Calvinism

[todbou]

Ok Mike, I will admit that I do have a Calvinistic bent to my interpretation of scripture. What is the official doctrinal stance that the Southern Baptist Convention has taken on the 5 points of Calvinism (tulip)? Specifically "limited atonement"?

[Mike Miller]

Would you believe I'll be addressing this topic on Sunday night?

The answer is that the Southern Baptist Convention does not have an official position on the 5 points. Historically, the SBC tent has been broad enough to include Calvinists and non-Calvinists. However, in the early days of the SBC, we were mostly Calvinistic, though not exclusively. Our first statement of faith, the Abstract of Principles (which is still the doctrinal statement of both Southern and Southeastern seminaries), is Calvinistic. Today, most Southern Baptists are not Calvinists, though there is a significant resurgence of Calvinism taking place. A survey a few years ago showed that 10% of SBC pastors were 5 point Calvinists, but 30% of recent SBC seminary graduates (within 5 years) were.

[todbou]

It is my observation that the issue most believers have a struggle with when considering Calvinism is "election." Would you agree? It is normal for men to feel like they must DO something to be redeemed, even if it is to have faith, but isn't our faith a gift of God? So if our faith is from God and grace is from God (we are saved by grace through faith) then the necessary elements of salvation are given to us from God. None of it is of ourselves. So I look at election as a testimony to God's sovereignty.

Limited atonement, however, is tough for me to wrap my mind around. I'm sure it is because of the term "limited" and it is being used in reference to Christ's work on the cross. Would I be correct to say that Christ's work on the cross was for all in principle, but in fact, it was for only those who receive His atonement, and since all will not be saved, His atonement is limited to those who accept Him?

Regardless, I look forward to Sunday evening!!!

God Bless!

[Mike Miller]

Hopefully, some of your questions were answered on Sunday night (available at http://www.fbckenner.org). Limited atonement is much debated even among Calvinists as to what exactly that means. Is the atonement sufficient for all, but only effective for the elect? Or was it only for the elect? Of course, if one believes that God has known all along who the elect are (even if that is an Arminian perspective basing election on God's foreknowledge of who will be saved), then the question remains as to why Jesus would die for people who would not be saved. It's not a simple issue, but not to limit the atonement in some way ultimately leads to universalism--if everyone's sins are forgiven.

You are correct in grounding election in God's sovereignty. We want to think that everyone should have the right to be saved, but if we have all offended our holy God, then no one deserves to be saved. Why does He save anyone at all? Because of His grace. And why certain ones and not others? Because He is God and can do whatever He wants.

[HMMMMMM]

So do I understand that Calvinists believe that God has pre-chosen whom He will save? For example, He may choose to save a father but not his daughter?

I understand that God knows who will accept His gift of salvation and who won't but I cannot relate to a god who randomly chooses one person over another and gives no one free will. I just don't believe that my God, a kind and loving God who gave His Son because He did not want even one to perish, would decide randomly that my son or daughter didn't deserve to be saved. None of us deserve to be saved so why would God choose me over my son or daughter when He is a loving God and desires that ALL be saved?

I'm not trying to be argumentative. I'm trying to understand the Calvinist point of view because it would seem to me that a God who doesn't give us free will and pre-destines us to do the things we do, couldn't be a loving God and the God I know intimately is a very loving God.

He's brought me back from the brink of self destruction. He's saved me both in this life and the next and I just cannot fathom that He is not a loving God.

No one has ever been able to reconcile a loving God with pre-destination in my mind. Maybe you can help.

[Mike Miller]

Thanks for the questions. You actually raise quite a few issues, so if I don't answer it all on my first try, just let me know, and I'll try to clarify.

To begin with, you are assuming that God cannot be loving and sovereign at the same time. In other words, you state that unless we have complete free will, God isn't loving, and if God saves who He wants to, then He isn't loving. But let's think about that for a minute. Scripture teaches that we are all dead in our sins (Ephesians 2; Colossians 2) and that we are incapable of seeking God or doing anything good at all (Romans 3: 10-12). Furthermore, Jesus teaches that no one can come to Him unless God draws that person to Him. In other words, in our sinful state, totally corrupted by sin, we would never choose to seek God at all. If God leaves us to our own free wills, then no one will be saved. God must override our rebellious wills in order to save us. Moreover, if God left me to my own devices, I would likely walk away from Him. The Calvinist/Baptist doctrine of "perseverance of the saints" teaches that we do not lose our salvation because God preserves us and keeps us from walking away. I am personally grateful that God has limited my will so that it is not completely free. He has done so out of love.

Moreover, in regards to free will, God must control and manipulate human decisions in order to accomplish His will. For example, all the players in Jesus' arrest and crucifixion were under God's directive to do what they did. Judas did not have the option of repenting, nor did Pilate or those demanding Jesus' life. Acts 4:27-28 says that God "predestined" that they would all do what they did. Therefore, in order for God to be loving, He must also limit and direct the wills of His creation. In other words, our lack of free will is a demonstration of His love.

Now, that doesn't mean that we do not have wills. We do indeed. Scripture makes plain that we are responsible for every decision we make and action we take. It's just like in the account of Joseph in Genesis 37-50. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery. It was their decision. They did it, and they are responsible for it. But later we learn that God actually caused it to happen. He did it, and He is responsible for it. So, who is responsible--God or the brothers? Yes. (Genesis 45:5; 50:20). While this might not make sense to us, we need to remember that our task is not to fit everything into a rational system, but to understand Scripture. Scripture teaches that God is sovereign and always accomplishes His will and that we are responsible and always act according to our will. How does that work? I don't know. Isaiah 55:8-9.

When it comes to God's sovereign will in salvation, I again defer to Scripture. In Romans 9-11, the Apostle Paul was facing (or at least anticipating) the same objections you raise regarding God choosing some to be saved. "Is God unjust?" some will ask. Or, "Why does he do that?" Paul, in essence, says that it is none of our business. God does what He wants to. Some He saves, and some He doesn't. He is God, and He has the right to do what He wants. Of course, it's not easy doctrine to wrap the mind around, which is why it seems that Paul simply bursts into praise in Romans 11:33-36, saying essentially, "Who can understand God? He is too great!"

But there's still the dilemma, isn't there? Everything in us wants to believe that a loving God would give everyone equally the opportunity to be saved. But that is when we look at things from a man-centered perspective. To say that God, if He is to be loving, must deal with everyone the same, assumes that everyone deserves to be saved. However, the biblical witness is that every single one of us is an enemy to God. We have all sinned against Him, and we all deserve hell for all eternity. The one true God, the perfect and holy and righteous judge of all creation who is infinitely good and pure has been insulted and offended. Therefore, instead of asking why God doesn't save (or at least try to save) everyone, we should be asking, "Why does God save anyone?" The very fact that He would save even one of His enemies is a testament to His great love and mercy.

Why did God save me? Was there something good in me? Did God owe me? No, no, no, no, no! I deserve eternal condemnation, and I would have never ever turned to Christ if God had not had mercy on me to draw me to Christ. Oh, His love is so vast and so high. He would have been completely justified to send me straight to hell, but He didn't. He loved me and loves me still even though I am so unworthy and so unlovely. Why? Why does He love me so? I don't know. But I do know that if He had not made me alive, I would still be dead. Ephesians 2:1-10.

Is God only loving if He chooses to save everyone? No. God demonstrates His great love in that He saves anyone. Scripture is clear that salvation begins and ends with God. If it were left to us, no one would ever be saved. He must draw us, awaken us, open our ears to hear, open our minds to understand, and open our hearts to believe. By His grace we are saved. Were it any other way, He would be less than the Bible says He is.