Against Calvinism: Rescuing God's Reputation from Radical Reformed Theology

Excellent book in questions all Reformed people should reckon with. Though I was raised in a more free will environment, this book really explains some of the problems I encountered in a Young Restless Reformed church I was at for 12 years (and eventually left). I’ve found that belief in the sort of God that has the sort of character that Calvinists believe in is what leads to the severe lack of character I’ve experienced in these communities. This book has been helpful to me returning to seeing God as a Loving Father. Which is a long journey for me at this point. I am in a more compassionate community now and that is of help but I also deeply appreciate the solid Biblical arguments presented in this book. Thank you!I would also add that I am not sure I agree with a lot in his theology (prevenient grace for instance), but I do appreciate the intact character of God. I personally believe that all Scripture concerning Calvinist / Arminianist doctrine comes together in a divine way that the feeble human mind cannot adequately comprehend but God is good and he calls people to come to Him. He initiates they respond. There is a lot we will not understand but when we try to explain with our interpretation of Scripture (which is heavily influenced by the Greco-Roman philosophers way of thinking, i.e. the iron mix with clay age; this Secular Age), then we get off track and now we just debate instead of Love God and our neighbors. I just plead that you get in the Word and read your Bible more than your theology of choice. And also don’t just read “your tribe”. So many people in the church today want to debate theology and they don’t have the objective truth of the Scriptures to guide them. If your Theology doesn’t make sense of the whole council of God in his Word you will just embrace “your verses” and minimize or excuse away the ones you don’t like. And all Scripture is inspired by God.

I am a recovering Calvinist. I was, for about 12 years a staunch Calvinist. I wasn't Reformed. There is a difference. But, I was, for all intents and purposes, a full five-point Calvinist. I spent many years vigorously debating and defending it against my non-Calvinist friends. In fact, I even wrote a sizable paper defending all five points of Calvinism while in seminary to which I received a good grade. Nobody could convince me of any other way. I was a proud five-point Calvinist. However, as I grew in faith I began to see some things that bothered me, its theology, the people that ascribed to it, and the teachers and authors that espoused these views. Instead of truly believing all five points, I now found myself wrestling with verses and passages in Scripture that seemingly contradicted these points. I was now trying to convince myself rather than genuinely believing in this theology. Furthermore, I began to see the inherent exclusivity and the arrogance of many leaders and authors of this "Young, Restless, and Reformed" group. I saw a lack of humility and a form of masculine Christianity that really began to trouble me. Over time, as I began to explore an Arminian view of things, I found it much easier to reconcile with Scripture and my own faith. I saw a humility in those who ascribe to Arminianism that I didn't see with my Reformed/Calvinist brothers. And, most of all, it was a theology that included anyone and everyone. About two years ago as my faith evolved and I more or less abandoned most of my Calvinist views, I was met with anger and hostility from many of my Reformed/Calvinist friends. Two of which I am no longer friends with not by my choice, but by their own admission. One has since apologized and asked for forgiveness. Nevertheless, he keeps his distance. I have been called everything from a "heretic" to a "bleeding heart liberal" by my former Calvinist/Reformed friends. And, I gladly accepted these labels if it meant I can be absolved from being any part of this group. I have since moved on to understanding and studying other views and theologies, which more or less lean toward Arminianism. But, I am still troubled by Calvinism; the exclusivity, arrogance, argumentative nature, and machismo it breeds amongst my Christian brothers and sisters in Christ. And, while I do not dismiss everything Calvinist, I hope that it is just a passing fad within the American church.I was interested in hearing from a notable Bible scholar like Roger Olsen about why he is against Calvinism. He seems to be one of the few outspoken critics of the Calvinist onslaught that has seemingly permeated evangelical Christianity with a vengeance. Olsen approaches this task with humility and states from the very beginning that he typically does not approach debate in this manner. Much of what I have found written in "Against Calvinism" is what I had already suspected is wrong with Calvinism or high-Calvinism. Olsen takes great care in defining high-Calvinism from its own sources. He then carefully refutes Calvinism utilizing Scripture, reasoning, and the many contradictions found within Calvinism itself.Olsen first touches upon the subject of God's sovereignty, which Calvinists seem to hold an extremely high view of. Calvinism essentially claims that everything, down to the minutest detail is divinely orchestrated by the hand of God. Although Calvinists will deny it, they also believe that God is the author of sin and evil... that God essentially uses sin and evil as a part of His grander plan to bring about glory to Himself. This is called Divine Determinism. Piper and Sproul are two contemporary Calvinists who espouse this view. They believe that catastrophes, crimes, and other heinous acts of evil are all foreordained and known by God; that these events are actually permitted and orchestrated by God to temper and refine the Christian and for the purpose of God's glory.The next subject Olsen tackles is the issue of Unconditional Election... or double predestination. The dilemma is that if God elects some to eternal salvation, then He must surely elect others to eternal damnation. Some Calvinists claim that God chooses His elect and merely passes over others resulting in eternal damnation. John Wesley called this doctrine "blasphemous". This doctrine makes God into a monstrous, unloving, and unjust god that contradicts His own nature as defined in Scripture, especially through the person as revealed in Jesus Christ. This, not to mention the fact that God desires all to be saved and did everything in His own power to offer the free gift of eternal life to all who believe.After Unconditional Election, Olsen then addresses the issue of Limited Atonement. Perhaps the most pressing sticking point found in all of Calvinism and the reason many often revert to 4-point Calvinism. The idea behind Limited Atonement is that Jesus died on the cross and atoned for the sins not for the world, but for only those with whom God has elected. Olsen ascertains that this doctrine cannot be supported by Scripture and the tradition of Christian belief. It completely contradicts the love of God, making Him not only partial but hateful toward the non-elect. Instead, Christ died and atoned for the sins of the whole world, but the agent of human free will determines if whether a person receives the free gift of salvation or not.The last conundrum that Olsen addresses is the issue of Irresistible Grace, otherwise known as effectual grace and sometimes referred to as Monergism. The premise is that salvation is all of God's doing from beginning to end with no cooperation from the person because he is unable to come to repentance and faith on his own volition. Therefore, God bends the elect person's will so that he or she wants to come to Jesus with repentance and faith and cannot possibly resist this will. Calvinist use John 6:44 for biblical support. On the other hand, the Scriptures are too numerous to list that show man has a choice. While God does indeed draw people unto Himself, it is not by force. Therefore, man has a choice to either accept or reject the grace of God in Christ Jesus.I believe Olsen does an excellent job in presenting each of the difficulties found within Calvinism and then does a fine job refuting them. Ironically, Olsen does not dismiss all of Calvinism. Total depravity and the perseverance of the saints are doctrines Arminians, in most part, find themselves in agreement with their Calvinist brothers. But, one cannot accept only a couple points of Calvinism at the expense of the others. This is because all five points of Calvinism mesh with one another and must be accepted as a whole or dismissed altogether.Heavy on theology, rightly so, I highly recommend this theological book for both Calvinists and non-Calvinists alike. For those who are Calvinists, this book is good to understand why those who are Arminian oppose Calvin's doctrines of grace. For non-Calvinists it perhaps solidifies why there are problems found with Calvinism theology. Nevertheless, as Spurgeon once stated, we are all Christians first, and our theology is secondary. And, even though I have trouble with Calvin's theology and some of those who call themselves Calvinists, I still count them as my brothers and sisters in Christ.

