Calvin on Error in Doctrine and Practice and the Hidden Things of God: Two Articles

John Calvin on Condoning Theological Delusion

In Calvin’s judgment, there are times when it is not only permissible, but in fact necessary, to “condone” some degree of “delusion” on the part of others, even—or especially—with regard to theological subjects. Such is the cost of maintaining unity and fellowship with persons of genuine Christian faith. “All men,” he writes, “are beclouded with ignorance.” Translation: everyone gets it wrong on some point of doctrine/practice or another. “Either,” then, “we must leave no church remaining”—i.e., we must break fellowship with absolutely everyone—“or we must condone delusion in those matters which can go unknown [i.e., in those matters where ignorance/error can be tolerated] without harm to the sum of religion and without loss of salvation.”

Certain qualifications are in order. First, condoning delusion is never a matter of concealing disagreement. “I would not support even the slightest errors,” Calvin explains, “with the thought of fostering them through flattery and connivance.” Christians must openly acknowledge and “try to correct”—with all due charity and in deference to the church’s “peace and duly ordered discipline”—doctrines or practices which they deem misguided. Christians should expect their brothers and sisters to reciprocate in kind, even if that means their own ideas and customs stand exposed to potential criticism. But where disagreement, despite genuine dialogue, persists, Christian fellowship should not be broken: “We must not thoughtlessly forsake the church because of any petty dissensions.” Read more

John Calvin on Theological Trespassing

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever” (Deut. 29:29).

In John Calvin’s understanding, these words from Deuteronomy 29:29 serve as the equivalent of a theological “no trespassing” sign. A distinction is drawn by this text between those things that are “revealed” and those things that are “secret,” and the latter are unequivocally identified as the unique property of God. To investigate such “hidden” things without license constitutes an act of intrusion upon territory very clearly marked out by God as God’s own. Read more