Let us continue with this path of dealing with Calvinism as a theology.  You need to know it is not some strange new idea but goes back several centuries.  It is not limited to only one denomination but can affect more than a few congregations.  Such an idea is making a slow comeback in these last years for some reason.  My brain cannot speculate on why the resurgence it only knows its reality.  Some friends of mine lean toward this approach.  Other friends would reject it totally.  More than a few of us tend to operate somewhere in the middle.  We appreciate its identity as far as moving us to thinking about what it means to be saved.  But we may not embrace it completely.  You should also know it is growing in its influence within my own tribe of Southern Baptists.  Media may be picking up on this growing movement next week during our annual national convention.  I know that some of my time was spent today reading other blogs about all of this.  Thinking critically about theology is never a bad thing.  I can only hope this will not lead to yet another splintering of my denomination.  


Let me spell out the typical approach to Calvinism.  We mentioned five basic ideas it includes in one of our writings.  Let me try to put it into a perspective often used to grasp it.  


Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints


You notice it spells out the word "tulip."  That is how most academics would define Calvinism.  You also need to realize that how we view such a theology will affect many others areas of theology.  Our understanding of God, sin, and even the last things can be shaped by how we view our idea of salvation.  No systematic theology exists in a vacuum.  We must own the outcomes of what we believe.


That second area of unconditional election bugs us a bit.  Calvinists say that this is not about our God choosing some to be lost or damned forever.  Follow along in their logic.  First, all people are sinners in need of grace.  Last night touched some on that.  What this means is that God does not choose people to be condemned to hell seeing as this is what they deserve simply by refusing God's grace.  Now they would move on to say that this refusal is done within the context of mercy.  Yes, it is a tricky logic but one that makes sense to many good believers. The point is that since all are sinners then who are we to criticize God for those He elects to save?  Grace becomes a powerful instrument in the life of a believer who senses the call of God on his or her life.  How do we determine who is in either category?  The answer is only God knows since we operate on the level of His great mercy.  My writing here is very much on the simplistic side.  It may even miss some of the context of what those who hold this view would espouse.  Calvinism typically says since we are all sinners then God alone holds the final judgement on who is elect or saved.  This makes some sense when you stop and reflect.  We do tend to get rather arrogant about who we are while forgetting the grace of God.  You and I may find some holes in this approach but God does act in His mystery and for His glory alone.


I once heard a preacher remark that we as believers are on the nominating committee and not the election committee when it comes to God's purpose in the world.  That is about as good as anyone can put it.  Most who fear the influence of Calvinism point to what damage it may do to efforts of evangelism or missions.  But there is a history of great leaders who held to much of the above while doing great work to win the lost.  Even those who I do know hold to all five points still push our efforts to engage the world with the gospel.  Scripture does often describe a believer as one who is elect.  Perhaps this ties in with that Old Testament concept of the people of God.  Here is one that I do know.  When any person of any age becomes a follower of Jesus it is because God initiated the process.  We do not move toward Him without a sense of conviction of sin or the drawing of His Spirit.  That gives me comfort.  Be assured that God desires to save always.  There will never be illegitimate children of God.  We are loved and secured by His grace.


Bro. Trey