Archive
Book Review: Necessity Of Reforming the Church
This book was originally a speech given by in 1544 by John Calvin. It was presented to the Imperial Diet at Spires in front of Charles the V and other royalty. In its written form it has been called one of the most important documents of the Protestant Reformation.
Three major points are covered in this work. First, there was Calvin’s concern for the pure and legitimate worship of God. Second, he was equally concerned about the proper administration of the sacraments. Finally, the question of true church government was an issue for him.
Calvin insisted that worship of God did not include worship of Mary, Saints, angels, statues or portions of the dead bodies of Jesus’ followers. These Church sanctioned mediators take our focus away from the one and only true Mediator, Jesus Christ. The people worshiping and the Church authenticating these false idols only takes glory and worship away from Christ.
His love for the Catholic church is evident. However, he deplores the Church’s implementation of mandates that have no biblical reference such as; forced celibacy of priests, mandated confession of sins to clergy, or the addition of five extra sacraments. The Church is also hit in the way it sidesteps its own rules and regulations in order to insolate those in power, while punishing anyone as a heretic that questions their theology or authority.
Calvin implores those who hear his words to not embrace a love for quarreling, but, instead embrace a love for the purity of worship of Christ.