Predestination is one such doctrine. Perhaps the lynchpin of Calvinism, predestination is the idea that God has already chosen those who would be saved. In other posts we have considered the biblical case regarding predestination, but today we are going to consider the logical implications of this doctrine.
A key component of predestination is that those God chose were not chosen based on merit. Those who God predestined for salvation (the Elect) were chosen before they were born or had done anything good or bad. Merit is irrelevant. God sovereignly chooses His Elect, regardless of merit. Only the chosen ones are saved.
Which must mean that any feature about the chosen ones is irrelevant. They did nothing, they possess no attribute, there is nothing at all that can be regarded as virtuous or gives them standing before God. We humans might have standards as to who is godly, or who is a good person, or even who is saved and who isn't, but those standards are ours. God sets His own standards, and we don't know why He chose who He chose. In predestination He has His own criteria for choosing some to save and choosing others for hell.
If it's true that God chose the Elect long ago without regard to merit, then the Elect are not obligated to be or do anything. Period. Therefore, a Mormon might be one of the Elect. A Muslim. An atheist. A murderer. God's sovereign choice, regardless of merit, is the only thing that matters.
Remember, chosen without merit.
In reality, there is no need to become a Christian. The Elect were already chosen before anything happened on earth. Being a Christian is just a name. Salvation is irrelevant. The Elect were already chosen. Repentance is irrelevant. The Elect were already chosen. Doing the right thing is irrelevant. The Elect were already chosen. Evangelism is irrelevant. The Elect were already chosen. Kindness, mercy, generosity... all irrelevant.
Remember, chosen without merit.
Now of course the Bible contains many commands about all these things, but this is a separate matter from Election. The commands are true and righteous, but they don't impact Election. Election is a matter apart from merit. God chose without regard for merit.
Remember, chosen without merit.
If a pagan learned of the doctrine of predestination, he would most likely enjoy the idea that there is nothing he needs to do, or can do, to be saved. It doesn't matter at all. If he's the Elect, he's in. If he's not, he's out. Either way, he needs to do nothing other than live out his life exactly as he wants, because he cannot change his election. This sort of the reverse of Pascal's Wager.
This also means that a person who considers himself a Christian is in the same boat. Because merit is not regarded, the Christian's behavior will not change his status. His doctrine doesn't change his status. His obedience does not change his status. His lifestyle, sins, and virtues are irrelevant.
Remember, chosen without merit.
If a Calvinist truly believes in predestination, he must come to grips with the implications of that doctrine apart from the cultural conditioning, history and tradition, and what his church has taught. Predestination completely lifts the onus from us and assigns it to God. Completely. This makes any other factor irrelevant.
A person who truly believes in predestination would need to admit that his life is a farce. God's will must happen, because He's the sovereign God. The person's choices don't matter. Nothing matters. The person might think that he has a certain responsibility to God, be he has no way of knowing if God has chosen him.
We have the illusion of living our lives with virtue, raising our kids to become Christians, being nice to our neighbors, going to foreign countries to share the Gospel, but in reality, why? None of it changes anything.
Remember, chosen without merit.
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