A LUO CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON CALVIN’S VIEWS
5.2 Calvin’s role in the study of the Luo
Calvin made a remarkable contribution towards the study of the work of the Spirit in sanctification. His views of the Holy Spirit, though developed in his own context of sixteenth century France and Geneva, Switzerland, have had a remarkable influence upon many Christians worldwide, including the Luo of the Africa Inland Church of Kenya. His views, as we have seen in the study, have been useful in interpreting Luo views of the Spirit.
A meaningful study of the Luo in the Africa Inland Church in Kenya can only be done by going from the “known” to the “unknown.” The “known” are the already formulated teachings and doctrines, such as those advanced by early Church fathers like John Calvin. The “unknown” is the context of the Luo where there was no biblical teaching before and where belief in the “Spirit World” was firmly rooted. The study of the Holy Spirit in a Luo context must begin from the “known” to form a clear understanding of biblical concepts such as that of the Holy Spirit in a Luo context. This understanding must be sealed by going a step further to eliminate existing teaching which is not founded on Scripture, although passed down to African peoples, and to appropriate only biblical principles for a Luo context. The Luo need the Scripture itself more than anything else.
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