CONCLUSION
Inthe preceding chapters, I have marshaled a great deal of Scripture and scripturally based arguments against the doctrinal distinctives of Calvinism. The Lord knows that in the process I made every effort to be fair in my representation of Calvinism. If you are a Calvinist and are troubled by what you have read, it will be tempting to become upset with me. Remember, however, that while this book serves as the canvas, the picture painted belongs to Calvin and his leading proponents from the days of Calvin to the present. Most troubling, of course, is what Feinberg calls the Calvinist “portrait of God.” In stark contrast to what we know about God from Scripture, Calvin and his followers have made God out to be the primary and responsible cause of all misery on this planet. While it is difficult (if not impossible) for some Calvinists to admit this (especially to a non-Calvinist), Calvin and Calvinism point a very slanderous finger at God.
Recently, I was a guest on the Bible Answer Man radio program with Hank Hanegraaff. I was invited to the program to represent a non-Reformed view of God while James White was on the program to defend the Calvinist “portrait of God.” After the program, Calvinists of all kinds typically contributed many unflattering things about me to their favorite Reformed web sites. No offense taken. They also gave many glowing reviews of James White’s defense of Calvinism and the superiority of the Calvinist view over what they conveniently (though not accurately) referred to as my Arminian, semiPelagian and even Pelagian view of God and salvation. Not all Calvinists, however, were as enamored with White and his representation of Calvinism as he and his fans might want you to think. For example, on the Reformed site called “Third Millennium Ministries,” one contributor asks:
What do you think about James White? I know others on the Reformed forums who give him glowing endorsements, but I was disappointed with him in today’s BAM radio program. ... White more or less agreed that God is the author of sin in the debate. And, since White is presented as the spokesman for Calvinism, the part I heard didn’t speak well of us.611
Even more pointed, in comments found on the Internet in a section called “Whilin’ Away the Hours,” the Calvinist John Rabe offers what he calls:
“A loose paraphrase from the James White and George Bryson debate on the Bible Answer Man:
“begin paraphrase:
“BRYSON: Calvinists believe that God is an evil potentate who causes sin and tyrannically damns people for no good reason and causes babies to be raped.
“WHITE: Yes, and here’s why I believe that. Genesis 50 says ...
“end paraphrase[.] “Yikes! With friends like this who needs enemies?”612 Remember what the apostle James says:
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17) If the Calvinist is right, then James could and perhaps should also have said:
Every good and bad gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights and darkness.
I can understand why the admission of White is so disturbing to Calvinists. In his defense, however, White is only admitting what should be obvious to all Calvinists. Remember that according to Calvin:
All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation; and, accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of those ends, we say that he has been predestined to life or death.613
I ... ask how it is that the fall of Adam involves so many nations with their infant children in eternal death without remedy unless that it so seemed meet to God? . The decree, I admit, is, dreadful; and yet it is impossible to deny that God foreknew what the end of man was to be before he made him, and foreknew, because He had so ordained by his decree. ... God not only foresaw the fall of the first man, and in him the ruin of his posterity; but also at his own pleasure arranged it.614
It offends the ears of some, when it is said God willed this fall [of Adam]; but what else, I pray, is the permission of him, who has the power of preventing, and in whose hand the whole matter is placed, but his will?615
They deny that it is ever said in distinct terms, God decreed that Adam should perish by his revolt. . They say that, in accordance with free-will, he was to be the architect of his own fortune, that God had decreed nothing but to treat him according to his desert. If this frigid fiction is received, where will be the omnipotence of God, by which, according to his secret counsel on which everything depends, he rules over all? But whether they will allow it or not, predestination is manifest in Adam’s posterity. It was not owing to [Adam’s] nature that they all lost salvation by the fault of one parent. . Scripture proclaims that all were, in the person of one, made liable to eternal death. As this cannot be ascribed to [Adam’s] nature, it is plain that it is owing to the wonderful counsel of God.616
... God ... arranges all things by his sovereign counsel, in such a way that individuals are born, who are doomed from the womb to certain death ,..617 The word hardens, when applied to God in Scripture, means not only permission, (as some washy moderators would have it,) but also the operation of the wrath of God: for all those external things, which lead to the blinding of the reprobate, are the instruments of his wrath; and Satan himself, who works inwardly with great power, is so far his minister, that he acts not, but by his command. ... Paul teaches us, that the ruin of the wicked is not only foreseen by the Lord, but also ordained by his counsel and his will . not only the destruction of the wicked is foreknown, but that the wicked themselves have been created for this very end—that they may perish.618
What all of this amounts to is nothing less than the character assassination of God. Can you really square this with the words of our Lord Jesus when He says:
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17) Can you honestly reconcile the Calvinist portrait of God with the picture painted by the apostle Peter when he says: The Lord is ... longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) What about the words of the apostle Paul when he says:
... God our Savior ... desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4) Do you truly believe that the “all men” that God desires to save can be reduced to “all kinds of men” or “all elect men”?
If you do believe this, you are indeed a true Calvinist. If you do not believe this, no matter what you call yourself, you are not a Calvinist and do not believe in Reformed Theology. If you are thinking about becoming a Calvinist, you must embrace the dark side of Calvinism along with its light side. You cannot have an unconditional election without an unconditional reprobation any more than you can have one side of a coin without the other also.