So, I had an interesting debate today with a potential adjunct professor. Knowing that he was of the Calvinist tradition, I probed a bit. I asked him first if he embraced 5-Point Calvinism. As he looked a bit baffled and confused (assumingly because he didn’t know what “5-Point” Calvinism was), I clarified by beginning to list the five points of T-U-L-I-P.
He quickly said, “No, no, no. I don’t believe in that.”
“So you don’t believe that the atoning work of Jesus on the cross is limited to those he predestined to the saved?,” I asked.
“No, no. Absolutely not.”
Not being sure if he completely understood the implications of what I was asking, I probed a bit further.
“Okay, well, do you believe in eternal security?”
“Oh, yes!” he said. “It’s only biblical!”
In response to this, I referred to a few passages in the Bible that implied otherwise (specifically, Revelation 2:5 and others). I went on to point out that the Bible does teach that there is such a thing as apostasy, where one who once had “saving faith” could abandon that faith. After all, there are not shotgun weddings in heaven.
Naturally, as a good Calvinist, he responded that what I call “falling away” he would categorized as “never having been saved”.
This typical answer really bothers me.
How, on the one hand, can a certain theological orientation tell people that once they believe in Jesus that their salvation is secure for eternity. Then, on the other hand, if that person falls into sin, tell them that they were never saved in the first place.
Is it just me or does this seem incredibly manipulative and theologically self-serving?
“If you accept Jesus as your Lord and savior today, your salvation is secure forever! In addition to this, his Holy Spirit will witness to your spirit that your His! However….if there comes a time where you neglect his presence in your life and choose a different route, and you fall under the domination of sin sometime in the future, it means that you never really were saved.”
The unsoundness of such a thing does not at all seem consistent with a just, honest, and holy God.
Hence, one of the reasons I’m not a Calvinist.
For more on this topic cf. http://www.amazon.com/Why-I-Am-Not-Calvinist/dp/0830832491/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383847525&sr=8-1&keywords=why+I%27m+not+a+calvinist