Common Ground with Calvinists

Before this series of articles goes any further, let me be the first to admit, there are plenty of Calvinists who have earned and kept my deepest respect for several years now. Their teaching on Christianity is thoughtful, well-read, and consistently engaging with Scripture in a way that I appreciate. These folks know their theology, and their commitment to the Bible is something I can’t overlook. Far too often, it feels like professing “Christians" have a pretty low view of the Scriptures, but Calvinists claim to place it at the foundation, valuing a verse-by-verse, expository preaching style that seems all too rare these days.

I’ve personally benefited from listening to men like Michael Horton, Jared C. Wilson, and Jon Moffitt & Justin Perdue over at Theocast for hours. These guys “get it” when it comes to grace. Their presentation of the gospel isn’t just some abstract idea but a personal declaration that Jesus is “for you.” They are deeply in touch with the Bible’s teaching on sin, and they refuse to let anyone even think they can save themselves. That kind of clarity on the human condition is vital. But here’s the thing: the reason why I can listen to these guys and say “Amen!” Is because, in the end, their Calvinism doesn’t get in the way of the gospel they preach.

If we’re being honest, most of the “Reformed” preachers I’ve heard rarely trot out the 5 points during a Sunday morning sermon on a regular basis. More often than not, they’re focused on explaining the text verse-by-verse, and I think that’s why I know some folks who continue to attend “Reformed” churches, even when they’ve got sharp theological differences with whoever’s preaching. These people know that the debate rarely shows up in the pulpit, and that on a Sunday-to-Sunday basis, they will at least hear a sermon that’s based on the Bible.

Introducing the Differences

If I was forced, I could definitely sit under—and even benefit from—sermon series and Bible studies led by Presbyterians, Reformed Baptists, and other Calvinist-types. But here’s the thing: it only works out this way because there are some pretty obvious contradictions within “Reformed” doctrine that no one ever really wants to talk about. They often can and do preach as if the invitation to enjoy forgiveness in Jesus Christ is open to everyone, when in the back of their minds, they think that only the “elect” will do so.

When these issues do finally pop up, these Calvinists pull out their presuppositions, slap them over the text, and then use those same misinterpretations to “prove” their 5 points. So, let’s dust off some of those passages where the disagreements become clear, pull back the curtain, and walk through them together.