John Calvin was one of the most influential Protestants of the Reformation alongside

other big names like Martin Luther and Zwingli. Though Luthers writings may be more
controversial and more open for interpretation, the careful and systematical methodology of
Calvins writings makes him a better choice for a Christian perspective on current political issues
from any of the ancient or medieval political thinkers weve studied.
Ferguson
In the month of August the shooting of Michael Brown in the city of Ferguson, Missouri
sparked a rise of racial tension. The incident, which involved the shooting of a black teenager by
a white police officer, led to rioting and violence in the city. While many in the city called for the
indictment of the officer; the verdict by the Grand Jury on November 24th, which ruled against
indictment, did little to appease the protestors.
The situation in Ferguson, being itself a tragedy, is an example of the form of government
that Calvin would not lobby for. Calvin favored a mixed government in a combination of
democracy and aristocracy. The U.S. government, which is partially a Democracy and partially
an Aristocracy, has a combination of different levels of government ranging from county, state,
and federal. Similarly it has three definitive branches of government defined as the judicial,
executive, and legislative. The legislative branch consisting of the House of Representatives and
Senate, whom make up Congress, are elected by a majority, an example of democracy; while the
executive branchs primary example is the President, which is not always elected by the majority.
The judicial branchs highest court made up of Supreme Court Justices however are nominated
by the President and approved by the Senate. The nomination and approval of Justices is an
example of Aristocracy. The grand jury however is in direct contrast to this because often the

grand jury does not representatives of the community as necessary for a democracy nor are they
the best fit as required by an aristocracy.
The situation in Ferguson is a possible example of how the grand jury is to function.
However grand jurors receive little instructions from judges concerning the power of the grand
jury and their freedom from the prosecutors and are rarely read instruction on the law. The issue
that arises in this situation is that the grand jury is easily manipulated by the prosecutor. As well
the defendant is usually not allowed to appear to defend themselves. In the case of Ferguson the
appearance of Officer Darren Wilson at the hearing was an anomaly.
Calvin would consider this form of judging a persons guilt in a crime abhorring since
grand jurors neither represent the two forms of government Calvin favored.
Calvin, who believes the purpose of government is to protect individual rights, would
disagree with this form of government. Calvin would consider this means of judging a persons
guilt unacceptable and call for its removal or reform. He would approve of the lower levels of the
judicial branch if the jury was thoroughly trained in the specific conduct, responsibility, and
laws. The problem however that Calvin would raise is that the lower courts which deal most
heavily with the innocent and lower caste of society tends to be so easily swayed by charismatic
lawyers.
Calvin does not however condemn the government for its actions in regards to
punishment of crimes. He references Romans 13:4 and more specifically 13:1-7 to defend his
position on the necessity of government. He defends the government for its judgment on their
fellow man as the ministers of Gods justice. This argument is made from the fourth book of his
institutes in chapter 20.10. But a thorough reading of the two preceding sections differ the proper

use of government to the authority of God and the keeping of both tables of the law. This means
full adherence to the Ten Commandments.
Therefore I move to put forth the notion that the current law system and more specifically
the dealings of the grand jury in Ferguson would face opposition from Calvin under the premise
that not only should both plaintiff and defendant should be present at the litigation. But that
certain motives be stricken from the plaintiff. But he should be far from all passion to harm or
take revenge, far from harshness and hatred, far from burning desire for contention. This
however is not the standard use of the courts system. For the reason persists that the grand jury is
at the mercy of the prosecutor if they are unaware of their responsibility.
Increased Cost of Higher Education
The increased cost of Higher Education coupled with the decreased funding by the
United States government has made it more and more difficult for students to continue their
education. As headmaster and founder of the Geneva University in Geneva, Switzerland, Calvin
understood the importance of higher education. The situation that the United States faces
currently in regards to the transparency of the higher education act is that much of the needed
information for students and families is not easily accessible.
The University at Geneva, which was founded in 1559, was a show of Calvins opinion
of the value of higher education. The school which had been unable to be funded by the council
in Geneva was instead funded through donations and gifts procured by Calvin. The simple fact
that the college was funded in the city of Geneva for the purpose of easing the means of
education shows that Calvin would insist that the need for a simpler system of procuring federal
aid for higher education is a must.