There has been a long history of attacking Armenian theology. So much so, to be called an Armenian is nothing short of an insult. Olsen powerfully exposes the groundless nature of these attacks, clarifies both what Calvinism teaches (including its logical/common sense consequences) and clearly explains and justifies Armenian theology. I highly recommend this book

The title of the book tells you exactly where this book will take the reader. I thought that Roger Olson has done a good job with the explanation of non- Calvinist theology. There is a companion volume written by a different author which approaches this position from a Calvinist point of view. I feel that Olson's book is the more convincing of the two. Few Christians are entirely neutral about this issue so a convinced Calvinist would probably find many reasons to dismiss Olson's theological position. But the book is well organised, clear and a good read and I recommend it.

I see this as an introduction to Calvinism, I decided as an ordinary Christian to search for a small book that specialises in talking about Calvinism. I have always been uncomfortable with double predestination and have had a really hard time being called names and condemned by hyper-Calvinists. I heard various Professors and teachers criticising Calvinism, so I decided to study the subject more deeply. I originally came from a neutral position, not even knowing what's Calvinism, but now that I have read parts of Calvin's Institutes. I'd say this book is only introductory but it is very practical and readable. One flaw is that it lacks specific Scriptural citations, it's all reason in here. I love reason and think it's integral to Theology, but without the weight of the Word it still appears dry to me. On the other hand, if you are truly interested in the subject, Dave Hunt's WHAT LOVE IS THIS? is a much better bet. Roger Olson also pointed to a few other useful works in his "Against Calvinism" (which are beneficial to theologians and the curious alike).

Excellent treatment of a contentious issue and one which both sides would do well to read. We need civility and grace in this matter.

Great little book that explains with great clarity some of the strange convoluted and unnecessary conundrums that arise out of a particular view of God that the scripture doesn't warrent. And that, it appears that in order to salvage the doctrine violence is done to scripture and harm to the character of God. Isn't God sovereign over how He deploys his sovereignty. Aren't we told, God is love? Well not if you follow what this books has to say that a particular popular type of Calvinism ends up saying today. I gave it only four stars as in some places it felt as if the author were repeating something he'd said in a previous chapter, or within the same chapter, but if I am honest even that seems harsh as I'd preferred to have given it 41/2 stars if I could. Anyway respectful well researched, clearly presented and utterly apt and well presented book.