Questions for Calvin: Testing the T.U.L.I.P. of Calvinism

John Calvin was an unbalanced reactionary. Growing up under the heavy hand of Catholic legalism, Calvin reacted by embracing the opposite extreme - man's total inability to choose God. T.U.L.I.P. is an acronym often used to summarize the five core doctrines he espoused, Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. John Calvin's overreaction and out of balance response to legalism can easily be seen in his many quotes as well as the extreme qualifiers his followers use to describe points within the T.U.L.I.P. According to Calvinism, man is not just depraved, he is "totally" depraved. Election is not accepted, it is "unconditional." Grace is not an invitation, it is "irresistible." Conclusion: extreme qualifiers mark an extreme doctrine.

It is this tendency for unbalance that presents Calvinism's greatest flaw. By adopting the Calvinistic logic, a follower is forced to engage in selective obedience and ignore many of the Holy Spirit's words. Instead of seeking the harmony of Scripture, they are forced to lift one passage above another in order to substantiate Calvin's position. Instead of letting the Bible interpret itself, they let a man interpret the Bible for them. Instead of starting with the balance of God's Word, they start with the imbalance of Calvin.

Are we born with original sin? Are we once saved always saved? Does predestination eliminate freewill? Is baptism only an outward sign of an inward grace? It is the purpose of this study to lay Calvin's T.U.L.I.P. beside the Holy Word of God and test it for doctrinal compatibility. Will the extreme teachings of Calvin harmonize with the Holy Scriptures? Will the Bible validate his influence on the world or will the Lord of balance expose him as a reactionary and label him as a false teacher?