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Calvinism: Spiritual Fusion - Article 2 of 11 |
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"The Subtle Dangers Of Spiritual Fusion"
This month the Protestant world is celebrating the quincentennial birth
of John Calvin, a man credited as one of the magisterial fathers of the
Reformation. His writings have greatly influenced the complexion of the
Western church since the time of the Reformation. While a prolific
writer, Calvin is best known for his seminal work, "The Institutes of the Christian Religion,"
which continues to be widely read, quoted and acclaimed among academics
and disciples today. Calvin's supporters generally picture him as a
man deserving of honor because of his contributions to Christianity,
saying that while his life was not perfect, he is to be admired and
respected for his tremendous strides in liberating the Christian church
from the doctrine and authority of Roman Catholicism. These followers
also explain Calvin's shortcomings as the failure of a man to transcend
the ethics of his time. Conversely, Calvin's detractors picture him as
a man who merely modified some of Roman Catholicism's beliefs, craved
power above all else, was intolerant of the slightest dissent and is
unworthy of the respect that is commonly given to him. Regardless of
the view one holds, it is certain that John Calvin has left an
indelible impression on the history of the western world in the last
five hundred years.
For the next few weeks Brenda, a former follower of Calvinism for 14
years will be explaining her journey and findings. In addition to the
weekly eblasts you can check out these helpful diagrams, timelines and charts.
My Introduction to John Calvin by Brenda
My introduction to John Calvin came one spring night while driving down
a desolate Wyoming highway. I listened carefully to Reformed scholar
R. C. Sproul's commentary on Romans 8:28-30, "And
we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those
who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For
those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the
image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many
brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these
whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also
glorified." I remember the moment well. The full moon lit up the
prairie between the buttes. The blowing snow was swirling across the
road. The scenery was soothing yet my mind was racing. This was the
first time I'd heard that God elects some, but not all to salvation.
But I was young in my new Christian walk, and while I thought I was
learning about Christ, in reality I was being introduced to John Calvin's teachings.
A few short years prior to that spring evening, I had become firmly
established in belief in Jesus Christ through faith. From the moment I
believed the gospel (Teaching Tool, page 32), life was brand new. I
was hungry to study and absorb as much truth as possible, in order to
know Christ and help others be saved. As a new believer, I trusted my
pastor (who lent me the Sproul lectures) would give me only solid
biblical teaching. Little did I know the new teaching I was about to
be immersed in would sidestep my walk of faith in ways that would be
difficult to escape from. That memorable spring night, my thinking had
been taken captive by a new approach, a new method of interpreting the
Bible. Looking back I now understand I was being "taken captive"
(Teaching Tool, page 14) by a "deceptive philosophy which depended on human traditions and principles rather than on Christ". (Colossians 2:8)
I'd already learned the Biblical Truth that God not only loved me
enough to sacrifice His Son for my sins, but that night I was
introduced to Calvin's teaching that God chose me before the
foundations of the world, before I even did my part of contributing
personal faith by my own freewill choice. I learned that I was in the
mind of God before Jesus was even ordained for the cross and that He
had predestined (Teaching Tool, page 82) me to salvation before I was
even conceived. Tears of joy streamed down my face as I thanked God
for His unspeakable gift. However, what began in tears of joy ended in
tears of despair fourteen years later. I wondered, "How did this
hopelessness happen?"
My Move Toward Calvinism and Selective Salvation/Predestination
Looking back, my introduction to Calvinism on that cold Wyoming night
left me with many unanswered questions. Walking into my pastor's
office to return the tapes, I sat down to discuss the idea that God
predetermines only the elect to salvation. I wanted to explore the
impact this teaching had on the Bible, God’s character (Teaching Tool,
page 25) and me personally. I told how my whole thinking had been
completely reoriented. My questions were received with a small chuckle
and the hesitant comment, "I knew that would happen." There was a
slight reluctance to tell something of this hidden secret I was now
privy to. I was left to myself to figure out whether this teaching of
selective salvation (Teaching Tool, page 82) was true. Since no
objections were made, I took my pastor's statement as an endorsement of
predestination.
I went home to read my Bible to see if this elective prerogative of God
was true. Finding several verses that seemed to back up the type of
election (Teaching Tool, page 82) I'd heard in the Sproul lectures, I
became convinced that election was true. Having also told my friends of
my "conversion" on the highway, they too found verses for me that
pointed out election and predestination. Everywhere I turned this
'deeper' understanding of God's word was being confirmed, though I
didn’t realize I was plucking verses out from their context. I felt
privileged to have discovered this new insight into the mysterious
purposes of God. Unknown to me at the time, my thinking had totally
been "taken captive" by mere suggestion, coupled with supposed
scriptural support, causing biblical verses to be understood in the
light of this new interpretive framework. I was too young in my
Christian walk to understand the tactics of the enemy who seduces
through a desire to be more "spiritual" and "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
My intense fascination with predestination demonstrated I had indeed
been captivated by a different way of understanding the Bible. Now
Paul's warning to the Galatians jumps out at me, "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" (Galatians 5:7)
After my initial exposure to John Calvin, my focus was redirected from
heartfelt faith toward Christ to Calvinism's teaching of God's special
election of some (Teaching Tool, page 55). I wrestled with why I was
chosen when others were not. How did the Bible reconcile this apparent
contradiction? I wondered how man’s choice entered into salvation.
Asking these questions provided answers that changed my initial
understanding of God’s loving, forgiving, gracious, kind, gentle and
merciful character to a hard master that could only be feared.
Unknowingly, I was being drawn away from my new found grace towards a
confusing intellectual legalsim and heady reasoning.
Next week Brenda will be explaining Calvin, Calvinism and Reformed Theology.
****
FEATURED PRODUCTS
 What Love is This? Calvinism's misrepresentation of God
This invaluable DVD presentation will enable believers to examine more
carefully the vital issues involved in Calvinism and to follow God's
Holy Word - not man.
Many Evangelicals who think they are Calvinists will be surprised to
learn of Calvin's belief in salvation through infant baptism, and of
his grossly un-Christian behavior, at times, as the "Protestant Pope"
of Geneva, Switzerland. Most shocking of all, however, is Calvinism's
misrepresentation of God who "is love."
Read More or Purchase this DVD
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