Myths? Really?

I came across this article on Calvinism on Twitter this week. It was retweeted by a handful of people, so I figured I'd read it. Here is my point-by-point analysis.


The article's points are in bold, and my responses are below the respective point.



1. Calvinism is not system of theology that denies God’s universal love.
Yes and no. Calvinism claims that God loves the world (probably because this concept is listed in the Bible many times). However, a god who would choose to predestine some to Hell is not a loving god at all. The actions do not match the words (get ready for a running theme, here).

2. Calvinism is not a belief where God creates people in order to send them to hell. 
Again, Calvinists claim this. But the fact is that if God predestines some for Heaven, then He (by default, if nothing else) predestines some for Hell. This concept is often referred to as "double-predestination." While most Calvinists claim double-predestination is not Biblical, they cannot explain how there can be predestination without double-predestination.

There is no such thing as light without dark, or a front without a back. If eternity has two options, and God predestines some for option A, then He necessarily has predestined the others for option B.
The doctrine cannot coincide with the words.

3. Calvinism is not belief that God is the author of evil.
Because of Calvinism’s view of God's sovereignty (namely, that nothing happens without Him being the author), and because if there is predestination of whom, it is necessary that God has predestined some for Hell. If God predestined some for Hell, then it was He who authored evil, so that sin could be possible.
Again, the words cannot coexist with the doctrine.

4. Calvinism is not a belief in fatalism.
From the article:

"A fatalistic worldview is one in which all things are left to fate, chance, and a series of causes and effects that has no intelligent guide or ultimate cause. Calvinism believes that God (not fate) is in control, though Calvinists differ about how meticulous this control is."

And here we see the twisting of words. The Calvinists who would state this are trying to imply that fate, and not God, predestines things. The definition of fatalism is: "Acceptance of the belief that events are predetermined and inevitable." The definition has nothing to do with who or what predestines, just that things are predestined... which is the root of Unconditional Election.
Calvinism, by definition, is indeed fatalism with respect to election and, therefore, salvation or condemnation. 


5. Calvinism is not a denial of freedom. 
From the article:

Calvinists to do not believe that people are robots or puppets on strings. Calvinists believe in freedom and, properly defined, free will. While Calvinists believe that God is ultimately in control of everything, most are compatibalists, believing that he works in and with human freedom (limited though it may be). Calvinists believe in human responsibility at the same time as holding to a high view of God’s providential sovereignty.

While Calvinists may not claim people are robots or puppets, the fact is that they do believe:
A) People cannot choose to do anything other than sin.
B) People must be punished for sin.
C) People cannot choose salvation.

So, it is clear that Calvinists feel people are spiritual automatons. Yet again, the claims do not match the doctrine, and Calvinists are forced to twist words.

6. Calvinism is not a belief that God forces people to become Christians against their will.
Actually, is it such a belief. Calvinists frequently claim people cannot choose God, therefore, God has to intervene in the person's will to make it possible for the person to accept salvation. If this isn't the concept of God forcing His will on someone, I don't know what it.
Again, the claims do not match the doctrine. Again, word twisting and multiple definitions based on convenience.

7. Calvinism is not a belief that you should only evangelize the elect.
I'll give half-credit here. Calvinists never claim it. However, I have yet to meet a Calvinist who hasn't tried to evangelize the elect to their viewpoints. Similarly I have yet to meet a Calvinist that evangelized to the unsaved. In Calvinism, evangelization is not really necessary.

8. Calvinism is not a belief that God arbitrarily chooses people to be saved.
From the article:

"Calvinists believe that God elects some people to salvation and not others and that this election is not based on anything present or foreseen, righteous or unrighteous, in the individual, but upon his sovereign choice (Rom. 9:11). But this does not mean that the choice is arbitrary, as if God is flipping a coin to see who is saved and who is not. Calvinists believe that God has his reasons, but they are in his mysterious secret will."

From the Calvinist's worst enemy: the dictionary:
Arbitrary: "Based on or subject to individual judgment or preference."
"Calvinists believe God has His reasons..." cannot coexist with "based on... individual judgment..."
 Again, word twisting.

9. Calvinism is not a system of thought that follows a man, John Calvin.
The first point with which I agree 100% (or at least 99%+). What we call Calvinism, while codified by John Calvin, was originated by Satan, and first came to printed prominence with St. Augustine.

10. Calvinism is not a system that has to ignore or reinterpret passages of Scripture concerning human responsibility.
Cue the buzzer.
All of Calvinism is predicated on the errant concept that people cannot choose anything other than sin. How could a person be judged for something, when they are incapable of choosing to do otherwise. It would be like eternally condemning a bunny for hopping. If anything, Calvinism is the liberalism of the church - man cannot help but sin (removal of fault), and cannot choose God (removal of personal responsibility).

11. Calvinists do not believe that no one can do any good thing at all.
From the article:

"Calvinists believe in what is called “total depravity” (so do Arminians). However, total depravity does not mean that people cannot ever do anything good. Calvinists believe that unregenerate people can do many good things and sometimes even act better than Christians. But when it comes to people’s disposition toward God and their acknowledgment of him for their abilities, gifts, and future, they deny him and therefore taint all that they are and do. An unbeliever, for example, can love and care for their children just as a believer can. In and of itself this is a very good thing. However, in relation to God this finds no eternal or transcendent favor since they are at enmity with him, the Giver of all things. Therefore, it might be said, while all people can do good, only the regenerate can do transcendent good. "

I'll be generous and give credit here, as they adopt a position, and define it with ordinary definitions. There are certainly some Calvinists who would take exception with the article, but it is my experience that these would not be in the majority.

12. Calvinists do not necessarily believe that God predestines (wills) everything, including the color of socks I chose this morning.
Again, I'll be generous and yield the point, as the article again uses common definitions and sticks to them.



Summary
3.5 / 12

They were cruising right along to a 100% (0%?) score, when #9, #11, and #12 came up. More perplexing is the sudden shift to using ordinary and accurate definitions, and sticking to them. Why start that when you are 3/4 of the way through the article? Why not be consistent?

Maybe they were reaching, so as to get an even 12 (much like the old Hebrew authors had a penchant for).

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