Calvinism (Continued From Comments)
Discussion continued from the comments section of "Two Fun New Books".
If I didn't call them something new, Joe, how could I hope to stimulate discussion? :)
Calvin's views fail to pass the mirror test, whereby one stands in front of the mirror (or in front of someone else, if you are very brave) and proceeds to make a pitch such as:
"Hi. I just want you to know that Jesus loves you - and it's possible that you were arbitrarily chosen to be one of the limited number of people he has created to accept into Paradise. I won't know unless you accept the offer, of course... and then die a Christian, too, 'cause if you ever fall away that means you were shamming.
"Why doesn't God love everybody? Oh, but He does! What's that? But why doesn't He save everyone, then - especially since nobody is capable of choosing Him on their own, or even doing a good thing unless the good thing is done with His incarnation as a Jewish carpenter in mind? Look, I know it sounds strange, but this is the only world view that you can really come up with if you take every line of this book as the unvarnished truth - and you must never question the book. Even though other parts of it have conclusively shown to have been added later/corrupted.
"Oh, and one more thing: When I say He 'loves' you, I don't want you to get any wrong ideas. He's really doing all this for His own glory."
At some point during the mirror test/friend test, your voice may start lowering, perhaps even to the point where you fail to finish the statement or only are whispering. Don't worry; it's a natural side-effect and a good indicator of a healthy sense of shame.
Blogger David D. Flowers cuttingly illustrates how Calvinist theology undercuts Jesus' message of love by tinkering a little with the Bible, producing what he calls "John Calvin 3:16-21".
_
16 For God so loved the elect, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever of the elect believeth in Him shall not perish in the fire God created for those he hath predestined to burneth for all eternity, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent his Son into the world to condemn the heathen to hell and save only those who acknowledge they have no choice but to repent and do exactly as God says.
18 Whosoever be amongeth the elect is not condemned, but whosoever is among the damned stands condemned already because God’s sovereignty wills it.
19 This is the verdict: Light has come unto the elect, but all the other men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were predestined to be evil.
20 For everyone who doeth evil must hateth the light, and shall not come into the light because they have no choice but to doeth evil.
21 So he that doeth truth cometh to the light by the TULIP, that his deeds may be made manifest through reformed theology, that they are all forced by God._
Also, as I mentioned in my previous comment, John Calvin was something of an animal to anyone who disagreed with his views, and I can't believe he was a Christian, so as a source he's rather untrustworthy anyway. He'd certainly have killed me if he thought I posed a threat. Am I supposed to believe that such a man had Love Incarnate within his bosom? I cannot. One may blather all one wishes about someone's views in historical context and imperfection of man while on Earth, but if the Holy Spirit does not at least instill a man with the understanding that He cannot butcher people until he has established the Kingdom of Heaven, it is an impotent, worthless thing.
I'll add the same for Martin Luther, even though we have a lot for which to thank him as our liberator from the Catholic Church; the man was an anti-Semite who said, "We are at fault for not slaying them!"
Joe, you're a much more moral person than someone like Martin Luther, or John Calvin, and indeed the very God who is described by Calvinists. I think you should be confident enough in that good within you, be it born by the Spirit or through your own intellect, to reject what is clearly ridiculous and evil.
This entry was not tagged.