Discussion Questions

The chapter describes Geneva under Calvin as enforcing church attendance, doctrine, and moral behavior through the Consistory and civil officers; what picture of “God’s kingdom” is implicitly being assumed in that system, and how does that compare with Jesus’ statement that His disciples did not fight because His kingdom is not of this world? JumpstartAnother way to ask: In Calvin’s Geneva, the church and government forced people to attend church and follow certain morals. What idea of “God’s kingdom” does that assume, and how does it fit with Jesus saying His kingdom is not of this world?

Bercot says Calvin “accepted the Constantinian hybrid without reservation” and wanted Geneva to resemble Old Testament Israel; what do you think Calvin believed about God’s intentions in joining Church and state, and what parts of the chapter make that belief look wise—or dangerously mistaken? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Why do you think Calvin wanted the church and government joined together, like Old Testament Israel? What in the chapter makes that idea seem helpful—or seriously wrong?

The Consistory’s methods included neighborhood surveillance, questioning children, home searches, torture, and treating confessions as “incontrovertible evidence”; what kind of view of human nature, sin, and “godly living” is required to justify those tactics, and what kind of fruit would you expect such a system to produce in a Christian community? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The Consistory used spying, questioning kids, home searches, torture, and forced confessions. What beliefs about people, sin, and “godly living” would make someone think this is okay, and what kind of community would it create?

In the Gruet story, critical remarks about Calvin found in private papers were treated as criminal, and torture was used to force confession; what does that episode reveal about how “true doctrine” was being protected, and where might modern Christians use different tools to accomplish the same kind of control? JumpstartAnother way to ask: In the Gruet story, even private criticism of Calvin was punished, and torture was used to get a confession. What does this show about how they tried to protect “true doctrine,” and how might Christians today try to control people in similar ways without torture?

When Jeanne Trulliet challenged dual predestination by arguing it makes God the author of sin, Calvin refused discussion and said the doctrines in the Institutes were “put in his brain by God”; what does that exchange reveal about Calvin’s posture toward correction and accountability, and what does it suggest about how claims of divine certainty can function in theological disputes? JumpstartAnother way to ask: When Jeanne Trulliet questioned predestination, Calvin wouldn’t discuss it and said God put the doctrine in his mind. What does that say about how open he was to correction, and how can claiming “God told me” affect theological arguments?

The Cervetes account includes denial of legal defense, inability to explain his writings, condemnation though he was only passing through, and execution by burning while the crowd watched “in amusement”; what does this narrative force you to confront about how easily “defending truth” can become cruelty, and what do you think God’s heart is toward the accused in such a setting? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Servetus wasn’t allowed a real defense and was burned while people watched. How does this story show how “defending truth” can turn into cruelty, and what do you think God cares about when someone is accused like this?

Calvin later wrote that he “rejoice[s]” that people “spit in my face” and insisted that arguing against executing heretics makes a person share their guilt; what assumptions about God’s justice and the Church’s role in punishment are operating in that quote, and how do those assumptions collide with Jesus’ teachings about enemies, mercy, and judgment? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Calvin said he was glad people hated him and that anyone against executing heretics shares their guilt. What does that say about how he saw God’s justice and the church’s role in punishment, and how does it clash with Jesus’ teaching on mercy and loving enemies?

Bercot wonders what the Waldensians thought as former victims of burning who now belonged to a movement that burned others; what do you think changes in a persecuted group when it gains power, and what practices would early Kingdom Christians have used to prevent that reversal? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot asks what the Waldensians thought after surviving burnings but later being part of a movement that burned others. What tends to change when a persecuted group gets power, and how could early Kingdom Christians have prevented that?

The chapter argues Rome made Kingdom teachings “optional” for the “perfect,” but Calvin made them “wholly irrelevant” because predestination means obedience cannot affect destiny; where do you see modern evangelical versions of that same practical outcome (Kingdom teachings sidelined), and what would have to change in our preaching and discipleship to make Jesus’ commands matter again? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter says Calvin’s view of predestination can make obedience seem pointless, so Jesus’ teachings get pushed aside. Where do you see something like that today, and what would need to change so Jesus’ commands become central again?

Calvin denied Jesus introduced new moral/lifestyle teachings beyond Moses and argued that what was “holy and lawful back then cannot be forbidden to Christians today”; how does that claim reshape Christian ethics around war, civil office, coercion, and violence, and what concrete choices would you need to reconsider if Jesus truly did bring a new way of life for His people? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Calvin said Jesus didn’t bring new lifestyle teachings beyond Moses, so what was allowed back then is still allowed now. How does that affect Christian choices about war, government power, forcing others, and violence—and what would you rethink if Jesus really did call His people to a new way of life?