11/22/14
re LIVES of the REFORMERS
@ GRACE CHURCH, SUN VALLEY (ca) ,
PRESENTED by STEVE LAWSON
...NICE PRESENTATION by Steve Lawson...it took me a while to find a place in southern California that respects the Reformers and the history of the Protestant Reformation. Grace Community Church led by John MacArthur definitely respects the Reformers. I was not able to attend the entire presentation but caught this portion about John Calvin, about whom I am particularly interested in since I grew up in the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) which has formed it's theology and identity not only on the words and works of Jesus Christ, but also on John Calvin. The college & seminary I attended, in part, is named after Calvin (Calvin College & Seminary) , and the youth groups in the CRC are known as the Young Calvinists. However, there are a LOT of anti-Calvinists in the world today and especially around southern California, and in particular, to my chagrin, at the seminary I attended, in part (ie Fuller Seminary) . So I got good Calvinist teaching at Calvin College & Seminary but some anti-Calvinism at Fuller Seminary. We do have Christian Reformed Churches in southern California but you don't always necessarily hear staunch pro-Calvinism in all the pulpits of such. And one problem with the Protestant Church is that it doesn't have daily worship. As much as the Protestant Reformation was, partially, anti-Catholic, today the Catholic Church still has a lot of strength, especially around southern California and I found some spiritual solace in the catholic churches when I first returned to southern California as an adult. I don't think the Reformers meant to throw out the baby with the bathwater, but the word "reform" speaks for itself...to make better, to clear of corruption, etc. And the Protestant church and reformers in general recite the Nicene Creed, including my childhood denomination, the CRC (we are the "universal catholic church" with other believers). It's good to have a place like Grace Church preach from a Reformation perspective because the job of reforming is an ongoing process. That's why I encourage protestants to occasionally also attend their local Catholic parish, even if you don't participate in the eucharist. Be a reformer! And in the process thank God for the good Roman Catholic churches that are filled with persons growing in faith; and the good priests that are filled with integrity. There are also some protestant churches that need reforming and cleansing...it works both ways. Long live the spirit of John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Knox,and ALL the reformers! We must fill their shoes today with the help of God !
