John Calvin and the Civil Magistrate (Part 2)
"Wherefore no man can doubt that civil authority is, in the sight of God, not only sacred and lawful, but the most sacred, and by far the most honourable, of all stations in mortal life." (Inst 4.20.4)
We continue our look at Calvin "On Civil Magistrate." Crucial to everything Calvin says is the definition he provides for the civil magistrate. He states that they are "to make the power with which they are invested subject to Christ, that he may rule over all" (Inst 4.20.5). Yet Calvin does not insinuate that unfaithful magistrates are disqualified or should be thrown down from office. In fact in his commentary on 1 Timothy Calvin states the very opposite,
"The depravity of men is not a reason why God’s ordinance should not be loved. Accordingly, seeing that God appointed magistrates and princes for the preservation of mankind, however much they fall short of the divine appointment, still we must not on that account cease to love what belongs to God, and to desire that it may remain in force." (Commentary on 1 Timothy 2:2)
This is certainly foreign to democratic thinking. We have the tendency to believe that we replace our governing officials when their names and faces change. But the civil magistrate itself stays the same. Calvin certainly would say that unfaithful rulers will bring down harsh judgements upon themselves. Yet, he cannot go so far as to proclaim that they be removed. Later Calvin would say,
"princes, and all who hold the office of magistracy, are here reminded of their duty. It is not enough, if, by giving to every one what is due, they restrain all acts of violence, and maintain peace; but they must likewise endeavor to promote religion, and to regulate morals by wholesome discipline." (Commentary on 1 Timothy 2:2)
It is worth noting here that Biblically minded Christians should be resounding echoes of God's word in the ears of the unfaithful magistrate. Not in an obnoxious and political way. But in a covenant bound way that first extends in application to the church and then subsequently the rulers and authorities. And what if they do not listen? I will conclude with this poignant statement from Calvin,
"If any one ask, Ought we to pray for kings, from whom we obtain none of these advantages? I answer, the object of our prayer is, that, guided by the Spirit of God, they may begin to impart to us those benefits of which they formerly deprived us. It is our duty, therefore, not only to pray for those who are already worthy, but we must pray to God that he may make bad men good. We must always hold by this principle, that magistrates were appointed by God for the protection of religion, as well as of the peace and decency of society, in exactly the same manner that the earth is appointed to produce food. Accordingly, in like manner as, when we pray to God for our daily bread, we ask him to make the earth fertile by his blessing; so in those benefits of which we have already spoken, we ought to consider the ordinary means which he has appointed by his providence for bestowing them." (Commentary on 1 Timothy 2:2)
