Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Calvinism & predestination. A theological train wreck!

Recently, in a small group session, the topic of "predestination" was brought up. Now this wasn't brought up in a discussion, this was the discussion. This wasn't a discussion for debate, but came across as a discussion of fact.
The idea of predestination really bothers me. Most people think of Calvinism when they think of predestination, so lets take a look at Calvinism and go from there.

Calvinism
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Part of a series on Calvinism(see also Portal)

John Calvin
Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the Christian life that emphasizes the rule of God over all things.[1] It was developed by theologians such as Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger, Peter Martyr Vermigli, and Huldrych Zwingli and influenced English reformers such as Thomas Cranmer and John Jewel, but it bears the name of the French reformer John Calvin because of his preeminent influence on it and because of his role in the confessional and ecclesiastical debates throughout the 16th century. Today, this term also refers to the doctrines and practices of the Reformed churches of which Calvin was an early leader. Less commonly, it can refer to the individual teaching of Calvin himself.[2] The system is best known for its doctrines of predestination and total depravity.

Now according to the definition of "Wikipedia", Calvinism, is a "theological system and an approach to the Christian life that emphasizes the rule of God over all things".
There is NO doubt in my mind that God rules over everything. He is, after all, omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscience.
There is NO debate over that, in the Christian community.
The last part of the "Wikipedia" definition states, "The system is best known for its doctrine on predestination and total depravity".
Now there are 5 major points associated with Calvinism. These points are referred by acronym as, T.U.L.I.P.

T - Total hereditary depravity.
This means that when children are born, they inherit the sin of Adam and are "totally hereditarily depraved", and therefore unable to respond the Gospel message of Christ Jesus.

U - Unconditional election.
This is the "predestination" aspect of Clavinism. This means that God had created a master list of people who will be saved and those who will go to Hell. This list was developed before Genesis 1:1 and is unchangeable.

L - Limited atonement.
This just basically means that Jesus didn't die for ALL men, just those on the master list.

I - Irresistible grace.
This means that the Holy Spirit is sent by God to those on the master list to be saved, because of there "total depravity". This creates in them a saving Faith in Christ Jesus. After this, the Holy Spirit guides the saved people on the master list, to complete understanding and interpretation of the Bible.

P - Perseverance of the saints.
This means that when a child of God is saved, he/she can not be lost.

As with any denomination, scripture can be twisted to suit ones purpose.
Recently, Calvinism has slithered its ugly way through the back door of many Southern Baptist churches. (see: http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071129/calvinism-on-the-rise-in-southern-baptist-life.htm)
A hint that Calvinism is at play, is when quotes from people like John MacArthur or John Piper come up. (Doesn't scripture say, "prove ALL things.."?)

Lets look at scripture commonly used by Calvinists.

Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. Joh 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.


The Calvinist will take John 6:37 out of context, to support the T.U.L.I.P. ideology of "irresistible grace".
According to this doctrine, God choose who will be saved and who will be lost, regardless of an individuals response to the Gospel. Though the first part may imply "irresistible grace", you can not take the scripture out of context.
If you just take a look down at John 6:40, the context is explained. The Gospel is not limited to those on the master list, the "elect". The Gospel is for whosoever will, and the elect are the whosoever will. John chapter 6, refutes the T.U.L.I.P. doctrine.
Christ Jesus died for whole world

(Jn. 6:51; compare Luke 2:10,30-32; John 1:29; 3:16; Rom. 15:8-12; Eph. 2:11-22; 1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9; 1 Pet. 3:19-21; 1 John 4:14).
It is God's expressed will for all men to saved (Jn. 6:40; compare John 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).
Any man who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ has eternal life (Jn. 6:40,47,51).

The Gospel of John repeatedly emphasizes a UNIVERSAL call, from God, to invite sinners to believe in Christ.
Now, Mr Calvinist will say, "whoa whoa, look at verse 44. Well lets, shall we?

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

This verse does not prove that God sovereignly choose who is on the master list.
The Bible repeatedly tells us that God desires ALL men to be saved.

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

It is true that no man can come to the Father unless He draws him, but:

Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Wait.... Did that verse say ALL men or the Elect?
..and how does God draw ALL men to Christ? By the Gospel.

2Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

People are not lost because they are not chosen, elect or on the master list...

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.


Why are people lost? "because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

In John chapter 6, Jesus was talking to a crowd of Jews who had followed Him after the miracle of multiplying loaves. Though the Jews were looking for a messiah, and a king, their minds were set on wordly things. Jesus irrefutably proved His messiahship to the Jews by His birth, life, and miracles. The Jews still weren't impressed and still asked for "a sign" (verse 30) and they did not believe (verse 36).
Did the Jews not believe because they were not "chosen" or "elect"? No, they had HARD HEARTS!
Christ Jesus wept over Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion:

Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

It is not because the unbelieving Jews were not chose or elect. Jesus would have saved them all. Instead they denied Jesus. The rejected Him. The over all problem with the Jews was their will.
Jesus would, but they would not.
Like the Jews, man has the complete will to reject or receive God. It is this message that is taught over and over again in scripture.

We can not deny that God draws people to Jesus. It is impossible for a anyone to come to Christ Jesus except God draws him, enlightens him and convicts him.
This is exactly what God does, through the Holy Spirit.

Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

God has the absolute knowledge of who will and who will not be saved by the Gospel.

1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied

God has told us who is chosen. Those that receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be saved!

The most famous scripture in the Bible, John 3:16 clearly states:

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God so loved the WORLD, not the "elect".

In closing, misinterpretation of scripture is dangerous.
Calvinism and predestination is a serious theological train wreck. Don't get caught looking at the wreck. We are called to test everything, according to scripture.
What would the point of evangelism be if predestination was correct? A fruitless labor of duty, not a labor of love desiring to do the will of God by preaching the Word to every living creature.
To believe in the Calvinist concept, you can go all the way back to Genesis and say that Adam did not have free will to sin against God.
The Calvinist theory would be interpreted to say that God predestined Adam to sin, so that God can send people to Hell, if He doesn't like them.
I wouldn't dare posture at that theory, because it flies in the face of scripture.

God does in did draw us near, but we have the free will to choose to accept the Gospel, or deny the Gospel.

What is the will of God? That ALL are to be saved.

Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

This is why evangelism is so important. We are commanded to go into ALL the world and preach the Gospel. People who haven't heard the Gospel are not destined for Hell because they haven't heard the Gospel, but are destined for Hell because of sin. God must punish sin. God is Holy, Just and Righteous. God is the Law, and by the Law we will be judged.

-Jon