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I regret that John Calvin does not have an anniversary every year, because the wealth and quality of the books that have come out on the great Reformer this year has been astounding. I have either purchased or obtained from the library virtually all of these, and there have been many, many gems. 

For those who wish to get introduced to the great Reformer but do not know where to begin, there are a number of good introductory works.  John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God by John Piper is very short (64 pages) but in typical Piper style, it is powerfully written and should whet the appetite for more.  John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, Doxology, a collection of essays published by Reformation Trust Publishing is also very accessible to any audience. None of the chapters are especially deep, but they provide a very good overall picture of Calvin and his theology. 

Another useful introductory work is part of a marvelous series edited by David W. Hall known as the Calvin 500 series.  Five of the projected eight volumes have been released by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishers, and they are all exceptional. The first is a little (116 pages) work entitled, The Legacy of John Calvin: His Influence on the Modern World by David W. Hall.  Hall elaborates on the ideas he presents in summary in other works; Calvin in the Public Square: Liberal Democracies, Rights and Civil Liberties and Calvin and Commerce: Transforming Power of Calvinism in Market Economics.

Part of the impetus behind the novel I wrote last year, Hourglass, was to encourage an interest in John Calvin.  It is my personal conviction that much of what is wrong with contemporary Evangelicalism would be remedied by a more conscientious study of this great man and his works. 

A man that shares these thoughts with me is Paul Doriani, the pastor of Covenant Central Presbyterian Church in Williamsport, PA.  Paul leads a men’s Bible study at 6:30 AM every Thursday, and about eight men from his church faithfully attend. I attend whenever I am in town, and Paul and I will often enjoy a coffee after the study concludes.  We equally share a fundamental understanding and profound admiration for Calvin, and it makes for some stimulating conversations.  Paul commented at one point that though he was a Calvinist, he still felt there was much to glean from other traditions.  I commented that John Calvin himself would probably agree with him, and he almost came across the table at me and exclaimed, “Exactly!” 

We are together seeking to find a way to implement Calvin’s important insights into the future of our respective churches.  We are not endeavoring to build a Calvin Fan Club, but rather find better ways to build the Kingdom of God in our community – and we both believe that Mr. Calvin has a lot to teach us.  Even after 500 years, this man has a lot we can learn from. I am not continuing the “Calvin Quotes” in our PrayerNet, but be assured, the man is not forgotten.