The Big Problem With Calvinists

Calvinism can be an ice cube in the heart of a man. Freezing a man's joy. Squelching his passion for evangelism. Making him actually hate the idea of evangelism and getting saved. How many ardent Calvinists do you know who are just as ardent about evangelism? My guess: ZERO.

The doctrines of grace, what are usually called Calvinism, are all biblical and correct, but just as grace can be twisted into licentiousness, so election can become indifference to the lost. How does that happen? Election becomes indifference or even hostility toward evangelism in the same way and under the same circumstances that grace can become an excuse to stop striving for holiness.

When grace is taught exclusively, without a call to holiness, it becomes an idol and our worship is in the form of moral laxity. In like manner, when election is preached and preached without any mention of the zeal for the gospel, we begin to devalue evangelism. In fact, we see ourselves as much more pious than the silly free-willers out there passing out tracts, witnessing, and pleading with the lost to come to our Lord. We can actually think we are more godly because we don't witness. Yet, is it not self-evident that good doctrine should lead to obedience, not disobedience?

Remember why grace was so profound the first time you found out what it was? It was amazing because we knew we were filthy and that we answered to a holy God, not because we were suddenly permitted to sin and not go to hell. No. In fact, grace rightly understood motivates holy living. Similarly, election rightly understood reminds us we are small and sinful, not pious and good. Election should spur us to more evangelism because the Sovereign will judge us all, and because we go out to preach without a method. Instead, the Sovereign has decreed that we preach. So we preach knowing the Sovereign has elected and He will give the increase in His chosen time and in His chosen way. A proper understanding of election actually preserves the gospel from being downgraded, because God is sovereign and He will fulfull His decree to save all that are given to Christ. We need never manipulate the message to fit the flesh, but faith in the Sovereign gives confidence in the foolishness of preaching.

If your election cools your evangelism, your Calvinism is wrong.

In Christ,
Phil Perkins.