As the Covid-19 pandemic effects have begun to assuage, at least in England, questions have been raised about its effect on the Church and in particular the Church of England (which is established in England). What is the Church of England for? This question may be relevant to all churches seeking to draw people to know and love Jesus Christ. What did John Calvin believe was the ultimate goal of the Church in his generation?
Calvin’s Church was an ideal as well as an institution. The ideal was a hidden body of saints, chosen by God, known only to Him. This could not be achieved here on earth but through the careful preaching of the Word of God and correct administration of the sacraments then the visible church here on earth would resemble something of the invisible church. The latter is known solely to God Himself.
Calvin devoted an entire book of the Institutes to the visible Church, here on earth. This was motivated by the impact of Anabaptist anarchists on the church and society of the time. His view was in many ways similar to the one Luther had established in the Augsburg confession of 1530. A great deal of the book focusses on the manner of self examination the visible church should undertake in order to keep itself as close to the invisible church as possible.
The institution of the church was necessary because “in our ignorance and laziness we need outward assistance to establish and advance our faith and advance towards its goal and God has added assistance for our weakness. In order that the preaching of the Gospel might flourish he deposited this treasure in the Church. He instituted pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11) through whose lips He might teach His own.” (Institutes 4:10:1). The people in the church are “not only the saints living presently here on earth but all the elect from the beginning of the world”. Calvin recognises that the church here on earth does not comprise necessarily the same people who may be in God’s Church. In the visible church on earth “are mingled many hypocrites who have nothing of Christ but the name and the outward appearance” (Institutes 4:1:8-9).
Whilst recognising that there will be people who are members of the elect who are not in the Church fellowship here on earth, Calvin indicates that the presence at public worship is “required so we may mutually stimulate one another”. This premise is true today: issues of faith still have the power to unite and to divide the Church on earth. Which issues are the most pressing for God’s visible Church in the twenty first century? And within the Church of England? Are they different?
