To the group railing against those being mean, all I can say is wake-up/grow-up. This concern fails to recognize the sad truth that this defect exists in all camps and while yes, it is not as we desire, it is not unique to Calvinism. Worse, in associating these characteristics with Calvinism, they fall into the group they are critiquing. The typical tactics are guilt by association and vague references (and when specifics are referenced they normally have nothing to do with Calvinism per se). They often get angry themselves and some even have full web sites dedicated to mocking. Again, one would be hard pressed to distinguish between these folks and those they accuse.
On the other hand, there are those that have issue with Calvinism and for them, I like Patton's list to help them be more clear on what they really have issue with. I have quoted nearly all of it below but added a small number of my comments and deleted some of Patton's so see his post for his complete view.
Calvinism is not system of theology that denies God’s universal love. - this is not a necessary or a central tenant of Calvinism. Calvinists believe that God has a particular type of love for the elect (an “electing love”), but most also believe that God loves all people (John 3:16). It is a mystery to Calvinist as to why he does not elect everyone. (More on this here.)
Calvinism is not a belief that God creates people in order to send them to hell. - Supralapsarians believe that God creates people to send them to hell, the majority of Calvinists are not supralapsarians. (More on this here.)
Calvinism is not belief that God is the author of evil. - Because of Calvinism’s high view of God’s sovereignty, many mistakenly believe that Calvinists hold God responsible for sin and evil. This is not true. Most Calvinists believe that to ascribe responsibility for evil to God is heretical.
As John Calvin put it:
“. . . the Lord had declared that “everything that he had made . . . was exceedingly good” [Gen. 1:31]. Whence, then comes this wickedness to man, that he should fall away from his God? Lest we should think it comes from creation, God had put His stamp of approval on what had come forth from himself. By his own evil intention, then, man corrupted the pure nature he had received from the Lord; and by his fall drew all his posterity with him into destruction. Accordingly, we should contemplate the evident cause of condemnation in the corrupt nature of humanity-which is closer to us-rather than seek a hidden and utterly incomprehensible cause in God’s predestination. [Institutes, 3:23:8]”
Calvinism is not a belief in fatalism. - A fatalistic worldview is one in which all things are left to fate, chance, and a series of causes and effects that has no intelligent guide or ultimate cause. Calvinism believes that God (not fate) is in control, though Calvinists differ about how meticulous this control is.
Calvinism is not a denial of freedom. - Calvinists to do not believe that people are robots or pupets on strings. Calvinists believe in freedom and, properly defined, free will. While Calvinists believe that God is ultimately in control of everything, most are compatibalists, believing that he works in and with human freedom (limited though it may be). Calvinists believe in human responsibility at the same time as holding to a high view of God’s providential sovereignty. (More on this here).
Calvinism is not s belief that God forces people to become Christians against their will. - Calvinists believe in what is called “irresistible grace.” This might not be the best name for it since it does not really communicate what is involved (I [Rick] prefer RC Sproul's "effectual grace"). Calvinists believe that people are dead in the sin (Eph 2:1), haters of God, with no ability to seek him in their natural state (Rom 3:11; John 6:44; 1 Cor 2:14). Since this is the case, God must first regenerate them so that they can have faith. Once regenerate, people do not need to be forced to accept God, but this is a natural reaction—a willing reaction—of one who has been born again and, for the first time, recognizes the beauty of God.
Calvinism is not a belief that you should only evangelize the elect. - No one knows who the elect are. Since we don’t know, it is our duty to evangelize all people and nations. Some of the greatest evangelists in the history of Christianity, such as Charles Haddon Spurgeon and Jonathan Edwards, have held to the doctrine of unconditional election.
Calvinism is not a belief that God arbitrarily chooses people to be saved. - Calvinists believe that God elects some people to salvation and not other and that this election is not based on anything present or foreseen, righteous or unrighteous, in the individual, but upon his sovereign choice. But this does not mean that the choice is arbitrary, as if God is flipping a coin to see who is saved and who is not. Calvinists believe that God has his reasons, but they are in his mysterious secret will.
Calvinism is not a system of thought that follows a man, John Calvin. - While Calvinists obviously respect John Calvin, they simply believe that he correctly understood some very important Apostolic teachings concerning election, man’s condition, and God’s sovereignty. However, much of this understanding did not originate with John Calvin, but can be seen in many throughout church history such as Aquinas, Anselm, and Augustine. Ultimately, Calvinists will argue, they follow rightly interpreted Scripture.
