The Terrible Implications Of Calvinism

Acts 13:48 de-Calvinized by Dr. Leighton Flowers @Soteriology101

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.

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[carrieahicks]

You understand Calvinism very well. When it isn’t sugar coated, it’s easy to see how ghastly the entailments of it are.

[joseotoya]

It's unreal how many levels of Calvinism there are or claim to be. That is Calvinism! No! This is Stay strong in what you are preaching brother - great job GLS!

[minorsingingairhead]

Sure, but listen to this bulletproof Calvinist defense: "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?"
Sounds convincing to me. Case closed :D

[GreatLightStudios]

"you’ve centered a YouTube channel around telling people what is wrong and what isn’t, we are not the same. All I’m saying is, it makes more since to close the holes and issues in your own theology, before you blatantly tell people theirs is wrong."

I find it very odd that you are so adamant to make this the focus of your responses. This is all a red herring with now what seems to be a bit of ad-hominem. It is entirely irrelevant to the point at hand. Rather than responding to the issues and questions I'm raising about your system, you insist on trying to divert attention back to mine. I'm perfectly happy with discussing the apparent problems in my own beliefs, but that was NOT the point of this video or this conversation. I've raised a very specific problem/objection to Calvinism and genuinely tried to do that in a respectful and loving way while still being clear and honest about my perspective. The fact that you insist on focusing attention away from your own system and to mine and now also seem to be calling into question my character and motives behind this channel, is a strange way to respond to all of this I'd say.

I've raised an objection to Calvinism that may or may not be true or legitimate. THAT is the point. Whether I should or should not have expressed that issue or if there's some sort of character flaw in me doing so is NOT the point of this discussion. Again, you insisting on trying to take the conversation in this direction is nothing more than a red herring with a mix of ad-hominem.

I appreciate the verses you shared here, but I'm not sure what your intentions are for posting them. You said that God doesn't determine people's evil actions, but rather people act on their own evil desires. My question that I haven't got an answer to yet is... did God determine what people's desires would be? Did God determine the fall to happen, or do you think that it was something he allowed Adam's free will choice to do and then simply worked in and through that choice of Adam? If that is the route you take, I think we probably agree a lot more than I thought we did. But I'm not sure if that's what you are actually saying which is why I'm asking for clarity here?

[obrien]

Yep, Calvinism is the ultimate excuse for an unbeliever.

[lloydsayi]

The implications of rejecting Calvanism is eternal life not being a gift ( the option of eternal life) but something God was obligated to give us

[reynaldodavidJo]

No Calvinism or other false doctrine can lead to hell any person.. Every one is predestined before they are born to be saved or be damned this is not Calvinism, this is the revelation of Jesus Himself...

[LOJO]

Proverbs 16:4
1 Peter 2:7-8
Jude 4
2 Peter 2:3

The Scripture makes very clear that some are not elected to faith, and the great example of that is Judas. Although Judas fellowshipped with Jesus, knew Jesus, and heard Jesus, he was lost because he was a son of perdition and had not been chosen to faith. The reason it is important to believe that is because the Scripture doesn’t teach anything that is not spiritually profitable.
The redeemed will know we are saved utterly by grace while deserving hell and the rest will know that they suppressed much knowledge of God’s grace and they deserve to perish.

[primeobjective]

There is "judgement" in Calvinism. Everyone is predetermined for either heaven or hell by God alone, outside any human will or exertion, for the good pleasure of Gods will to glorify Himself.

A sinners rejection of God, is just a byproduct of Gods immutable decree.

[ronjones]

One good thing is that, under Calvinism, no one is outside the will of God.

[dougdozier]

The decree of God does not cause(force) people to act in a way contrary to their will they are born with due to the sin of Adam.

[cecilspurlockjr.]

There are many non-Christian religions that have this narrative, Islam, gnosticism and calvinism are three to immediately come to mind . BTW, they're all linked actually to a guy named Manni .

[bamboo]

When one thinks he knows how God works he will ultimately realize he knows nothing. Don't imagine God in the lens of human.

[jaggedlines]

So according to this rant, sinners have no choice ( free will )
They are puppets used by God who sends them to hell.
This is NOT Calvinism.
There is no mention in this short rant that sinners can repent of their sins and receive the promises of God.
There are sinners who REFUSE to believe in Christ Jesus who died for them.
They reject Christ and would rather remain in darkness where they can continue in their sin. They love their sin.
These are the reprobate who hate God.
They are therefore without excuse.
They refuse to turn away from their sin and would rather spend eternity in hell than receive eternal life in heaven.
This is Calvinism.

[jordanpittman]

This single video shows how little you understand of Calvinism.

[chrisbowman]

This is horrible.. misrepresent our view totally... no one deserves heaven..

[lukehelpmetakethisdangmaskoff]

Calvinism is like a father telling his son, "My son, give me a hug and we will go get icecream!" But alas, the son did not hug his father and so the father said, "Oh you stiffnecked son, had you but given me a hug, you could have enjoyed icecream, but you refused. No icecream for you!"
As the boy cried to his dad, he asked his father why he put his size 16 shoe, bearing all 350 pounds on his neck? He said, "Father I would have loved to hug you and go get icecream, but I was unable due to you preventing me.