Calvinism Is Harmful

I'm planning to focus back on the topic of Calvinism in the coming months and just wanted to give a bit of an "intro" on why this topic is important to me and why I think that this theology is harmful and worth taking the time to talk about.

The topic of Calvinism is something that I have personally spent a lot of time studying and thinking about for the past decade. In recent years this theology has grown a lot in popularity, being propagated by popular and prominent pastors and christian leaders like John Piper, John Macarthur, RC Sproul and ministry organizations like the Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, Ligonier Ministries and Apologia Studios.

This theology is based on a particular understanding of passages like Romans 9, John 6 and Ephesians 1, which are interpreted by Calvinists in a way that results in the conclusion that God has determined before the foundation of the world which individuals he will save and has ultimately created a countless mass of humanity throughout history for the purpose of condemning them to eternal torment in hell for committing sins that he himself determined that they commit. This may be a bit more of an abrasive and pointed way of putting it, but I think if you come to understand the claims and beliefs of the theologians mentioned above who teach these doctrines, you will see that this is an accurate and honest representation of their ultimate conclusions.

I personally find the view of God that is communicated in Calvinism to be immoral and a gross misrepresentation of what the bible actually describes God to be like. Although I do have moral and emotional apprehensions toward this theology, that is not ultimately the reason why I came to reject it. I came to reject it on biblical grounds. After examining the many Calvinistic proof texts like Romans 9 and Ephesians 1, I became convinced that Calvinists are simply misunderstanding and misinterpreting these texts.

I make videos about this topic because I believe that bad theology is harmful to people - emotionally, mentally and spiritually. My goal in making videos like this is not to demonize Calvinists who teach these things or to say they are evil heretics or anything of the sort, but to simply explain why I strongly disagree with their conclusions and offer what I consider to be a better way of understanding the many biblical texts that are often used to support these views.

GREAT LIGHT STUDIOS FILMS:

FEAR NOT ONLY BELIEVE

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SEEK FIRST (Freedom From Anxiety And Fear)

#calvinism #calvinismdebate #christianity

[peterfox]

The old "who are you to question God?' line. To which I respond: I'm not questioning God - I'm questioning you and your understanding of what God said

[JOBpk]

Calvinism damaged my view of God and I'm struggling to recover...please pray for me that I might find the peace and joy of the true and living God

[dronelocations]

Calvinism in a nutshell: Satan wants everyone, God doesn't.

[krissyyoung]

I agree with your thoughts about Calvinism. And I love the way you present your position; straightforward, with humility and grace. Very impressive. Really looking forward to hearing more!

[KlintonSilvey]

There's a reason Calvinist preachers preach like non-Calvinists from the pulpit. IF they ever actually talked about *all* of the logical outworkings of Calvinism, plainly, the churches would empty out in a hurry.

[depabooks]

2008 in a Q&A John McArthur said that during the tribulation if you received the Mark you can still be saved...Rev 14 says NOT TO GET THE MARK and if you do you will be cast into the Lake of Fire...

[Redimido]

Paradox: When my doctrine contradicts scripture, but it has to mean what I say…..

[blipit]

Does no one else find it insane that God ordained Jeffrey Dahmer before creation? To think God would even think or consider and ordain someone to those actions seems depraved in of itself.

[itlupe]

You don't, necessarily need to be respectful. After all Jesus called the Pharisees snakes.

[PsychoBible]

John Piper provides a wealth of evidence of how Calvinism promotes a view of God that is arbitrary and cruel. Studying his book on suffering solidified me as a non-Calvinist.

[mikelyons]

Good introduction to this man-made theological system that came along centuries after the Gospels & Epistles were penned.

[Steven-ndpz]

In my Christian "youth, " I many times pointed out to ministers of religion why certain of their beliefs were irrational and not supported by scriptures. On every occasion I was attacked or looked upon as a madman. After years of this, I came to the conclusion that ministers of religion know full well that some of their teachings are wrong. They willingly put human organizations and their bundle of truth mixed with error theology before God.
They worship their church rather than God.

