Myths

In an article from Crossway.org Michael Haykin addresses "5 Myths about John Calvin." You learn there that the story that Calvin had Servetus burned at the stake is false. He testified in Servetus's trial but Calvin wasn't a citizen at the time, had no political power, and pleaded for the authorities not to burn him. The authorities burned Servetus to demonstrate their independence from Calvin.

A lot of people think that Calvin's theology is summed up in what today is called "Calvinism" -- those "5 Points of Calvinism," or TULIP. In truth, Calvin never included those 5 points in his writing. It could likely be shown that he supported the ideas, but he never articulated them. The "5 Points of Calvinism" didn't become "Calvinism" until long after his death at the Synod of Dordt.

You learn that Calvin was not an antinomian. He did not believe that works had no connection to our faith. He did not believe that we are saved by works, but he also was convinced that no true believer does no good works. Calvin believed that the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit produced a definite result in the human being that was steadily moving him/her toward Christ-likeness.

You learn that, despite all this "Sovereignty of God" and "Election" stuff, Calvin was a firm believer in missions. Calvin understood the Reformation in general and his calling in particular was to plant true Christian churches. He argued that Scripture taught "that it is our duty to proclaim the goodness of God to every nation."

I am not of Calvin; I am of Christ. I am not suggesting that Calvin was infallible or even that you should listen to him. (To be fair, I've never read a complete work of his.) I'm suggesting that 1) we are often fed lies about people that God has used, 2) we often dismiss the good stuff from people because of something else we don't like (referred to as "throwing the baby out with the bathwater"), and 3) we can be really vicious and vindictive against fellow believers without just cause. We ought to concern ourselves with Scripture and rejoice when someone else concurs with it rather than doing battle with people we don't like because they don't concur with our personal perceptions. Especially when we realize that both our personal perceptions of those with whom we do battle and of the truth may be faulty.