Calvinism, also known as Reformed theology, is a belief system that centers on the full sovereignty of God and holds that those who come to Christ do so by divine election and not by any action or will of their own. Christian theologian Wayne Grudem defines this election as "an act of God before creation in which He chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of His sovereign good pleasure."
Origins of Calvinism
In the years following the Protestant Reformation, there arose considerable debate and discussion over the nature of God's sovereignty and grace. This debate and confusion led to a national senate of the churches in the Netherlands, called the Synod of Dort.
That council examined the teachings of a popular Dutch theologian named Jacobus Arminius. His teachings were branded as heresy, and the council opted to reaffirm the teachings of John Calvin. In doing so, they laid out five points to explain their position. These five points became the basis for Calvinism or Reformed doctrine.
What Are The 5 Points of Calvinism?
The five points articulated at Dort were later arranged according to the acronym TULIP. The 5 Points of Calvinism (or TULIP) are:
- Total Depravity-- According to Calvinists, human beings are completely "dead" in their sinful condition, totally unable to choose God or righteousness without supernatural regeneration. Scriptures cited to bolster this point include Mark 7:21-23, Jeremiah 7:9, and Ephesians 2:3,15.
- Unconditional Election-- Citing passages like Ephesians 4:1-8, Calvinists maintain that God freely chose, of His own volition and according to His purpose and discretion, those whom He called to salvation.
- Limited Atonement -- Jesus' sacrifice at Calvary was for His sheep (John 10:11,15) and not for all of humanity.
- Irresistible Grace -- Those called to salvation cannot resist that call. This is a doctrine inferred from passages, including Philippians 2:12-13 and Acts 13:48.
- Perseverance of the Saints -- Those called to salvation will not fall away, but will persevere to the end. In other words, Calvinists hold that those saved will not lose their salvation.
Five Point Calvinism Challenged
Five point Calvinism is not without its critics. There are disputes in both substance and degree on each of the five points.
Some challenge the Calvinistic claim that salvation is exclusively the work of God, with no human involvement whatsoever. "While salvation is of the Lord (Jon 4:22) and therefore a supernatural work which only God can accomplish, this is not to deny a sense of human involvement and responsibility," writes Dr. Elmer Towns, a widely-respected Christian theologian.
Others contend that God's calling is to everyone. Paige Patterson, president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a widely known leader in Southern Baptist circles, argues this position. "The calling of God is made to all men," says Patterson. "And then men must decide whether they will respond to the calling or not."
Those who oppose five point Calvinism are often grouped under the broad umbrella of Arminianism. This is not an altogether accurate description, however, since many of Calvinism's critics have also objected to Arminian theology on several points. In addition, there is considerable debate and nuance even within Calvinistic or Reformed circles. Not all Calvinists define or understand the five points the same way.
The Call For Christian Unity
Many Christians, while acknowledging the importance of the issue, hope that Christians can discuss five point Calvinism without resorting to anger and without disrupting Christian unity and evangelism.
In a recent address by Norman Geisler, in which he challenged the five points of Calvinism, the popular Christian author nevertheless emphasized that this is an "intramural debate" within Christian circles and should be handled with cordiality. Likewise, in a 2006 SBC debate on Reformed doctrine with Paige Patterson, Al Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, characterized their debate as "a conversation among close friends."
In spite of these calls for unity, however, the issues of predestination and election have been contentious for centuries and will probably remain so for many years to come.
Related Articles on Religion
Readers of this article may be interested in "The Doctrine of Salvation" and "Where Do Babies Go When They Die?"
Sources:
In addition to the Bible and the links above, the author of this article was informed by the following sources:
Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1998.
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.
Towns, Elmer. Theology For Today. Belmont: Wadsworth Group, 2002.
Brian Tubbs - Brian Tubbs is a minister, writer, and former educator living in Northern Virginia. He writes on personal development, faith, and ...
