November 14, 2009
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True Calvinism is NOT . . .
I'm a follower of Christ, yet I subscribe to Calvinism because I believe it is Biblical doctrine. I have fellowship with plenty of Christians who disagree about Calvinism, and I will agree to disagree with them in love. Yet to me, Calvinism is most God-glorifying for this reason: if we can say we can move but a toe on the road to salvation, then we diminish the glory of God. Our salvation is all from Him, through Him and to Him (as are all things). To God alone be glory now and forever.For years I shunned Calvinism because of many of the misconceptions, especially "once saved, always saved." I'd been saved for over twenty years but one day God showed me how terrible my sin was and how great His forgiveness was for me. He demanded I forgive someone and I all but crossed my arms and stamped my feet and said, "I will not!" Then God's Spirit got hold of my heart, led me to forgive and in the process showed me how great His forgiveness was for me, and that there was no way I could have chosen Him in my total depravity. Up until that time I sang "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me," but I would never have really admitted I was a real wretch since I certainly was not as bad as most people. It was at that time I saw I was bad, totally bad, totally unable to save myself, totally unable to seek God or choose God apart from His grace. Though I'd been saved a long time, I came to see that my salvation was nothing of me and all of Him.
Soon after that God began to show me how His sovereign hand was upon my whole life. Though I would have professed He was sovereign before that time, there came some difficult circumstances, and as I went through those and as I looked back, I continued to see how God was working them all for my good, to refine me into Christ's image – as much as I didn't like them and never would have chosen them. Yet along with William Cowper ("God Moves in a Mysterious Way"), I could see God's smiling face hiding behind a frowning providence many, many times. God's sovereignty has truly become my sanity. In the past few years the doctrines of grace, or Calvinism, all broke open for me. Since then I have a greater love and zeal for God and His Gospel and a greater burden for the lost than I ever have and now a passion to see the Church revived.
I've written this post as a supplement/follow-up to my previous post, "Why I'm a happy Calvinist...," to clear up some common misconceptions about Calvinism. I'm saying many of the same things I said in that post, but from a different perspective.
True Calvinism is NOT
prideful
(we have no reason to boast because we know we have been saved by grace alone)presumptuous
(we know God chose us only by His mercy, we didn't deserve or merit salvation)licentious
(we seek to be holy as He is holy as His Spirit works in us)guilt-laden
(we can rest knowing Christ is our surety, and therefore we are no longer under condemnation)insecure
(we can have bold assurance and confidence in our relationship with God since we have been sealed with God's Holy Spirit)restricting
(we are born again by the Spirit and are free to put off sin and to love God as He demands)without works
(we work out what God is working in us, we seek to bear fruit worthy of repentance)frightening
(we can rest in the storms of life as we know we can never be separated from God's love for us in Jesus Christ)unevangelistic
(we want the world to know the love of God, and since we do not know whom God has chosen, we preach the Gospel to all)uncaring
(we grieve as we see men and creation groaning as a result of the fall and seek to bring God's mercy and grace to a fallen world)merely intellectual
(we love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength as well as all our mind)boring
(we enjoy God as we see how grace and truth met in Jesus Christ)
Related:
- Why I'm a happy Calvinist! (Resting in the sovereignty of God)
- Letter 6 on assurance and fighting for joy (and the Gospel and revival)
- God reveals Himself to some but not to all, yet we are sent to proclaim Christ to all
- How could we? (Bible Reading - Leviticus 22)
- Letter 7 on assurance and fighting for joy (remember His love for us while we were sinners)
- Bible Reading: Things To Look for in a Church: What We Find in Solomon's Temple, #2: God's Sovereignty in Salvation
- My message to Revelife (re: the Calvinism blow-up)
- "I can't keep walking on eggshells here (more on Revelife, Calvinism, the Body of Christ and self."
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Comments (19)
I'm glad to see that you have studied this well and are avoiding some of the more dangerous common malpractices behind the theology. Unfortunately, as with most things, Calvinism is often times misapplied (leading to things such as "Once Saved Always Saved") and therefore many people who spot that belief as an error disassociate with everything in relation to Calvinism; essentially throwing the baby out with the bath water.
As with almost everything, I am a hybrid between most theologies; I have yet to find a "name" other than "Christian" that captures my belief set well. I can usually find something within most theologies that I don't believe to be Biblical-- but I can usually find a lot of things that are accurate.
My practice, therefore, is to examine every belief I hold against the "practice" of Christian life; does it enhance, or encourage Christian behavior and extend my understanding of the core of our faith which is the Spirit; if it does not, then there is a good chance that it is either a false theology or one that is not intended by God for us to be digging into.
Continue your study by the Grace and Mercy of God; as you said, let God's sovereignty be your sanity.
I was happy to see your response posted on Revelife. It is an excellent explanation of a sometimes difficult theology.
We had a few pretty heated discussions about Calvinism in a small group that ultimately disbanded when one couple couldn't agree to disagree and carry on in love.
