St. Bob’s Epistle To The Calvinists

From Bob, a minister of the gospel,

To the Church of the Calvinists (wherever your embassies are located these days.)

Grace and peace from the Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to your theology, ordained and predestined this letter. In obedience therefore, to his sovereign decision, please read carefully.

Come on guys. You used to be more fun. Oh sure, we argued a lot but we did it over coffee in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Lately I’m catching a different tone from a lot of you. I’m starting to hear that Calvinism is the only legitimate Christian theology and those of us who aren’t Calvinists may as well pack a picnic lunch. We’re told that we haven’t studied the Bible thoroughly, the way you have. Indeed, we may not even be saved. Asking forgiveness for our sins and giving our lives to Jesus aren’t enough. We must believe that we did not give our lives to Jesus. We must believe instead that God saved us against our will. In fact, it wasn’t even our will. We must believe that no free will exists in humans and if we have trouble believing this we need to muster up the will power to force ourselves into believing it. (Well, something like that)

Guys. Guys. I mean. Gee whiz. Do I have to start sounding like Paul in 2 Corinthians? Do I have to address these accusations by boasting about my own scriptural conclusions? Do I have to defend the Arminian position, even though I don’t feel this is really an issue worth arguing over and even though, frankly, I’m not really an Arminian either? Do I have to show the other side of the fence just to keep your fence from annoying the rest of us?

OK. Fine. Here it goes.

Bob’s Boast:

Have your leaders thoroughly explored the Scripture? So have I. Have they graduated Seminary? So have I. Are they ordained? Do they study Greek? Do they know the history of the Calvinist movement? Ditto.Ditto Ditto. I..I..I..

We’ll start with a little history. Certainly John Calvin was a significant forerunner of the Reformation but the opposing viewpoint also has a rich heritage. Not long after Calvinists came into power, a group of people called the Remonstrants began to teach some different ideas. Jacob Arminius, a professor of theology at the University of Leiden, challenged the Remonstrants and in time, actually found himself persuaded by them. Shortly thereafter, he became a chief leader in the movement and many Remonstrants referred to themselves as Arminians.

The Arminian position rejects the Calvinist idea of predestination. It does not conclude that simply because God is sovereign He therefore causes all things to happen. Instead a sovereign God can allow free will if He wishes.

In 1618-19 the Reformed Churches (Calvinist) officially denounced Arminianism at a synod in Dort. A few days after the synod, a leading Remonstrant was beheaded but this did not stop the new movement. Remonstrants continued in Holland as an alternate church and throughout the rest of history when Calvinism was taught, Arminianism was not far away.

Years later John Wesley made the teaching of Arminianism even more popular. Wesley was a key figure in the Great Awakening, one of the most substantial revival movements ever seen in America. He also started the Methodist church.

Now, if we want to conclude that denominations such as the Presbyterians and Reformed are more legitimate historically than the Methodists we are really making a reach. Let’s face it. God uses many organizations.

In any event, both Calvinists and Arminians will admit that history itself does not validate a theology. With this in mind, we can now turn to the Bible.

Extreme statements were very common to the ancient Hebrew culture. They spoke in deliberate exaggerated ways. And with this type of expression, they frequently described events from the point of view God’s sovereignty. For example, 2 Sam 24 tells us that God inspired David to take a census of Israel and then punished him for taking this very census. On the other hand, I Chronicles 21, says that Satan incited David to take the census and God simply allowed it. Both were true accounts to the Hebrews. Each account is written in a different style. This helps us to understand some of the standard texts which Calvinists use.

“God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden” Rom 9:18

To an ancient Hebrew, this would have meant that God permits men to harden their own hearts. Certainly all hearts rebel and people must receive the influence of the Holy Spirit before they are capable of repentance, but Matt. 12 tells us that this process can be stifled by human volition. Jesus calls such resistance “The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.”

Calvinists argue that God is not obligated to save anybody and if he chooses to soften only a few hearts, it is still undeserved mercy. True enough, but Jesus did die for everybody (I John 2:2) so certainly He is interested in extending his mercy to all. A fair and benevolent God is not going to show partiality by predestining only a few for salvation.

Speaking of which…Yes, the word predestine is found in Scripture but let’s check the usage:

“For those God fore knew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son that he might be the firstborn; among many brothers.” Rom 8:29

Were they predestined to be saved? No. God already knew they would be saved and therefore predestined them to be conformed to the image of Christ. The predestination has to do with our fate after salvation.

Now I have heard the standard Calvinist response . “If you knew the original Greek, you would read the passage differently. You would understand that the term, foreknew refers not to knowledge ahead of time but rather to a personal relationship.”

Yes, of course. The original Greek usually bails people out, but not today. As it happens, the word in question, proginosko can mean either thing, foreknowledge or a personal relationship. Therefore, one passage is not enough with which to build a dogmatic case. We must see which interpretation fits the context of other Scripture, Scripture such as;

“He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
Does Peter then stop and say to himself, “Even though God wants everyone to repent, He knows that they can’t repent unless He allows them to and He will only allow it with some.” ?

In that vein, was Jesus’ lament over the city of Jerusalem:

“Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you. How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look. Your house is left to you desolate.” Matt. 23: 37

Did He then turn around and think; “Of course, it’s my will that you were not willing. It’s my will that your city be destroyed. That’s the way it goes with a sovereign God like me.”

I’ll go you one even crazier. Is it God’s will that I sympathize with the Arminian position? According to your Calvinism, that is exactly God’s will! Why? Because supposedly I have no free will! So if I have no free will, God Himself must be forcing me to write this my critique of Calvinism!!!

OK. You forced me to do it. You forced me to boast and argue and make a Scriptural case for the Arminian position. Again, I do not accept every one of their tenets either, but I am with them on the issue of free will. Besides, today is Calvinist Day. I’ll get to the Arminians some other time.

Meanwhile, here’s the bottom line. If you want to believe in Calvinism, go ahead. I can still fellowship with you. Why can’t you fellowship with me? Is our position on predestination the basis for our fellowship or is it the cross?

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” I Cor. 2:2

I hope to visit you soon, Lord willing. Greet Marcus, Apphia, Demetrius and Dogmaticus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with your enthusiastic spirits.

All Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE

New International Version NIV

Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.