Reformed or Deformed?
Of all of the topics discussed this one entitled 'Calvinism' is the one we approach with the most caution and care. Our sensitivity to the topic is birthed from our love and concern for our Christian brothers who hold to the teachings of Calvin. BARC is committed to the tenants of scripture, and espouses that Calvinism is not course or outside of the pale of orthodoxy concerning the essentials. However, we include Calvinism in our research because it disfigures the essential topic of 'Soteriology' (salvation). In addition Calvinism portrays God in an avant-garde manner.
There are many solid and influential leaders who embrace and espouse Calvinistic doctrines. Among them are Frances Schaeffer, R. C. Sproul, J. I. Packer, John Piper, John McArthur, D. James Kennedy, Charles Spurgeon. We don't divide with them or challenge their love for Christ or contributions and prominence in the Body of Christ. We just oppose their position on Calvinism and Soteriology. We as an organization endeavor to enlighten and assist establishing believers in the present truth.
BARC will assist you in your understanding of Calvinism by addressing :
The History of the Reformation
The Person of Calvin
The Council or Canons of Dort
The acronym TULIP, what does it mean?
Selective Salvation, is it Biblical?
What the Bible teaches concerning Salvation
What is the Nature of God concerning Salvation?
THE REFORMATION
The Reformation began October 31,1517 when German Monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis on the Castle church door in Wittenberg, Germany, then in the state of Saxony. Martin Luther when facing the authorities was defiant. He spoke before Emperor Charles the V, saying "I cannot submit my faith to the pope or councils, because it is clear they have erred and contradicted each other. Unless I am convicted by the testimony of scripture........I cannot, and will not retract.....Here I stand, I can do no other... so help me God, Amen."
This bold and courageous stand by Augustinian Monk Martin Luther against the imposing regime of Roman Catholicism sparked the movement called the 'Protest' or the 'Reformation.' Luther is a champion of the current Protestant movement. Martin Luther wrote the 95 Thesis entitled 'Disputation for clarification of the power of indulgences.' It was the official protest against papal assertion that spiritual favor is available for purchase. We at BARC share in the basic transition from Roman Catholicism, but we don't support all of the views of Luther, Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli's, and a host of others who sprang forth from the reformation.
The Protestants, sprang forth and challenged the unbiblical practices of 'indulgences', saint worship, the deification of Mary, the absolute authority of the Pope, and practices such as recitation of the Rosary, and last rites, and purgatory. It must be stated that some of the traditions of Rome persisted in the ministries of Luther and Calvin. BARC condones the adherence to 'Sola Scriptura' and assert its proper and commendable.
The Reformers were instrumental in notable events such as the Diet of Worms and Augsburg. Men like John Wycliffe, Jan Hus, and Girolamo Savonoarola ( 1452-98) were instrumental in the genesis of denominational movements such as the Puritans, the great Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran, and main stream Pentecostal denominations. The Reformers efforts birthed great men such as Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, Tony Evans, C. S. Lewis, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, Francis Schaeffer, Donald Barnhouse, Martin Luther & King Jr., Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, D. James Kennedy, D L Moody, John McArthur, J I Packer, Walter Martin.
The Reformation enabled the Bible to be accessible to the common parishioner. It promoted and confirmed the great doctrines of scripture that had been lost and hidden through papal and Catholic heresy. It was the catalyst for the reintroduction of doctrines such as salvation by grace through faith, eternal redemption through Christ alone. The Reformers reawakened the church to discipleship, spiritual discipline and personal purity. BARC owes a debt of gratitude to these great men who came before us. Through persecution, suffering, wars, pestilence and being outcast. They stood firm on the benefits and essential doctrines of the Bible.
Today we can observe Reformed Theology being taught primarily in the Presbyterian Church. Reformed Theology is taking hold in other denominations. We see Reformed theology being embraced by independent ministries and some Southern Baptist churches.
Our discussion on Calvinism is not a scourge against the Reformation itself, but we see many departures from clear biblical text concerning the doctrine of salvation. The biblical description of salvation is vital and central, for it is the crux of God's eternal plan for mankind.
JOHN CALVIN
One must study the man, 'John Calvin' to properly understand the theology of Calvinism.
Calvin was born July 10,1509, in Picardy at Noyan, France to devout Roman Catholic parents, and died at Geneva, Switzerland, May 27, 1564 at the age of 54. Calvin's formal education was complete in 1527 when he was eighteen. He drifted from his Roman Catholic faith to become a humanist and reformer according to the Catholics. Calvin counted his Roman Catholic infant baptism as the basis of his regeneration.
Calvin studied the voluminous writings of Saint Augustine, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hippo (354-430 AD), much more so than his contemporary, Martin Luther. Calvin constantly praised the works of Augustine. It must be noted that Augustine was greatly influenced by the Gnostics, an early Christian sect, whose doctrine was heretical. Gnostics believed that mankind was wholly evil and some sects even renounced marriage and procreation. They also embraced 'dualism' believing in two gods, one evil and one good. Their teachings are believed to have influenced Augustine in the development of his theology of 'Total Depravity' of mankind and his concept of God. For nine years Augustine adhered to Manichaeism, a Persian dualistic philosophy proclaimed by Mani (216-276 AD) in Southern Babylonia (Iraq) that taught a doctrine of 'total depravity' and the claim they were the 'elect'. Augustine then turned to skepticism and was attracted to the philosophy of Neo-Platonism. He blended these beliefs with his later Gnostic and Christian teachings. Augustine's writings were more influenced by his previously obtained theology than from careful study of the scriptures.
Augustine's teachings were then passed on to Calvin through his great interest in his writings. It is very easy to trace the trail of John Calvin's theology from the pagan religion of Mani in Babylonia, to Saint Augustine unto his own writings in France and Geneva. Calvin's false doctrine came directly from Augustine.
Today those who adhere to Calvinistic doctrine refer to the Westminster Catechism or Confession, similar to Mormons referring to the Pearl of Great Price or Jehovah's Witnesses referring to 'Studies in the Scriptures' or 'Watch Tower' magazines. Remember, "The recipe for error is the Bible and another book or document."
With that in mind, Calvin wrote a book entitled 'Institutes of the Christian religion' in March 1536. This book was revered as a super cession of the Bible. It was Calvin's slanted interpretation and commentary on the truth of scripture.
Calvin had not introduced the legislative articles of Geneva; however, it was by his influence that in January 1537, the articles were approved. They insisted on communion four times a year, setting of spies on delinquents, moral censorship. There was to be children's catechism, which he drew up. Calvinist don't know or close their eyes to the real character of the man they consider holy and true to God's word. Jesus said, you will know them by their fruit. That's the fruit of doctrine and the fruit of life. Calvin is deficient in both critical areas.
