Thesis #46 of 95 – The Reformer John Calvin’s description of little children by nature as "odious" and "an abomination to God" opposes the teaching of Christ

BIBLICAL QUOTATION

Mt18:2-6 Jesus called a little child and set him among them, saying “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. So whoever will humble himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such little child in My name, receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.

COMMENTS

This thesis refers to a quotation from my one-time hero John Calvin: “All men’s thoughts, inclinations and efforts are corrupt and viscous”, even young infants being “odious and an abomination to God; their very natures being a seed-bed of sin” [Institutes of Christian Religion – Second Book chap. 1 para 8]. 

Such sentiments, intrinsic to the doctrine of “total depravity” are piously packaged and presented, claiming to exalt God’s grace whilst “trouncing man’s arrogant determination to in some way contribute to his own salvation”. Yet it is a doctrine that must delight Satan’s heart in view of what it implies about both divine and human nature. That is no doubt why his party has shown such displeasure that the Reformers’ ingenious fabrication is being systematically dismantled by yours truly.

The extent to which Calvin’s perspective on children opposes the teaching of Christ should be evident to anyone with a modicum of understanding of the Gospels. It will be the subject of the next post/thesis – in particular what the Lord was intimating in the passage I have quoted and highlighted from Mt18.

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