Posted on 07/01/2004 1:16:43 PM PDT by Frapster
Why I Am Not a Calvinist
I debated several different titles in regards to this particular subject and too many of them failed to convey the true gist of what I wanted to communicate. However, I recognize that this title creates an air of controversy that the careless reader might stumble over - but I have decided that any injury they might receive is more a product of their unrelenting agenda than it is a result of reading the following few paragraphs.
I am not a Calvinist first and foremost for one reason – I find no value in saying I’m a follower of Calvin or any other human who has graced the face of this planet save one – Jesus Christ. Secondly I’m not a Calvinist because even though I have been greatly impacted by the results of his works – that impact is not direct. It is the result of those who are ardent students of scripture and possibly Calvin’s work directly – I do not know. The reality is I have no direct tie to his name because I’ve not read Calvin’s works nor do I care to read his works. I know – blasphemy. Thirdly – I am not a Calvinist because I see no value in it. He is a man who has been greatly used of God – but no more so than Paul the Apostle and I assure you that I have read Paul’s works but neither do I consider myself a follower of Paul. My life may reflect the impact of Paul’s works but in the end my life is a product of the living God who indwells me and is conforming me to the image of his Son. My life may very well reflect some aspects or many aspects of Calvin’s works but I give neither credit nor glory to Calvin.
Is There Any Value in Being a Calvinist?
No – not when it comes at the expense of those around you. In particular I think the only value in any system of belief is when what you believe not only lines you up properly with the word of God but also it enables you to produce fruit worthy his kingdom. In the earliest days of my introduction to God’s sovereignty it was in context of a discussion about effective witnessing and the need to witness. What I quickly realized is that my motivation and methodology for witnessing would forever be changed. This was a direct result of understanding my role in not only my salvation process but my role in the salvation process of others. In building upon that foundation I soon learned that in God’s economy what he ultimately wants from us is obedience in light of where he has us. I can no more save myself than I can save someone else. But – I can certainly participate in what God would have me do to achieve HIS purpose (as opposed to mine) in witnessing. I found tremendous liberty in this because no longer did I need to see immediate results nor did I need to feel the discouragement of having someone reject me. Instead I found that I could trust that God was in control and his will would ultimately be done – I just needed to obey.
What’s more is that I’ve found this motivation and methodology is true in dealing with fellow believers as well. Even within my own church I am amazed at the diversity of beliefs that surround me. Some I just ignore and others concern me greatly. But in the end I find the greatest value in resting fully upon God’s grace, focusing first and foremost upon serving His interests. When I successfully do that I find my life to be most effective for God.
Where Does The True Value Lay?
I have found that the most effective thing I can do in the Kingdom of God is that which makes the most difference. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in grasping the understanding of the sovereignty of God in life it’s that he’s not idle nor is he oblivious. If I were in some fashion to encapsulate all of the best intentions of mankind for all of time and compare it to the love and compassion of God I would find that the best mankind has to offer would be nothing but a mote in the wind by comparison. I have found that there are specific earmarks of effective ministry in this world. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Conversely I have found that operating out of God’s context produces a whole different set of earmarks. They are: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
Examine the fruits of your labor. What are they producing? That’s where you will find true value.
Bah - I'd like to reword a bit but I was out of time. Oh well. :-)
Would you please correct my title which is clearly in error? Thank you.
This has the making sof a top ten list... I am just too busy now!
I'll fix it.
Thank you!
Amen to that.
Bump for your reading.
Nothing comes between me and my Calvinist. LOL. I couldn't resist.
Then how do claim to know what he believed? I have read Calvin's Institutes. Can't say I've read his commentaries aside very limited sections.
Frapster, I truly connect to everything you've said - especially this:
Laying aside all mortal attempts at doctrine and tradition, the first and most important commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, strength and understanding. The second is to love our neighbors as ourselves. Everything in the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments! (Matthew 22)
Thank you so much for your essay!
This may sound cheeky but through the scriptures. My path to the Calvinist side was through one taped sermon I happened to hear a year ago on God's sovereignty (after 30 years). When I heard this sermon I was flabergasted and went back and read the scriptures from a sovereign God perspective. It took on a completely new meaning. Many of the verses I wrestled with for years disappeared.
