Theology Blog

One of the things that I am noticing in Rob Bell’s book so far is his indirect attack on Calvanism. This is interesting, because he went to a seminary (the same one I went to) that is primarily Calvanist and he lives really in the center of Calvinism in the US, Grand Rapids. I suspect that many who struggle with his book and his theology really do come from a Calvinist perspective. Some of my closest friends are Calvanists and I have spent some time studying Calvinism.

Calvinism in its simplest form is expressed in five points. You can read more here. These five points form the word TULIP.

They are:

Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin)
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement (also known as Particular Atonement)
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints (also known as Once Saved Always Saved)

Most of these are self-explanatory, but the link above provide a great explanation so that you can understand the true meaning of these phrases. I am not at all a Calvinist and will probably never be (I supposed I was not predestined for that! :)). My biggest concern with Calvinism is the double predestination view that God only chooses certain people to be saved and that is already determined. I agree that Salvation is the work of God and has nothing to do with what we do as human beings, but I do not accept this double predestination view. In many ways, I could be a Calvinist, but I would have to be TUIP Calvinist and not a TULIP Calvinist. It is the I in the TULIP that I have issues with, and that is the piece connected to double predestination. I do not believe in the limited atonement. The limited atonement says that Christ died only for some and not for all. I just cannot believe that. I am sure there are plenty of verses to justify it, particularly in Paul’s writings, but if we look at the whole message and theme of Scripture and the whole story of Christ, I find it hard to justify that Jesus Christ only died for some. Jesus Christ died for all.

I love my Calvinist brothers and sisters, and we are called to work together, but I simply cannot agree with these areas of thinking.