Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Living as a Moderate Calvinist



Finding myself in the orthodoxy of moderate Calvinism, I seem to run into predominantly hyper Calvinists online. What I have noticed is that they are so driven by theology and logic, that there is no room for mystery in God. God gives us what we need to know for our salvation. He does not tell us everything about Himself.

Today, it was hinted by two such Hyper Calvinists that I am an Arminian because I believe God has two wills; a secret will and a revealed will. His revealed will is what is revealed through His Word; the secret will is not shown to us. If that is Arminian theology I stand in good company: Jonathan Edwards; John MacArthur; Robert Gonzalez; Iain Murray; Thomas Watson; Andrew Gray; George Whitfield; Charles Spurgeon; and many others.

These hyper Calvinists look up to former saints like Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers. I wonder if they have read what Mr. Spurgeon spoke from the pulpit on God's two wills? Here is part of Mr. Spurgeon's sermon called "Sovereign Grace and Man's Responsibility" based on Romans 10:20-21:

'I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, all day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.'

"Lost sinners who sit under the sound of the gospel are not lost for the want of the most affectionate invitation. God says he stretches out his hands... What did He wish them to come for? Why, to be saved! 'No,' says one, 'it was for temporal mercies.' Not so, my friend; the verse before is concerning spiritual mercies, and so is this one, for they refer to the same thing. Now, was God sincere in his offer? God forgive the man who dares to say He was not. God is undoubtedly sincere in every act He did. He sent his prophets, He entreated the people of Israel to lay hold on spiritual things, but they would not, and though he stretched out his hands all the day long, yet they were a 'disobedient and gainsaying people' and would not have His love."