My Journey Through Calvinism

More intelligent Christians than I believe in this doctrine: I want the Truth!

I have been on a journey in trying to understand the Calvinistic principles that the reformed church declared as gospel in the Cannons of Dort in 1619. Calvinist preachers present many non-Calvin-specific teachings that I have enjoyed listening to, and I had to wonder about the beliefs of Calvinism. I decided to try and convince myself to become a Calvinist. My prayer was Lord, if this is the truth, please show me. Let me show you what I found on my journey as I reject Calvinism.

The acrostic TULIP is known as the Five Points of Calvinism. Leaders like John MacArthur insist a true believer must accept all five points, but others say one can agree with some but not all of the points; they are labeled as 3-point or 4-point Calvinists depending on how much they agree with. After my study, I found myself a .25-point Calvinist (which moved me into the Wesleyan camp).

• T – Total Depravity • U – Unconditional Election • L – Limited Atonement (sometimes referred to as definite or particular atonement) • I – Irresistible Grace • P – Perseverance of the Saints

When confronted with Calvinism doctrine, I was immediately intrigued. What caught my attention was irresistible Grace. In grade school, I remember understanding that following God was not a decision to make lightly. I knew God was there throughout my younger years, and I followed Him. At one point, I realized I was following God but had never actually sat down and confessed my sins. There was a summer camp where I decided to do it right then, even though I felt I already had. I did not doubt that following the God of the Bible was where I belonged. The Holy Spirit working in me has been irresistible. If this part was genuine, why not all of the Calvinism doctrine?

I heard Leighton Flowers, an opponent of Calvinism, state that while he rejects Calvinism, the one part he agrees with is the perseverance of the Saints. Flowers has similar reasons for his point in Calvinism that I had for my point of irresistible Grace. He stated that once he became a follower of God, there was no way he could leave it, and he couldn't understand anyone else leaving it either. They both come from our first-hand experiences in our relationships with God.

The problem with my thoughts on irresistible Grace, and the Flowers' agreement with the perseverance of the Saints, is that they are based on feelings and human logic. What does Scripture say about the Five Points of Calvinism?

Total Depravity is the idea that man, in his sin, is a complete reprobate. Nothing a man can do will ever change that; he will never even want to change. Like Lazarus, man is dead in his sins and can not be raised from the dead without Christ first calling his name. The problem with this is that nowhere in the Bible is Lazarus' resurrection explained as an analogy. This is something the Calvinism doctrine claims and is the lens they choose to view Lasarus' story. Adam and Eve did not physically die when they ate the fruit in the Garden of Eden. They were separated from God because of sin. A better comparison would be the story of the prodigal son from Luke 15. He was eating with the pigs, realizing he was miserable, and longed to eat what the pigs ate. The son threw himself down before his father. The father's response? Luke 15:22-24, "'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate" (ESV, emphasis mine). Being spiritually dead does not mean being unaware. In Romans 6:2, Paul asks if we died to sin, how can we live in it? If we are dead to sin from the Calvinistic perspective, how can a Christian ever sin, with the dead being dead?

For this my son was dead, and is alive again

God's Grace is given as we are saved through faith. The Calvinist would say faith is a work, and we can't save ourselves, so God must have given us this faith. The problem with this idea is that the Bible clearly distinguishes between the two in Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by Grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (ESV, emphasis mine). Mike Winger explains this with more scripture in his presentation "Why I Think Calvinism Is Unbiblical." Works and having faith are not the same thing.

To say that the only way to be saved requires no responsibility on the part of the person being saved from their sin is a hazardous point to be making. The claim is made that the "dead" do not want to be changed. A video of a real-life example of what happens when this point is believed can be found in Leighton Flowers' program Calvinism's Faulty Hermeneutics. A former Calvinist, now atheist, has abrogated all responsibility to God to change his heart of stone to a heart of flesh. He doesn't humble himself; he says the Bible clearly states that he has to wait for God to change him since he is dead and has abdicated his responsibility for his sins. Calvinism gives the nonChristian the perfect excuse for not believing, but in Romans 1:20, the Bible says the exact opposite.

Romans 1:20, "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

The next point in Calvinism is Unconditional Election. Ephesians 1:4-6 "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious Grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved." or John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."

This seems to be straightforward; God picks and draws who he wants to save and who he doesn't save, but what about the Scripture mentioned above: Romans 1: 18-20 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So hey are without excuse." If a man is predestined for Hell, he has the ultimate excuse: "God made me this way." This scripture tells us that man does not have an excuse. Clarke's online commentary on these verses notes that God draws and doesn't drag people to Him.

John 3:16 says that for God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever would believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life. Parents want the best for their children; they try to help them make plans for the future. God wants everyone to be redeemed, which is our predestination. 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (ESV).