There was much division and opposition to Calvin's institutes, that a council agreed to exile Calvin from Geneva. We at BARC find it interesting, Calvin was so influenced by the Catholic church that he considered the Apocrypha as sacred inspired canon of scripture.
Calvinism is a mutant evolving from Paganism, Gnosticism, and Roman Catholicism. In atonement, it has the Pagan's placation, Anselm's penal atonement. and predestination from Jerome and Augustine. It is a hybrid of parent types mixed with Christianity.
Now back to the historical record:
After some negotiation, Ami Perrin, commissioner for Geneva persuaded Calvin to return. He did return September 13,1541. His entry was modest. Geneva was a church-city-state of 15,000 people. The church constitution recognized 'pastors, doctors, elders and deacons,' but the supreme power was given to the magistrate, 'John Calvin!' In November 1552, the council declared Calvin's 'institutes' to be a holy doctrine which no man might speak against. Thus the state issued a dogmatic decree, the force of which was realized when Jacques Gruet, a known opponent of Calvin, was arrested, tortured for a month and beheaded for placing a letter in Calvin's pulpit calling Calvin a hypocrite. Gruet's book was found and burned along with his house while his wife was thrown in the street to watch. Within five years Calvin imposed fifty eight sentences of death, and seventy-six to exile. Besides this he committed many of the most eminent citizens to prison. In 1555, Calvin stirred a revolt to overthrow the council led by Ami Perrin, the man who invited him back to Geneva.
Calvin forced citizens to attend church under heavy threat of punishment. Since Calvin believed God forces the elect to believe, then he felt he was correct to force citizens of Geneva to become the elect. Not becoming the elect was punishable by death. Calvin believed in and practiced forced regeneration.
Michael Servetus, a Spaniard, a physician, a scientist and Bible scholar was born in Villanova in 1511. He was credited with the discovery of right chamber pulmonary circulation. He was Calvin's friend in their early resistance to the Roman Catholic Church. Servetus, angered Calvin by returning a copy Calvin's writings institutes with critical comments in the margins. Servetus was arrested April 4th but escaped April 7th 1553. He traveled to Geneva where he attended Calvin's Sunday service. Calvin had him promptly arrested again and charged him with heresy for disagreeing with his writing's. The thirty eight official charges included rejection of the Trinity and infant baptism. Servetus pleaded to be beheaded, instead of the more brutal burning at the stake. Protestant churches all over Switzerland advised Calvin to not kill Servetus. Calvin ignored them and burned Servetus at the stake on October 27,1553. Servetus was screaming as he was baked alive from the feet upward for thirty minutes before succumbing to the flames. Servetus had written a theology book, a copy of which Calvin had it strapped to his chest.
John Calvin was proud of his killing Servetus, by bragging and celebrating. Many religious and state leaders criticized Calvin for the unwarranted killing of Servetus. Calvin also targeted Gentile, of an Italian sect in Geneva. They were more or less Unitarian in their views, they were required to sign a confession drawn up by Calvin in 1558. Gentile was condemned and imprisoned as a perjurer. He escaped twice, but was finally beheaded in 1566. Calvin also had thirty four (34) women burned at the stake after accusing them of causing the plague that swept through Geneva in 1545. John Calvin's actions were very paganistic like his mentor Augustine. Jesus and the apostles of scripture never taught or condoned such horrific mass murders. The history of Calvin's reign of terror is well documented, Calvin himself had historical records kept that survive to this day.
John Calvin had no love, no compassion, or tolerance for anyone who didn't believe in his institutes. Calvin inserted marginal notes during his reading the Bible. His comments were contrary to the text in many instances. His commentary and notes were instrumental in the formation of the Geneva Bible in 1560. The Geneva Bible and the doctrines of Calvin spread across Europe as church leaders used the margin notes as a basis of their preaching and lectures. King James opposed the Geneva Bible and didn't support it until Dr. John Reynolds of the Puritans in the famous Hampton Court Conference convinced the King to authorize the printing of a new Bible without the marginal notes. King James authorized the work to begin and sanctioned 54 Greek scholars to translate the Texus Receptus as well as the other 5,000 Greek manuscripts. It is known as the Authorized King James Version of the Bible completed in 1611.
We have revealed that Calvin was a tyrant, and religious zealot. It must be said that King James was no godly entity either. He was a racist, a pervert, and an alleged homosexual. This is similar to many people hailing General Custer and Edgar Hoover as a great Americans, although they were racist and supported ethnic cleansing. What's the point? Today so many hail Calvin as if he was the model of purity and godly character. He is portrayed as if he was God's conduit .dispensing divine revelation. However he demonstrated none of the fruit of the Spirit, joy, faithfulness, gentleness, patience, temperance, kindness, love Just because men were influential, does not equate to godliness or biblical precision. The church today does not need to look to the interpretations and teachings of Calvin, Christ and the Apostles will do.
CANONS OF DORT
The Dutch church convened the Synod of Dortdrecht in 1610 to resolve the dispute between Remonstrants (followers of Jacob Arminius) and the Reformed Church (followers of Calvin) concerning the correct interpretation of the Bible. In the Reformed churches of the Netherlands, Jacob Arminius taught doctrines contrary to the established Reformed faith or Calvinism. The Remonstrants drew up five statements of doctrine in which they set forth their own interpretation. The Calvinist answered the five points of the Armenians with their own five points. They have come to be known as the 'Five Points of Calvinism'. The approval of the Calvinist view was predetermined by a prejudiced Synod. Calvin relished the victory by murdering many of his opponents as they fled Dortdrecht for their lives.
Jesus and the apostles never murdered and slaughtered their opponents, but merely prayed for them, and reasoned with them from the scriptures. But Calvin and Calvinist continued to behead, cut with the axe, and burn at the stake. Charles 1 eventually succeeded King James in England. The Calvinist gained control of the English Parliament and waged war against the King. They abolished episcopacy, ejected two thousand royalist ministers, summoned the Westminster Assembly, executed Archbishop Laud, and eventually the King himself in 1649. The majority of Calvinistic thinking is summed up in the thirty three chapters of the Westminster Confession.
The Canon of Dort should not be called or confused with canons of scripture, for they are not the biblical measurement or standard presented by the Holy writers or apostles. The Canons of Dort were doctrines opposing Arminius, based upon a distorted premise. It varies little from what the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society does. Arius of Alexander presented a premise that Jesus was not God, but a created being, so the governing body of The Watch Tower Society established an interpretation and doctrine that supported the premise of Arius. Just as the Watch Tower, Calvinist close their eyes and support the premise of Calvin. Their method is to explain away clear truths of scripture that demonstrate their error.
TULIP
The Canon of Dort adjourned and presented a new doctrine that countered the Armenian views. These are known as the 'Five Points of Calvinism.'
T- Total Depravity
U - Unconditional Election
L- Limited Atonement
I - Irresistible Grace
P- Preservation of the Saints
We at BARC have researched these five points and will weigh them in light of God's word, not Augustine or Calvin's deformed interpretation.
TOTAL DEPRAVITY
It must be initially stated that if one point can be demonstrated as being erroneous, then all of them tumble as the classic domino. Calvinist scholar Lorraine Boettner states: These are not isolated and independent doctrines but are so inter-related that they form a simple, harmonious, self consistent system; and the way they fit together as component parts of a well ordered whole...... prove any one of them false and the whole system MUST BE ABANDONED.............. !! Total Depravity is Calvin's concept that man after the fall in the garden was totally depraved, not possessing any characteristics outside of depravity. To enlarge on the Calvinist view , they insist that man's nature is corrupt, perverse, and sinful throughout. By 'total' Calvinist mean that man's whole being is affected by sin. The corruption extends to every part of man, his body and soul; sin has affected all (totally) of man's faculties, mind, will etc. Man is therefore incapable of doing good.
While discussing total depravity, the question must be answered, does total depravity equal total inability? This is critical to see clearly from scripture, for this confirms or refutes Calvin's view that Spiritual birth precedes saving faith. Calvin taught that the unregenerate man can't respond or believe in the Gospel preached to him. He can't do anything to accept the free gift of salvation. Calvinist insist that regeneration occurs before faith, pointing out that the Holy Spirit must bring new life before the sinner can by God's enabling exercise faith and accept Jesus Christ. This first concept of Calvin presupposes that since man can't respond to God because he is 'Totally' depraved, that it requires a merciful endowment from God to regenerate the depraved, enabling him to exercise faith. It disengages man's will (autonomy) and abilities and rest everything in the hands of God's sovereignty.
All of this sounds reasonable and practical, until you enlist the testimony of scripture. Let's look at what God say's about Total Depravity and regeneration and man's ability to use faith relating to salvation. Does the Bible teach that man can be regenerate or saved without faith in Christ or having faith through His word? This is the problem that Calvin didn't properly consider. Calvinist scholar John H. Gerstner claims that "people that come to Jesus are not therefore born again, but on the contrary indicate that they have been born again. In other words they are not born again because they have come to Jesus but they have come to Jesus because they have been born again."
Does Calvinistic views oppose or support the scripture? Let's take a look.
(John 1:12) say's ...as many as received (Christ) , to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God? This is clear, the prerequisite to being born again, saved or being a child of God is by faith or believing. Calvin is incorrect, the Holy Spirit speaking through John is right. Man receives Christ by faith bringing salvation. John also testified by the Holy Spirit "These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have faith in His name (John 20:31). The Calvinist are wrong to teach that life comes before birth. Peter affirms the absurdity of Calvinism by adding these words by the Holy Spirit. " We have been born again, not by corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God............Now this is the word which was preached to you." (1Peter 1:23,25).
When Calvinist and the Westminster Confession suggest that regeneration or the new birth precedes faith or believing in Christ we must enlist the testimony of the scriptures.
In Mark 16:16 the textual Greek reads: "The one having believed (pisteusas) and having been baptized will be saved (sothesetai) but the one having believed not (apistesas) will be condemned to eternal death (katakpithesetai)...o
Time elements cannot be denied. Tense affirms both time and kind of action. Further, pisteusas (having believed) and apistesas (having believed not) are words of the same tense, etc. Both are aorists, both are active, both terms show that the persons did something, one to be saved, and the other did not believe by resisting, so lost. Whether in belief or unbelief, the intellect, volition, and will are engaged. Likewise, the results of these attitudes affect the total person and destiny itself. The results are sothesetai (will be saved) and katakpithesetai (will be condemned to eternal death). These terms are of exactly the same grammatical construction. Both are verbs in the passive voice; both are revelatory of destiny based on the action of the person.
God never saved the believer apart from his action anymore than he He damned the unbeliever apart from his actions of unbelief or rejection. Thus, neither the saved nor the lost are irresistibly consigned to their state from eternity from God. Both classes, the saved or lost are thus because of the manner in which they responded to the gospel message as it was being preached throughout the world.
Total Depravity suggest that the depraved sinner is incapable of repentance. BARC contends that if that was so, why would God command that all sinners repent? (Acts 17:30) Was God commanding mankind to do what they were incapable of doing? Conversely, in the case of the elect, was God commanding them to do what they could not help but do? Why would a wise God waste a command, knowing both parties have no ability to do otherwise?
What precipitates these glaring errors and omissions in Calvinist teachings is the definitions that develop their theology.
The Bible firmly establishes the tenant of A PRIORI- [God is not the author of sin].
Calvinism presents a concept of DESTINATE AD PECCATUM- [God works sin and damnation into the lives of Humanity].
The Bible firmly establishes the tenant of SOLA FIDE- [Faith alone in Christ alone].
Calvinism presents a concept of PREDESTINATION/ELECTION- [Determined beforehand, God chooses, and man 's faith in Christ is insignificant or ineffective].
Let's explore the definition of election and predestination in the context of salvation.
Election is defined as [ 'the right or power to make a choice.']
Predestination is defined as ['determined beforehand], to impose a direction or tendency, foreordain to a destiny, decree, appoint,.' It is with this definition in mind that Calvinist surmise that "Man is in bondage to God's will."
Calvinist primarily use these two terms in scripture to suggest that because God predestinates, and elects that it nullifies human autonomy.
Autonomy is defined as: '[Self directing freedom.]' {Man has been granted the proclivity to make choices concerning his direction and destiny}. The church has never taught because a man has autonomy, that God's Sovereignty is nullified.
Sovereignty is defined as ['above all others, ruler, supreme authority.]'
Calvinism errors in their view of Sovereignty by insisting that it means 'total control or orchestration.'
The example of scripture say's, God can be above all others, ruler and supreme and allow human autonomy.
When examining the cooperation between God's sovereignty and man's autonomy, one might only look at the account of God's command to Jonah to preach in Nineveh. Jonah's will and decisions were in contrast to Gods, but God's Sovereignty and power over creatures without will's were used to influence Jonah's will to submit to God's Sovereignty. We will enlarge on this later.
