Calvinism Is False Doctrine

What Is Calvinism?

You may not have heard of Calvinism, as that term has fallen out of favour. Instead, you may have heard of the "doctrines of grace," or TULIP, or Reformed Theology. These all refer to Calvinism, which is a set of ideas that focus on the denial of human free will. Calvinists themselves would not say this; they normally say that they simply read scripture honestly and boldly and give God all the glory, which non-Calvinists fail to do, in their opinion.

Central to Calvinism is this: man has no role in salvation whatsoever. As a consequence of this belief, many other doctrines logically follow. For example, if man has no role in salvation, then God decides to bring some people to Heaven and to send some people to hell, but these people have no choice in the matter. Obviously, we must ask why God would not save everyone if salvation is entirely out of human control, and if there is a response given, it is that having some people go to hell is for God's glory. Why is sending into eternal tourment people who apparently have no ability to choose to seek God glorious? Nevertheless, this is a Reformed doctrine: Unconditional Election. It is the U in the acronym TULIP:

• Total Depravity: This doctrine says that every person is so corrupted by "inherited sin" that under no circumstances will someone choose to accept the gospel or do anything truly good. It does not mean that we need to be prompted by the Holy Spirit to accept the gospel. It means we have to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit first, and then we will automatically accept salvation. Note that while Calvinists are very harsh on sin, by saying that people have no choice but to sin and reject God, they make mankind innocent and God evil.
• Unconditional Election: According to this doctrine, God chooses who will go to Heaven and Hell with no consideration of character. He does not offer salvation to everyone, and who He offers it to has absolutely nothing to do with how poorly we have behaved.
• Limited Atonement: Apparently, Jesus did not die for the sins of the whole world, but those of the chosen—the Elect.
• Irresistible Grace: The Holy Spirit alone causes repentence, so a person chosen for salvation cannot and will not reject Jesus or repentance.
• Perseverance of the Saints: This teaches that the Elect cannot lose their salvation. Salvation is the work of God alone, so it cannot be thwarted, they reason. This is also known as Eternal Security or Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS)

Calvinism is often spoken about respectfully or even reverently by non-Calvinists as a strict and careful theological system. Not a few Christians unwittingly affirm one or more of the doctrines in TULIP, without really knowing what they mean. Even those who disagree strongly with Calvinism normally think that it isn't worth dividing over, calling it a "secondary issue." I consider it nothing less than a demonic system. Read on to see why, or look at some of the excellent videos and articles below.

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Why Calvinism Is Evil

1. It blasphemes God.
2. It can cause our brothers and sisters in Christ to stumble and even leave the faith, due to the evil view of God it presents.
3. Unbelievers are given a reason to despise God, though it is false.
4. Believers can be led to believe that they can do whatever they want and still be saved (if they are elect).
5. Believers can think that whether they will choose God is out of their hands, and thus fall into despair. After all, they could appear to be saved until the last hour of their lives, when God could reveal suddenly that they weren't destined for salvation.

How Does Calvinism Blaspheme God?

The Cause of Sin

On Calvinism, God decrees absolutely everything that happens and brings it about (determinism). He predetermines all sin and causes it to occur. They believe that He is the true author and perpetrator of evil! This is abominable and wicked to say, but hidden behind their false praise of God's power and control, this is what they believe.

You will probably come across a Calvinist denying that God is the cause of sin, despite clearly believing that he is. When this happens, just remember that popular Calvinists, including the founder, John Calvin himself, have said that God is the author of sin. Read this brief list for some quotes from prominent Calvinists.

Injustice

One reason why this belief is so wicked is that God clearly holds us responsible for our actions—this, even Calvinists somehow do not deny—yet the Calvinist believes God will punish people for the sins He (God) committed while using people as vessels. What fair God could do this? By definition, on Calvinism, an unsaved person cannot be to blame for his actions, but he will be destroyed for them. Instead of feeling condemned on judgement day, if this were true, a wicked man could stand before God boldy and show that he is innocent. Therefore, Calvinists blaspheme God by claiming that He does what is severely unjust.

Glory from Cruelty

Finally, when Calvinists are asked why God created some people whom he destined for eternal suffering, they say that it is for His glory. However, God takes no delight in the death of the wicked.

"Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord God, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'" (Ezekiel 33:11)

Cruel Sovereignty or Love?

What passes for an explanation of the evil version of God worshipped by Calvinists is that God's ways simply are what they are, cruel though they may seem, and we just have to submit. He is sovereign. ("His ways are higher than our ways," they often quote.) Islam is the same in that their god is supposedly not by nature good and loving, but anything He does is defined as good, which is different. This is obviously false because, for example, God calls adultery, murder, and kidnapping evil, but if, as Calvinists and Muslims believe, He is the only one ever deciding to make these things happen, then He is evil by His own standard.

To put the nail in the coffin of those who say that God sending people to hell for what they could not control is good and consistent with God's character, remember that the Bible tells us that God is love, and the love is defined in these ways:

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4–8)

Therefore, God's love is not arbitrary or self-seeking. It is good, and we can trust Him.

Verses to Consider

"All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John." (Luke 7:29–30)

"This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3–4)

"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." (Genesis 4:7)

"The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." (Psalm 145:9)

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people." (Titus 2:11)

"The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." (Isaiah 7:9)

"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.' So God led the people around by the desert road towards the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle." (Exodus 13:17–18)

Calvinist Tricks

Calvinists Abuse Scripture

It is necessary to emphasise that Calvinists use scripture a lot. Just as the Judaizers in the days of the apostles had significant knowledge of the Bible, who taught that obedience to the Law of Moses (or at least circumcision) was necessary for salvation, Calvinist teachers often know many verses. Furthermore, the leaders tend to be severe and direct people, so they seldom give in to the bullying of the culture, making them stand out. This part is admirable, but do not let it blind you to their deep problem.

Limiting Your Options

Calvinists brand any oposition to them as Arminian, but the average Christian who does not believe in Calvinism in certainly not Arminian. By doing this, they can brand you with Arminian views, or try to make you think that you have no choice but to believe in Calvinism or some other system that sounds objectionable. Do not be afraid to not have a theological term for what you believe.

Sovereignty

Embedded in Calvinism is false humility, and the word sovereignty is used as a cudgel to beat those who disagree: "You don't think that God is sovereign enough to control everything? Heretic!" Of course, sovereignty just means the authority of a ruler. It has never meant "complete control of everything." Nevertheless, they will insist that sovereignty means God controls every atom and every spirit, every moment.

It does not take away from God's power that He has given His creatures free will, nor does the fact that He achieves His plans perfectly despite that free will of ours. On the contrary, God's power and authority (sovereignty, if you like) are displayed more magnificently when He still works out His plans despite the schemes of the devil and evil people.

Inescapable Passages?

If you are convinced that scripture teaches Calvinism, I can assure you that it does not. The scriptures are true, and God is good, so Calvinist interpretations cannot be correct.

Perhaps you think that the potter and the clay analogy closes the case, but if you learned the Old Testament reference being made, you would see that this is untrue! A Soteriology 101 video explains this issue. Mike Winger has some good videos that might help also.

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