Consider a parable in Mathew 22:

"And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast."' But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

"But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen" (ESV).

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Many are called, but few are chosen. This parable is not an unconditional election, God did not determine or force who would refuse or accept the invitation before he sent the invitations, but a calling for those to find the destiny God predestined for them.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time." God desires all men to know Him and find salvation through faith in Christ.

God desires all men to know Him and find salvation through faith in Christ.

As I continued my study, the next section of Limited Atonement had the most explanation because it is believed to be the most controversial and misunderstood, as noted in The Five Points of Calvinism: Defining the Doctrines of Grace (Reasonable Theology). However, making a point for limited atonement is ridiculous to me. The idea is that without atonement being limited, if God died for everyone, then everyone would be saved because God is all-powerful. His atonement, therefore, must be just enough for those he has predestined for salvation. Meaning that there is enough of God's Grace to cover all those that have faith in Christ and those that do not have faith are not covered. OK, fine, whatever. The bottom line is that Christ died for the sins of humankind, and his blood covers those with a genuine conversion experience. Whether one believes God makes people follow HIm or makes them destined for Hell or that people have a choice to put their faith in God, all Christians believe Jesus' blood covers one saved by faith through Grace. The conversion experience is needed, or a person is not saved.

Reading about the next point in Calvinism, Irresistible Grace combines with Unconditional Election to help Christian consciences. We don't have to feel too bad about not witnessing or praying for people. After all, God will get those he preordained despite whatever we do, and those not preordained can not be helped anyway.

The idea of irresistible Grace is that God is in control. God's will always will be done, so by extension, anyone God wants to be saved will be saved. God will draw those he wants to be saved, and they will be irresistibly drawn to Him. I remember thinking when I was younger, What kind of choice is this? God's way or Hell? No brainer, I will take God!

This is what drew me to reevaluate Calvinism. I had to ask myself, was this pull that felt so strong when I was younger irresistible? This explains why some people follow God and others don't.

John 6:44-47 Jesus says, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life" (ESV, emphasis mine).

I felt drawn by God--no doubt about it. Here is the issue, though, God draws everyone to him. God is inviting everyone to the wedding. Going back to Romans 1:18-20, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (ESV, emphasis mine). Like the wedding analogy, many are called, but some choose to follow their own way.

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

The last point of TULIP is the Perseverance of the Saints. Once a person becomes a believer, this salvation can not be lost (once saved, always saved). Got Questions Ministries firmly defends this teaching, "This wonderful truth is seen in Ephesians 1:13-14, where we see that believers are 'sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchase possession, to the praise of His glory.' When we are born again, we receive the promised indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that is God's guarantee that He who began a good work in us will complete it (Philippians 1:6)." They go on to say that this guarantee from God means that God has made it that the believer will never turn from God because that is God's promise and he won't break his promise. I agree that God will not break His promise; however, does He force people to stay in the relationship?

This argument becomes circular. When a Christian leader is found to be in sin and leaves the church or decides what they thought before was wrong and rejects Christianity, the Calvinist will say that the original conversion must not have been sincere. After all, according to Got Questions Ministries, "Romans 8:28-39 tells us that 1) no one can bring a charge against God's elect; 2) nothing can separate the elect from the love of Christ; 3) God makes everything work together for the good of the elect; and 4) all whom God saves will be glorified." The key being nothing can separate us from God. Again I agree, but does He force people to stay in the relationship? It is not sound reasoning if the argument is that God makes it so that the believer wants to stay in the relationship, so they are not forced; that would still be forcing and not a choice.

It is not sound reasoning if the argument is that God makes it so that the believer wants to stay in the relationship, so he or she is not forced.

Hebrews 10:26-29 "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?" (ESV) There are many such warnings in the Bible, but Calvinists would say these people were never saved. Why have the warning?

Is there no lesson in God's chosen people being killed and then sent into captivity, where many died? These chosen people did not die because they were faithful to God. No lesson in those who died in the wilderness shortly after they were delivered from Egypt? Korah was one of God's chosen people and died in rebellion against God's will. God made promises to flourish the Israelites, but they had to be following Him. He never abandoned Israel, and many times Israel was beaten down, and people died when they stopped worshipping God. He brought Israel back to Him, but those who died had already made their choice. What fuels this idea of once saved, always saved?

This issue of eternal security is something a Calvinist holds on to because of children. When our kids are little, they strive to please, and many make a confession of faith. Parents then hold on to the memory of the confession of faith when their kids eventually leave home and then choose the world. After all, going to church every Sunday is raising kids in God's way, and they made the "salvation prayer," and they probably got to write their names in a brand new Bible. It is dangerous ground using Calvinist lenses when eternity is at stake.

It is dangerous ground using Calvinist lenses when eternity is at stake.