Monday, March 12, 2018

Charles Spurgeon's Gushing Words of Praise for John Calvin

Charles Spurgeon said the following about John Calvin:

Among all those who have been born of women, there has not risen a greater than John Calvin; no age before him ever produced his equal, and no age afterwards has seen his rival. In theology, he stands alone, shining like a bright fixed star, while other leaders and teachers can only circle round him, at a great distance-as comets go streaming through space-with nothing like his glory or his permanence. Calvin’s fame is eternal because of the truth he proclaimed; and even in heaven, although we shall lose the name of the system of doctrine which he taught, it shall be that truth which shall make us strike our golden harps, and sing (source [The Autobiography of Charles H. Spurgeon, Compiled from His Diaries, Letters, and Records by His Wife and His Private Secretary, 1899, Fleming H. Revell, Vol. 2, (1854-1860), pp. 371-372])


I do find such gushing words of praise to be rather odd amongst Calvinists—if a Latter-day Saint said this about Joseph Smith or a Catholic about Mary or one of the other canonized saints, such would be taken as bordering on idolatry and “man-worship.”

What is even worse and heartbreaking is that Calvinism is a false gospel, and John Calvin (and Charles Spurgeon) are not in heaven--they died with a false hope. For a refutation of much of the presuppositions underlying Calvinism in light of biblical exegesis, see: