Tuesday, June 12, 2012

A persecutor on the topic of persecution: John Calvin


If, while conscious of our innocence, we are deprived of our substance by the wickedness of man, we are, no doubt, humanly speaking, reduced to poverty; but in truth our riches in heaven are increased: if driven from our homes we have a more welcome reception into the family of God; if vexed and despised, we are more firmly rooted in Christ; if stigmatised by disgrace and ignominy, we have a higher place in the kingdom of God; and if we are slain, entrance is thereby given us to eternal life. The Lord having set such a price upon us, let us be ashamed to estimate ourselves at less than the shadowy and evanescent allurements of the present life. -- John Calvin

Good on Calvin. He also persecuted some Anabaptists in his day. I just want to see how things go in heaven when he sees the brothers and sisters he sent to heaven, thinking they were going to drawn at the bottom of the Rhone river, and be silenced for ever.

Oh, how wrong you were Calvin!! Still, I like you.  You were a good theologian, but treated some of your brothers with utter contempt. 

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