Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Why Calvinism Cannot Be True and Is It Heresy?

Why Calvinism Cannot Be True and Is It Heresy?

Last updated on: April 19, 2024 at 3:28 pm by Roger E. Olson

0 Comments

Why Calvinism Cannot Be True and Is It Heresy? 2024-04-19T15:28:41-05:00 Roger E. Olson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Of course I’ve addressed this before here and elsewhere. But, since I have posted about two thousand essays here, there is very little about which I have not written here. So, I am returning to a basic theme here—Calvinism.

As everyone knows, I am an evangelical Christian theologian who is not a Calvinist. I am Arminian, as the title of this blog implies. This has caused me some difficulties over the years as Calvinism tends to be the “default” theology of the power centers of American evangelical Protestant Christianity.

When I submitted an article to Christianity Today about Arminianism and why it is compatible with biblical, evangelical theology, at least one leading editor tried to prevent its publication. Some influential Calvinist evangelical thinkers, writers, speakers, have spoken of me as less than authentically evangelical just because I am not a Calvinist.

I will say it again, I consider Calvinists authentic Christians with defective theology that, if taken to its logical conclusion, makes God monstrous. Fortunately, most Calvinists do not take Calvinism to its logical conclusion and/or settle into some kind of inconsistency, claiming that God loves even those he predestines to spend eternity in hell for his glory.

Why do I say that Calvinism is impossible, that it cannot be true? Because logic matters. Internal inconsistency, contradiction, in a system of belief is a sure sign of error. A logically inconsistent system of ideas cannot be true. Most Calvinists agree. But, Calvinism teaches, affirms, that God foreordains and renders certain everything without exception including the fall of humanity into sin and the destiny of every individual human being in either heaven or hell. Appeals to “secondary causes,” as Calvinist Jonathan Edwards admitted, do not help get God off the hook for sin; they may, in fact, undermine a strong affirmation of God’s absolute sovereignty.

If Calvinism were true, and I speak here of consistent Calvinism, true Calvinism, real Calvinism, not inconsistent “half-way Calvinism,” God would be the author of sin and evil and of the eternal suffering of the wicked. Their wickedness would be his doing. Claiming that God’s intent, purpose, in making them wicked, is good, the full manifestation of his glory in punishing them, does nothing to help avoid depicting God as monstrous.

I go out on a limb and say, with John Wesley, and without embarrassment that the God of consistent Calvinism is unworthy of love, trust and worship. Did I believe in that God, I could not worship him. I would fear him, perhaps be in awe of him, but not worship him. God is worshipful because he is both the great Creator and the loving Redeemer.

In every lengthy conversation I have had with Calvinists, and I mean intellectually inclined, logically-concerned Calvinists, they have finally and ultimately said something like “Whatever God does is good just because God does it.” That is, of course, a statement of nominalism and voluntarism, belief that God does not have an eternal, unchangeable good nature but is sheer power and freedom. God can then do anything, could lie or break his promises, and still be God. That view of God I cannot accept because it makes God untrustworthy. And it makes God’s goodness meaningless except “what God does.”

Yes, I know, I am repeating myself here. But occasionally I need to come back to a major reason why I began this blog. It was to show the flaws and faults in Calvinism. I only began this project because certain leading American evangelical Calvinists were beating up on Arminians, verbally, of course, claiming that we are semi-heretical if not outright heretical, “Christians, but just barely,” and “human-centered in our theology.” I have answered those silly objections to Arminianism here and in my book Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities (IVP). But I decided to go further, “on the attack,” if you will, and show the inner faults and flaws of Calvinism that I noticed most Calvinist students did not know about.

I am often asked if I think Calvinism is heresy. Well, I’d prefer to call it “profoundly mistaken” and a “deep deviation” from traditional Christian orthodoxy. So, perhaps “heterodox” would be a valid (for me) label for it. So far as I am aware (and I have studied under Eastern Orthodox theologians) Eastern Orthodoxy would consider Calvinism heretical as would/does Roman Catholicism. Many Protestant traditions are very critical of Calvinism and do their best to eschew it, marginalizing any Calvinists within the “ranks.”

Again, I think all evangelical Calvinists are authentic Christians, but they struggle with the burden of a defective theology that, ultimately, can dishonor God known through Jesus Christ, if taken to its logical conclusion. I respect those who DO take it to its logical conclusion even as I think they move further away from sound doctrine and toward heresy.

*If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief, no more than 100 words, on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful, not hostile of argumentative, and devoid of pictures or links.*

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 16, 2024

How Many Gods Do Christians Believe In?

Next Post

April 21, 2024 The Political Meaning of Christianity: Social Reform

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"“Secular” means non-religious. No religion is embraced by American society anymore. Christianity remains the leading ..."

Roger Olson

Billy Graham’s Successor?

"I will look him up. Never heard of him."

Roger Olson

Billy Graham’s Successor?

"Where and when and how did I “support” a leader or church…? I said I ..."

Roger Olson

I’m Proud of Adam Hamilton (and ..."

"4-5% of the population is atheist or literally 'secular' not the entire country.Thats a really ..."

davidt

Billy Graham’s Successor?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Against Liberal Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month November 2026 October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the collective name of the stories Jesus told?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Psalms Miracles Gospel Parables