SCRIPTURE
“He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease.”[1]
CALVIN: Book One, Chapter One
“…no man can survey himself without forthwith turning his thoughts toward the God in whom he lives and moves; because it is perfectly obvious that the endowments which we possess cannot possibly be from ourselves; no, that our very being is nothing else than subsistence in God alone…In particular, the miserable ruin into which the revolt of the first man has plunged us, compels us to turn our eyes upward; not only that while hungry and famishing we may thence ask what we want, but being aroused by fear may learn humility. For as there exists in man something like a world of misery, and ever since we were stripped of the divine attire our naked shame discloses an immense series of disgraceful properties, every man, being stung by the consciousness of his own unhappiness, in this way necessarily obtains at least some knowledge of God…We are accordingly urged by our own evil things to consider the good things of God; and, indeed, we cannot aspire to him in earnest until we have begun to be displeased with ourselves.”[2]
REFLECTION
Prior to Calvin’s revelatory conversion to Protestant Reformation teaching, he was languishing in the superstitious pools of Roman Catholicism and Renaissance humanism. Michael A. G. Haykin reports of Calvin, writing, “It was with greatest difficulty I was induced to confess that I had all my life long been in ignorance and error.”[3] God delights in revealing Christ to underserving humans by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is only by the Spirit’s revelatory administration of the saving knowledge of God in Christ by which the veil of humanism and superstitious legalism may be torn asunder. With much deliberation, Calvin subdued his addiction to the superstitious along with his trust in Renaissance humanism. Roman Catholicism had ensnared him into relying on superstitious legalism in order to move God’s hand. And Renaissance humanism taught him to trust in himself to navigate his faith and life. In 1533 Calvin laid these former foundations at the feet of Jesus, giving his life freely in dependence upon God’s grace and leadership for faith and salvation. The work of the Holy Spirit had taken root to reveal the true doctrine of God’s Word, subsequently regenerating and transforming Calvin from living for himself to living for Christ. The entry above is the result of personal transformation, not merely so-called “dead-religion.” He is expressing, something to the effect of the revelation of Christ’ truth by the power of God’s Spirit and Word; his whole existence prior had been one of blind ignorance and ignored misery. Humanism in religion is as simple as adopting modes of the Christian faith, mixed with some resonating philosophical foundations, and behold, we live life in accordance with a kind of godly moral recognition and practice, only it is derived more so of our own will and desires. Often empty of the work of God’s grace and life in the Spirit. This is a miserable way to live. Not only does this lifestyle slowly wither the human heart, but it also demonstrates a counterfeit piety, rendering effectual godliness of its substance; i.e. worship. Thereby, when we talk about decreasing for the sake of Jesus increasing, we are not talking about a graceless self-destruction of one’s personality (humanness), we are talking about trading that which makes us miserable for the joy of that which makes us alive in Christ. In this place, obedience to Christ becomes an overflow of a loving relationship with Christ. Thereby, holiness in its true form is an act of love and worship toward the God of our salvation. Humanism is merely our will exerting selfish desire above God’s Word. The remedy, therefore, must be in filling that monstrous ego-driven void with a God-sized desire for His grace by His Word and through the Spirit. Simply put, we give God our filthy rags, which is the foundation of our misery, and God gives us the joy of Himself, giving us the full benefit of all His’ righteousness through Christ by the administration of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER
Father of glory, in humility I ask that you humble my mind, will, and emotions. You are the God who created humanity in Your own image and likeness. I am not the creator or sustainer of my own will and desires. You have looked upon my wicked state and authored in me an incorruptible and unfading salvation by Your mercy. I am not the author of my salvation; I have no ability within myself to coerce Your mercy for my own eternal good. How often I am prone to ignore my own self-reliance and humanistic exertions. I repent of making Your Word an ever so careful weaving of my own will and desires. Lord, deliver me from such a deception. Have mercy on me, I am marred by the effects of sin. Give me grace by the power of Your Spirit to overcome destructive manipulations. With the author of Hebrews, I pray: “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”[4] God, I ask that you strengthen my resolve to live wholly for Christ and His Word. You alone have the power to save and transform the ever-wandering human heart. Lord, have mercy on this generation of Christian’s, a generation marked by its love for independence and self-reliance. Send Your Spirit in this time of great wickedness to deliver the church from idolatrous self-worship. Make known the superior pleasure and supreme worth of Christ above the world, its will and desires. May the church decrease for the sake of Jesus’ worth to increase. Amen.
[1]ESV. English Standard Version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway, 2001. John 3:30. Print.
[2]John Calvin, Translated by Henry Beveridge. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, LLC, 2008. P. 6. Print.
[3]Michael A.G. Haykin. Derek W.H. Thomas and John W. Tweeddale. John Calvin: For a New Reformation. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway, 2019. P. 28. Print.
[4]Ibid., ESV. Hebrews 13:20-21.