Calvinism is not a system that has to ignore or reinterpret passages of Scripture concerning human responsibility. - Calvinists believe that all people are responsible to do what is right, even though, as fallen children of Adam, they lack ability to do what is right (in a transcendent sense; see below) without God’s regenerating grace. Therefore, God’s call and commands apply to all people and all people are responsible for their rejection and rebellion.
Calvinists does not believe that no one can do any good thing at all. - Calvinists believe in what is called “total depravity.” However, total depravity does not mean that people cannot ever do anything good (I [Rick] prefer RC Sproul's "radical depravity"). Calvinists believe that unregenerate people can do many good things and sometimes even act better than Christians. But when it comes to people’s disposition toward God and their acknowledgment of him for their abilities, gifts, and future, they deny him and therefore taint all that they are and do. An unbeliever, for example, can love and care for their children just as a believer can. In and of itself this is a very good thing. However, in relation to God this finds no eternal or transcendent favor since they are at enmity with him, the Giver of all things. Therefore, it might be said, while all people can do good, only the regenerate can do transcendent good.
Calvinists do not necessarily believe that God predestines (wills) everything, including the color of socks I chose this morning. - There is a spectrum to belief about God’s sovereignty in Calvinism. The one thing that unites all Calvinists is their belief in God’s sovereign choice to elect some people to salvation and not others. However, Calvinists differ concerning God’s involvement in other areas (for more on this, see here ... for what it's worth, I [Rick] think I'm a Providential Sovereignty guy). Some Calvinists believe in what might be called “meticulous sovereignty”, where God has not only predestined people to salvation, but also he has predestined everything that occurs. As the old saying goes: “There is not a maverick molecule in the universe. However, most Calvinists believe in what might be called “providential sovereignty.” Here, Calvinists would distinguish between God’s permissive will and his sovereign will. In his permissive will, many things happen that he permits, but is not necessarily bringing about as the first cause. In his sovereign will, many things happen because of his direct intervention (for more on this, see here).
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9 comments:
Rick, a few comments from personal experience. Not trying to be negative, but this is what I have experienced, which means that others certainly have, too. And while all Christians can suffer from these issues, the Calvinists I have met in person seem to suffer from these to a much greater extent:
1. Fatalism - I disagree very strongly with your statement about fatalism. The majority of under-40 Calvinists I have spoken to seem paralyzed by fatalism. God's sovereignty, to them, appears so overwhelming that nothing can be done should something go awry. Got cancer? I had one young Calvinist tell me, "Better learn how to suffer and die then." When I asked him whether it would be better to pray for healing and trust God for it, he gave me a one word answer: "Why?" And that conversation has not been my only one that ended that same way. Another said that if you had a bad job, you were stuck for life and could never anticipate anything better, because this is God's will for you to have a lousy work life. If that's not fatalism, I don't know what is. People keep telling me those responses aren't representative of Calvinism. So why do I keep on hearing them out of the mouths of Calvinists? I know people who left their Calvinist church because everyone was so grim all the time.
2. Calvinism before love - I have encountered too many people who have told me horror stories of being disfellowshipped for not being staunch five-pointers. Some friends told the horror story of visiting a church in northern Cincinnati where the greeters asked them if they were Calvinists. When my friends answered that they did not know, the greeters wrinkled up their noses, turned their backs on them, and walked away. My friends were horrified. My own experiences on the Web have repeatedly shown that too many Calvinists would rather be seen as always right than always loving. The beatdowns of contrarian commenters on some Calvinist Web sites is just appalling.
cont...
3. "We are better" - I have repeatedly been in wealthy Calvinist churches where a kind of "we are the chosen" message was taught. I've seen the poor turned away or ignored in those churches. There's an us versus them mentality, with "them" being the poor, minorities, and immigrants. I know of a Calvinist church that split because some people objected to evangelizing Hispanics in a neighborhood nearby because those evangelized actually had the nerve to show up in the church on Sunday. I sat in a men's Bible study at a Calvinist church where the men mocked Hispanics and the poor, laughing it up about how lazy they were and why they should go back to where they came from. My wife and I were part of a Calvinist church at a time when we were both unemployed, despite having many people in the church in positions of power within a number of local business, no one would help us. In fact, people often just stopped talking with us when we said we were unemployed and looking for work. Talk about making people feel small! While any church can suffer from these issues, I've seen them the most in Calvinist churches and it makes me sick.
Elitism and fatalism are big problems within Calvinism, and not enough Calvinists are willing to do anything about those problems. Acts 29 is a step in the right direction for Calvinism, but it's a very small movement and definitely minuscule in the Greater Cincinnati area.
