Why Do So Many Christians Reject Calvinism?

In 2012, Ligonier Ministries held their West Coast Conference entitled: "Standing Firm". There they had several guest speakers share their thoughts on the topic of Calvinism and Reformed Theology. Steven Lawson, RC Sproul and John MacArthur formed an all-star line up.

The panel was presented a series of questions, but one in particular stood out... "Why do so many Christians ACTIVELY reject Calvinism?"

In this video Idol Killer responds to the question and answers provided, as well as offers some criticism, some push-back and answers the question both according with a consistent Calvinist view and a historic Christian perspective.

You can watch the original video here:

#Calvinism #Christianity #reformedtheology

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💡 About:
Idol Killer is committed to spreading the Gospel and making disciples of Christ. We are dedicated to promoting classic orthodox Christian doctrine (pre-Augustinian) and in doing so exposing extra-Biblical corrupt philosophies and presuppositions.

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Any view expressed by a guest is not necessarily reflective of the views of the host and visa versa.

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FAIR USE NOTICE

[murphyjones]

I'm sure the reason why I was never a Calvinist was because when I was a new believer I read God's word instead of listening to popular preachers.

[crippledtalk]

Lawson: I kept running at the brick wall and bouncing off
Everyone: did you choose to run at it? Or did god decree you bounce off?

[victormiller]

When I read the Bible. I never concluded to Calvinism. This was before I heard of Calvinism.

[harrisonperkins]

Thanks for your work, brother. Trying to heal from this abusive ideology.

[robm]

The Bible has never led anyone into calvinism. Commentaries, studies, and sermons by calvinists lead people to change the way they look at scripture, re-interpreting scripture for man's doctrine.

[Pondimus_Maximus]

I would like any Calvinist to explain why God hardens already-hardened hearts, that already couldn’t obey God.

[John-Christchurch-NZ]

I've finally realized what Calvinism is about, its about defending Calvinism not the Bible.
You have to follow their thought process to understand what they believe.
If you just read the Bible you never will.
It's like going down the rabbit hole, theology in a tube.
You can't argue with them, because they can't see out of their hole.
The Bible is a Narrative, God's Story, from Genesis all the way through to Revelation.
We have an invitation to be part of it.
Calvinism is a usurper that tries to impose it's own ideas on to the message, completely ignoring the story.

[aftonline]

The fact that these people are standing firm on the teachings of a man (Calvin) while shrinking from the Word of God which taught us the true gospel of grace through the blood of Christ, says everything. When they start preaching Calvinism, RUN!

[FellishBeast]

The scary thing I’m realizing is that they pressure and guilt you into accepting Calvinism like: “God chose you, you better be grateful. Don’t worry about the reprobates, just be happy you were chosen and leave the mysteries of God’s will to God.”

And then if you have reservations and think Calvinism seems wrong or unbiblical, you then worry that maybe you aren’t elect because you can’t understand the “things of God.”

[greyciousme]

The more I listen to these men, the less I hear Christlike humility and the amazing love, patience, grace and mercy of of a sovereign God. John MacArthur "Well, I was looking at the internet the other day and some wistful girl said " how I became a Calvinist and left Calvinism" Well the sophomoric comment like that from somebody who should keep her thoughts to herself, because she has no idea what she is talking about, is to be measured against some one, who for 50 years, has taken every text of the Bible and put doctrine into that text and see if it survives, and I can say that it has." . A Question posed to Phil Johnson. "Is it fruitful, in your estimation to retroactively throw out all of a teachers ideas/thoughts and writings due to character flaws? Is there a limit." Phil's reply " Like I said earlier there are certain cases where I might look at my library and purge some guy's books you know. I tend not to do that with people who are already dead and buried, you know, people who in these days want to throw out. Not just RL Dabney, but George Whitfield and Johnathon Edwards and all the Puritans, and if you do that, what doctrine are you going to be left with." Of course there are many more but these struck me as odd. John MacArthur saying he spent 50 years putting doctrine into the text, and Phil Johnson claiming that without people like RL Dabney, what doctrine would we be left with. Well pardon my obviously warped understanding, but I thought we were supposed to exegete the text, not eisegete the text. And I thought, in my obvious ignorance, doctrine actually came from the Bible it's self.

[evank]

I was in a “reformed” Calvinist led Church. I really didn’t know much about it. When the Pastor basically recommended James White to me I stumbled across him agreeing that God decrees child rape. I was appalled and disgusted and went on a deep dive into searching out the depths of Calvinism. I was astounded at what I found. I left that Church but not before giving everyone ample reasons why. Calvinism is Satanic and one of the most dangerous and deceptive cultish heretical systems to ever plague the Church’s

[vitaignis]

Only thing missing in the "doctrines of grace" is grace

[primeobjective]

"Because they don't know the Bible."

This implies that they alone have superior knowledge compared to those who deny Calvinism. But it's an argument without any merit whatsoever.

The same could be said by the opposition.

"Why do you Calvinists embrace Calvinism?"

"Because they don't know the Bible."

[graftme]

Wow. I am sick of people saying that we don't know the Bible because we don't agree with their false gospel. I have over 30 years of Bible reading and study behind me and I never came to a Calvinists conclusion of scripture.

[theycallmeabe]

I’ve never been a Calvinist, and honestly, the more I listen to these Calvinists, the less of Christ I see in them.

[GhostBearCommander]

"I am so humbled that God created me to be loved while hating all those other people."
---Lawson, probably.

[screwball]

I have been looking for years for someone who points out that calvinism is gnostic and that it does not allow people to be true image bearers. You did both in one video.

[getmorphed]

I'm dying to ask a Calvinist, "You say a dead person can't respond to God because dead means dead, then how can I be "hostile to God" and an "enemy"?

[polskigirl]

So true…..no one becomes a Calvinist just by reading the Bible…..

[vitaignis]

Apparently the church fathers, outside of Augustine, were ignorant of the Bible. They only defended and died for what they believed in but they didn't know the Bible.