(PNN) PPSIMMONS News and Ministry Network: IS CALVANISM RIGHT OR WRONG?

by Rev. Joda Collins

When I first began my serious study of the Word of God in 1971 (age 22), I found myself surrounded by individuals who were for or against Calvinism. I entered into long discussions with many of them between 1971 and 1979.

Very few people have actually read what John Calvin wrote and if they have, most have only read snippets of what John Calvin wrote. Most of the disagreements about John Calvin are not about what John Calvin wrote but about what someone said/wrote John Calvin meant by what he wrote. John Calvin was a theologian in the mid-1500s. He wrote about all kinds of Bible doctrine. The areas of controversy are about his understanding of the doctrine of Salvation from Hell. The doctrine of Salvation from Hell includes the doctrines of:

1. Wickedness (as it applies to the lost state of mankind).

2. Election

3. Atonement

4. Predestination

5. God's Saving Grace

6. Eternal Security

Some call me a Calvinist and do so with a smile of approval and others with a scorn of disgust. Others tell me I am not a Calvinist and some do so with a smile of approval and others with a scorn of disgust. It all depends on how the smiler or disgusted person defines a Calvinist. Many years ago, I grew weary of trying to talk to anyone about Calvinism. One day, when I was speaking to a Calvinist about Calvinism I became frustrated with the conversation and said, "I could not care less about what John Calvin believed about wickedness, election, atonement, predestination, grace and eternal security. What do you believe about those doctrines." You would have thought I slapped the guy in the face. He was stunned and speechless. I was shocked that he was shocked at what I said. He simply ended the conversation. He had nothing to say.

I was so bewildered about his shock and the way he immediately ended the conversation, that one day I was talking with a non-Calvinist about Calvinism. He went on and on about TULIP ( http://www.prca.org/pamphlets/pamphlet_41.html ) and I do mean on and on. I interrupted him and said, "I could not care less about what John Calvin believed about wickedness, election, atonement, predestination, grace and eternal security. What do you believe about those doctrines?" I got the same reaction from this guy as the other guy. Shock and awe, followed by silence, followed by refusing to talk about those doctrines with me further.

From that moment on, I have refused to talk about John Calvin, TULIP or about what someone likes or dislikes about whatever they think Calvinism is or is not. While I admire theologians and their deep study of the Word of God, I am not impressed by what someone believes the Word of God states and/or means. I am impressed by what the Word of God states and/or means.

In 1991, I was speaking with members of pastor search committee that were quizzing me about my view of various Bible doctrines. One man asked, "What do you think of the doctrine of Predestination?" I could tell by his tone of voice that he was either a John Calvin lover or John Calvin hater and he wanted a response that was for or against what he heard or read that someone said John Calvin taught about Predestination. I gave him neither.

I said, "The foundation of Predestination is God's foreknowledge. Only those God knows will be saved are predestined." Then, I quoted Romans 8:29 which reads, "For whom God did foreknow, he also predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son..." Then, I shut up and just looked at him kindly with a respectful smile. I was not about to get into a discussion that forced me to deny or defend what he thought Calvinism is. He looked at me with that same shocked looked I saw in the other two guys, and sat in about four seconds of silence as I along with the other four people at the table looked at him. His eyes brows raised high, his eyes got big. He tried to smile and frown at the same time. He said, "Huh. Well. Yea. Okay." Like the other two he was not prepared to talk about what the Bible actually stated about the doctrine of Predestination; he remained in a state of shock and he never said another word during the remaining 30-minutes of the interview and Q and A session.

Some people say that what John Calvin meant by the doctrine of Predestination is that some people are born to be saved and some people are born to be lost and there is nothing you or anyone else can do change that fact for anyone. When the truth is known that the foundation for Predestination is the Foreknowledge of God, talking about Predestination in terms of born to be lost or born to be saved becomes not only pointless but a bit laughable.

If you cannot put the meat of your theological position on any given doctrine in a sentence or two, you probably do not understand that theological position very well.

Regarding the doctrine of election, only people who volunteer for the office can be elected. God elects everyone who runs for the office of a child of God. (1 Peter 1:2.)

Regarding the wickedness of mankind, there are none perfect, no not one. (Romans 3:23.) All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:10.)

Regarding the atonement of Christ on the Cross, Jesus died for all (2 Corinthians 5:15) but only those who call on him for salvation receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 4:10.)

Regarding the saving grace of God (1 Timothy 2:4), it is available but God will not force anyone to accept his gift of Salvation (John 1:12). God and/or his saving grace can be resisted (Acts 17:51, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Psalms 106:33, 1 Corinthians 2:14) just like a man dying of thirst can resist a glass of water or a man dying of hunger can resist food. You have to understand Calvinism to know just how funny the previous sentence is when discussing Calvinism.

Regarding eternal security. Only those who are saved are eternally secure. Salvation is a gift. God does not take away gifts. (See Romans Chapter Five.)

Is Calvinism right or wrong? That is a relevant question if you are studying Calvin and an irrelevant question if you are studying the Bible. However, the absolute answer to that question is probably -- depending on what real Calvinism is and how one defines the words John Calvin used to express his convictions. If you identify as a Calvinist or non-Calvinist you are wasting your time in conversational quick-sand because nearly 500 years after the death of John Calvin theologians are still debating what John Calvin actually believed. It is not about Calvinism or what he wrote, or what someone said John Calvin meant about what he wrote. It is about what the Word of God states and about what God meant by what he (God) wrote. Study John Calvin and his writings, but center your conversation on God and his writings (Bible).