The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Did John Calvin sanction the death of Servetus?

George:

Here’s why your conclusion is (still) absurd:


You start by stating that you evidently are not sure what “bad fruit” really is.

Then in your conclusion, your logic then jumps to the fact that.....some sort of “Sin” is “bad fruit”. Especially Calvin’s sin. You called it “Sanctioning the burning of Servetus”. What would this “sin” be, asssuming the worst of Calvin? Complicity in murder? A sin of omission for not speaking out against “capital punishment”, which was the law of the land? Premeditated murder? Whatever it is it is some sort of “Sin”.

Then your logic..jumps again and presumes....1st he is guilty of “Sin” and 2nd he is un-repentant of sin before he “received his doctrine from the Holy Spirit” and/or after. (your words) Therefore..he is a bad tree. This logic also applies to Paul...he also is guilty of “Sin”....especially prior to his conversion...and didn’t Paul state “O wretched man that I am!”..... after his conversion......but your logic says “our Lord warns you to beware of him.”...because he is/has “bad fruit”....”SIN”.

Since your definition of “bad fruit” by default is some sort of “sin”..shouldn’t we also beware of “George Fitt”? I would wonder if there may be some un-repented sin..concerning the 9th commandment and John Calvin. In your presumption that Calvin was unrepentant...have you ever read any of the published prayers of John Calvin? If not here’s a sample for your perusal:


From what I’ve read of Calvin, I would imagine that not a day went by without a cleansing of the soul in humble repentance before his God. We would all do well to imitate it.


Dave