Become a Zero-Point Calvinist
Why hang on to a doctrine that is extra biblical?
When I started writing the series “Rescuing the Bible From Calvinism” a few weeks ago, I lost two subscribers. I was enthusiastic about continuing, but I was also disappointed that my overall page views were decreasing. When you’re a “nobody” on Substack, losing subscribers and views, it’s an “ouch.” I didn’t stop writing about Calvinism because I lost subscribers. These concerns coincided with a feeling of being overwhelmed with the knowledge I was gaining about Calvinism.
Before I continue…
Let me clarify that my goal is to rescue the Bible from Calvinism. That’s the stated goal, but it’s deeper than that. In this world, there is overflowing disdain for Yahweh, the one unique and everlasting Elohim. I think Calvinism not only encumbers me and my Christian brethren in our understanding of God, but it’s also a barrier to the lost and dying world. My underlying goal is to help clear that up and help us all improve our relationship with God and compel the lost to seek his redemptive plan.
Now…
I’m still making surprising discoveries about Calvin’s influence on modern Christianity. Basically, the same ideology — the Augustinian doctrine — influenced Luther. But Calvin, with his Institutes, was Augustinian doctrine on steroids. Luther and Calvin were the fathers of the Reformation, which was embodied by Reformed Theology or the Doctrines of Grace. I was born into a Protestant family, and I am a Protestant by tradition. Protestantism pretty much ignited the Reformation.
So, I have been rethinking my position on my Protestant tradition because if Calvinism is removed, can I keep the Reformation? I think I can at this point. My belief and life in Christ was not inspired or fostered in a decidedly Calvinistic church. I grew up Baptist. My loyal belief stays with Christ alone. And if I have to shed labels, I’m fine with that. Alluding to Dr. Michael Heiser, I want to see the naked Bible. I don’t want it dressed up in any tradition or theology. That does not mean I automatically reject traditions and theology. When traditions and theology help me understand the naked truth of God’s Word, I’ll keep it. But why hold on to them if they cloud the truth?
Calvinism is not Christianity. You can be a Christian without being a Calvinist or a Christian without being a Roman Catholic. But is Protestantism Christianity? Can you be a Christian and not be a Protestant? Of course. That said, Protestantism and Catholicism could be considered very Calvinistic or Augustinian. So, should I cut out the deterministic parts of my traditional faith? I’d look like a puzzle with many pieces missing to my brethren. And, because they’ve not traveled my road, they wouldn’t understand even with much explaining, and I’m still learning a lot.
I want to fight it out now! It breaks my heart to see God mischaracterized and misrepresented. I don’t yet feel intellectually ready. I still sense there is ground in my own heart, my own theology, that needs recultivating due to Calvin’s influence. I’ve seen it already, but that’s not the point of this post.
Calvin’s Fortress is massive. Its mass is imposing. But I’ve seen the weaknesses. It’s not so intimidating when you see the Wizard behind the curtain. Knowledge is power. Although John MacArthur and James White could handle me in a live debate with their rhetoric, I’m sure I, by the sword of my pen, could, in time, give a sound rebuttal to their Calvinism. I know that’s crazy sounding. But then I recall Ted Nugent giving sound advice about the dangers of liberalism years ago. He was point-by-point dismantling it. I was impressed. He paused and said, “Hey! I’m just a guitar player, and I can figure this out.” So, maybe my confidence is not so crazy.
The point is it’s not that hard to see the dangers and weaknesses of Calvinism for a regular guy like me—or you—especially during these times when we have access to so much knowledge, and I’m driven to dismantle Calvinism’s misrepresentation of the character of Almighty God. We have vast libraries at our fingertips. There’s no excuse to be ignorant on the matter.
It seems that the more I study, the more the revelations continue—the ah-ha moments happen consistently. I’m piling up plenty of explosives to blow Calvinism sky-high. Because there is so much information out there from reliable sources, one will discover Calvinism's weaknesses are legion. It’s extremely challenging to synthesize it all into a series of coherent posts. That’s why I’ve dropped off on postings about it. I’m overwhelmed on many levels, one being how, in God’s name, so many Christians have bought into it.
