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Why be a Calvinist?
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There are two ways this question might be asked. First, someone might ask the question in such a way that they reject the use of labels. Shouldn't we just call ourselves Christians? In the New Testament, Paul rebukes people who say, "I follow Paul" or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ" (1 Cor. 1:12). Is it right, then, to take any label? The second way someone might ask this question is whether or not the concepts taught under the label of Calvinism are Biblical. We will deal with both of these questions in order.
Is it right to label yourself a Calvinist?
Labels can certainly be ambiguous and at times unhelpful. Today a Calvinist can refer to someone who follows John Calvin's theology or to someone who follows a Biblical theology that was clearly expressed John Calvin's writings. This distinction may seem slight at first, but I would argue that it's quite significant. Those who follow John Calvin's theology place John Calvin as their ultimate authority, whereas those who follow a Biblical theology place the Bible as their ultimate authority. To place John Calvin as an authority is dangerous, and most self-professed Calvinists would agree with that.
So what benefit is there in using the label Calvinism? While the label may be ambiguous, it should also be noted that using no label is even more ambiguous. For example, every Christian wants to say that their beliefs are Biblical, yet Christians have a wide spectrum of beliefs. Roman Catholics, for example, believe that salvation is the result of faith and works. Protestants, on the other hand, believe that salvation comes by faith alone. Using labels like "Roman Catholic" or "Protestant" is a shorthand way of distinguishing two separate views. The terms "Roman Catholic" and "Protestant" can also be ambiguous, but at least they are less ambiguous than the label "Christian". In the same way, the term "Calvinism" is a shorthand way of distinguishing a particular view. The particular view that I will focus on in the next several articles is a view that gives God all the credit for saving people. I call this view Calvinism, not because I follow John Calvin, but because the term is a shorthand way of stating my interpretation of scripture. In other words, it allows me to state my position in one word rather than having to explain my position in every circumstance. If the label is a struggle for you, then simply ask whether or not the concept is Biblical.
Is the concept of Calvinism Biblical?
Before answering this question, I need to explain what I mean by the "concept of Calvinism". My primary concern in these articles deal with the doctrine of salvation. How is it that a fallen human can be made right with God? In short, the Calvinist says that God must sovereignty save us apart from any good works or good decisions. In contrast to this view, some have argued that God offers salvation and then waits for our response. This view is called "Arminianism". Both Calvinism and Arminianism offer a doctrine of salvation. The best way to understand the difference between these two views is to spell out their five disagreements. Historically Calvinists have stated their disagreement with Arminians by using the acronym: T.U.L.I.P.
- T = Total Depravity
- U = Unconditional Election
- L = Limited Atonement
- I = Irresistible Grace
- P = Perseverance of the Saints
Arminians have not developed a cute little acronym to explain their view, so for the lack of anything betters, let's use the acronym: W.E.E.D.S.
- W = Will of Man is Free
- E = Election is Conditional
- E = Every Man is Redeemed
- D = Denial Confounds Grace
- S = Some Will Lose Salvation
Based upon my understanding of these two positions, the doctrine of Calvinism seems to express the Biblical doctrine of salvation more faithfully than the doctrine of Arminianism. In my next several article, I will explain my understanding of these two positions and show how they relate to scripture.
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