"If a king, or ruler, or magistrate, do become so lofty that he diminisheth the honor and authority of God, he is but a man. We must thus think also of pastors. For he which goeth beyond his bounds in his office...must be despoiled of his honor" John Calvin

One fascinating thing about Calvin is how he very clearly believes that some form of hierarchy is necessary. The issue he is highlighting here is not the existence of authority, but the transgression of God& #39;s authority.

But it seems this disentangling of God& #39;s authority from the authority of rulers or clergy opens the possibility for suspicion of authority as it is. And yet if one seems to be in line with God& #39;s authority it can give one an incredibly long leash with exercising one& #39;s authority

Calvin will never be a "useful" thinker for a 21st century context, but I think some of the moves he makes can provide at least a building block in constructing helpful lines of thinking

Useful in the sense of this person maps neatly onto the ideological/theological debates I want to have in this moment. He can be useful in terms of getting us think, question our assumptions, etc.