Another reason it’s been challenging is that Calvinism seems irreducibly complex. As I tugged on one thread, the whole thing unraveled. I’m trying to preserve sections of the structure as I dismantle it so you can see it before I take it down, but my mind leaps to the easy conclusion that Calvinism is weak and false throughout. When I take one letter out of the TULIP, I find it attached to all the other letters.
The crucial foundation of the TULIP is the Calvinistic definitions and beliefs about Sovereignty, Predestination, Original Sin, Foreknowledge, and Election. Crucial to those definitions and beliefs is their faith in exhaustive divine determinism (or EDD), which supports all those and other points and the TULIP.
(Some quotes for you…)
I could provide more quotes from Calvin and Calvinists than those above. Boiling this down to its bare meaning means God is the deceiver and the cause of sin.
From what I can tell, EDD is the core doctrine of Calvinism and is not biblical. Augustine smuggled it in from the Gnostics. EDD is the lens one must use to make Calvinism work. Many Protestant denominations, like the Presbyterians and even some Baptists, believe it. Many seminaries are full of Calvinistic professors. So, it rolls downhill into the congregations who trust their preachers and teachers to tell them the truth.
I’ve talked to a few people about Calvinism’s fundamental issues. One said, “I think I’m still a bit Calvinistic.” One offered that he was not neatly Calvinist. After seeing the titles of the books I was reading, one guy at a diner told me he didn’t believe in Calvinism but was a 3-Point Calvinist. I’ve read and listened to these types of thoughts from Catholics and Protestants online, in books, and interviews, basically saying the same things, and it astonishes me.
Mixing the bible with Calvinism is like having a mixed economy of the free enterprise system and Marxism. Marxism spoils the system. Reformed theology or the Doctrines of Grace spoils your understanding of God and the Bible. If you’re a Calvinist, you have to constantly try to back-engineer it into convenient verses and try to explain away free choice and God’s love for all in the obvious verses. Rest, my friends.
When the consequence [of Calvinism] is drawn that, since we are totally depraved, our idea of good is worth simply nothing – may thus turn Christianity into a form of devil-worship.” –CS Lewis, The Problem of Pain, pg. 29
Why are you holding on to something you don’t need, which only muddies your view of Scripture? Drop it. If you still like the word Calvinist, then call yourself a Zero-Point Calvinist. Join me and be done with it.
Thank you for reading my Substack. Remember, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter but the glory of kings to search it out.” Proverbs 25:2.
This song is dedicated to those suffering and believing God decreed their suffering for His glory. I hope this breaks through and people realize God is better than this. God doesn't get His kicks by causing us to suffer for His glory. Rather, the God of the Bible took on the totality of human nature, becoming one of us and DETERMINED TO SUFFER for us to achieve victory over sin, suffering, and death itself—bringing us hope. THIS is what separates the Living God from dead idols.
LYRICS: When life falls apart, when everything claimed fails, It hits so hard, being decreed by God! Who can you look to, where can you go? There is no safety, only woe! Can't run away, run away Can't run away, from your destiny! Crushed by the mountain, dreading the blows, It’s easy to lose yourself, devil knows: “God can’t hear you shouting, He’s deaf to your plea. Just take comfort He’s in control. Every single sin, every single blow, God gets all the glory from every single woe!” Life’s so dark, everything’s a struggle, Buried under grief, determined to suffer! Pray to an Arsonist, Abused by a Savior, Hero and villain, this is determinism Can't run away, run away Can't run away, from your destiny! Crushed by the mountain, dreading the blows, It’s easy to lose yourself, devil knows: “God can’t hear you shouting, He’s deaf to your plea. Just take comfort He’s in control. Every single sin, every single blow, God gets all the glory from every single woe!” Did you ever stop to think for a moment, Maybe just maybe, He's not the problem? That sin and evil are contrary, Yet He attained the victory! Crushed by the mountain, dreading the blows, It’s easy to lose yourself, God knows! He hears you shouting, He hears your pleas. Take comfort in His victory! Can't run away, run away Can't run away, from His love! (Run home!) Did you ever stop to think for a moment, Maybe just maybe, He's not the problem? That sin and evil are contrary, Yet He attained the victory! Take comfort in His victory! Every single sin, every single blow, He redeems each and every single woe! #christian #music #christianmusic ©️ Copyright 2024 Warren McGrew All Rights Reserved