, is the measureof all things - does not naturally find an enthusiastic audi-ence. Thankfully the rest of the text was also on displayin Geneva. Christ, for those who believe, is "the power ofGod and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor l:24). If the worship

of God on earth can so lift the heart, and we know fromHis Word that it is such a small begirming of what awaitsus in glory what might the future hold? Sola Deo Glonafor what God has done, is doing, and will do.

(Abvd The handwriting on the wall by an unknown artist was nonetoo complimentary toward John Calvin;(Belov) Sinclair Ferguson, center, one of the speakers, talks with fel-low conferees in Geneva.