Calvin’s Tulip

John Calvin was a theologian during the Protestant Reformation.  Like many of his time, he sought to reform, or change the teaching of the Catholic Church.  This is a lofty goal, and if carried out in conjunction with the teaching of the Bible, one that might indeed lead to true Christianity.  However, Calvin’s ideas had little to do with Biblical teaching.

Calvin proposed a series of tenets that governed his belief concerning Christianity.  These tenets are very logical and consistent among themselves, nevertheless, each one contradicts the basic premises of the Bible.  Regardless, these ideas were readily accepted by most of the world and form the basis of many, if not most, protestant religions in the world today.

Over the course of the next several weeks, if the Lord wills, we will look at each of these tenets in turn and compare them to what the scripture says.  These tenets, or beliefs, of John Calvin, and subsequently many who have followed his teaching, can be remembered using the acronym “TULIP.”  Here are the tenets of Calvinism:

• Total Hereditary Depravity: All men inherit Adam’s Sin; they are inherently sinners, and thus condemned, from birth.  This is commonly called the doctrine of “Original Sin.”
• Unconditional Election:  God chooses who he will save without condition.  Nothing that a person can do can affect this choice.  This is also known as Predestination.
• Limited Atonement:  Christ only died for the Elect, those predestined for salvation.
• Irresistible Grace:  A person who is predestined cannot resist God’s will to save them.
• Perseverance of the Saints:  Those who are predestined will be saved and once they are saved, they cannot be lost.  This is also known as the Impossibility of Apostasy or “Once Saved, Always Saved.”

So there you have Calvin’s TULIP.  Real tulips thrive in the light of God’s sun.  Let us turn to scripture to see how Calvin’s holds up when exposed to the Light of God’s Son.

Until next time, let me encourage you to search the scriptures daily, whether these things are so.  Acts 17:11

Copyright 2009 Mance J. Davis Jr.