Theology Talk: Is Calvinism Dangerous?

Calvinism or "Reformed Theology", for those of you who do not know, is a form of systematic theology that finds it's roots from the Reformation (Augustine, John Calvin, Martin Luther and others.) The Doctrines of Grace (The 5 Principal Doctrines of the Reformed Faith) are best expressed by the acronym TULIP.

TULIP then if broken down to it's individual letters, brings us the 5 Doctrines of the Reformed Faith, namely:

• Total Depravity
• Unconditional Election
• Limited Atonement or Particular Redemption
• Irresistible Grace
• Perseverance of the Saints

The Theological and Biblical treatises of the Reformed faith has been contested and adamantly opposed to by denominations and categories of religious faith, quite specifically those who adhere to Arminianism (An anti-theses to Calvinism).

They simply would not accept what Reformed Theology teaches:

• Total Depravity
  Man is dead and trespasses and sins, therefore, he has neither the will (free will) nor the want to be saved. He is dead, totally depraved.
• Unconditional Election
  God saves men, not by virtue of anything "foreseen" by God of the life of a man, but by virtue of His own Sovereign choice.
• Particular Redemption
  The Lord Jesus Christ died for those who God has given Him, the elect, His people. Christ did not die for the whole world, each and every person that ever lived.
• Irresistible Grace
  When God determines to save you, you cannot escape His saving Grace. You will be saved.
• Perseverance of the Saints
  Once saved, always saved. Nothing can ever snatch you(the elect) from the Hand of God.

I'm sure reading these brief explanations has already raised some questions in your mind. Most of you realize that these clearly opposes what you believe and what has been taught to you. And as the Arminians would usually say, you might be thinking that Calvinism/Reformed theology is dangerous.

In such a premise, Jim McClarty and Jeff Young of Grace Christian Assembly has graced us with a defense to why the Reformed Faith is actually genuine and Biblical. I am forced to conclude that the anti-theses of such is in fact the dangerous theology, a heresy if you will, and ultimately, a trampling underfoot of the Saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Theology Talk

In our inaugural Theology Talk, Jim is joined by Jeff Young, GCA president, to discuss a recent anti-Calvinist message, preached by Pastor Brady Cooper at the New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN. Jim and Jeff carefully and respectfully point out the assumptions, misrepresentations, and "straw man arguments" that are typical of the Arminian approach to Scripture. It is our intention to utilize this informal discussion format to produce other Theology Talk programs in the future covering a wide variety of topics.

For a complete mp3 download visit the GCA Archives.