I think what I appreciated about Calvin at the time I read his Institutes was the clear and organized way in which he presented the elements of the Christian faith. I was much soothed by Calvin as I had spent several years buffeted by the high voltage drama of neo Pentecostalism. The Christianity I had come of seemed at times to be insane while Calvin offered sanity. Through Calvin it became okay for me to think rationally about my faith. It was a sorely needed balance to the emotionalism had been drowning in. As to whether or not Calvin has abiding relevance: it did occur to me at the time that Calvin’s strongest vitriol has reserved not for the doctrinal differences he had with the Catholic church but for its venality and corruption. Would he feel as passionate about today’s church as he did about the one he encountered in his age. As to the sage of Geneva’s abiding relevance I think any person with sense would apply his words—where applicable—with the appropriate contextualization, even as the sensitive Christian preacher would contextualize passages of holy scripture for modern listeners. On balance I believe Calvin will always have abiding value for the same reason all theologians who expound the eternal truths of our faith will have value until the parousia, simply that they teach the truth of the gospel with sincerity, faith and godly learning. All the great orthodox theologians are shining jewels in the wall of the New Jerusalem: St. Paul, Athansius, Cyprian, Irenaeus, Ambrose, Augustine, Luther, Calvin and the Reformers, the Wesleys, Barth etc.