Let's analyze the nature of God in Predestination and Foreknowledge.
Calvinist teach that because God in His foreknowledge predestinated salvation, God also individually decided who would be saved. But is it plausible that God could impose or provide salvation to the world through Christ and in His foreknowledge know that many will believe without determining or orchestrating who individually will?
We at BARC affirm He does. Calvinist having been keenly influenced by Calvin's interpretation will say 'NO.' Our heavenly Father provided a panoramic view of the events that will occur at the end of the age. He revealed in The Book of Revelation, the plagues, demonic activity, final judgment, rapture of the Church etc. God revealed the disobedient, and rebellious. What is missing is the orchestration of the events.
GOD FOREKNOWS, BUT DOES NOT DETERMINE WHAT WE KNOWS.
Lastly, can God elect a person and that person decline the election?
Is there a precedence in scripture where The Lord desired to save, deliver, give life, have fellowship with persons, but the person elected otherwise?
I paused to address these critical areas so that we may better understand what Calvinism teaches, but more importantly, what the Bible teaches.
Now back to Total Depravity, if the definition of Calvin is true, then there should not be one passage of scripture that any human performed any good deed or possessed Godly qualities prior to regeneration through Christ. However, we see worship of God performed by Abraham, (Gen.18), obedience to God performed by Abraham in (Genesis 22:18). King Josiah did what was righteous in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings). God called Job an upright man who was blameless and shuns evil (Job 1), God described Noah as a righteous and just man (Gen.6:9). David prayed that he would have a right spirit renewed in him (Psalms 51:10). Nehemiah speaks of the good deeds done to by Johanan (Nehemiah 6:19). These occurred before Christ, before regeneration was possible. How were these unregenerate men able to accomplish good deeds, righteousness, and obedience if man was incapable of any good thing?
Calvin is incorrect on the premise of man being 'Totally Depraved!!!'
The Bible speaks of mans nature being wicked, his character being base and wretched, rebellious, stiff-necked, sinful, deceitful, unfaithful, we see continual evil, but the evil nature was capable of responding to God.
Some men chose not to to good or follow God, but others did respond. Interestingly, 'Total Depravity' is a term foreign to scripture, we can't find a biblical passage that teaches it. Remember Calvinist Lorraine Boettner said: Disprove any component of Calvinism and they all must be abandoned. At this juncture we should hear the domino's propped up by Calvin falling. But let's examine the second point of Calvinism to determine if it can stand up to the word of Almighty God.
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
Calvinism, teaches that certain men were selected for eternal life based on no condition, deed or act. Conversely, it teaches that certain persons were selected for eternal torment (Hell) based on no condition, act or deed. God just put on the divine blind fold and pinned the tail of life or death on whoever He pleased. This is the point of Calvinism where God's sovereignty is distorted. This aspect of Calvinism paints a very peculiar picture of our heavenly Father. It calls into question His nature, character, and justice. If unconditional election is correct, our Bibles then are instruments of calamity, and our God is a cosmic monster.
The scriptures teach SYNERGISM, meaning [combined action, God and man cooperate]. In insurance vernacular, the central part of a contract is offer and acceptance. The Calvinist teach MONERGISM, meaning [God is the agent in regeneration, and man has no inclination to holiness until born again].
The Calvin position is that, man has no part in regeneration, it's ALL up to God.
Can God be just, good, and righteous if He justifies for no reason, and condemns for no reason? How can He be loving by having no interest in seeing the un-elect be saved? This is how Calvinism has presented our heavenly Father.
In the model prayer found in Luke 10, it tells us to ask God's will to be done in the earth as it is in heaven. If God arbitrarily condemns people to eternal damnation, then we should model that practice in our dealings with others. We can't have an effective system of justice in our world. Following God's alleged example, persons should be condemned judicially for no reason. We should randomly select families and individuals for capital punishment. That is the alleged methodology of God, that's the example Calvin claims God left for us. A Calvinist should never plead for justice or complain if they are condemned to capital punishment for doing nothing.
We believe that God the Holy Spirit should be permitted to testify concerning His will as it relates to election and salvation. Paul spoke to Timothy and said, God "desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1Tim. 2:4). God's word say's he desires all men to be saved, but to maintain allegiance to the 'institutes' and the 'Canon of Dort' Calvinist commit 'interpolation' and insert the thought or idea that the text is speaking of God desires all men (of the elect) to be saved.
(2 Peter 3:9) tells us that " God does not will that any human being perish (in hell) but that all should come to repentance."
Calvinist can read verses like (John 3:16), and force their presuppositions into it, it reads "For God so Loved the world (of men) that He gave His only begotten son (Jesus) that whosoever believeth in Him (Jesus) will not perish in (hell) but have everlasting life. What does the scripture expound to us?
1. God loved or smiled on all humanity.
2. Through sending His son Jesus to die, all or whoever (human autonomy) in the world believeth in Jesus, (conditional) shall not perish but have eternal life. Since the scripture does not agree with the 'points' of Calvinism, they must insert the idea that God only loved the 'elect' and God means that whosoever of the 'elect' may believe and have eternal life.
To give you a snapshot of Calvinist arguments that imply that God in His sovereignty elects only certain ones, and man's autonomy and freedom is super ceded or deleted.
(Matthew 11:27) say's " no one knows the Father except the ones who He wills to reveal him to." The Calvinist isolate the comment from the larger context that say's "He wills all who labor and are heavy laden" (all mankind) under the bondage of sin's slavery, can come to Him. Again we just read (2 Peter 3:9) that confirms what God wills concerning repentance and perishing.
(Matthew 22:14) tells us by way of commentary that, God had a covenant people (Jews) they were invited initially, but they were not willing to come, so he sent out His servants to compel men from any municipal or type, whether good or evil to come to Him. Many are called but few are chosen.
Questions arise such as, those not willing to come, were they not willing to come because as Calvinist suggest they were not 'chosen' ? Or were they not chosen because they were not willing to come as Jesus seems to teach? It appears that you cannot agree with Jesus and at the same time logically embrace Unconditional Election. When we consider Unconditional Election and the 'reprobate' (the ones elected to Hell) contrary to Calvinism, when Jesus spoke of those going to Hell, it is based upon man's autonomous rejection of the gospel or their evil deeds.
When God denies a people, He gives consistent reasons. In (Isaiah 6:9-10); He tells of the gradual erosion and subsequent judgment of God concerning the Jewish nation. What was the basis of His actions? The answer is revealed in John 3:19, And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil!
