Recap: In the last post, I explained that a Calvinist pastor/friend took issue with a statement from my book that says, "the god of Calvinism [is] not the God of the Bible." This statement, he wrote, "put[s] Calvinists outside the pale of Christianity and under the judgment of the First Commandment."
This, understandably, drew some strong reactions as I posed the question: At what point does a deity become other than the God of Scripture?
In view of the concerns from the previous post, I thought it would be beneficial to use this post to clarify a few things before moving on.
Clarification #1-the Heart
First, I would clarify that my belief is not that Calvinists are necessarily "outside the pale of Christianity" but that Calvinistic teaching/preaching is "outside the pale of Christianity" and a corruption of the gospel message. I truly believe that, for the most part, Calvinists and non-Calvinists alike, are sincere in their search for the truth, and God, the One who searches hearts, will judge accordingly.
Why do I say that Calvinistic teaching proposes a non-biblical god? Let's take just a moment to review what Calvinism (Reformed Theology) teaches regarding God's purpose of election in the Bible. Below is a definition of the Calvinistic view of unconditional election which, I believe, accurately represents their understanding.
“All (people) are not created on equal terms.”[i] God, from before the foundation of the world, divided all people into two groups; those he chose to save (the elect), and those who were not chosen to save (the nonelect/reprobate). God’s choice was not based on anything in the person, including foreseen faith. The elect will go to heaven. The nonelect will go to hell. God’s election is unconditional and final.
[i] John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, paragraph 5.
I propose that such a deity- one who has predetermined hell for the vast majority of people (Mat 7:13-14) - is not found in Scripture and any teaching that promotes such a deity is in error. I submit that an unbiased reading of the Bible by clear-minded seekers of truth will not reveal such a god. In my opinion, a person must be taught to infer such a doctrine through the misapplication of biblical texts.
Again, I make no judgment as to the heart of the person who has been taught such a corruption of God's gospel ("good news?"). Yet, it should be noted that James offers a strong caution of "judgment with greater strictness" to those who (even innocently, or through ignorance) promote false doctrines through their teaching (James 3:1).
Clarification #2-Goodness
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! . . . (Psalm 34:8 ESV)
To explain how a deity who has unconditionally consigned the majority of people to eternal damnation is "good", some will argue that perhaps there is a greater good that God seeks that requires God to do the things he does - something that we, simple humans, just can't understand. After all,
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9 ESV)
While conceding that there is much about God that is inscrutable, I propose that the concept of what is "good" is not among them. In the previous post, I made two assertions that I would like to defend:
1. If any deity is not good, it is not the God of the Bible.
2. We know "goodness".
While "goodness" can be defined simply as moral excellence and virtue, we understand that there is also an element of benevolence associated with goodness. Goodness desires what's in the best interest of others. It implies kindness, mercy, compassion, goodwill, charity and, to borrow from the Hippocratic oath, it certainly does no harm to others. So when we say (or the Bible says), "God is good", we are saying that God desires and acts to promote the well-being of his creatures. The whole Bible in general - and the gospel message, specifically - is a description of how God has been working for the good of his creation.
With that in mind, I have chosen "goodness" (or lack, thereof) as one standard by which we can judge a deity. Here's a verse we looked at in the previous post.
Moses said, "Please show me your glory." And [God] said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you . . . (Exodus 33:18-19 ESV)
Simply put, no goodness, no glory; no glory, no true God.
In the previous post, I mentioned that an understanding of goodness, truth, and beauty has long been regarded by theologians, scholars and philosophers as common to all men. I am proposing that, as creatures made in God's image, we not only share the same understanding of goodness with God, but we are commanded to imitate God's goodness in our dealings with others.
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14 ESV)
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16 ESV)
A command from God for us to do good would be a meaningless, futile dictate if we were not given an understanding of what "good" is. In other words, divine "goodness" is not a mystery. God doesn't have one standard of goodness, and humans another. If a deity does not promote the well-being of his creatures, there is no goodness in that deity. Such a deity is not the God of Scripture.
Final Thought
I admit that I cannot understand how the Calvinistic doctrine of a god who predestines the majority of people to condemnation with no recourse, is "good". And if God's idea of "good" is so different from ours, can we understand God's "love", or "truth", or "mercy", etc.? Such a schism in the definitions of key divine concepts would render the Bible completely meaningless and the God of the Bible completely incomprehensible.
In the upcoming posts, we will look at the three important denominative descriptors of the true God given to us in the pages of the Bible: God is love (1 John 4:8,16), God is light (1 John 1:5), and God is spirit (John 4:24).
Next Post: God is Love. Here's a link: https://www.bibleinsights.net/post/post-45-a-different-god-god-is-love
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