Resting in the sovereignty of God, amen!
I like your list. It was so good to read this this morning. I hang somewhere inbetween as well. I know that these things are settled in heaven. God sees all of TIME, like an empty paper towel cardboard roll - beginning to end - we being "in" the papertowel in 2009 here and he being above all. He sees who He chose, who will come, and who will not. Yet, there is the Great Commission "Go and Tell the World". How do we reconcile go and tell with already done? We as mortals cannot. Indeed the Gift is given and the Grace to recieve is given that all men everywhere cannot boast ... ever... on any account.
Karen, I always look forward to your postings. They make me think deeper into some of the things I just gloss over. When we reach a point in our Spiritual walk where we realize that "we" can do nothing without Christ, then.... and only then.... Christ and His Holy Spirit can truely use us as we are obedient. Until then, everything we do for Him is 'hay and stubble'.
God Bless you and yours.
Hey! While your over here writing new posts, I'm over on Revelife fighting for my life on your old one!
LOL!
Can I say that this is yet another wonderful posting about the Calvinist theology.
@deepestrecesses@revelife - David, I agree w/ this: As with almost everything, I am a hybrid between most theologies; I have yet to find a "name" other than "Christian" that captures my belief set well. My intent was to help people to have a greater understanding of Calvinism since I think many discard it without examining it, or, as you say, throw the baby out w/ the bath water. I confess I've not actually studied Calvinism per se (I've barely read any Calvin), but I do believe the teachings do come from Scripture, though I know many of my beloved brothers and sisters do disagree on some of them and I agree to disagree w/ them in love. We are all Christians first and foremost. Thanks for your continuing encouragements. I praise and thank God for your love and devotion to Christ.
@bronze_for_gold - Lynda, so sorry to hear this: We had a few pretty heated discussions about Calvinism in a small group that ultimately disbanded when one couple couldn't agree to disagree and carry on in love.
In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.
Resting in the sovereignty of God, amen! You said it, sister.
@orangeranium8 - Linda, I love your picture there. And the reminder our boasting can only be in Him!
@Biblerapture - Yes, by His grace, may we yielded and submissive to Him, so we might not be adding to the pile of hay but rather adding to the pile of gold, silver, precious stones (I keep remembering that image you shared...).
@MC_Shann - Yes, Michael, I know you were and I appreciated that. Let's be continuing in prayer for the Christians here to be of one accord, to disagree w/ one another on the non-essentials w/ a spirit of love & humility, so we might bring glory to Him.
Grace & peace,
Karen
@naphtali_deer -
Yes- and as you're saying, there has got to start being enough spiritual awareness and maturity to agree to disagree on certain subjects. I hope (and have been praying) that people can shift their focus from studying controversies that cause divisions and start putting these efforts into things that will enhance their ability to reach out with the gospel to people.
I would suggest that upon studying further into Calvins doctrine you'll find that, as you said, a lot of it is very Biblical. The extent to which some people carry it is debatable. The only thing that I have not yet been able to find in the scriptures is "Limited Atonement". In fact, I would suggest that if someone says that limited atonement exists in the form that Christ's sacrifice only covered certain people, then they're calling the Apostles liars when they said that Christ came to die for all men. His atonement was offered to all people. The prophesies about him made to Abraham was that he would bless all nations. To my knowledge, there is no limit to whom this atonement is now offered too. The limit is on our end; are we willing to accept the terms of the offer? The gift is free- some people just aren't willing to live by the gift.
Anyway,
Many blessings upon your study of the subject.
Stay pure and true to the one true Gospel.
You know I don't agree and since I've already debated you on this, I won't do it again.
and I will agree to disagree with them in love.
Amen
@deepestrecesses@revelife -
As with almost everything, I am a hybrid between most theologies
So am I. There are errors in both Calvinism and Arminiasm.
As a non-Calvinist, I also believe the work is all God's. Just thought I'd put that out there
Great post.
The doctrines of grace are so beautiful and show us the beauty of God and His love as shown in Jesus. In my church, even, there are some who struggle with the idea of God's sovereignty, though they wouldn't identify that struggle as such. I see those who struggle sincerely with these doctrines as having a heart that desires to please God - not knowing that their words sound contrary to the heart of God.
@musterion99 - Amen! II Cor. 13:14.
@Pickwick12 -
Thanks, Amy! Psalm 115:1.
@quest4god@revelife - I so agree with you that the doctrines of grace reveal and display the beauty of Christ in unparalleled ways. You don't begin to see and understand how wondrous and glorious and great God is until you begin to see how miserable and helpless a wretch you are by nature!
The depth and genuineness of our experiential understanding of God's sovereignty is tested as the waters become higher and the fires hotter!
@naphtali_deer - Good verse.
You don't begin to see and understand how wondrous and glorious and great God is until you begin to see how miserable and helpless a wretch you are by nature!
You don't need to be a Calvinist to know that we're a wretch.