Agreeing to Disagree on the Doctrine of Election
I am genuinely grieved at the way we have let the doctrines of free will and election divide us as followers of Christ. Can we find common ground?
Let me start with some common ground, two foundational truths that we would all agree with:
- God is sovereign.
- Each of us has a mind and a will.
At the risk of oversimplifying the debate, the matter comes down to determining where God’s sovereignty ends and our free will begins. In our modern theological vocabulary, we refer to Calvinism as a strong emphasis on the sovereign will of God and Arminianism as a strong emphasis on our own free will.
Did I mention I am oversimplifying the issue? It’s far more detailed and complex, but I’m stating this in the simplest of terms because that’s how the typical, everyday Christian sees the issue. For too many, being reformed in one’s thinking only means one thing: you are an extreme, over-the-top hyper -Calvinist. For example, when I have referenced passages that speak to God’s sovereignty, I have been accused of “trying to cram Calvinism down our throats.”
My goal in the past has been to present information on what Calvinism is—and what it isn’t. At the same time, I have presented the basic tenets associated with Arminianism. I’ve tried to walk the line, showing both sides. Based on my own study of Scripture, I have discussed where the different sides get it right and where I believe they get it wrong. I want people to come to their own conclusion on this weighty mater.
This is easier said than done. Recently I spoke to a Wednesday evening church gathering on the topic of election. I gave an overview of both sides. Two days later, I received a call from someone who said, “I hear that you’re a Calvinist”—and by that he meant a hyper-Calvinist who sees no room for free will. I briefly repeated what I had said two days earlier, and he backed off. But where did he get this misinformation about me? He had received a call from an individual who had been present that Wednesday night. This individual had been shaken and perhaps hurt by another pastor who pushed his beliefs on election—and pushed hard. Therefore, for me to even acknowledge merits in some of the points of Calvinism caused her to shut down and not hear anything else.
That’s why I grieve.
A few months ago, I read a fascinating book on election called Perspectives on Election. Five scholars, holding five different viewpoints from full-blown Calvinism to Arminianism to Universalism, presented their viewpoints. Then the other four scholars presented their argument on why they disagreed with that viewpoint. This was a rich read, but it was not easy. Quite a few words were used that I would not want to face in a spelling bee.
What really grabbed my attention was the fact that these men are followers of Christ who value and hold to the supremacy of God’s Word. These men love Jesus and love God’s Word, yet in their quest to be true to God’s Word, they came to different conclusions regarding what Scripture says about the doctrine of election. They disagreed, but they did it agreeably. Clark Pinnock said this:
“What a joy it is and what a privilege to be asked to reflect upon the important subject of divine election in a book where others, worthy scholars all, set forth their insights alongside my own and interact.” Perspectives on Election: Five Views, 276.
Culture calls us to disparage and belittle those who disagree with us. God’s Word calls us to a greater standard.
“Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3).
The doctrines surrounding God’s sovereignty and our humanity are important, but our salvation does not hinge on where we land in the debate between Calvinism and Arminianism. We can still sit down and enjoy each other’s company over a bowl of banana pudding.
Subscribe to this blog or like our Facebook page. And share this post with others.
If you would like a printable version of this, check out PrintFriendly.
Banner
