The Most Unsatisfying Post on Calvinism and Arminianism

So...I've decided to just briefly have my little say in the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate.

To start, I am making you aware that I know very little about Calvinism or Arminianism. What typically comes to mind when I think of them is more akin to this nifty illustration I've made than anything else. (Don't be offended, sensitive people.)

I'm not going to spend the next 3000 words writing down the arguments for or against either side. They're all very well documented, and both sides have a fair share of pluses and minuses.

Here is my MAIN problem:

Calvinism and Arminianism only cause one thing: SEPARATION.

Now, chill out. I know how violently protective people get. Hear me out.

Example A:
Let us presuppose that Calvinism is correct and we are predestined to eternity with God.

Wooo! That's great...really. It's going to be outstanding there, and I'm so glad I'll be there.....

That's all fine and good, but how will I know whether or not I'm predestined until I get to Heaven? Is Jesus going to come down and tell me? I mean, He can speak to my heart, and tell me that I am truly a child of the LORD, but really, the reason it's called faith is because you have to believe. If I KNOW that I am a child of the LORD, then me obeying is useless; first of all, because I am a child and second, whether I stray or not, since I am His child, I merely have to return to Him (even when I am at the end of my life) to receive His forgiveness.[Luke 15:11-32 ESV]

So what was the point in me being Calvinist? I won't find out whether or not I was saved until I get to Heaven [or Hell], so while on Earth, me being a Calvinist accomplished nothing, other than giving me a reason to argue with people.

Furthermore, of the few "anti-Calvinist" things I will say here, is that I want you to think about this: if God predestined everything, then God created sin.^a Now I suppose that you could argue that God does not predestine everything, only the eternal elect. If that is true, then disregard the following statement, but if not, think about it. If God preordains things, then He preordained Adam to partake of the Fruit of Good and Evil, knowing very very well what the punishment was. If you take that a step further, you can postulate that God is both good and evil, for how can something that is the definition of good, cause something evil? I think we can all agree that this is not the case.

My only other "anti-Calvinist" problem is with the most obvious one. The idea of the elect. I will cite only two Bible verses, because I think this argument only needs two.

"⁸But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:8-9 ESV

ALL. That's it. Done. Argument ended. How can the Bible, God's Holy Word, directly implanted into the hearts of men and transcribed so that we may know God's teachings and plans, say something that isn't true?

It can't.

So therefore, why would God desire that all should reach repentance, when He Himself has chosen the "non-elect" to perish. I say "non-elect" because if there is an "elect," then there has to be a "non-elect" as well. There are only two endpoints to the equation, Heaven and Hell, so whether it is by choice (i.e. believer or non-believer) or by election (i.e. elect or non-elect) there are only two options. If it is by election, than God has chosen those that would go to Heaven but also those that would go to Hell. I find it very hard to believe that my God would do so, especially considering that He makes it plain in Romans; "For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." Romans 10:13 ESV

Again, we have a noun that is not exclusive. Everyone. There's no clause at the bottom of Romans 10 that says "Everyone in reality only means some."

Additionally, if there are an elect, how does God chose this elect? What does He use to make me (or you, elect person) better than Joe Nonelect? This is not substantially discussed in the literature I've read, but it just seems interesting that God loves the ENTIRE world, but only loves a select few enough to save them. (I'm referencing John 3:16 here, just in case you missed the boat.)

Going along with the idea of elect, is the idea of "irresistible grace." This, as best as I can tell, means that no matter what, if you are elect, you will eventually succumb to God's divine irresistible grace. This to me seems like the ultimate excuse (especially when coupled with the idea of election) to be a lazy Christian. If I will eventually succumb to God's grace, and furthermore, if I am of the elect, why should I evangelize? Why should I read my Bible, or go to church, or share the Gospel, or do anything remotely Christ-like? I am of the elect, so I AM going to Heaven, and I WILL be overtaken by God's grace eventually. Although this is a common argument, it escapes me that I could believe that I am chosen and therefore inseparable from God, even since before I knew God or decided to accept His son Jesus. Why then be baptized, or sprinkled, or make a profession of faith, if you are already saved or not saved?

Last verse:
³This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV

So...that's my beating up on Calvinists. Although this is a relatively one-sided argument from me, I do have several moot points with you Arminianists too.


Example B:
Walt Harris, a student from Millbrook, Alabama, has quite a few Calvinist friends. These friends, who hopefully read his arguments with an attempt at being unbiased, probably dislike Walt a little bit more, because they now know (or think) that he is an "Arminianist." Regardless of their true feelings towards me, they now know that we disagree on an important aspect of our faith. This has just caused at least some division, which is therefore proof of my argument on the USELESSNESS of both parties.

While I am not an Arminianist, or at least I do not wish to be classified as one (me being the non-denominational 'Christian-hippie' that I am), I do admittedly subscribe to more Arminian beliefs than Calvinist.

BUT

The main point still exists. The ONLY thing that being a Calvinist or Arminianist does for you (in this world AND the next, think about that) is cause division.

It causes division between friends (which it has for me before), it causes division between churches, it causes division between spouses, family, and I believe especially causes division among believers and non-believers.

How can someone who doesn't believe want to be a part of a faith (I hate the term 'religion') that is so sharply divided over issues of semantics? (Yes, the only reason we have both sides, period, is the semantics of the Bible.)

Furthermore, why would a world that tends to think most Christians are (to use the cliché) 'holier-than-thou' snobs want to be a part of something that says "you have to be chosen to get to Heaven"? Fundamentally, this is what Calvinism says.

Lastly, and I did a poor job of driving this home, especially since I pointed out all my problems with Calvinism, even though I couldn't come up with many for Arminianism [although I do not support or fully subscribe to either], is the fact that either way, in the end, we will NEVER know whether or not we are predestined until we get to Heaven, and by then, it will not matter anymore.

NEVER. That's an absolute. We will never ever ever know, not in 200 million years, and surely not within our lifetimes, short of Jesus' triumphant return. Even if we get to Heaven or Christ returns, I doubt that God is going to tell us whether or not predestination exists. I'm not going to say He won't, because it is quite possible, and I wouldn't mind knowing.

BUT can you honestly say that when you see your mansion and those streets of gold, that you're really even going to give a crap why or how you got there?




^a Perry, http://people.cis.ksu.edu/~bbp9857/calvinism.html

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"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." - Blaise Pascal