(Matthew 13) speaks profoundly of the variables that enact judgment or justification. In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:18-23), those who were not saved made personal choices, desired things, focused on carnal vanities. Paul said "They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved (2 Thess. 2:10).The tares that were among the wheat were artificial implants placed not by God as suggested by Calvinism, but they were placed by Satan.
In (1 Corinthians 6:9) it tells us that the fornicator, thieves, homosexual, drunkards, will not go to heaven but go to hell. It was because of their conduct not God's choice. (2 Corinthians 5:10), reminds us, We must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ to receive the things we have done in our bodies whether it's good or evil. (Revelation 3:20) speaks of Jesus knocking on the universal door, and if any man will open they can have fellowship with Him. If any man overcomes, God will grant to them to sit with Him in heaven. (Acts 3:38) tells us, " those not listening or heeding will perish.
(Revelation 20:12) reveals that God determined who would go to heaven or hell based on their works or evil deeds.
The Gospel is called 'Good News', if man was unconditionally elected for Hell for no autonomous reason, then the gospel is no longer GOOD NEWS.
The gospel of Calvinism is horrible, repulsive news for the reprobate. God has consistently, made promises to mankind that were conditional. He spoke of blessing His people if they were obedient, if they endured, if they were faithful, if they humbled them selves, turned from wicked ways, loved, trusted, forgave. Our relationship with God is a conditioned based dynamic. Throughout the scriptures God deals with man based upon mans accredited autonomy.
The Holy Spirit called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts and sanctified and preserved me in the faith.-MARTIN LUTHER
Martin Luther although a proponent of Calvinism, clearly taught that the gospel or preached word and the individuals faith produced a new life.
Calvinist in their zeal to refute or counter Arminianism, did not carefully consider the portrait of Christ they painted. The god painted by Calvinism is a Cosmic Dictator that performs morbid acts. The god of Calvin is personally responsible for every heinous deed ever committed. When Calvin leaned his doctrinal boat so far to the left and over defined God's sovereignty and dismantled man's autonomy God became the play write, producer, director, and actor of an event called human existence.
If man is only a role player, then God is the initiator and author of evil. God is responsible for Adam and Eve's original sin. God is then the one who inspired the Tower of Babel. God is the one who inspired the killing of the first born by Herod. God moved upon the slave traders to destroy 200 million lives in the middle passage. God was under the hoods of the KKK as they lynched and burned thousands in America. God inspired Hitler to build the concentration camps. God is the perpetrator of the 40 plus million babies that have been aborted. God is behind every war, rape, murder, abuse, pedophile act.
If a Calvinist rejects the implication that God did those things, then he must acknowledge that man is not a robot or role player. If the Calvinist rejects man's autonomy, and agrees that God in His sovereignty performed all those acts, then he opposes scripture that tells us in (James 1:13-14) " Let no man say that the test or trial that comes is of God, for God can't be tempted, God neither tempteth any man with evil. But each person is tempted when he drawn and enticed by his own lust." Man is responsible for dealing with temptation and appropriating the disciplines afforded through Christ word to walk holy before God. Jesus informed us in the Lords Prayer.....lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one........ Far from being robots or role players, man is described in scripture as being conditionally received into God's family, and conditionally punished for his own sin.
Calvinism is fallacious "theologically inconsistent, philosophically insufficient and morally repugnant."- Dr. Norman Geisler
Here again, the concept of 'Unconditional Election' just as 'Total Depravity' are easily refuted by scripture.
LIMITED ATONEMENT
This aspect of Calvinism is a sequential extension of 'Unconditional Election.' If God elected certain persons for no specific purpose, then the atonement on Calvary was restricted to certain people. When Jesus went to Calvary, Calvinist insist He was only going for certain people, 'the elect.' By way of example, Jesus didn't pay the ransom note to the Father for the un-elect. So if one of the un-elect was your mother or child, there is nothing they can do or say that would change their eternal destiny. There is no reason for children to obey their parents, or be law abiding citizens, or even go to a church or read the Bible. Their sins were not paid for. The word of God is ineffective for the un-elect, they can't receive it. This Calvinist God is not even as kind or just as the God of Islam or the Koran. Allah at least disqualified and punished people for their evil deeds.
Is this the type of salvation that God provided for mankind? Let's see if scripture agrees with Calvinism. If Christ died for the elect only, why did Paul tell Timothy:......"There is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for ALL men.....? (1 Timothy 2:5). If Christ didn't die for everyone, why did Hebrews say, "He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste it for EVERYONE? (Hebrews 2:9).
Calvin didn't read his Bible, for he would have noted that the scriptures attest that those that were lost or not saved "denied the Lord that bought them." So the clear teaching of scripture is, God tasted death and paid the price for everyone, some still denied him, neglected, and rejected Him. It's similar to the government allocating and imputing billions of dollars into the Montgomery Bill. Any Soldier, Airman, Marine, or Sailor can use the available dollars. The facts indicate that many didn't use what was paid, allocated and provided for them. (Matthew tells us in 24:14), The gospel will be preached to the whole world before the end comes. The 'whole world' does not refer to geographical locations only, but the people who inhabit the world.
Luke 3:6 informs us that all flesh (all humanity) shall be exposed to the salvation of God.
John 3:16 testifies that God died for the whole world so that no one believing will perish, but have eternal life. To deny these truths will require Calvinist to add their thought (eisegesis) to the text. They are no different than Jehovah's Witnesses who insert words to fit their theology.
Calvinist who teach 'Limited Atonement' suggest that all of these text refer to the 'elect' rather than the pagan, reprobate, or sinner. Well, what does the passage mean when John say's Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins (current Christians), and not for 'ours only' but also for the sins of the 'WHOLE WORLD'? (1 John 1:12). The critical point here is John demolishes the Calvinist error by stating Jesus died for the Christian who Calvinist entitle 'The Elect' and also for the rest of the people of the world.
John the Baptist said "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Notice, never does the term elect ever surface when it relates to salvation.
(1 John 4:14) explains, "the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world."
(Mark 16:15-19) say's , The disciples were to preach throughout the whole world to all created men. Those who choose to believe will be saved, those who didn't choose to believe will be condemned.............they went out and preached everywhere.
Paul tells us that "Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6) That means everybody, or He would have said, Christ died for the ungodly among His predestinated elect.