Calvin also asserts the importance of education in his Institutes. In book one The
Knowledge of God the Creator Calvin labeled his 16th chapter God by His Power Nourishes and
Maintains the World Created by Him, and Rules Its Several Parts by His Providence. This
chapter details Calvins view on Gods providence in creation. The sustaining power by which he
maintains the whole of creation and even writes For unless we pass on to his providencehowever we may seem both to comprehend with the mind and to confess with the tongue- we do
not yet properly grasp what it means to say: God is Creator. This sentence in the larger
context of the section explains the necessity of not only professing God as creator with the
tongue but must also see God as creator through his creation. Calvin would say that education
allows believers to more greatly grasp what it means to say God is creator.
Texas Legislature Involving Privacy of Church/Separation of Church and State
In May of 2014 the city council of Houston, Texas approved an Equal Right Ordinance
that extended equal rights protection for gays and transgender. The Houston Equal Right
Ordinance, or HERO for short, gave men who identify as women to use restrooms of their
choice. The debate in turn sparked a rallying of opponents to the decision to seek signatures in a
petition for a repeal. The petition which by its supporters were said to contain 50,000 signatures
was in turn thrown out by the City Attorney of Houston who stated that only around 17,000
signatures were valid.
The opponents to this legislature, which was primarily lead by five pastors in Houston,
then were subpoenaed to turn over to city officials all sermons and correspondence that mention
homosexuality, the HERO legislature, or the mayor of Houston. The pastors all refused to turn
over the demanded documents under the convictions that to do so would abandon their first

amendment rights constituting the freedom of religion and speech. These five pastors, supported
by their communities, held onto the same beliefs and values Calvin did.
Calvin believed that it was unjust for government to impede the churchs calling and
mission. This mission which included preaching and evangelism of the gospel. The actions that
the city of Houston took in actions against the churches stood in juxtaposition to Calvins own
works. Though the issue of the HERO legislature would have also been controversy for Calvin
the primary point is the restrictions that the state was attempting to place on the church.
Yet civil government has as its appointed end, so long as we live among men, to
cherish and protect the outward worship of God, to defend sound doctrine of piety
and the position of the church, to adjust our life to society of men, to form our
social behavior to civil righteousness, to reconcile us with one another, and to
promote general peace and tranquility.
Calvin would have adamantly declared the actions of the city government as oppressive
and overreaching in the relation that the church and state are to share. Where Calvin indicates
there is to be a separation of church and state the line is not to protect the state from the church.
But the contrary to protect the church from the state. Calvins position is strengthened by his
assurance that Christians are to not be like the Anabaptists and separate from the government.
But that the governments sole purpose is to act as the judges of Gods rule and sovereignty in
the affairs of man, not the oppression of Gods commandments.
Immigration
President Obamas Immigration Accountability Executive Action made quite a stir in
political circles. One major point of the controversy that would be supported by Calvin is the

temporary immigration protections for unauthorized or illegal parents of U.S. citizens. Calvin
who was a refugee of prosecution by the Catholic Church in France supported the immigration of
refugees to Geneva against much opposition. However the technicalities of the immigration
situation in the United States may not comply with Calvins position.
Calvin would have supported the change in immigration policy for parents remaining
with their children by the simplicity that to separate a parent from a child would cause the child
to be an orphan and thus contradict the main faults addressed by the prophets. Jeremiah 7:6;
22:3; and Ezekiel 22:7 the prophets speak to the people concerning the treatment of foreigners,
widows, and orphans. Though there are many more verses that speak about proper treatment of
Israel concerning these people Calvin references Jeremiah 22:3 when speaking about the duties
of the magistrate and the keeping of the two tables.

Works Cited
"CALVIN AND GENEVA." CALVIN AND GENEVA. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.
Calvin, Jean. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1960. Print.
"Council Extends Rights Protection for Gays, Transgendered." Houston Chronicle. N.p., n.d.
Web. 08 Dec. 2014.
"Foes Plan to Take City to Court over Rejected ERO Petitions." Houston Chronicle. N.p., n.d.
Web. 08 Dec. 2014.
Starnes, Todd. "City of Houston Demands Pastors Turn over Sermons." Fox News. FOX News
Network, 14 Oct. 2014. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.
Starnes, Todd. "Houston Mayor Drops Bid to Subpoena Pastors' Sermons." Fox News. FOX
News Network, 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.
US News. U.S.News & World Report, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.
"What Happened in Ferguson?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 12 Aug. 2014. Web.
05 Dec. 2014.