To verify my interpretations were correct I went back and read Augustine and church history extensively. I had only to read through the TULIP and the Council of Orange Creeds to match the scriptures, the early church fathers, and the Reformers together. Without fail on major points of theology I can articulate Calvin's view and the early church's view clearly from the scriptures with a sovereign God perspective. I'm amaze at how closely they mirrored one another and how I failed after all these years to see this error.
I saw no problem in reading through the TULIP and quite frankly am surprised by the anomosity there is to the idea of God's sovereignty. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think Christians would be so hostile to the idea of a sovereign God. Yet the evidence is shone on this and other forums. The rants are not really as much about the Calvinists as they are about the sovereignty of God. People, especially Christians, don't like the idea and don't want to hear it.
There are surprises within Calvinism that do crop up like limited vs unlimited attonement and Calvin's apparent silence on the matter. As I study this more these issues will become clearer. However, this does not change the basic construct of Calvin and the early church fathers' theology of a sovereign God. The scriptures and their writings are very clear.
Thanks for your reply. I do not know a single Christian who does not believe that God is sovereign. What some Calvinists seem to have a problem with is the concept that a sovereign God can permit man to have a free will and still be an absolute sovereign. A man who refuses to accept the free offer of salvation and accept Christ as his Savior will be condemned to hell. How much more Sovereign can God be?
Maybe Calvin was silent on the topic of atonement because he believed that it was unlimited. There is no need to state a position on atonement if it is unlimited, but there is if it is limited.
Do you not think that being champions of God's sovereignty that Calvinists moreso than anyone else should be champions for God's grace?
The problem I've always had is where you draw the line between man's control and God's control. You could believe like an Open-Theist that God has relinquish total control to man; a Baptist that once God saves you, you're saved forever but you still can do what you want; or a Catholic who believes that God brings you right to the tippy-top of making a decision. Each has their own line in the sand but it always somewhere less than a totally sovereign God. It is still within the context of God relinquishing some amount of His sovereignty to man.
This is Pelagian’s belief and was deemed heresy by the early church at the Council of Orange. The early church fathers recognized the problem. But that didn’t stop this belief from spreading which was converted into Semi-Pelagian and later translated into Arminian which is now prevalent throughout the church. But heresy is still heresy no matter how it’s packaged.
Non-Calvinists cannot comprehend a sovereign God who is in total control. They cannot comprehend a God who would love Jacob yet hate Esau. They make excuses why God harden the heart of Pharaoh or made Abraham righteous or destroyed nations. Yet this is God’s sovereignty and is documented time and again throughout the scriptures. The early church confirmed this and the Reformation corrected the doctrinal errors that veered away from this belief.
While non-Calvinists may say they believe in God’s sovereignty they really don’t or they’re unclear on their theology. There is nothing more galvanizing to the Baptists, Methodist, Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Open Theists, and others on this forum or anywhere else then when a Calvinist says that God is sovereign and He is in control.
Our Calvinists friends on this forum are far more honorable than I for they are far more forthright about the scriptural truth than I am. While it is far easier to agree with the majority of believers I would be untrue to God’s word and history if I said anything else. God is sovereign and is in total control. He does not relinquish part of His sovereignty to others. The Bible says it, the early church fathers say it, and the Reformation says it. If you cannot buy into these two statements then you don’t truly believe in the sovereignty of God.
God's sovereignty is a position. God's grace, like love or joy, is an attribute. You cannot understand God's attributes fully until you understand God's position.
My single point of clarification (to clarify my own position in all of this) is that man most certainly has free will and because of the impact of sin in their lives will always choose to reject God. I speak more to the condition of sin rather than it's symptoms or the actions it produces. Had God not intervened (hence predestination which I accept) then we all would have been condemned to hell as a result of our choice. I do not accept the notion that we, unaided from God, chose him at any level. At every level we rejected God until such time that he opened our eyes and caused us to walk in his ways and to follow him. Now - as those who have been called according to his purpose - we have before us the challenge to daily take up our cross and follow him or not. Prior to that we were bound over in sin to follow only the lusts of our own heart. To me this illustrates the depth of sin in our lives and the magnitude of God's grace which we should therefore extend to all people trusting ultimately in God's sovereign provision in their lives.
Ok - then let me rephrase the question to be more clear - as champions of God's sovereignty do you not think it important that Calvinist's operate fully in context of God's grace towards others?
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