Casper the Friendly Ghost.  The title seems a bit like an oxymoron.  Ghosts, after all, are not friendly.  The same is often said of John Calvin.  He was the "tyrant of Geneva."  He was the father of the "frozen chosen."  However, according to Dr. Robert Godfrey, President of Westminster Seminary California, Calvin was a lot more like Casper than we think. 

In his address at the "Calvin's Legacy" Conference this past weekend, Dr. Godfrey shows us how Calvin was actually quite warm and friendly toward his friends and those whom he ministered to in Geneva.  Theodore Beza, Calvin's student and successor, said of the Reformer, "In the common course of life, there was no man more pleasant.  In him all men may see a beautiful example of Christian character."  This side of Calvin comes out most strikingly in his letters, especially as he tried to ease tensions and solve disputes between the Lutheran and Reformed churches of Europe.  When launching polemics against Rome, Calvin could be quite harsh.  But when dealing with the struggling churches of the Reformation, even when Calvin disagreed with them, he was a shining example of moderation and flexibility, and showed a great passion for the unity of the body of Christ.

Read the live blog notes from Dr. Godfrey's lecture here.