Calvinist have accepted Calvin's 'Limited Atonement' and sabotaged the Holy Scriptures. One such scripture is (1 Timothy 2:1-2). ...God our Savior.....DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and come to the knowledge of the truth! What does a Calvinist do with this verse? It categorically opposes 'Limited Atonement.' RC Sproul, responded with the Calvinist interpretation that God desires all 'elect' men to be saved.......This is in violation of the laws of hermeneutics, and Calvinist commit the forbidden practice of 'interpolation' (inserting words or ideas not originally intended by the author). The text says ALL MEN, to maintain the Calvinist life support, they insert 'all men of the elect .'
This is what The Watch Tower did with (Colossians 1:15-17). The Bible says Jesus existed before "all things"......they don't believe He's God, so they had to insert He exist before 'All OTHER things.' We must always interpret the Bible in it's most literal sense. It literally say's God desires ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH!
God is just and merciful, He left the 99 to get the 1 lost sheep! That's His consistent revealed loving, merciful nature.
One of the errors of 'Limited Atonement' is it teaches that from all eternity the 'elect' were predestinated to be saved. So in essence they were never lost. They were going to heaven, because God predestinated it from the foundation of the world. The problem arises when you read (Luke 19:10). It says ......"The Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost." Well Calvinistically speaking, the lost are the reprobate, the un-elect. So Jesus came to save the lost, for the elect can't be the lost!
Charles Spurgeon in his classic sermon 'Good News for the Lost', ministered to the lost as follows: "I would have all anxious hearts consider HOW THE OBJECTS OF MERCY ARE DESCRIBED: "The Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost." I feel inexpressibly grateful for this description-"that which was lost!" I am quite unable to imagine the condition of any man or woman so miserable as not to be contained within the circumference of these four letters-------l-o-s-t. Spurgeon went on to exhort the lost and listening audience. Dear friends, "The Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost." Does the description suit you? Are you among the lost? Well then, you are among such as Jesus came to save.
The Gospel is 'Good News' for the lost. It's not Good News to the elect, for they were predestinated for eternal life according to Calvin. The lost can't repent and believe the message that Jesus 'came to save the lost' according to (John 3:16). Calvinist have a conflict in their conscience and heart on these issues.
Right now, if you have accepted the Calvinist doctrine, you can sense that this is true, God is no respecter of persons, He said whosoever will, let them come. To force the Calvin square into the biblical circle is difficult if not impossible. Finally, listen to the discourse Paul has with the Athenians in (Acts 17:26-27); "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all of the face of the earth, and pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings. So that they may seek the Lord, in hope that they might grope for Him and find Him......for He is not far from each one of us. God desires all men to seek after Him and find Him. Once again the TULIP domino's are falling.
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
This is the point of Calvinism that suggest that God saves everyone He wants, and no one can resist the Sovereign will of God. Calvinist use the term 'Efficacious Grace' to describe this alleged dynamic. The fact that God is 'all powerful' seems to support this concept. However, how often have we had the atheist and skeptic attack God and the Bible by stating. How could God allow the 3,000 people to perish in the Twin Towers, or let two hundred children perish in the Oklahoma City bombing? God is all powerful isn't He? Well either He wanted the tragedy to occur or He's not all powerful!
We at BARC feel it's something else, God is Sovereign, but in our cursed world, sin and the perverse wills of men prevail. Calvin couldn't fathom that God could allow sinful, temporary, corrupt men to influence our world.
God used Paul to speak to King Agrippa in (Acts 26:28) and Agrippa said "You almost persuaded me to be a Christian." Paul responded, "I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me today, might become as I am (a saved Christian). The scriptures demonstrates that Agrippa declined, and had no testimony of conversion or regeneration.
If Paul desired Agrippa to be saved, then it's certain God desired him to be saved as well, but Agrippa said 'almost you persuaded me' but I was able to resist conversion (inferred).
If Calvin is correct that grace is irresistible, there will not be one verse where Jesus wanted to deliver or fellowship with, or have covenant with anyone where they resisted or said no. However, we find in (Matthew 23:37) Jesus cries in despair, Oh Jerusalem, Oh Jerusalem,......how often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, BUT YOU WOULD NOT!
(John 5:38-40) says "You do not have the Fathers word abiding in you,...........But you are not willing to come to me that you may have life."
In (John 4:10-14) Jesus reveals that anyone who desires the water He gives will result in eternal life. Later many accepted the offer of salvation in verses 39-42, based upon their faith, belief, and accepting the message of salvation.
If grace is irresistible, then why did the (Hebrew writer say in 4:6), " Today if you hear His voice harden not your heart." If this was the elect, they wouldn't harden their heart, so the un-elect can resist and harden their heart or the Holy Spirit would not have exhorted them to do otherwise.
In (Acts 7:51) Stephen proclaims that the Jews were "stiffed necked and always resist God the Holy Spirit". God wanted to draw and save them but they resisted and eventually stoned Stephen.
(Romans 1:28) reminds us that man decided to not retain God in their knowledge.
Calvinist counter with verses such as (John 6:35-36); " I am the bread of life, he who comes to Me shall never thirst. But I said to you (those opposing Him) that you have seen Me and yet not believe."
The reason they did not come to him is because, They did not believe, it is within this context that Jesus say's "All that the Father gives me will come to me and I will by no means cast out. " In verses 37-40 contextually it tells us that the condition of being given to Christ is believing the 'Good News' of salvation, and therefore have eternal life according to (John 10:28, John 5:24, and John 3:16).
(Acts 16:30-31);speaks of the Philippian jailer asking," What must I do to be saved?" Paul replied, " Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved and your house!" If Calvin was correct, Paul would have replied; "I don't know if you are elect, so you may not have had your sins paid for." Paul would have also added, "if God didn't personally plan on you being saved, you are going to hell even if I preached salvation to you." This text also affirms the fact of mans autonomy and the fact that faith precedes salvation or regeneration.
This passage teaches;
1. Man must do something
2. Man must believe first
3. Being saved (regeneration) is future, passive
4. He was not totally depraved where he couldn't respond
Romans 10:9 is the 'flag ship' text that outlines the steps in being saved or regenerated. What does it instruct and teach us? Because if you (humans) acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe on the truth (word) that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved.
This is consistent with the declaration and sequence in (Acts 16).
1. If you confess Christ (see Mark 8:38)
2. Believe in God raising Christ from dead (the Gospel, death, burial, resurrection)
3. Salvation (regeneration) will result if a person performed the former prerequisites.
(John 6:44) is the popular proof text of Calvinist that man is totally depraved and can't respond to God. It is also used to support unconditional election that God sovereignly chooses and draws who He wills. It reads "No one can come to Me unless the Father draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. Calvinist argue that all who are drawn are irresistibly drawn and can't help but respond positively. If you continue to read verse 45 it is plain the prerequisite to being one of the ones that obtains the desire and drawing.
IT IS THE ONES WHO LISTEN AND LEARNED WHAT GOD TAUGHT IN THE WORD. In verse 47 it reaffirms, that anyone who believes in Jesus has eternal life.
Calvinist must be careful in their conclusions. For in (John 12:32) it says "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." Does it mean all humans will be drawn, to inject 'Universalism?' We see the verse in (John 6:44) better understood in the light of (John 16:8), that the Holy Spirit does it's perfect work, and (Romans 10:14).
The key aspect of understanding the error of Calvinism is they have diluted and obscured the vital aspect of the preached word. (Romans 10:14) tells us that men can't believe on who they have not heard, and can't hear without the preacher who brings the message of glad tidings to the lost.
The 17th verse is central, it say's "faith comes by hearing, and by hearing the word of God." (That is the good news of regeneration for the lost). Calvin taught that since man was incapable of responding to the word, Gods irresistible grace had to draw him and make him regenerated so he could believe. But the scripture say's that the 'word would fall on good ground and bring faith', that would result in men coming to Christ.
(John 6:44) only teaches us that there is cooperation in the sovereignty of God and the autonomy of man. It reveals the consistency of God's word, wherein He draws us by the preached word, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the light of of the church that is like a city on a hill and a candle sitting on a table. (Psalms 107:20) reminds us, He sent His word and it healed us. Salvation is our healing, and it is appropriated by receiving and believing the word. Yes, God is sovereign, we can do nothing without Him. He is the First and Last, The Author and Finisher of our faith. He structured salvation to be left in the autonomy of men just as the message will be resident in the 'foolish' vehicle of the preached word (1 Corinthians 1:21).
God desires men to love Him.
It is because of this desire that He allowed autonomy to be exercised by mankind. He told the ravens to feed Elijah, they had to obey, He commanded the lice, flies, frogs, locust to invade Egypt, they had to obey. He instructed the 'Great Fish' to swallow Noah, it had to obey. God desired a relationship of love with man. This necessitates 'Free Will', for love is not love without free will. God had to allow man to choose.
If you are a Calvinist and you have a spouse, you know that if you made your spouse respond to you, she would be a robot and not a free yielding vessel. It would not be true love. For true love is a voluntary choice and desire, free from coercion and dictate. That's why God said, "they who love me will keep my commandments." He didn't say, I force you by my irresistible grace and make you keep my commandments.
When God first initiated love, He wanted to accept the free response from men by faith. Love reaches out, but love does no arm twist. For then it is not love. God is not a cosmic rapist who forces His love on people. He extends His love to all, and secures and accepts all who come to Him by faith.
Calvinist insist that regeneration must come before we can believe, but if a person is already regenerated before they believe, what is the purpose of faith and believing. But to the contrary, the Apostles went about preaching the word, reasoning from the scriptures, Jesus said "the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him to Preach the Gospel to the poor.............." Calvinist are wrong, Matthew 13 shows us that men have choices and circumstances of the heart that allow them to resist the word leading to salvation.
Calvinism is propped up on another verse of scripture, (Ephesians 1:5), The Calvinist looking through the Lens of Calvin, see this text as a foundation to suggest that God in His sovereignty predestined who would be saved and who would be lost, and it was for His good pleasure. The inference is, since He's God, whatever He does is acceptable and if it appears unjust, well it's His good pleasure.
God in (Genesis 3:15) established reconciliation for the transgression of Adam. God in His foreknowledge, saw what man would do and predestinated that redemption and reconciliation would occur. The fact that preaching of the word was occurring, and men were responding with faith proved that the ones saved were the ones that God predestinated from the foundation of the earth. Remember the Montgomery GI Bill, the government predestinated that men would be drawn to the benefits provided by legislation. The one's who received money and took advantage of the benefits were predestinated to do so. But just as God, the government didn't determine who specifically would utilize their benefits.
The predestination is not for specific individuals but for whosoever will!
God in His omniscience saw that repentance and denying of self, bearing crosses, and holy living would not be popular. He said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads unto destruction and many there be that go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14).
If irresistible grace and individual predestination was present in scripture, God would have said " You have entered in at the strait gate, and since I'm good and sovereign, many more are here than those that went into the way of destruction." He would have also said "you don't have to look for it, because by my individual pre-election I'm going to place you in eternal life." To the contrary we see more went to hell than heaven. If God was good, righteous, loving, desiring men to have eternal fellowship with Him, why does the Calvin god only save a few and send the majority to hell?
Calvin took the broad brush and painted himself into the proverbial doctrinal corner.
One can't use (Ephesians 1:5) to suggest that those who are classified as the reprobate were so because it was God's good pleasure. The context of the passage speaks of it being God's good pleasure for those who were believers to have walked in God's predestinated provision for eternal life. Here again it speaks of a people not individual persons. Any student of scripture can easily see that God had a covenant people, then He accepted all people of all nations. Acts 10 speaks of a global opportunity of salvation based upon accepting the message of good news. verse 34-36 is panoramic in Peter stating "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation HE THAT FEARETH HIM AND WORKETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ACCEPTED OF HIM! The WORD which God sent" It brought salvation, peace with God and restoration.
PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS
Calvin also taught 'Preservation of the Saints'. We at BARC oppose the concept of exclusiveness, birthed from electionism and selective salvationism. We do agree with scripture that teaches that we as Christians are eternally secure. (John 10:28, John 5:24), 1 (John 2:19, John 3:16). Having been born again, we are adopted as children, and as children we can't lose our status as children. None of God's children will be lost. If our name is written in His Book of Life, it won't be blotted out. He obtained eternal salvation, not conditional, or intermittent salvation, but eternal salvation. We at BARC hold to the principles of imputation, redemption, regeneration, reconciliation, conversion, adoption, substitution, sanctification, glorification, justification, and propitiation.
Calvinism has advocated that man is only a 'role player' or 'robot ' merely responding to the puppeteers strings. Let's examine the doctrine of 'robotism' in light of scripture. Initially the concept is foreign to scripture and illumes a contemporary idea conceived from modern mechanics and technology. What are the basic characteristics of a robot?
A robot is defined as' a mechanism guided by automatic programmed controls; lack of emotion or will. ' A robot is a computer a type of R2D2 of 'Star Wars' fame. I attended a robotics course in Huntsville, Alabama. I learned the foundation of robotics is the exhaustive programming of instructions that cause the robot to perform certain actions. The hard facts are that things that are controlled or programmed can't make choices on their own. Thus, when something makes independent choices, it can't be classified as a robot.
Let's consider a dreadful scenario. Imagine a programmer programmed a robot to hijack a 767 aircraft and fly it into the Sears Tower in Chicago resulting in the deaths 1500 people. That's very dreadful indeed. But from a legal/moral perspective, would there be any guilty parties of a crime? If so, who? The robot that high jacked and flew the plane? Or would it be the programmer? I believe that any rational thinker would easily find the programmer a guilty criminal. For the robot could only do what it was programmed to do. If the robot was autonomous, or able to exercise free thought and choice, then it would no longer be a robot, but a person. Then it would be responsible for it's own actions. What if the creator of this person published instructions of how this person was to act, perform, or operate? But the person chose to do otherwise? What if the creator outlined benefits and penalties for certain behavior or choices? Then we would have the exact model so clearly seen in scripture. These are the only choices available. A robot or person.
For the Calvinist, God's sovereignty is so powerful that every human being has to be a robot ensuring every act, thought, deed is totally controlled by God. For if God didn't control ALL it infringes on His sovereignty. The problem with that school of thought is, it introduces Destinate AD Peccatum, meaning ['God has to work sin and damnation into the lives of humanity].' Calvinism has made God the programmer who programmed the robot to hijack the plane and destroy the Sears Tower, killing 1500 people. If man has no will or choice then man is not responsible for his sins and damnation, GOD IS!
God is responsible for all the aborted babies, the concentration camps, Columbine, The Inquisition, the ethnic cleansings of Stalin, the genocides of American Indians, and the Sudanese. God would also be responsible for every heinous crime, sin, abomination and evil deed. Eliminate human free will, and you create an unjust God who violates all of His own commandments, and sends people to be tormented eternally in hells fire for crimes He programmed them to commit.
We at BARC contend that the scriptures give sound testimony of God being just and not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33) and that He is, A PRIORI [not the author of sin] (James 1:13-14). The scriptures assure us mans status and ability to choose.
If man was a role player or robot, can a robot refuse an instruction? But we see where men refused in (Zech. 7:12-14).
Can a robot choose? But we see where men chose, (Josh. 24:15, Proverbs 1:29, Isaiah. 66:3, Deut 30:19).
Can a robot disobey? But we see men disobey. (Deut. 28:62, Gal. 3:1, 2 Thess. 1:8).
Far from being a robot or role player, Christians are described as a 'son of God' a 'joint heir of Christ', the beloved of God! Many Calvinist allude to the life and purpose of Judas and Pharaoh as confirmations that God chose people to fulfill despotism and sinful deeds that will contribute to the overall good. In essence they insist these are examples of men acting as robots to do God's will. Or the suggestion is they were in "Bondage to God's Will"
God provides the incident where He instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim against it because their wickedness was great. and God wanted them to repent and worship Him. Jonah used his right and ability to choose and chose not to go to Nineveh, but go to Tarshish. While boarding a ship at Joppa, God used His will and ability to cause a great wind storm, causing Jonah to be cast overboard. God continued to use His ability to have a great fish swallow Jonah and have Jonah deliberate for three days concerning what choice he should make. God asked Jonah after his experience in the deep and belly would he go preach to the Ninevites? Jonah completed a three day trip to Nineveh in one day. This is a perfect recorded example of how God allows human autonomy and intercedes with His sovereign will that cooperates with mans will to bring about his purposes. Remember Jonah still ultimately had the choice to obey or rebel. The part of the story that's not told is the consequences and the effect his disobedience would have had on the course of history. Not only would the 120,000 babies been lost but it would have had generational ramifications.
Jesus prayer in Gethsemane should put to rest once and for all time the idea that man does not have a will. Jesus acting within the confines of Philippians 1 said, "NOT MY WILL (inferring He had one) thy will be done(Mt.26:39). Secondly, just because Pharaoh and Judas were used by God to bring about deliverance and completion of His purpose does not means He fatalistically determined it. God used Paul and his characteristics as Saul, He didn't determine Saul, but chose Saul because he saw a Paul being able to being formed in Saul. Just as God did not fatally determine Adam and Eve would rebel and disobey, He saw what choices they would make and engaged His loving ability to set reconciliation and restoration in place. He is never caught off guard, He knows what we will do, but He never determines or orchestrates our sin or destruction.
In conclusion, Calvinist theologian John S. Feinberg admits in the chapter of his book titled 'God, Freedom, and Evil in Calvinist Thinking': "Sometimes it would be easier not to be a Calvinist. An intellectual price tag comes with any conceptual scheme, but the one that comes with Calvinism seems beyond the resources of human intelligence to pay. Calvinist hold views that appear at very least counterintuitive. This is especially so with respect to Calvinist accounts of God's sovereign control in relation to human freedom and moral responsibility for evil.
If Calvinist are right about divine sovereignty, there seems to be little room for human freedom. If freedom goes, so does human moral responsibility for sin. Worst of all, if Calvinist are right, it appears God decides that there will be sin and evil in our world, maybe even brings it about that there is such evil, and yet, according to Calvinist, is not morally responsible any of it. We are.
If this is Calvinism's God, Calvinism seems to not only be intellectually bankrupt but also religiously bankrupt. Who could worship this God? Moreover, if atheist understand this portrait of God as paradigmatic of traditional Christianity, no wonder they are repulsed by Christianity. Although committed atheist will not likely abandon their atheism for any concept of God, at least the Arminian portrayal of God seems more attractive than the Calvinist portrayal."
While Fienberg as well as Sproul, make valiant attempts at rescuing Calvinism for what it appears to be. There is nothing they can say in that monumental task. The truth is Calvinism is.......... what it appears to be. Therefore rejecting it is more reasonable and prudent when examining it by scripture.
Calvin was a deformer not a reformer. The word of God is the final court of arbitration, and within the repository of God's word is the everlasting truth: "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life!"
Bibliography:
Haunted Heretic, Beacon press 1953
The Heretics, Walter Niggs p.326
Who's Who in Church History, p.252
Michael Servetus, Humanist and Martyr
The Age of Reformation 1250-1550
Wycliffe Biographical Dictionary of the Church
The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, Lorraine Boetner, 1932
Five Points Of Calvinism, David Steele, Curtis Thomas, 1963
Institutes of The Christian Religion, John Calvin
Chosen By God, RC Sproul
Reformed Dogmatics, Herman Hoeksema
Why I Believe, James Kennedy