How far do we tolerate error?

by Dr. Mark Brewer :: It has been said that most managers turn a mere problem into a crises by “over” or “under” reacting. Once Calvin and the “band of theological brothers” successfully convinced the city leaders to embrace their understanding of what a “Godly city” would look like, they had to deal with the issue of enforcement. How do you change the hearts and minds of a group of citizens? How do you get people to behave? Calvin embraced the primary role of education. He believed in the call of teaching both boys and girls (something revolutionary at the time) in public schools with Christian values. He also called for the funding of the arts and the beautification of the city for the “blessing of the people.” He was zealous in preaching the right of the people to choose for themselves their own leadership. (Again, a very radical thing in the 16th century.) Thrift, hard work, and a concern for the poor were as much a part of Geneva’s politicians as its citizens.

But I think he certainly over reacted when he had a traveling “heretic from Spain” executed for teaching against the established order and stirring up the people. Though he and the city council were trying to “protect” the peace, and Calvin thought he was being “grace filled” when he had Severetus beheaded rather than the customary “burning at the stake” it hardly modeled theological tolerance. We must always strive for the truth and justice. But we must also want the person caught in darkness to find the light much more than wanting their demise. It certainly is true with our own personal opponents as well a society’s. How often I want my “pain causing people” to pay more than changing. I still have far to go in this journey of spiritual growth.

The Right Idea but the Wrong Timing

by Dr. Mark Brewer :: In honor of John Calvin’s five hundredth birthday, we’re looking at the “Father of Presbyterianism” and his experience with trying to make Geneva Switzerland the “Greatest City for Christ” in the 1500s.

Having been born the second of four brothers, Calvin lost one of his siblings in youth. His beautiful mother sadly also died when he was young. His father, who was an attorney for the church, sent his brilliant son off to Paris to become a priest and an attorney. Along the way he ran into the new teachings of this “Reformation” (they did not want to leave the Catholic church but to “reform” it) and the “Protestants” (they were protesting some of the teachings of the Church and the Pope) when he came to Geneva in 1536. This was a time of civil war and upheaval. Calvin and friends tried to institute (no pun) strict and radical laws on the city. They were hoping to “protect” people from heresy and immoral living. Sort of changing a major city into one happy “family camp.” How did the city respond? They were driven out for their lives and fled to Strasbourg, France. Did they try to change things too fast? How fast should we pray God changes the social systems and culture of Los Angeles? It takes wisdom.

Anyway, while he was in Strasbourg he met his wife and new friends who would help him refine his understanding of what following Christ in his time meant. Sadly his wife and son died in the nine years they were married. The man had much sorrow in his life, yet his writings drip with the goodness of God and life. Ironically, the leadership of Geneva sent for him to come and help transform the city they drove him out of earlier. Sometimes when God has us in our own “wilderness,” it’s there we meet life long friends and even loves. Sometimes we had the right idea but the wrong timing. Strasbourg was one of those chapters for John Calvin.

Predestined to Change Los Angeles?

by Dr. Mark Brewer :: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love Christ. For those whom God foreknew He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…” Romans 8:28 What’s with this whole “predestination” thing John Calvin and Presbyterians are infamous for? Is it like the old Scotsman who fell and broke his leg and said, “I”m glad that’s over”? Are all things predetermined and we’re just living out what cannot be changed? Or is everything dependent upon us and our choices? Calvin would have said “the wrong question always gets the wrong answer.” As Calvin came to Geneva, Switzerland and tried to change the city into a place where Christ was glorified, he wrestled with the great problem of life. Why do some people respond to the Gospel and have their hearts changed and others just blow off God no matter how many times they hear? Calvin’s conclusions in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (which his first draft he completed in his mid twenties!) was that we live a mystery. Not a mystery to be solved, but a mystery to be embraced. God is both totally sovereign and we are totally free. The Creator is not dependent upon His creation to get his next cue of what to do. Because God created and holds all of time and space in His hand (something the best of the new physics agrees with five hundred years after Calvin), He is the great “cause” of this cosmos. We don’t have to do great things for God in Los Angeles. We just need to participate in what He’s already doing.

For John Calvin this meant we did not have to “talk God into” saving us. He wanted to all along. It was His idea. The comfort is found when we fall and sin, we have the same grace-filled and loving God waiting for us to return and be healed as the very first time we heard of Jesus’ love. Calvin even pointed out that we could not come to Christ if it wasn’t for His grace. So when we share today with others about Christ remember the only way we can “fail” is to not share. The rest is up to them and this loving Omnipotent God. When we fall and stumble we can get back in line for this life-changing power called God’s forgiveness and take as many “servings” as we need. Don’t worry. God knows!

Happy 500th birthday John Calvin!

by Dr. Mark Brewer :: That usually gets a big yawn – even from Presbyterians. Why is this guy’s birthday so important? Because he was instrumental in much of the change of not only the church, but of western civilization. Calvin was raised as a good Catholic boy in France. He had one of those remarkable minds that comes along every few generations. By the time he was 27, he had written the essential summary of  Protestantism called the Institutes. Calvin was exposed to the teachings of Martin Luther and was overwhelmed with the freedom in Christ Luther spoke about. If Martin Luther was the heart of the reformation, then John Calvin was its primary mind. The whole concept of a democratic church and the Priesthood of every believer was championed by Calvin. Five centuries before we at Bel Air had the vision to transform Los Angeles into the greatest city for Christ, Calvin actually did it in Geneva, Switzerland. In the coming weeks, I want to share some of the tremendous successes, and some of the failures, that Calvin had in city transformation at Geneva. We have a lot to learn from this learned and impassioned lover of Christ. Calvin knew how much God loved the city, and how great a difference a handful of churches “sold out to Christ” can make. It’s alright to party a little on his birthday – even in moderation!