Can someone help me out here? The selection by John Calvin in Devotional Classics (p.136) has unnerved me. It seems like he's urging a whole lot of work on us, a lot of striving on our part. He tells us to surrender our reason to the Holy Spirit, almost forget ourselves, neglect all selfish aspects, live a well-regulated life, resign ourselves deliver our minds from every snare. I don't see how we are supposed to pull off all of this. I wonder if a larger look at Calvin's work would shed light on my concerns.
- Calvin says, "When the virtues of sobriety, righteousness, and godliness are firmly linked together, they will produce absolute perfection." What do you make of this comment?
- What are your own emotional and intellectual responses to this reading?
- What do you find helpful in the text by Calvin?
Your comments are most welcome! And join us next week as we consider a few pages by 18th century Anglican William Law.
photo: John Calvin's hands
1 comment:
My reaction to the reminder of Calvin to have joy in leading a pious and selfless life is its usual rumble and roar that I have had all my life to this same dispensation. So, some thoughts.....
Who believes in self-denial anymore? In the world we live in, something I call the HyperNow has reduced life to zooming through the nanoseconds of information and ideas available to us through the technology of our age. What cannot you know? What cannot you want? What cannot you have for a price? What is not available on EBay? The virtual reality available to us is astounding! Especially now, why should one do without?
Who doesn’t have an ego-driven life? Who isn’t hedonistic? Who doesn’t have an impermeable heart? Who is broken in Spirit? Who is humble? Who cares anymore? Who isn’t wrapped up in an aesthetic life of choices based on here, now, and feeling good? Who doesn’t look at each moment for what one can get rather that what one can GIVE?
In my opinion, people rarely want to live in self-denial let alone find joy in doing so!
Who doesn’t see a selfless person as a martyr, as a victim? Some people just cannot give themselves up to a life for others, about others, about something other than themselves. Most people don’t see the reason to try. If it isn’t good for them in the moment, in the HyperNow, the extremely blown-up importance of now, then they aren’t going to do it. Why should they give up any part of themselves? And, more absurd, why would they feel joy for doing so?
Many world religions require of their followers moderation and piety, a selfless lifestyle. Many folktales from around the world have the Deity disguised as a poor person, a suffering person with the hero/heroine in the story the person who helped them. It is not just Christianity that asks us to give, and then give again.
I think the process of disentangling oneself out of self to the world of others is the most important journey of one’s life, and it will take a lifetime! Practicing a reflective, contemplative lifestyle, developing an empathic and compassionate nature, and deepening the understanding of the true nature of Love are certainly the vital components of any life.
So, to Calvin and beyond....
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