Many years ago, I had the privilege to attend a three-day lecture with the world's leading Calvinist Scholar, Heiko Oberman, while I was in Seminary working on my Master's Degree in Church History. Professor Oberman earned his doctorate in theology from the University of Utrecht in 1957 and joined the faculty of the Harvard Divinity School in 1958 (The year I was born). Later in 1966, he accepted a chair in the theology faculty at the University Of Tubingen, Germany, where he also became director of the Institute for Late Middle Ages and Reformation Research. When I met him, Oberman was teaching in The Division for Late Medieval and Reformation Studies at the University Of Arizona. Please understand that as I share my reflections on his lecture that in no way am I trying to give a comprehensive academic view of his work. I am giving a very simplified perspective of what he shared with us during his time at the seminary I graduated from.
During my growing up years, I was surrounded by people who embraced, loved, and espoused Calvinism in the baptist church I grew up in. In fact, my baptist pastor was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary. My grandfather and his personal mentor in the scriptures, Jay Green Sr., Founder of the Puritan Reformed Bookstore and one of the first editors of a Hebrew/Greek and English Interlinear Bible were both staunch Calvinist. When I was five years old, Jay's daughters taught me how to read by having me read Jay's translated children's version of the bible every Saturday morning in his bookstore. Basically, I learned how to read by reading the Bible. So, I am indebted to both my grandfather and Jay for ensuring that the Word Of God was imparted into my life from an early age. I loved learning not only the scripture but enjoyed reading many of the books Jay republished and kept in his store over the years. He republished many theological and historical works including noted German Church Historian, Phillip Schaff. It was this very series that led me to go to seminary and fall in love with Church history. So by no means do I want to leave any of you with thoughts that I had ill-will with these men who sowed the Word Of God, theology, and church history into my life from an early age. If it wasn't for them I probably would not have been a Christian or followed the calling on my life. It's because of Jay Green, his family, and my grandfather that I developed a deep appreciation for good theology. However, just because I was nurtured in the faith by Calvinist doesn't mean I am a Calvinist and there are several reasons why.
First, let's review the five-point (or four-point) that every Calvinist believes in and explore it roots. Basically, Calvinism is known by an acronym: T.U.L.I.P.
- Total Depravity of humanity (Because of Original Sin there is nothing of God within us. We are totally and utterly sinful from the day we are born)
- Unconditional Election (Also know as Predestination. In other words, God has predetermined people to be "saved" and people to be damned to Hell) Romans 9: 28-29 is often cited as foundation for this position: "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son." As my Grandfather would argue on the basis of the foreknowledge of God that we are elected by God for salvation; "Jacob He loved, Esau he hated." (See Romans 9:13) According to the Calvinistic, Westminster Confession of Faith III. "By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.”
- Limited Atonement (meaning that Christ only died for the elect. Salvation is not available to everyone since the work of the cross was purposed to cover the sins of the elect of God)
- Irresistible Grace which means that the saving grace Of God is effectually applied to those whom He has determined to save (the elect) and, in God's timing, overcomes their resistance to obeying the call of the Gospel.
- Perseverance Of The Saints (Also known as Once Saved Always Saved) In other words, because God has chosen you as one of the elect there is nothing that can cause you to lose your salvation. You are safe! My grandfather would always argue that if a person, who claimed to be saved but did not live a life reflective of Christ - may have falsely believed that he or she was of the elect but they probably were not "saved."
Now, before we return to Professor Oberman's presentation I need to just share an important argument that 21st Century Calvinist make. They will argue that if you are not a "Calvinist" then you must be an Arminianist. Arminianism is based on theological ideas of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius (1560–1609) and his historic supporters known as Remonstrants. The whole theological controversy between Jacobus Arminius over Calvinism broke out at the University of Leiden with a strong Calvinist theologian named Franciscus Gomarus in Holland over the role and relationship of Church and State. It is important to grasp why this argument became important in Western European history. The roots of all this argument had to do with questions surrounding "Salvation and Godly Rule," not Soteriology (The Doctrine Of Salvation). It all had to do with the theological underpinnings of Augustine of Hippo's philosophical work entitled, "The City Of God Against The Pagans." Arminianism was developed from a particular view of the atonement of Christ known as the "Governmental" or "Moral government" theory. This view holds that Jesus sacrificial death occurred in order for the Father to forgive while still maintaining his just rule over the universe. This foundation was just another view arguing Augustine's just war theory in "The City Of God Against The Pagans."
