Calvin and Evangelism

John Calvin is maligned not only for his predestinarian theology (although overtly orthodox), but also for a supposed lack of concern for carrying out the Great Commission. A. Mitchell Hunter asserts Calvin “displayed no trace of missionary enthusiasm.” [The Teaching of John Calvin, A Modern Interpretation] The Roman Catholic, Pighius, in disputing with Calvin over predestination, argues he cannot believe in the doctrine of election because Christ commanded the gospel to preached to all. [Treatise on Eternal Predestination]

Even some Evangelicals take this approach, supposing the historic Protestant teaching on predestination necessarily negate evangelistic endeavor. Ruth Tucker is illustrative of this, stating that Calvinists have made a common claim that the Great Commission was binding only on the New Testament Apostles and added “the doctrine of election” to this excuse, which “made missions appear extraneous if God had already chosen those he would save.” After making this statement, she confesses that Calvin himself “was at least outwardly the most missionary-minded of all the Reformers,” but she sees no need for detailing his concern for the Great Commission. [From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya]

Speaking of the Reformers, Gustav Warneck declares their “fundamental theological views hindered them from giving their activity, and even their thoughts, a missionary direction.” This declaration, like Tucker’s, is duplicitous. The missiologist elsewhere states that it was through the Reformation that “the Christianising of a large part of Europe was first completed” and in this respect it may be said that it “carried on a mission work at home on an extensive scale.” [Outline of a History of Protestant Missions from the Reformation to the Present Time] It has been noted correctly that revivals contributed significantly to the Protestant Reformation, which in turn provided the atmosphere for subsequent revivals. It must not be overlooked that the Reformation itself was a tremendous revival where “the message of Scripture was unleashed upon human hearts” and “the fires from heaven fell.” [Malcolm McDow and Alvin Reid, Firefall] It was a “wave of spiritual awakening” that “swept across Europe.” [James Burns, Revivals: Their Laws and Leaders]

Just as the Apostles began their evangelism in Jerusalem before going to Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth, so the Reformers viewed Europe as their first mission field, their “Jerusalem.” The gospel advanced through the pulpit, printing press, and personal encounter. Michael Horton contends that if such a movement had taken place on another continent during another period, with the same results, it would be considered the most significant evangelistic enterprise since that of the Apostles.

Calvin’s evangelistic concern is evident in his works, such as his “Prefatory Address to King Francis I” in the first edition of The Institutes of Christian Religion, as well as his commentaries and sermons. It is more evident in his action. Under his leadership Geneva became a training center for evangelists, church planters and missionaries. Its evangelistic thrust was so great that Francis de Sales, an ardent Roman Catholic, urged political suppression against the Swiss city. He charged, “There is not a city in Europe which offers more facilities for the encouragement of heresy,” because it is “the gate” of Europe and was filled with refugees from all over the world. He added, “Everyone knows the great numbers of ministers bred there. Last year it furnished twenty to France. Even England obtains ministers from Geneva.” Then, with great exasperation, he declared, “What shall I say of its magnificent printing establishments, by means of which the city floods the world with its wicked books…?” [Vie de ste. Francois de Sales, par son neveu] The pamphlet, or tract, became one of the most effective evangelistic tools employed by Calvin. His gospel writings, printed in Latin, German, French, English, Spanish, Dutch and Greek, were distributed throughout Europe.

Calvin, who envisioned evangelizing Europe, trained evangelists personally. Those whom he sent out spread the evangelical faith throughout the Continent and the British Isles. The Venerable Company of Pastors was established as a Protestant missionary agency. The register of the group records the names of eighty-eight men sent out for service between 1555-1562. Because of unbridled persecution against Evangelicals in Europe, the utmost secrecy was observed to protect their identities. It was not considered safe to do so until 1555 to do so, though even at that point some were listed with pseudonyms and many others were not listed at all. The practice of recording names ceased in 1562 when the wars of religion commenced in France. The peak year of missionary activity seems to have been the previous year, when no less than 142 individuals were sent out from Geneva for the sake of the gospel.

These missionaries had tremendous results with their church planting efforts in France. In 1555 there were only five organized Evangelical churches in the nation (in Paris, Meaux, Angers, Poitiers, and Loudon). Nearly four years later, in May 1559, when the first National Synod of Reformed Churches in France secretly convened in Paris, there were 100 churches. In 1562 there were 2,150 congregations and it is estimated that Evangelicals in France numbered well over 100,000.

Other church planting and evangelistic ventures took place in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, England, Scotland, and several other European countries. Evangelistic opportunities outside of Europe were shut down in the sixteenth century. The boundaries to the east and south were closed by Islamic forces and the navies of Spain and Portugal denied access to overseas ventures. Despite such opposition, missionaries from Geneva were sent to Guanabara (Rio de Janiero) in 1556. Hans Kansdorf notes that although most of these missionaries were murdered, “This has become the classical example of active Protestant mission work of the Reformation era.” [“The Reformation and Mission: A Bibliographical Survey of Secondary Literature”]