Named after John Calvin, “Calvinism” attempts to explain, among other things, why one person accepts Christ while another rejects Him. To the adherent, Calvinism is virtually the Gospel itself, and thus becomes one of the most important teachings in all of the Bible, if not the most important one. Calvinism is perhaps the central theme of what is known as “Reformed Theology.” Two prominent denominations of Calvinism include Presbyterians and Lutherans.
Examining Calvinism
Throughout Church history, many have challenged whether the concepts of Calvinism are Biblical, even from the days when determinism was associated with Augustine and the Gnostics. One such person to confront Calvinism was Jacob Arminius, whose beliefs are known as “Arminianism.” Prominent Arminian denominations are Methodists and Southern Baptists.
The purpose of this examination is to embrace the Apostle Paul’s words at 1st Thessalonians 5:21 which states: “Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.” How can a person examine without asking questions, and how can it be done “carefully” if one is already so committed to a certain course that all objectivity has long since died? If the Calvinist is truly examining carefully, shouldn’t they be an expert in Arminianism? Similarly, if the Arminian is truly examining carefully, shouldn’t he, too, be an expert in Calvinism? Many have claimed to have made exhaustive searches, when yet the reality is that they have made virtually no research at all. In many cases, a person will simply hear the particular philosophy he likes, in light of a few select verses, and then force all Scripture to submit to it, and then deem it “the truth.” Consider wise King Solomon’s words at Proverbs 18:13: “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.”