The five theological Foundations held to by Arminianism are:
- Salvation (and condemnation on the day of judgement) is conditioned by the graciously enabled faith (or unbelief) of man;
- The atonement is qualitatively adequate for all men, "yet that no one actually enjoys (experiences) the forgiveness of sins, except the believer..." and thus is limited to only those who trust in Christ;
- "That man has not saving grace of himself, nor the energy of his free will," and unaided by the Holy Spirit, no person is able to respond to God's will;
- The grace of God for the Christian "is the beginning, continuance, and accomplishment of any good," yet man may resist the Holy Spirit; and
- Believers are able to resist sin through grace, and Christ will keep them from falling, but whether they are beyond the possibility of ultimately forsaking God or "becoming devoid of grace... must be particularly determined from the scriptures.
From my perspective, there is not much different between these two views. Both believe in the Total Depravity of Man. Both views hold that the Atonement is limited to those who-who are saved. Both views hold that it is the Irresistible grace of God (through the work of The Holy Spirit), not human will or effort, that results in salvation. However, a true Calvinist and Arminianist will split over the differing ideas of "liberty" and what "becoming devoid of faith" means. I know this is over simplistic but there is not much difference between either of these views in regards to the Doctrine of Salvation. These two views were argued only within notions of Christian Empire and what is a just war. So, let's finish with Heiko Oberman's views on Calvinism.
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| Professor Heiko Oberman |
Basically, during the days when John Calvin (a former Roman Catholic priest) was pastoring, there was a great conflict in Europe. That conflict was a direct result of the reformation. The Roman Catholic Church was losing control over Europe because of Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and others. Whole cities were declared to be "Protestant" while others were declared "Catholic." If you were a catholic you were forced to leave your city if it became a protestant city. Likewise, if you were a protestant living in a city declared by the government to be Catholic you were forced to leave that city. This resulted in over 1 million homeless protestants wandering around Europe. John Calvin became the protestant voice they turned to for guidance during this time. According to Oberman, Calvin's favorite verse was Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge him and HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS. Basically, what Calvin taught, according to Oberman, was a message for homeless people. God has prepared a place for you! He will direct you! In his foreknowledge, he knew you were faced with the dilemma of being forcibly removed from your city because of your protestant views. However, God will direct you to a new place to live because he is sovereign over history and has predestined a place for you to live. According to Oberman, these refugees ended up settling in Northern Europe and the Netherlands. Once there they concluded, "Calvin was right! We have been predestined." "We are the predestinated ones - elected of God to inhabit this land. Then the theological notions of Calvin (based in "The City Of God "Protestantism" Against The Pagans "The Catholic Church") became a doctrine of salvation. Professor Oberman did not believe that John Calvin was a "Calvinist." These northern Europeans identified themselves as the elect of God and ultimately had to deal with notions of Christian Empire, the rule of law and the relationship of what they thought was a godly government with the non-elect pagan. " In other words, people who are predestined for heaven (the Elect) had to decide what to do with those who were predestined for hell (The pagan).
These Augustinian notions have led to ideas of "Christian empire, manifest destiny, just war, dehumanization, slavery, abortion and exceptionalism" in the founding of our nation. In my next article, I am going to unpack to very important ideas around the doctrine of original sin and the starting points of faith that impacted the formation of America. The Puritan theological position of the "Total Depravity Of Man" vs. The Quaker theological position espoused by William Penn, Robert Barclay, and Isaac Pennington- There is that of God in every person. These two opposing positions, believe it or not, is the basis of our cultural divisions in American life today.
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