Friday, June 14, 2013

A Voice from the Past - Calvin

Whatever I say about avoiding offences, I wish to be referred to things indifferent. Things which are necessary to be done cannot be omitted from any fear of offence. For as our liberty is to be made subservient to charity, so charity must in its turn be subordinate to purity of faith. 

John Calvin, 1509-1564, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Third Book, Chapter XIX, Of Christian Liberty, 13 (translated by Henry Beveridge, Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1973, Volume 2, p.139)

How do we decide what things are indifferent and in what cases to limit our liberty? Where do we draw the boundaries?

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