Yes, I'm a Calvinist

Calvinism is a theological system that seems to be growing more and more out of favor with the Christian populace. 

“Calvinism” is the theological view that stresses God’s sovereignty above human will.  This is the foundation of Reformed theology.  The term “Calvinism” came to us as a way to express the theology held by the Reformed theologians, most notably John Calvin.  The basis of Calvinism has been summed up in the acronym of T-U-L-I-P.  Each letter of the word “tulip” stands for a major point in Calvinism.  Other terms associated with Calvinism are “election” (God chose you, you didn’t choose Him) and “predestination” (your destiny was pre-ordained), in most cases, are synonymous with Calvinism.

In the “tulip” acronym, “T” stands for total depravity (the belief that every part of humanity has been tainted by sin).  “U” stands for unconditional election (the belief that God makes the first move in the salvation process thereby showing that His choice is not based upon any condition by the one whom He chooses for salvation).  “L” stands for limited atonement (the belief that since God has chosen only some for salvation, the efficacy of Christ’s work on the Cross was not for all, but only for the chosen).  “I” stands for irresistible grace (the belief that God’s pursuit with His grace toward one whom is chosen wins every time).  “P” stands for the perseverance of the saints (the belief that those chosen for salvation do not rest on their election but continue in works of faith and righteousness until they are called to their heavenly rest).

Since my desire is not to write a dissertation but merely discuss Calvinism’s most controversial point- election- let me begin by quoting a verse (I chose this verse at random among dozens of verses that speak about election).   2 Thessalonians 2:13 says  “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through the sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”  In this chapter, Paul is contrasting those who will be deceived by the works of the anti-Christ with those who will remain faithful to the Lord.  Notice the key wording “God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation.”  The Calvinist says this verse (and dozens like it) makes it perfectly clear . . . God makes the choice.  Calvinism boils down to this basic truth . . . it is God who chooses.

Those against Calvinism say verses such as this are easily explained by Romans 8:29 that says “For those whom (God) foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.”  So, they say, “Sure, they were predestined for salvation because God foreknew they would accept Him.  God merely looked into the future and saw all who would accept Him and thereby chose them.”  A Calvinist would then reply, “But the meaning of the word “foreknew” really means that God knew beforehand those whom He would choose.  It doesn’t refer to God looking into the future and seeing those who would choose Him.”

Let me take the side of believing the word “foreknew” to mean that God looked into the future and saw all that would come to Him and, thereby, He predestined those individuals.  The benefit of this belief is that I don’t have to wrestle with why God didn’t choose someone because, according to this belief, each person is to blame if he doesn’t choose the Savior.  However, isn’t there something still a little upsetting about this belief that says Jimmy and Joe were predestined before time because God knew they would accept His Son but Sammy and Sue were not predestined because God knew their actions as well?  By the time Jimmy, Joe, Sammy or Sue is born, his/her eternal fate is already sealed.  How is this belief much more attractive than traditional Calvinism?  The only way this belief gives any hope about an individual being able to choose Christ while actually living is to say that God missed some folks in His “foreknowledge.”  Otherwise, they would have already been predestined!   

So let’s go back to the biggest critique of Calvinism . . . “You mean that God chose some to go to heaven but didn’t choose others and those who aren’t chosen go to hell?  How could a loving God do such a thing?”  Let me be the first to say that this thought should never be easy for us to understand.  Even the Apostle Paul told his audience in Rome that he wished he could be accursed and cut off from Christ if it would mean the salvation of his fellow Jews who didn’t believe (Rom. 9:3).  But even though it is tough to understand, it doesn’t make it less true.

I’ve noticed that most people who disagree with Calvinisn don’t have any trouble believing that the Jews were the chosen people of God throughout the Old Testament.  The person whose face gets beat red debating against Calvinism has no trouble accepting the chosen lot of the Jews.

So here’s my question . . . why is accepting New Testament election so much harder than accepting Old Testament election?  What’s the difference?  The Old Testament is filled with examples of election.  Every prophet was chosen by God.  The LORD told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”  Or how about Moses or Abraham or David . . . all elected by God.  Yet, the greatest evidence of election/predestination in the Old Testament is the Jewish people themselves.

The Jewish people began through the blood line of one man, Abraham, and became a people among hundreds if not thousands of other people groups.  Yet, to whom did God give His covenants?  It was to Abraham and his descendants.  But was it to all of Abraham’s descendents?  No, God’s covenants did not apply to Abraham’s descendents through Ishmael, but only those through Isaac.  So, of all the millions of people, it was only the Jews who were given the covenants. Is this not election?  Can’t a person use the same objection that is leveled against Calvinism . . . “You mean God chose the Jews but didn’t choose the Egyptians, Hittites, Jebusites, or any other people groups on the face of the earth?  What about the poor Edomite, Moabite, Philistine or Ammonite, didn’t they have a chance?”  The answer is . . . No!  (Of course, there were some God-fearers from other nationalities, but the number is so small that there was no realistic chance of any of these other people groups ever having access to God’s covenants).

So whether we are looking at God’s choice of the Jewish people or God’s choice of individuals for His Church, it’s all by God’s choice.  And this is the foundation of Calvinism.

So what’s the benefit of Calvinism?  It’s certainly not to provide fodder for heated debates among saints.  If you don’t agree with Calvinism, that is OK with me.  There are plenty of Scriptures that speak to the responsibility of the individual in the salvation process.  And if I’m being completely transparent, I’m probably 51% Calvinist and 49% other.

Perhaps the greatest amazement of Calvinism is the thought that not only does the God of the universe know me, He also chose me to be in His family before the beginning of time through the work of His Son.  Meditate on that for a bit and it should begin to blow your mind.  It is my belief that prior to Christ’s departure from heaven to earth to become the incarnate Perfect Sacrifice, Jesus had you in mind as motivation for going ahead with it.  (There’s no question in my mind that those whom “God foreknew” means that the Father knew your name personally).  As David said, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”