Refuting Calvinism

The majority of Christians in our church culture possess an innate belief that man is able to freely choose saving faith. Christian media, however, is dominated by theologians and preachers who believe otherwise, that God has predestined certain people to faith and eternal life while condemning others to hell by a decision wrought before mankind ever sinned. This media influence has brought about an unnecessary confusion regarding God’s sovereignty, ushering in a mindset influenced by the doctrines of John Calvin and other “Reformed” theologians. Does the Bible teach predestined salvation? Do we have free will? Are both doctrines somehow true?

Many Christians realize deep inside that Calvin’s form of predestination, which disregards faith and the will of man, seems capricious. In our hearts we know that condemning someone to hell when he has no hope to live without sin or to find the savior, is inherently unjust. Yet, Calvin’s doctrine runs rampant in the church, and many Christians throw their hands up in surrender, because ardent Calvinists twist the Scriptures to the point that many truth-seeking believers have trouble defending the simple truth of God’s word.

The generally accepted doctrine of predestination has also brought about an apathetic response to the call to evangelism. After all, if someone is predestined to be saved or condemned, it doesn’t matter if I, personally, witness to that person. Calvinist thought leads to the idea that God is going to do what He’s going to do, whether or not we speak a word of witness. Yes, Calvinists still witness, but they cannot possibly do so with the urgency that the truth demands, and their message is always tainted with falsehoods that lead people astray.

It’s also important that we learn the truth about the ways of our gracious God. He has not created humans simply to play with their robotic responses, forcing some into eternal damnation for sin they could not help but commit, that He is not a God who calls the world to repent, secretly knowing that He will force some to respond to His call while preventing everyone else from responding. Because of the tragic, even blasphemous attacks on God's character that Calvinist doctrine creates, it is important that we are able to explain Him rightly, so that the world will learn of our gracious heavenly Father and not the evil god the Calvinists propose.

I believe that God allows people to make a choice. We all possess the ability to have faith in Him even while we were still sinners. The Bible teaches free will. Yet, predestination and election are also taught in the Scriptures, though the truth of the Word does not line up with the Calvinistic understanding of these doctrines.

Over the next several days, I will posting essays that dismantle the five points of Calvinism, often called the TULIP, because each letter in that word represents one of the points. Although going through this exercise might not prepare readers for a debate with Calvinist seminarians, I hope it will give them confidence in the true doctrine of God’s gracious love and his desire that all people be saved through his wonderful sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. I hope this effort brings you joy and wipes away the confusion that so many misguided theologians have smeared on the Christian landscape. God is sovereign, yes, but God is also love. Let’s see how these two wonderful attributes meld in God’s wondrous plan of salvation.