[michellelewis]

So grateful to the Lord that I stumbled upon your channel. I am a (very recently) former Calvinist who has just recently come to the conclusion that it is harmful. It has taken me years of back and forth to come to this point, but the lightbulb finally came on and now I am devouring everything I can related to this topic. Your videos have been refreshing to watch and a helpful reminder I am not alone in my thoughts about this subject. Thank you so much! Blessings to you.

[truth]

Yes lets hang on every word John Piper teaches.
John Piper quote:... "God . . . brings about all things in accordance with his will. In other words, it isn’t just that God manages to turn the evil aspects of our world to good for those who love him; it is rather that he himself brings about these evil aspects for his glory (see Ex. 9:13-16; John 9:3) and his people’s good (see Heb. 12:3-11; James 1:2-4). This includes—as incredible and as unacceptable as it may currently seem—God’s having even brought about the Nazis’ brutality at Birkenau and Auschwitz as well as the terrible killings of Dennis Rader and even the sexual abuse of a young child . . .


Luther also adored by Calvinists also endorses that god plans and forces all sin and evil on by Angels and man puppets:

Martin Luther “Man is like a horse. Does God leap into the saddle? The horse is obedient and accommodates itself to every movement of the rider and goes whither he wills it. Does God throw down the reins? Then Satan leaps upon the back of the animal, which bends, goes and submits to the spurs and caprices of its new rider… Therefore, necessity, not free will, is the controlling principle of our conduct. God is the author of what is evil as well as of what is good, and, as He bestows happiness on those who merit it not, so also does He damn others who deserve not their fate.”
(‘De Servo Arbitrio’, 7, 113 seq., quoted by O’Hare, in ‘The Facts About Luther, TAN Books, 1987, pp. 266-267.)

So you see as disgusting as Calvinism sounds to you it is even worse.

Truth in Love

[TimBarr-ep]

Calvinists are False Teachers of God's might Word. If the Apostle Paul were ministering today he would be exposing Calvinism and Calvinist's the same sort of way. The TULIP is the only flower the Devil has ever loved. The Truth about God will set you free. Free to love God and People they way Jesus Loves Truth.

[andrewtsousis]

I always ask Calvinists why they don’t share the Gospel the way they believe it. Ie their gospel is “Jesus died for you, if He regenerates you and gives you the ability to believe in Him you will be saved and are one of the elect.” They are the first to say “that’s not the gospel”. They can’t see how paradoxical that is. Ie they don’t share the gospel the way they believe it because it’s not the gospel.

[kels]

Jordan you should do a master class video on how to have religious conversations in a respectful manner, this is a perfect example of that

[pwnzindaface]

As a new believer, I have always attended non-calvinistic churches. However, I started to watch and enjoy preaching from pastors the like of John Macarthur, Voddie Baucham, and Paul Washer... even youtubers like Gospel of Christ etc.

It wasn't until I learned about the Tulip that I discovered these pastors were Calvinist - and learn scripture from pastors like Kerrigan Skelly and other sola-scriptural pastors, that TULIP is completely unbiblical and read into scripture by man.

It is easy to fall for calvinism teachings. It itches the ears, and takes blame and responsibility off the sinner and puts it on God. Praise the Lord I learned that there are pastors out there who refute calvinism so strongly with scripture.

[cherylbusch]

How many centuries OLD is this debate?

There are scriptures validating and presenting both freewill and predestination. I believe Christians of all denominations create controversy and ENDLESS debate when they become “hyper” in their view—ALL OR NOTHING.
There is a great mystery at work as to WHY and HOW, GOD can be both, but the scriptures are clear that HE is.
WHY, can’t we just HUMBLE ourselves to THAT fact and let GOD BE GOD??!!
When one can “command the morning”—then perhaps we can debate GOD on a platform worthy of HIM and “how HE can be BOTH.”
Until then, let us humble ourselves to the simple faith of a child and rest in denominational peace—“that HE said so.. .”

[bryannewsome]

“God doesn’t do evil, He just ordains it.” What on earth is the difference between causing and decreeing? I’ll never understand higher calvinists.