Frequently
Asked
Questions
Was John Calvin a Genuine Christian?
It’s difficult to determine whether he was truly born again. His Roman Catholic baptism (for the washing away of Original Sin) was important to him. He had a spiritual awakening, but he never described it in the terms a Christian would normally describe their salvation experience. He got his theological opinions from Roman Catholic theologian Augustine, and then tried to reconcile them with the Bible. He was involved with the murder of people who disagreed with his teachings. He also had disdain for the Anabaptists, the leading proponents of Biblical Christianity of his day. These facts cast doubt as to whether Calvin was a genuine Christian. We will never know until we get to Heaven.
Can a person be a Chritian if he or she is a Calvinist?
Absolutely! There are many good Christians who believe the theology of John Calvin. We believe, however, that they are being deceived by a theological system that causes them to miss some of the great truths of Scripture, and that is hindering them from being all that God wants them to be.
If a Christian is not a Calvinist, does that mean he or she is an Arminian?
Absolutely not! Calvinism and Arminianism are two extremes. They are both derived from taking a Biblical truth and blowing it up out of proportion to the rest of the teachings in Scripture. Christians should seek for an understanding of the Bible without interpreting it through the bias of Calvin, the Roman Catholic Church, the Book of Mormon, Mary Baker Eddy, etc.
Why do some Bible scholars believe in Calvinism?
For the same reason that some Bible scholars believe in Arminianism or Pentecostalism. They are biased with preconceived notions from people they respect and follow.
How can you believe in the Sovereignty of God if you do not believe in Unconditional Election?
God’s sovereignty is not dependent on whether or not he gives people the opportunity to choose to become Christians. God’s sovereignty means that He rules the Universe, that He answers to no one, that there is no higher power than Him, and that He has the prerogative to give liberty and free will to whomsoever He wants. In His sovereignty, God said He loves everbody (John 3:16), that He sent Jesus to die for everybody (1 John 2:2), and that He wants everybody to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). He also gave each one of us the responsibility to respond to His gracious offer (Acts 16:31). Whoever does not respond will suffer the consequences (Romans 6:23). The Sovereignty of God does not depend on the twist of Augustine, John Calvin or their followers.
Isn't Calvinism the historic teaching of the Christian church?
This teaching was unheard of until the Romanist heretic, Augustine, in the 4th Century A.D. After Augustine, belief in this teaching died out until Luther and Calvin picked up on it over 1,000 years later. Calvin forced his teaching on the citizens of Geneva, and the heresy spread to Holland, Scotland and then throughout the Christian world.
Can a Christian be a Calvinist and still be a soul winner?
Yes, there have been some Christian Calvinists who have been very evangelistic. They are the exceptions, however, and not the rule. It is natural for a Christian to abandon evangelism if they think that the “elect” will be saved anyway, and that the “non-elect” will never be saved, regardless of how many times they have heard the Gospel.
While there are some notable exceptions, most Calvinists do little, if anything, to evangelize, and most effective Christians are not Calvinists.
©2010, 2020 Change the World Team