Page 214 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

ELECT

Whenever, therefore, one tries to state TULIP among God’s people because of dogmatizing his
theology and then refute it, there are Calvinists who will philosophizing about God’s sovereignty and election. If
argue with you that you are misrepresenting Calvinism. men were left simply to believe the Bible’s own
It is not so much that you are misrepresenting statements on these matters and if men were not forced
Calvinism, though. You might be quoting directly from to decide between the man-made theologies called
various Calvinists or even from Calvin himself. The “Calvinism” and “Arminianism,” the Christian world
problem is that you are misrepresenting THEIR would be much better of and many artificial and
Calvinism! There are Calvin Calvinists and Andrew unnecessary divisions would not have resulted.
Fuller Calvinists and Arthur W. Pink Calvinists and The Bible says “prove all things; hold fast that which
Presbyterian Calvinists and Baptist Calvinists and many is good” (1 Th. 5:21). The Bible itself is the test of truth,
other sorts of Calvinists. Many Calvinists have never not some man’s systematic theology. I have the right and
read Calvin’s Institutes of Christian Religion for responsibility to test every theology by the Bible, and I
themselves. They are merely following someone who am free before the Lord to reject any part of it or all of
follows someone who allegedly follows Calvin (who, by it. I do not have to make a choice between human
his own admission, followed Augustine). theologies. I can stand strictly and exclusively upon the
Calvinists believe that they have the right to reject or Bible itself, the SOLE authority for faith and practice.
modify some parts of or conclusions of Calvin. I agree Many Calvinists won’t allow that, though. James White,
with them 100%, and I say, further, that we also have the author of “The Truth about the King James Bible
right to reject the entire thing if we are convinced that it Controversy” and “The Potter’s Freedom” and several
is not supported by Scripture! other books, wrote to me in about the year 1999 and
5. It is not wise to follow John Calvin; he was unsound challenged me to a public debate. He urged me to
at the very foundation of the Christian faith. Calvin never “defend Arminianism.” That is a strange notion, because
gave a testimony of the new birth; rather he identified I don’t follow Arminianism and I don’t care anything
with his Catholic infant baptism. Note the following about Arminianism. I have studied the theology of
quotes from his Institutes: James Arminius some and I find errors in it just as I
“At whatever time we are baptized, we are washed and have found errors in John Calvin’s theology. Though I do
purified once for the whole of life” (Institutes, IV). believe that Arminius was closer to the truth than
“By baptism we are ingrafted into the body of Christ ... Calvin, this does not mean that I have any intention to
infants are to be baptized ... children of Christians, as “defend Arminianism.” White has the idea that is so
they are immediately on their birth received by God as typical among Calvinists that if a man is not a Calvinist,
heirs of the covenant, are also to be admitted to he is surely an Arminian.
baptism” (Institutes, IV). This idea actually began with Calvin. He treated
Calvin was vicious toward his enemies, acting more those who disagreed with his position on election as
like a devouring wolf than a harmless sheep. Historian enemies of God and the gospel and would not admit
William Jones observed that “that most hateful feature that men can reject Calvinism and still believe God’s
of popery adhered to Calvin through life, the spirit of Word! From the time that I was saved by God’s
persecution.” Note how he described his theological marvelous and free grace 32 years ago until this very
opponents: “...all that filth and villainy...mad dogs who day, I have wanted to understand the will of and to be a
vomit their filth against the majesty of God and want to faithful servant of Jesus Christ through God’s preserved
pervert all religion. Must they be spared?” (Oct. 16, Word, the Scriptures. As best as I know how, I have
1555). Calvin hated the Anabaptists, though they were made that my sole authority. I enjoy systematic
miles closer to the Scriptural pattern for the New theology; I have taught a course in Bible doctrine in a
Testament church than he was. He called them new Bible college that helped establish in South Asia
“henchmen of Satan.” Four men who disagreed with and have published a book on Bible Doctrine or
Calvin on who should be admitted to the Lord’s Supper Theology, but I test all of the various theologies with the
were beheaded, quartered, and their body parts hung in Scriptures alone, and I have never agreed completely
strategic locations in Geneva as a warning to others. He with any man’s systematic theology.
burned Michael Servetus (for rejecting infant baptism I praise God that I am not under any divine
and for denying Christ’s deity). Calvin wrote about obligation to follow either Calvinism or Arminianism.
Servetus, “One should not be content with simply killing SOME GOOD THINGS ABOUT CALVINISM
such people, but should burn them cruelly.”
Though I do not agree with Calvinist theology, I can
6. God does not require His people to choose between readily admit that there are many good things about
Calvinism or Arminianism! I am convinced that John Calvinism, especially if it is contrasted with the shallow,
Calvin has caused great and unnecessary divisions

214 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity