John Calvin

The Reformation leaders, Martin Luther and John Calvin, never met in person. When Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Calvin was eight years old. Calvin sent a letter to Luther through a mutual friend, Melanchthon, that was never delivered. Melanchthon wrote to Calvin, “I have not given your letter to Doctor Martin, as he looks at such things with suspicion.” Luther was touchy and weary as he was nearing the end of his life. The temperaments of these two reformers were poles apart. Luther said of himself, “I am rough, boisterous, stormy and belligerent. I was born to fight against monsters and demons.” He was outgoing and extroverted, a true “people person.” Calvin, by contrast, was a classic introvert (I’d wager INTJ on the Myers-Briggs Scale). He described himself, “I assure you that by nature I am shy and timid “. Calvin had deep respect for “father Luther” yet described him as “immoderately ardent and violent in character.” Luther admired Calvin yet also wrote that he was “educated but strongly suspected of the error of the Sacramentarians,” a reference to their dispute over the Lord’s Supper. Calvin following in Luther’s footsteps was surely an act of God. Luther functioned as pioneer and trailblazer, the heart of the Reformation. Calvin was its head, the scholar who provided this fledgling movement with theological rigor and depth. Despite their differences, they shared a deep commitment to God in prayer. Calvin devoted 100 pages of his Institutes of the Christian Religion to prayer, which he described as “intimate conversation with God.” He wrote that God’s very character gives us every assurance that God hears and answers prayer. Luther’s references to prayer permeate his writings. He consistently advocated that prayer be frequent, bold, honest and forthright. We begin this day with a morning prayer by John Calvin: