Pulling the petals off of TULIP

Introduction

Many non-Calvinist Christians would not consider themselves to have Calvinist beliefs, but because of the pervasive influence of Calvinism their beliefs will often reflect some Calvinism. Part of this may be because Calvinism is extremely important to its adherents. Many Calvinists will defend to the death their beliefs (metaphorically speaking). This level of devotion is somewhat unsettling. Because of this emphatic advocacy these doctrines have found a place in many churches and denominations. So much so it has caused us to take a closer look at what Calvinists believe.

We find many of these beliefs unbiblical if not repugnant. So from time to time we post critiques of Calvinism, usually in the context of evaluating an article written by some Calvinistic Bible teacher. We've written over one hundred such critiques in our blog, some of them quite lengthy. So the purpose of today's post is to distill down some of the key concepts regarding these beliefs.

Calvinism is typically represented by the acronym TULIP:

1. Total depravity - The lost are in complete darkness and cannot respond in any way to God
2. Unconditional election - God predestined those who would be saved
3. Limited atonement - Jesus died only for the Elect
4. Irresistible grace - The Elect cannot resist their salvation
5. Perseverance of the saints - The Elect can never fall away from the faith

This is a rough summary of Calvinism, a perplexing if not odd collection of beliefs. We will not discuss each one individually, because generally speaking they are based on one or two fundamental premises. So we will more specifically deal with the premises.

Of What Practical Use?

Before we go much further we should ask, what is the practical use of Calvinism? Review the above list. Is our former sinful state (#1) relevant to us as new creations? Are doctrines like the idea that God has already chosen those who will be saved (#2), a person cannot resist God's purpose to save them (#4), or a person cannot lose their salvation (#5), crucial understandings for the Church? Does it matter in any way that Christ died only for the Elect (#3) to the day-to-day life of a Christian?

No, these doctrines change no obligation to lead a holy life, to be a light, to serve one another, to be generous, to worship, or to grow in maturity of faith. None of these things are impacted by Calvinism. 

Depravity or Inability?

Total Depravity is the belief that we are completely unrighteous in every way. There is nothing good in us. This belief is generally thought of in terms of the salvation process. That is, because of Total Depravity we don't have any capability to participate in our salvation. We cannot "make a decision" to accept Jesus because we are in total and complete darkness.

This means that salvation is completely one-sided, 100% accomplished by God alone with no involvement on our part.

When we think of depravity we think of vile evil. But if people are completely vile, completely evil, then we would not see anyone doing anything good at all. Yet even the lost know to do good. Paul writes: 

Ro. 2:14:15 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.

Since it is clear that unsaved people do good things (though their good things are no credit to them), we would suggest that what Calvinists really mean is that people have a total inability to participate in their salvation. Every Christian agrees that there is no salvation by works, but Calvinists believe that making a decision is doing a work. Thus a decision for Christ becomes salvation by works. But the Bible does not tell us this, so the idea is unbiblical. 

Further, it's certainly true that God has done 100% of the work to save us, but is it really true that this fact must exclude the idea of us being involved in the process? This premise is what the doctrine is built upon. It's based on a binary equation, where if it is one thing it cannot be the other. But we do not need to accept this. It is possible for God to accomplish 100% of the salvation, and at the same time, for us to respond to Him out of free choice. If we aren't required to limit our consideration of the salvation process to the equation as presented by Calvinists, then it is quite possible for us to participate in the salvation process in some fashion without it being a work.

What does the Bible say? Is there a Bible verse that says that we are not a part of the salvation process? Where do we find the idea that we cannot make a decision in response to the Gospel? Further, how does repentance work in this equation?

Repentance is a crucial part of salvation. Jesus, Peter, and Paul commanded their hearers to repent, which seems like an appeal to choice:

Mt. 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Ac. 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord...

Ro. 2:4-5 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you towards repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

The conclusion must be repentance under Calvinism is only the illusion of choice. So why would God pretend for us to repent? Why does He create this false reality?

In fact, God is patient:

2Pe. 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

He waits with the desire that everyone would repent, but not everyone will. This can only be true if God does grant people a real choice to repent and receive Him. Repentance is a real and available choice for the sinner. 

Repentance is a necessary precondition for salvation. The only solution a Calvinist to have this is to deem a person's repentance an action of God. Therefore, repentance is an illusion as well.

Our position is that we believe the Gospel to be an avenue for the Holy Spirit to be a sort of flash-of-light in a person's soul. This revelation of God to a person's soul elicits a response, either rejection or acceptance:

Rejection:

1Co. 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God...

Acceptance:

1Th. 2:13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

The nature of this discussion directly speaks to the next petal of TULIP:

Election

Certainly if Calvinists are correct and we play no part in our salvation, it must include the idea that God is operating to achieve His will no matter what we think we are choosing. If we cannot choose to accept or reject the Gospel, it definitionally means God chose those who would be saved. That is Election. Thus the Calvinist searches the Bible for support verses to bolster this assertion. Unfortunately, no verse in the Bible tells us that everyone who was, is or will be saved is part of the Elect.

Calvinists will point to a handful of Scriptures, but a more careful examination of them reveals that they do not teach the Election of the saved. For example:

Ro. 8:29-30 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Calvinists apply this verse to all Christians, but Paul didn't. We find his context a few verses before:

Ro. 8:23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

We are not the firstfuits of the Spirit, i.e., the first of the harvest. Only those Christians in the first century could be firstfruits. We discuss this in greater detail here.

Another predestination Scripture is 

Ep. 1:11-12 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

This certainly suggest that all of us were chosen and predestined, but we should keep reading: 

Ep. 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit...

Paul was referring to "we," then turned to his audience and told them "you" were included when "you" believed. Paul's "we" is not you and I. "We" were predestined, but not "you." "We" is not us.

 The third Scripture is

Jn. 6:44 No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

It is certainly true that only those drawn by the Father can come to Jesus. This implies Election, since no one can come unless drawn. 

Let's look at the word "draws." The Greek word is helkýō – induce (draw in), focusing on the attraction-power involved with the drawing. So the Father uses His "attraction power" towards the unsaved to "induce" them to come to Jesus. To "induce" means simply to persuade. But remember we're looking for the "Election" part. 

The same word is also used in Jn. 12:32:

But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.

So both the Father and the Son engage in helkýōis, drawing. Notice that this particular use of helkýōis refers to "all men."

Let's pause a moment. If Calvinism is correct that the Father's drawing in Jn. 6:44 results in the inevitable saving of a man, then the drawing is irresistible. Being drawn is salvation. Thus, salvation is irresistible.

But Jesus said in Jn. 12:32 He will draw all men to Himself, so if the drawing must result in salvation then the inescapable conclusion is the drawing will result in the salvation of all men. But all men will not be saved. Therefore, the drawing cannot be irresistible, and it is not inevitably unto salvation.

Therefore, the drawing done by the Father in Jn. 6:44 and Jesus in Jn. 12:32 is  not connected to predestiny. The logic is inescapable.

What does it mean to draw, then? It is the attractive actions of God to bring a man closer, that he might believe and be saved. This in fact is the very definition of grace, the desire of God to lean towards and be close as He makes a way for us to cross over from death to life.

Simply, some who are drawn will come, and some will not. 

No Choice in the Matter?

It seems clear that people can resist God, and even live compromised lives after being saved. We believe that Scripture is clear that choice is not illusory:

Heb 2:8 Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.

Mt. 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

He. 2:3-4: ...how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? 

1Th. 4:8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Ac. 7:51 “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

 

Ac. 14:16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way.

Is. 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

 

Ga. 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

 

2Pe. 3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 

Col. 1:22-23 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation — 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.  

He. 3:12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 

Ja. 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

2Pe. 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 

He. 2:1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 

He. 3:6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. 

He. 3:14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

Jn. 7:17 If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.

Ja. 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Re. 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

In order to be a Calvinist, each one of these Scriptures must be explained away. The plain meaning of each is unacceptable. Work-arounds and convoluted explanations ensue.

Conclusion

We do not doubt the salvation status of any Calvinist. Like any Christian (including us, of course), Calvinists have some errant beliefs. Calvinist err by forcing God into binary situations, misreading Scripture, and inserting themselves into Scriptures where don't belong.