Calvinism
is the theology associated with John Calvin, who was a sixteenth century leader
in the Protestant Reformation. This
theology can be summarized in five tenets by the acronym TULIP. These five tenets are:
Total depravity (every
person inherits a sinful nature from birth)
Unconditional election
(God selects the saved without conditions)
Limited atonement
(Christ's sacrifice is only for God's elect)
Irresistible grace (the
Holy Spirit compels the elect to salvation)
Perseverance of the
saints (the saved cannot be lost again)
This theology is accredited to John
Calvin, but it really goes back to Augustine, who lived in the fourth and fifth
centuries. Today, this theology is prominent
among many who espouse Christianity.
Calvinism runs contrary to the Bible in
many ways. This is immediately apparent
in the fact that this system of theology has to be designated as
Calvinism. If it was nothing more than
the theology of the Bible, then why would it not be called simply Christianity? The answer is obvious: Calvinism is a
distinct system from simple Christianity, so it needs a distinguishing term to
describe it.
This is not to say that John Calvin and
his followers do not base their teachings on Scripture. Certainly, they do, but they have badly
misapplied the Scriptures, ignored contexts, and implied contradictions that do
not exist. Calvinism makes a poor use of
Biblical hermeneutics, which is the study of interpretation of the Bible. The result is a complex body of doctrine that
has misled many and prevented them from seeing the light of Christ's pure,
simple gospel (2Cor. 11:3).
The limitations of this space do not
allow for a thorough examination of each tenet of Calvinism, but let us briefly
consider just one, "total depravity,” for an example. This idea holds that every person is born
with a predisposition to sin (a sinful nature) that is inherited from
Adam. Calvinists believe that in his
natural condition, man is incapable of thinking or doing anything good
whatsoever. Accordingly, only a direct,
miraculous act of the Holy Spirit upon the heart (the Calvinist doctrine of
irresistible grace) can enable a person to believe the truth of God, repent of
sin, and live faithfully. Is this
Scriptural?
Calvinists use verses of Scripture to
justify their teaching of total depravity, but they do so in error. One verse that is used is Psalm 58:3, which
states, "The wicked are estranged from the womb; these who speak lies go astray
from birth.” This may seem to support
the doctrine, but the context shows otherwise.
First of all, it is evident that newborn babies cannot go astray by
speaking lies from the womb, for they cannot speak at all. Furthermore, they cannot even perceive the
difference between lies and truth. So
what is the meaning of this verse? It
certainly does speak of wicked men, but it is not describing every man. Moreover, this an example of hyperbole, which
is an exaggeration that is not intended to be taken literally but is used for
emphasis. (Notice that the next verse
says that they have venom like a cobra!)
The Psalms are poetic in nature, and hyperbole is a typical poetic tool. A similar statement was made in Psalm 51:5,
where David said, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my
mother conceived me.” Contrast this to
what is said concerning the unborn twins of Jacob and Esau, who "had not done
anything good or bad” (Rom. 9:11).
Another verse that is commonly used to
support the idea of total depravity is Jeremiah 17:9, which says, "The heart is
more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” Again, the context shows that total depravity
is not considered here, but rather it speaks of God's ability to know the hearts
of sinners. In the next verse, God says,
"I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man
according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.”
The truth is that man is not born with a
sinful nature, but he learns sin in the world.
Consider Solomon's explanation of this.
In Ecclesiastes 7:20, he wrote, "Indeed, there is not a righteous man on
earth who continually does good and who never sins.” Is this because God made all men with a
sinful nature? Solomon says no, for in
verse 29 he says, "Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright,
but they have sought out many devices.”
Indeed, "all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of
the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from
the world” (1John 2:16). These are the
same lusts that Eve experienced before she sinned (Gen. 3:6), and we experience
them today. God did not give us a sinful
nature any more than He gave Adam and Eve a sinful nature. The only things we have inherited through
Adam's sin are the effects of sin in this world (Rom. 5:12-21).
Therefore, let us be careful with
Calvinism and the doctrine of total depravity.
These ideas permeate much of the religious teaching around us, and they
may invade our thinking as well. Beware
even of Bible translations like the NIV, which inaccurately translate the term
"flesh” as "sinful nature.” Remember,
God did not make us with a sinful nature regardless of what John Calvin or his
followers may say.
