Why people hate Calvinism so much?

[Metal Minister]

It's because of the first point of Calvinism -- Total Depravity. People never want to admit that they are bad...

That's definitely a good point. As sinners we cling to sin instead of God. I'm a "recovering arminian",lol, and now looking back, it seems hard to believe the stance ever made sense to me! I think it was because I wanted to believe that my own will, that under my own power, I could make God save me. As if I somehow had some hand in my own salvation.

 

[JustAsIam77]

So if I break the law that was my choice and whatever the sentence for that act is I can only blame myself not God not Satan Not the police officer not the judge no one but Emily (my first name) for that action. As God hates sin how can it be in His will for me to break the law?

I kind of thought you may ask that very question.

Read the Westminster Confession here..
Westminster Confession of Faith

The authors recognized the freedom of man is plain; for immediately after declaring that "God has freely and unchangeably ordained whatsoever comes to pass ," they added , "Yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established."

 

[J0SHUA]

It's because of the first point of Calvinism -- Total Depravity. People never want to admit that they are bad...

Good point

 

[JustAsIam77]

I hope this trend continues..I'm grateful to see new young people come to this forum, and with such knowledge of scripture!

Carry on!

God bless

 

[dogs4thewin]

If I may, and I admit a blind post, but God's will was to allow you to break that law, not that He willed you to break that law. Is that helpful?

ALLOWING me to do something is different than telling or forcing me to do something, If God ALLOWED me to break the law then that was my choice. He in no way made me break the law.

 

[JM]

To a non-Christian, Calvinism is an incredibly vile theology, so that's easy to understand the dislike there.

Good point. All non-Calvinists and those who profess faith that hate Calvinism do so for the same reasons.

VanTil:

We have first the non-Christian, who worships the creature rather than the Creator. We shall call him Mr. Black. Mr. Black may be a very “decent” sort of man. By God’s common grace he may do much that is “good.” Even so he is, as long as he remains in his unconverted state, black in the sight of God

On the other hand we have a representative of those who have, by the grace of God, become worshipers of the Creator-Redeemer, called Mr. White. Mr. White is far from what, judging him by his name, we should expect him to be. But he is washed in the blood of the Lamb. In Christ he is whiter than snow. Mr. White is the Reformed Christian.


But, strangely enough, there is a third party, an Arminian, called Mr. Grey. Of course, in Christ Mr. Grey is as white as is Mr. White. Mr. Grey thinks that Mr. White is too severe in his evaluation of Mr. Black. Mr. Black is not all that black. It is not pedagogically wise to require of Mr. Black that he make a complete about-face. Surely no such complete revolution is necessary in the field of science and in the field of philosophy. Many of Mr. Black’s followers have valiantly defended the existence of God against materialism, atheism, and positivism. Even in theology many of these disciples of Mr. Black have sprung to the defense of God when he was attacked by the God-is-dead theologians. Mr. Grey, therefore typifies the Aquinas-Butler method of defending Christianity.


A Defense of Reformed (biblical) Presuppositional Apologetics by Cornelius VanTil
​

Ever notice how the Semper Faith Group has a debate forum? I glanced at the others and it seems we are the only ones...seems folks want to argue with us.



jm

 

[Metal Minister]

ALLOWING me to do something is different than telling or forcing me to do something, If God ALLOWED me to break the law then that was my choice. He in no way made me break the law.

Exactly. Our sin, or depravity colors our choice, causing us to choose evil.

 

[JM]

Exactly. Our sin, or depravity colors our choice, causing us to choose evil.

continuously...

 

[dogs4thewin]

Exactly. Our sin, or depravity colors our choice, causing us to choose evil.

Well then you have to define evil because I know non-Christians who have done great things up to something that would have to go to PM. Christians also sometimes choose to sin to say we do not would be a lie.

 

[JM]

Well then you have to define evil because I know non-Christians who have done great things up to something that wold have to go to PM. Christians also sometimes choose to sin to say we do not would be a lie.

What causes one to differ?

 

[dogs4thewin]

What causes one to differ?

You tell me considering I have no idea what you mean?

 

[Metal Minister]

Well then you have to define evil because I know non-Christians who have done great things up to something that wold have to go to PM. Christians also sometimes choose to sin to say we do not would be a lie.

Evil=Sin

 

[gord44]

Evil=Sin

Isn't sin just 'missing the mark'? Error?

 

[Metal Minister]

Isn't sin just 'missing the mark'? Error?

Is adultery sin? Murder? Of course. Sin=Evil. Sin separates us from God. I can't think of anything more evil!

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

Well then you have to define evil because I know non-Christians who have done great things up to something that wold have to go to PM. Christians also sometimes choose to sin to say we do not would be a lie.

If I may try to help give an answer using Scripture.

At the end of Romans Chapter 14 verse 23 we read "...for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." This short statement from Scripture, it is enormously profound in the greater context of Scripture. The non-Christian will immediately reject the notion (for reasons like you state: non-Christians who have done great things), suppressing the truth of it (Romans 1:18-25), and though they know God exists, they do not acknowledge the truth, even though they have a kind of faith which can be described as dead (or unregenerate), because it is not faith in Christ. The non-Christian does not glorify God in what appears to be "good" in the eyes of man. But according to Scripture, even what appears to be "good" in the eyes of man, without faith in Christ, is sin in the eyes of God.

 

[AmericanSamurai]

They're just mad that you can't "name and claim" things in Calvinism. God is Sovereign.

Denominations like WOF and Pentecostal just choose to be religious fruit loops.

 

[AmericanSamurai]

Well I am not even close to a "cage stage" Calvinist but I am as zealous for the truth of God against the lies of "Arminian free-will works religion" as I have ever been.

The simple fact is that folks hate Calvinism because they hate the truth of God. They refuse to bow to Him as God so must devise a system that suits them. It ain't about free-will nor about God being a monster but about submission to the truth and faith. It ain't Calvinism that they hate it is God that they hate.

This. Other denominations just choose to give man free reign and twist who the Holy Spirit is.

 

[gord44]

Is adultery sin?

Uh yeah. Sin (missing the mark, error) would include actions by yourself that cause pain to another person or involves deception and dishonesty.

Murder?

Ummm. Yes.

Of course.

Yay?!

Sin=Evil. Sin separates us from God. I can't think of anything more evil!

Sure sin can be evil. Evil is just a strong word. Not waving at someone who lets you into traffic because you are rushed, in a bad mood and late for work could also be sin, but I wouldn't say that's evil. Sin is less what we do wrong and more what we don't do right.

 

[J0SHUA]

They're just mad that you can't "name and claim" things in Calvinism. God is Sovereign.

Denominations like WOF and Pentecostal just choose to be religious fruit loops.

Haha. An ignorance fest of religious fruit loops. I've been wondering if it's atheists that mostly hate Calvinism, but I doubt an atheist would explore Christianity into reformed theology. It would make sense though, since they expect "having a loving God" to mean we should live in a blissful fairyland.

 

[gord44]

I've been wondering if it's atheists that mostly hate Calvinism

I doubt many atheists give much thought towards it. Atheists generally have a negative opinion of Christianity and religion all together. Although I have seen atheists drawn towards a more Christ centered Christianity where Jesus' examples are followed more and the gospels hold more weight then other Biblical books. But if it's Christianity that's more Pauline and Jesus is marginalized to the 'sideline savior', then I can see why atheists struggle with it.

WoF churches are just straight goofy. Jesus said "sell all you own and give it to the poor." yet somehow these nuts think that God wants to make them rich. Fools.