Calvinism
Where I have a problem with Calvinism
Posted on February 1, 2012 by rogereolson
One commenter has raised a question about my statement that I have no problem with Calvinism in confessionally Reformed circles (churches, denominations, etc.). I made that statement in my previous post about my public conversation with Mike Horton.
So, let me clarify that.
First, by “no problem with” I don’t mean “agree with!” What I mean is, I don’t object to Reformed folks holding to their Calvinism within their own ecclesiastical settings that are confessionally bound. The same is true of many other doctrines with which I disagree in other confessional traditions (or non-confessional but with unwritten or supposedly non-binding statements of faith).
Appalling Examples of Evil that Imply the Incoherence of Calvinism # 3: The Satanic Power of Pornography
Submitted by SEA on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 7:35amHere is a quote from Calvinist Al Mohler provided by Calvinist Justin Taylor on "The Satanic Power of Porn"(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/01/23/the-satanic-...).
- Russell Moore (http://www.russellmoore.com/2012/01/23/should-i-marry-a-man-with-pornogr...):
Pornography is a universal temptation precisely because it does exactly what the satanic powers wish to do. It lashes out at the Trinitarian nature of reality, a loving communion of persons, replacing it with a masturbatory Unitarianism.
And pornography strikes out against the picture of Christ and his church by disrupting the one-flesh union, leaving couples like our prehistoric ancestors, hiding from one another and from God in the darkness of shame.
And pornography rages, as Satan always does, against Incarnation (1 Jn. 4:2-3), replacing flesh-to-flesh intimacy with the illusion of fleshless intimacy.
Calvinist doctrine leads to the conclusion that there is no sin in the world
Submitted by drwayman on Mon, 01/30/2012 - 8:26amThomas Taylor (1738-1816) writes, in his seminal work, “A Solemn Caution Against the Ten Horns of Calvinism" (1819):
“There is no such thing as sin in the world. Everything is just going on as he would have it to be; all are acting in the department of life which is appointed. Therefore, go, ye jolly drunkards, and jovial song-singers; proceed, ye numerous tribes of profane swearers and Sabbath-breakers; curse on, ye horrid blasphemers and swarms of liars; ye murderers, plunderers unclean profligates, ye are all doing the will of God, answering the great ends for which you were made.”
Taylor continues:
The Westminster Confession of Faith: Handwaving
Submitted by drwayman on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 8:50amRandolph Sinks Foster, in his book, Objections to Calvinism (1852) writes:
[The Confession of Faith states,] "God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; [and now your disclaimer,] yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creature."
But this disclaimer [God is not the author of sin] by no means relieves my embarrassment -- it greatly increases it, by placing you [Calvinist brother] in the attitude, to my mind, of believing a palpable contradiction, namely, that God did cause all things, sin included, yet in such a way that he did not cause sin.”
Scot McKnight, Roger Olson on The Five Conundrums of Calvinism
Submitted by SEA on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 10:38amFollow the link to view Scot McKnight's description of Roger Olson on "The Five Conundrums of Calvinism" (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2011/12/26/the-five-conundrums-o...)
Another Appalling Example of Evil that Implies the Incoherence of Calvinism
Submitted by SEA on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 3:49pmHere is another post from Calvinist leader Justin Taylor that leaves one baffled at how Calvinists can hold to exhaustive determinism: 'The 200 Million “Missing” Girls':
- A new documentary, "It’s a Girl! The Three Deadliest Words in the World," explores the systematic gendercide taking place in India, China, and other areas of South Asia.
Ram Mushru of The Independent, reviewing the film, writes: “The trailer’s most chilling scene is one with an Indian woman who, unable to contain her laughter, confesses to having killed eight infant daughters.”
Scot McKnight, Entire Comparative Review of Horton's For Calvinism and Olson's Against Calvinism
Submitted by SEA on Wed, 01/18/2012 - 8:42amPlease see the attachment to view distinguished New Testament scholar Scot McKnight's entire comparative review of Horton's For Calvinism and Olson's Against Calvinism. The review was originally presented in 13 parts on McKnight's blog, and then included at this site also in 13 parts. Here it has been compiled into one file.
Scot McKnight, "Calvinism: My History 7"
Submitted by SEA on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 7:24amFollow the link to view part 7 of distinguished New Testament scholar Scot McKnight's personal testimony of coming out of Calvinism for a more biblical evangelical view and his discussion of the warning passages in Hebrews: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2011/12/16/calvinism-my-history-7/ .
Dr. Phil Fernandes on Calvinism and Arminianism
A video of Dr. Phil Fernandes on Calvinism and Arminianism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AESUv09eXFQ
Dr. Fernandes, a 4 point Arminian and member of SEA, is President of the Institute of Biblical Defense (http://instituteofbiblicaldefense.com/). He is a Christian Apologist, Author and Pastor of Trinity Bible Fellowship. Dr. Fernandes holds the following degrees: Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion degree from Greenwich University, Master of Arts in Religion degree from Liberty University, Bachelor of Theology Degree from Columbia Evangelical Seminary.
He has authored 6 books: Contend Earnestly for the Faith, God, Government, and the Road to Tyranny, The God Who Sits Enthroned: Evidence for Gods Existence, No Other Gods: A Defense of Biblical Christianity, Theism Vs. Atheism: The Internet Debate, The Decay of a Nation
Scot McKnight, "Calvinism: My History 6"
Submitted by SEA on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 8:28amFollow the link to view part 6 of distinguished New Testament scholar Scot McKnight's personal testimony of coming out of Calvinism for a more biblical evangelical view and his discussion of the warning passages in Hebrews: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2011/12/16/calvinism-my-history-6/ .