All that said, I was a member of College Hill Presbyterian Church in its heyday, and I can't say enough great things about that church at that time. Sadly, the church has fallen on hard times as its neighborhood changed, but even that plays into some of the issues I raised here.
Again, I have no ire stored up for Calvinism. But I wish that Calvinists could be more introspective and start working to correct some of these issues. Again, I keep running into these same problems over and over, so they are endemic. That so few want to do anything to correct them (even as some Calvinists are telling others to clean their houses) is telling. On my blog, I can say that charismatics need to fix some genuine problems and the charismatic readers agree. If I say that they Calvinists need to fix something, immediately the Calvinist readers object. It never fails. But if Calvinists don't admit to some of the issues that have built up within Calvinism in America (and do something to correct them), their lampstand may end up removed some day.
Dan - your comments are not negative and as usual, quite helpful. And since once again you've challenged me to think harder than I typically like, I'll respond not to argue but to flesh out my thoughts ...
1) Fatalism - without evaluating whether or not the experience you have is representative or not, you hit on a key point. I'll separate into A and B. First A, I think people of pre-held worldviews/values/beliefs are attracted to doctrines/religions just for that reason, they see a fit to what they already think (or at least an acceptance). They bring all of that (baggage included) into the doctrine/religion regardless of whether it is true of the doctrine or not. Second, part B, I think all doctrines/religions while closing the door to some errors open doors to others.
I think an easy one you and I can agree with is Charismatics. I am a continuationalist. I do not believe that means I don't value Scripture. But I spend all of my time wrestling with people on that point. Nothing about being Charismatic equates to devaluing Scripture but that one of the key objections and certainly there is plenty of evidence that supports that perception.
Net - we somehow need to separate critique of the doctrine from watchouts/cautions to it's adherents. We also need to not get caught up in the arguments from those that are itching for a reason to reject a doctrine based on any nut that holds the objectionable view.
Here, a proper understanding of God's sovereignty should result in rejecting fatalism ... so rather than reject Calvinism, I say proper teaching is needed. That is, we should avoid the ANKoChristianity trap.
:)
I'll separate these so I can think better. I wish I had a web guy who would simply redo this blog with a better comment reply system. But I lost energy (and money) for that a long time ago ...
Point 2 - love - YIKES! But I'll say this is true in all camps - there are sites dedicated to anti-Calvin and many of those are attacking the attacks of others and blaming Calvinism for it. The issues have nothing to do with Calvinism. I've challenged some doctrine and was told I only disagree because I'm a Calvinist - and the person refused to tell me the connection other than other Calvinists also disagreed with him.
BUT - I agree that of the baggage I mentioned in response to point 1, among Calvinists, a love for being "right" is typically higher that a love for being "loving". I for one am guilty and I'm currently in prayer about that very issue. Again, this is contrary to the doctrine, in theory, Calvinists should be the most humble, practice unfortunately is the opposite ...
Point 3 ... yep, same deal, the doctrine should result in the opposite but practice doesn't fit that.
Bottom line - I have experienced what you describe in all points. And I have been guilty of these as well.
Solution? Preach Christ and Him crucified!
hey Dan - in all that rambling I don't know if I clearly said this so here goes, thanks for the comments. I share your observations regarding behavior.
Now for a joke. I think the Charismatic v. Calvinist comparison is interesting. It seems Calvinists continue to devolve while Charismatics evolve. We now have "Reformed" Charismatics and even some that not only are not pre-trib rapture types but also no longer post-mil ... if you would have told me that 20-30 years ago I would have said no way!
College Hill was definitely pro-charismatic among the leadership when I was there, but when that leadership left, many of the people in the seats left for the Vineyard in Springdale.
I find it interesting that the Sovereign Grace churches have not caught on in Cincinnati. If there are one or two, I have heard nothing about them.
I know that there are three Acts 29 churches in the area, though only one of them has any size. Some of these are sympathetic to the charismata, at least from what I have seen.
I know that this may sound odd coming from me, but I don't have a problem with a Calvinist church that doesn't have a firm stand on continuance. More than anything, I want to see churches know what they believe and practice that belief in a practical, outward-focused way, while not forgetting that the inner life of the church body matters more than the outward. But most of all, I hope to see churches that are filled with loving, positive people, who may acknowledge that life is hard but don't surrender to faithlessness as a result.
There are sovereign grace churches in the greater Cincinnati area. We are one of them. Check out our site:
www.GospelDefense.com
Scott - thanks for the link. I'm already deeply involved in a community but it's good to know there are others out there. I'll hang onto this for reference.
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