Calvin, Then and Now

In our home in The Netherlands, during the Second World War, when I was not yet 10-years-old, our living room was often filled with smoke and fiery debates about the Reformed Church, about sermons, about Christian schools and about Article 31 of the Canons of Dordt. On the bookshelves were several very big, almost threatening, dark leather bound books with the name Calvin printed in gold on the spine, clearly for serious grownups only. I did not like those books and the name Calvin because they seemed to cause these animated discussions, with fighting words, about a split in the Church causing a division between my mother's family, where we loved to go on holidays, and my father's side. At that young age in that living room, I had heard about eternal damnation, isolation, excommunication, predestination, wretchedness, and much more. The big leather books were often consulted. Outside that room was the war and German soldiers were a loud part of the streetscape. My dad had a hiding place in our house, he was active in the resistance. His youngest brother, my uncle of 19, was caught and executed. For light we often used lanterns and candles. Thick curtains were drawn very closed. These were dark, somber, dangerous days and I blamed the gold printed name of Calvin, reflected by flickering candlelight on dark brown leather spines for all of it.
But I am older now and in Canada: Jesus lived to save us from the grip of those who proclaim to know God. Jesus, the light, the enlightenment (logos) in the flesh, opens the eyes of our mind and heart to embrace God's grace within us. We should celebrate in all humility that we are made in God's image, knowing that we are loved, free and capable of being responsible creatures making choices between good and bad with the help of the Holy Spirit. Willful ignorance of this precious gift is akin to denying the Holy Spirit. That is unforgivable. Jesus wants us to love others, and ourselves, and to love and worship God His Father. However we worship Jesus and feel safe in the pew, comfortably and habitually losing oneself in the civilities of belonging, in rituals and in social intercourse. We allow ourselves to be wretched followers of institutional dictates instead of searching for nourishment to energize one's personal faith in God. By example Jesus shows us how to take off our blinders, to stand up and be personally accountable to God. This is where faith matters and comes alive. Open dialogue will crush barricades and brings us in touch with the challenge and opportunities of being made in God's image. Only then are we equipped to build the inclusive church that will truly be our Father's house.