Page 6 - PC Winter 2023-24

6 WINTER 2023
PRESBYTERIAN
Why Prayer Matters: John Calvin’s Theological Thoughts
Connection
A lighthouse near Halifax. Prayers are offered to God in the name of Jesus, and the divine and human wills are beautifully harmonized by God’s grace.
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By the Rev. Dr. Hojin Ahn, Korean Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia in Halifax, N.S.
In the final edition of Institutes of the Christian Religions by John Calvin, in the part about prayer, Calvin talks about how God’s will and our wills connect. God wants to hear and respond to the prayers of those who believe in Christ. This is shown by the life of Jesus. When we understand how God cares for us through Christ, prayer becomes a choice based on faith. Calvin’s view of prayer brings together God’s will and ours in a smooth way. It’s like a beautiful puzzle where God’s plans and our faith fit together. God takes the first step in helping us, giving us the power to pray. God expects us to pray willingly, and this is an important aspect of Calvin’s ideas.
In Institutes, Calvin dedicates the longest chapter to prayer.
A photo from the sanctuary, Korean Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia.
Instead of delving into abstract explanations of why prayer is essential, he tackles the practi- cal issue of how to pray. Calvin firmly rebuts the notion of prac- tical atheism that might make Christian prayer appear pointless or unnecessary in the face of an all-knowing and all-powerful God. He replaces this doubt with the idea that prayer is a personal “conversation” between a loving father and children, allowing be- lievers to share their burdens with God. God’s eternal longing to be with us led to the institution of prayer for our benefit. Calvin as- sures us that God is eager to pro- vide what we truly need through his graciousness, recognizing our prayers as a means of receiving his blessings.
Calvin emphasizes that God’s unchanging will is that we, as adopted children in Christ, have an unwavering place in God’s heart. This grace of election, freely given by God’s unchange- able will, leads to the concept of “free adoption” into God’s family. The process of God’s adoption through grace not only grants eligibility but also strengthens the ability to pray. God desires us to experience eternal love and blessings through prayer in Jesus Christ’s name.
Moreover, the Holy Spirit, serv- ing as the guide to true prayer, holds a crucial role. It affirms God’s intentions for us and brings forth the redemptive benefits of Christ in our present Christian lives. Calvin defines prayer as an expression of faith, a practical application that culminates in the understanding of Trinitarian sote- riology—the saving work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
However, during the act of prayer, a complex issue emerg- es—the potential conflict be- tween human will and God’s will. If a believer prays for something against God’s plan, can their ac- cidental desires alter God’s un- changing will?
Calvin, aware of this theo- logical dilemma, responds with steadfast assurance about God’s role in our lives through Christ. He draws on Augustine’s argu- ment to address this question. Augustine’s insight is that when saints pray for something con- trary to God’s decree, they are still praying according to God’s will—not the hidden, unchange- able will, but the will inspired in them by God’s incomprehensible plan. God listens and responds in God’s own way, even if the prayers contain a mix of faith and error. This perspective is titled, God’s “Hearkening to perverted prayer.” For example, Calvin uses the example of Ahab’s pretended penitence to illustrate how God is moved to listen to the elect, encouraging them to turn to him genuinely. This passage is crucial to understanding Calvin’s view of prayer’s essence. It shows how God practically responds to our imperfect prayers, which rely on God’s forgiveness in Christ. Cal- vin identifies three ways in which God responds faithfully: by listen-
ing, by “inspiring” God’s own will within believers’ hearts as they pray, and through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, which is determined based on our present prayers.
Calvin consistently emphasizes a theological harmony between God’s providence, predestination and prayer. He argues that we must pray daily for what God foresees as beneficial, as he did in the first edition of Institutes. He maintains this position in the final edition, asser ting that God’s foreknowl- edge is pleased to provide for our present needs through God’s own free will. This anticipation is not about God fulfilling whatever we arbitrarily request, but rather about achieving God’s eternal goal for his kingdom through the sovereign work of Christ.
Ultimately, Christian prayers are a continuous process of insight and participation in God’s holy purpose. Despite the challenge of aligning our will with God’s, Calvin’s perspective emphasizes the dynamic interaction between prayer and God’s providence in Christ. Calvin says, “It is weak-
ness or imperfection of faith that vitiates believers’ prayers, unless God’s mercy succor them... By severely chastising themselves they may strive to overcome these obstacles, they should nonetheless break through, surely persuaded that, although not freed of all hindrances, their efforts please God and their peti- tions are approved, provided that they endeavor and strive toward a goal.”
Even though our prayers might not be perfect, God’s compassion ensures they don’t go unnoticed. Much like a skilled trainer, God corrects our misdirected prayers and urges us to keep putting in ef- fort. This is because God wants us to persistently pray until we align ourselves with God’s eter- nal will. Charles Partee neatly summarizes the core of Calvin’s prayer doctrine: God not only “foresees” our pleas in prayer but also “responds” to every one of them. Calvin underscores God’s foreknowledge over predestina- tion, practically motivating us to
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The Rev. Dr. Hojin Ahn received a continuing education grant of $1,500 from The Presbyterian Church in Canada to pursue his studies. Learn more at presbyterian.ca/education-grant.