Pure Calvinism vs. Carnal Calvinism

Pure Calvinism has the evidence of the true grace which is central to its own doctrine. If it is God’s grace alone which changes us --and this gives all of the glory entirely to God-- then this very grace will be evidenced in the life of one who professes to believe and live in Reformed Theology. I say “believe and live” because it is clear that some who teach and profess Calvinism or Reformed Theology as their basis in viewing God’s Word do not show the grace through their life and teaching as God’s Word declares it should be. In other words “you will know them by their fruit” NOT their fleshly mental assent or carnal parroting of the life giving doctrine of Calvinism or Reformed Theology as it is in its truest and purest form.

Some professing Calvinists and Reformers will say “God is Love” but give little evidence in their lives or teaching to this fact. If our eyes have been opened by God’s grace and mercy, how then can we look down upon or coldly judge those who are in dire need of this same grace and mercy or pardon coming from God through Christ? I believe it is reported that something like this (but said in my own words) has been said by John Newton (the author of Amazing Grace):

Some harshly and rashly expect that others should see --as they believe that they do-- the light of the truth of God’s Sovereign Word without considering how this occurred to them, if it really did. That would be as if Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52), after receiving his sight by the grace and mercy of God, then decided to go out and beat other blind men with a stick because they didn't see as he did. How foolish and heartless! Who caused him to see? Was it of his own works or the act of the Sovereign God alone? We should rather give all the glory to God for His grace and mercy and sincerely and fervently pray that God will open the minds of others to see this wondrous grace as we proclaim the Gospel of God in word and deed.

It is my view that some who say they have “seen the light of the Sovereign hand of God” may not have truly seen this yet but instead have something worded similarly and have seen only by their puffed up fleshly imagination, or, they are very immature in their understanding of the true meaning of the wonderful sovereign grace of God. I also believe that many of those who say others are blinded are yet blinded themselves through taking a mental assent only to the doctrine of grace without truly knowing this in their hearts yet for themselves. My wife and I have witnessed this first hand with a former local pastor and one of his former Sunday school teachers. They seemed to have a somewhat parroted belief in the doctrine of Sovereign Grace, delighting in the idea of the word Sovereign but not truly grasping the complete meaning of the word Grace. Giving evidence of hard hearts as they seemed to think they had it all figured out and yet had little to no real compassion for the people for whom Christ died and now lives again. That is what I call Carnal Calvinism which may also be considered what others call Hyper-Calvinism. We witnessed many people get hurt in this particular situation we were in and therefore I can affirm that this has been happening and is likely happening in many other places as I hear it is so.

I’ll now offer some of God’s Word in this matter to ponder as we consider our lives with our words:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1Cor 13:1-2) -nkjv

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2Tim 2:24-26) -nkjv

I must confess that I have often failed and fallen short on this for myself. And I have regrets about not loving others as Christ would have me. I pray I have and will amend this with God's help as much as possible. It is my desire to let God change me by grace and continue to transform me into His Son’s likeness. I wish for God’s glory to be seen in my life and words as I submit to Him and the power that raised Christ from the dead. As I decrease --by grace through faith-- putting to death on His cross my carnal nature, the glory of Christ must increase as His light breaks though for others to see His resurrection power in my mortal being. This will prove to be so when others see and exalt Him alone and see me as simply a vessel being made fit for the Masters use. The vessel should never have the glory but rather the Master who has prepared the vessel and happens to have chosen to use it for any particular purpose of His own. God can use me as He wishes for He is my Potter and I am His clay.

May we who have accepted and received the doctrine of the Sovereign Grace of God pay more attention to the meaning of the word Grace as we come to see the awesome Hand of God over all His Creation. May we pray that others may see and know this Grace and Mercy from God. And may we obey the words of God and do our part in yielding to this work of Grace considering whether or not we have the gentleness, patience, humility, and preparation to teach this grace to others. We must balance this with tough truth from the Word of God as we correct, rebuke, and instruct others and speak this truth in love. Never forgetting that this God has mercifully brought us out of darkness into His marvelous Light and will do the same for others as He shines His Light through us according to the Gospel.