http://www.christianpost.com/news/driscoll-without-jesus-you-go-to-hell-49598/
http://www.christianpost.com/news/rob-bells-velvet-hell-albert-mohler-others-speak-on-how-love-can-truly-win-49472/
http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/6235/53
(Note: the above links are to articles regarding Rob Bell. These are Calvinist responses to Bell. None of them mention predestination.)
I cannot remember a Christian Author who has stirred up more controversy than Rob Bell. His new book, Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, has stirred the theological waters of many Christians regarding traditional evangelical teaching regarding Heaven and Hell. He is charged with universalism, though Bell claims that he is not a universalist. Bell is intentionally vague and wants people to think rather than be spoon-fed concrete answers. However, what seems to be at the heart of the controversy is not universalism per se, but the claim that the eternal destiny of human beings does not directly depend on their response to Jesus Christ in this life. Evangelicals are a branch of Christians who do place supreme importance on responding to Jesus Christ in this life – and they/we are upset at anyone who could be leading people astray from responding properly to Christ. The issue is the response to Jesus Christ in this life, and the impact that it makes for eternity.
Dr. Al Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, labeled the book “Velvet Hell”, a play on the title of Bell’s previous book, Velvet Elvis. Several professors of theology at Southern have raised issues over Bell’s hints of universalism – the belief that all will eventually be in Heaven with God, regardless of their response to Christ in this life. Here’s the point of my post: Mohler, along with many professors of theology at Southern are Calvinists. What they do not want to emphasize regarding the importance of your response to the gospel is that, really, they do not believe the choice to choose Christ is a choice that you have the capacity to make. Those who choose Christ in this life are those who have been predestined by God to do so. And, most Calvinists believe that those who do not respond affirmatively to Christ in this life are those whom God has chosen to allow them to remain in a state of being destined for Hell.
I am sure that links on my blog can direct you to articles and video clips regarding the arguments between Calvinists (those who roughly accept the teachings of reformer John Calvin on the subject of predestination) and other Christian traditions that do believe that we actually have the choice in accepting Christ in this life. They are too vast to delve into on this blog. Bell says that what we believe about Heaven and Hell, and who will inhabit each ultimately reveals what we believe about God – His identity and character.
First, let me leave any suspense behind. I do believe that there is a Hell. There are far too many scripture passages to indicate that those who reject God’s open arms of grace will ultimately end in final loss, judgment and condemnation.
Second, I am a student and product of Reformed and Calvinistic theology. I did my Master of Divinity work at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama, where most of my professors were Calvinists (though not all). This, if anything, led me to do work at Duke Divinity School in the area of New Testament (because I rejected the Reformed understandings of the New Testament, particularly Paul. I felt that Reformed theologians and Bible Scholars were guilty of lifting the text out of its historical and narrative context.) Though I never accepted the tenants of Calvinism, I do owe much appreciation to those who hold this view – that God’s salvation of sinners is totally dependent on his eternal decree of individual predestination.
However, when Reformed Pastors like Mark Driscoll and John Piper cry violence when someone even hints that Heaven may contain a soul who did not know Jesus in their earthly life, I want to cry foul. Why? Because, these pastors and theologians are not telling you the whole story about their theology. While they believe that people must respond to the gospel affirmatively to receive the benefits of God’s forgiveness of sins, they do not tell that they believe that God has determined who can and will be saved. The teachings of Calvinism are Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and Perseverance of the Saints. They argue that people cannot respond to the gospel unless the Holy Spirit awakens their hearts to the gospel. Only those who experience this awakening are those who are chosen before time by God. Romans 8-11 seems to be a key text their understanding of salvation as well as passages from John’s gospel (which incidentally says that God loves the whole world.)
I understand it to be a contradiction for God to love the whole world, and then determine those who cannot respond to his love. I, like Rob Bell, would have a hard time calling this God good. I have a hard time with this, which is the key question for Calvinists: If God must arouse the heart to respond to the gospel, and if this arousal of the heart guarantees that the one responding will be saved, then why does God not do this for everyone?
Though I have a firm love and respect for Christians who are Calvinists, and have benefitted greatly from their emphasis on God’s grace, I feel that those who are publically decrying Rob Bell are not telling the whole story about their theology of human response to God’s grace. I find this misleading.
Though I cannot do justice to the topic due to time constraints and pastoral responsibilities, I wonder what your thoughts may be…
2 comments:
Tim this is one of finest articles I've ever read on the subject of Calvinism and it's principles. I totally agree with you here and love your thoughts. For me the argument always comes back to the scriptures and of how both sides of the "Predestined" issue seek to fortify their positions based on over shouting those who disagree. Here's my thoughts in a nutshell.
1.) I believe in the complete inerrancy of scripture and I've never read the "book of Calvin" or seen it anywhere as the possible 67th.
2.) I believe the Calvin was a man, not a god and I see no evidence that he was ever "predestined" to be canonized.
3.) I've yet to ever hear someone preach from the position of Election/Predestination that did not do so completely convinced that THEY WERE IN. They weren't too sure about the rest of us but apparently they were born with some sort of birthmark the told them they were chosen.
4.) What do we do with the clear antinomy crafted in John 6:37-47? How can anyone state authoritatively that it's one or the other exclusively?
5.) Yes I understand there are many scriptures that point to the doctrine of Election but I ask in the most respectful manner possible, what do we do with Matthew 13 and the Parable of the Sower? The "Seed" is always the same, it's the "Condition/Position of the dirt that appears to make the difference there and the dirt is absolutely what Christ is comparing to our hearts.
Well written and well stated as always. I love reading your blogs and learning from you, it's a joy.
Keith,
There's so much to be said, one of my frustrations as a pastor!
Though I have many good friends and mentors that are Calvinists, or have some belief in predestination, I do not think that they are always "forward" with the masses about their understanding of predestination. They are in uproar that Rob Bell would suggest that someone who does not profess Christ as Savior and Lord could be in heaven (However, we all seem to make room for the child who dies, or those with mental handicaps, or some other exceptions). However, they believe that God chooses us before we choose them. People who are going to hell are going to because God did not choose them. I have a problem with them not being straight forward about this, while at the same time, attacking Bell.
I don't agree with everything Bell says. He is not a universalist, though (I read the Book). However, those that are attacking Bell are hiding something as well.
Thanks for your thoughts and great to catch up with you! Will definitely keep in touch!
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