This post follows my announcement Calvinism: Planting My Flag.

In my days as a non-Calvinist I heard and saw many things by Calvinists seeking to promote Calvinism. Some of what I saw was good, some was not so good. In this section I want to write about Calvinist arguments (one in particular) and practices that do not do a good job of explaining how Calvinist theology properly represents Scripture. We will look first at arguments then at practices

Arguments

I wish I had a nickel for every time I have heard a Calvinist say something like, “God is sovereign, so people have no say in their salvation.” It is argued that because God has absolute control over the universe, individuals are not free to choose or reject God on their own. It is my feeling that arguments of this sort serve to limit rather than promote God’s sovereignty. I agree with non-Calvinists that a sovereign God could work salvation however he chooses. If God had wanted to enable all people to freely choose or reject him, I believe he could have done so. Sovereignty means he is free to do as he pleases. Calvinist arguments about God’s sovereignty essentially limit what he could do, making sovereignty something other than sovereignty. Out of his character God limits some of the things that he will do, but that does not limit the things that he can do. In a similar way, out of his own design and intention for his creation God limits some of the things that he will do, but that does not change what he can do. He could save all people, or he could enable all people to accept or reject him. He does neither of these things because neither of these things fits within his purpose for creating man.

Practices

There are several things I want to mention under this heading. First is the attitude of too many Calvinists. I do not know why it is, but for some reason Calvinists have the tendency to display a tremendous amount of theological arrogance and hostility. These are not good qualities. Calvinists have no monopoly on these qualities and non-Calvinists have some problems that Calvinists don’t tend to have, but the arrogance and rudeness I see in many Calvinists is inexcusable. Having a proper understanding of the nature of God, man, and salvation should drive a person to greater humility, greater service, greater love. If the character of many of today’s Calvinists were used to try and determine whether or not Calvinism were true, Calvinism would not fare well. We need to demonstrate the peace and love of God with all that we do, whether we are discussing Calvinism with a non-Calvinist or feeding the hungry in a downtown shelter or talking with a liberal theologian about the Bible. Are you glorifying God with your words, attitudes, and actions? If not, seek change.

Calvinists, you need to realize that the world is not split between Calvinists and Arminians. There are a lot of Christians out there who fall somewhere between the two headings (and some extremists who go beyond each position). It drives me crazy when I hear Calvinists refer to all people as either one or the other. You cannot make those who disagree with you be something they are not. Deal with people honestly and carefully. Take them on their own terms, not the terms you want to impose on them. It will gain you more credibility and make your own message easier to hear. If you argue with a non-Calvinist and you insist on calling them Arminian when they know they are not, why would they want to listen to anything you say? You cannot even understand where they are coming from, why should they trust that you can understand the Bible?

Finally, can we stop referring to Calvinist theology as the doctrines of grace? I understand the term, but it strikes me as an example of Calvinist hubris. Non-Calvinists fully believe in and affirm the grace of God. Non-Calvinist soteriology is built on the notion that salvation is fully a work of God’s grace. What they mean by that and what we mean by that may differ at times but Calvinists have no monopoly on teaching and affirming God’s grace. It is disingenuous to say we hold to the doctrines of grace as if implying that other Christians do not.