I am a featherweight when it comes to the ocean that is theology. I am by no means a particularly scholarly person. I am no expert in, well...anything. I am trying to learn. One scholarly topic that I find fascinating is Calvinism v.s. Arminianism.
The five points of Calvinism (TULIP) are Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints. Basically, man is totally incapable of any good, God is sovereign in the smallest details, and everything in your life happens by God's divine choosing. The opposite (Arminianism) says that man is capable of choosing good, God is sovereign of important things, and everything in your life is a result of your good/bad choices. What a fun argument-- let's try and figure out how God, necessarily, works! There is always a pendulum swaying between one or the other being the right answer. Some of the best scholars of today are Calvinist, and some of the other best scholars are not. I don't have a resolute answer, but I would like to just lay some things out as a novice (truly).
I don't particularity like Calvinist theology. Ironically, I feel like I read more about it than the other, but I am not a fan. I think their Biblical evidence is, oftentimes, still cloudy. I think their best scholars are surprisingly arrogant. Also, I think they are more inclined to scoff at any other theology; after all, they are the Reformed theology. What are they missing? Calvinism is very therapeutic on the personal level. Only Christians understand Calvinism, and only people who see themselves as the elect even argue about it. They feel secure that they are saved, so this theology leaves them at great personal gain. All the injustice and pure chaos that occurs on earth is merely filed under sovereign choices, pushed to the back of their mind, and on they walk. I think there are some big questions on the macro level. If they are honest, I think they are confused as to why they need to do missions. If God elected someone, that person (so they believe) will be saved. Why evangelize? I have never heard a good answer to that (doesn't mean there isn't one). From the non-believer perspective, who wants to serve that God? Their sinful choices mean nothing because they are either elect or they aren't. It's very confusing.
On the flip-side, I know God predestines some things. I know the Holy Spirit sought me, and not the other way around. I know God is sovereign and is able to do whatever he pleases. I know I have been elected to serve as an agent of reconciliation in God's kingdom. I have no doubt that God called me. But I have also seen people reject the call. I have seen people turn their back on grace. I have seen people taste the heavenly gift, but spit it back in God's face. I have a hard time explaining such...craziness.
So what? I think this argument is stupid! People don't know that they are elect until they are. I don't know who the elect are, so I shouldn't have any reservation about spreading the Gospel to anyone I meet. People don't care to know if they were elected or if they chose God. People need Jesus. I hated hearing such a simple answer, but then I understand that there are some things I can't know. I don't need to know if every little thing is a result of God's direct intervention or not, but I know I want to walk inside his will. I know that I can best glorify God when I am most inside of his will. I want to be a part of his story.
Hebrews 6 warns the church against falling away. There are many interpretations, biases, slants, theories, etc. I don't care about those. I care about hugging God so tightly that I will never fall away. Whether I can or can't is irrelevant. I won't. I might be unconditionally elected, someone who fell away may have never really been a Christian, and we may all just be pretending that we are elect-- it doesn't matter. God is in charge, I am not. I will walk inside his will simply because he is God. I need no other reason to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God is God, and I will let him explain his sovereignty for himself. I am elected by God to be his servant, and I choose to stay that way every day. So, Calvinist or Arminianist? Christian.
