A Little Book on the Christian Life by John Calvin — Book Review

This short book is actually part of Calvin’s famous theological work, The Institutes of the Christian Religion. In it he addresses some of the practical questions believers have about living out their faith. The five chapters are:

1. Scripture’s Call to Christian Living
2. Self-denial in the Christian Life
3. Bearing Our Cross Is a Part of Self-Denial
4. Meditation on Our Future Life
5. How the Present Life and Its Comforts Should Be Used

The text is very readable, and still relevant to Christians today. Although I am a Lutheran, not a Calvinist, I found nothing objectionable in the theology presented.

P.S. I chose to read this book as part of my congregation’s reading challenge — Read With Me. It fulfills the category of read a book by an author who shares your initials! It’s was an unlikely pick, but one I unexpectedly enjoyed.

VERDICT: 5 STARS

For more about John Calvin see these posts:

A Quote from John Calvin

Know God — Know Thyself

Predestination continued ….

God of All My Days

This song has been getting a lot of air play recently for good reason.  Casting Crowns has this song that points to piety or living your whole live toward Christ.  Just listen.  I’m sure it will touch your heart.

How to Recognize a Christian

When a consecrated believer follows the Lord faithfully several evidences appear sooner or later.  Meekness and quietness of spirit become, in time, characteristics of daily life.  Other outward signs are:

1. Grateful acceptance of the will of God as it comes in the hourly events of each day
2. Pliability in the hands of God to do or bear whatever he assigns us
3. A sweet disposition, even under provocation
4. Calmness in the midst of turmoil and confusion
5. Willingness to let others have their way
6. Refusal to notice slights and wrongs
7. Absence of worry, anxiety and fear

Taken from The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith

Is the Bible Your Companion?

“Clement of Alexandria described Christian life in terms of the Word acting as companion educator (paidagogos) of the Christian person.  The paidagogos in Hellenistic culture was a family servant who from a child’s earliest years took him in charge, accompanied him to school through sometimes perilous streets, was with him as he made his way through a bustling city and through his example helped him to live in his environment.  His task was not primarily academic…The paidagogos helped him to learn through companionship itself …The same would take place between Christ and the Christian person …a continuing dialog takes place between Christ and the person and the dialogue occurs in shifting circumstances and through states of development.  In anyone’s life, dialogue with another person close to him changes as both people grow.  Clement’s image encourages us to assume the same will true of our relationship with Christ.”

from The Practice of Spiritual Direction, Barry & Connelly

I like this quote.  It reminds me that it is through God’s  written word(the Bible) we develop a relationship with The Word (Jesus Christ).  We should study it until it becomes our constant companion and educator throughout all the trials, disappointments, joys and challenges of our life.

Prepared for Eternity

Our church, St. Paul’s Free Lutheran in Leitersburg is almost 190 years old.  The church’s vision statement is taken from the founding documents:

“It is our wish that here old and young will be edified, animated, encouraged and prepared for eternity.”

Living a Christian life, being edified, animated and encouraged through the scriptures, the sacraments, and the fellowship of our sisters and brothers in Christ is what prepares us for eternal life with God.

Here is what Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life has to say:

People ask me, “What is the purpose of life?” And I respond, “In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity.” We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body–but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act, the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.

What is your church’s vision statement?  Does it tell you how to prepare for eternity?