The Tautology of Calvinsim

One of the great arguments against the theory of evolution is that natural selection is a tautology - a circular argument. Evolution states that natural selection is the process by which nature sorts out the fit mutations from the unfit. Survival of the fittest, as its name suggests, means that the fittest survive. But which species are the fittest? The ones who survive! To quote political columnist Ann Coulter, "Gee, it works every time!"

The way that the theory of natural selection is worded guarantees that it will be proved with any evidence. If any genetic mutation has survived, it must mean that it was most fit. This is not science. It is a logical fallacy disguised as truth.

Calvinism is a little bit like that. Calvinism is simply a five-point plan by which God determines who will be saved.

At this point, I have to stop and be fair to my Calvinist brethren. I don't disagree with everything they have to say. For example, I buy into the idea of total depravity, and I'm sold on the idea that humanity really doesn't have free will when left to its own devices. Let me clarify this statement. The Calvinist argues that humanity is damned not because we sin, but because we are sinners. The distinction here is important. For example, the homosexual does not go to hell because he is a homosexual. The act of sexual contact with somebody of your own sex is not in and of itself enough to send you to hell. What sends people to hell is the fact that their beings are corrupted by sin. Thus, homosexuality is just one symptom of the overall problem of having a sinful nature. I hope you can appreciate the difference.

Thus, because we have a sinful nature, we really cannot be free. I buy into this idea as well. Those who do not know Christ are generally not aware of their own spiritual depravity. Before I came to Christ, I heard the gospel and was unconvinced that it described my spiritual condition. I knew that I wasn't perfect, but I didn't believe that I was a sinner. In essence, I didn't know the state of my own soul, and thus I didn't think about the necessity of divine things. I was not free. The freedom came when God showed me grace and I chose to follow him.

Arminians at this point are warning me that I am growing very close to folly. Truth be told, I am. The reason is because the next logical step is to say that the grace that God showed me was evidence of my election. In other words, the Calvinist says that God chooses to give me grace, and I respond because He, not I, willed it.

But this is only true if Calvinism is presumed to be true. It could just as easily be a defense of Arminianism. One could argue that through the previous hearings of the gospel, God was sowing the seeds of prevenient grace in my life, so that when there came a time to finally make a decision for Christ, I had all the grace I needed to make the call. I could just as easily say that God gave me the grace, opened my heart and mind to make the call, but in the end, it was my call to make.

So we get to the logical tautology of Calvinism. A common argument that Arminians make against Calvinism is that we chose to follow Christ. The Calvinist response is that we chose because we were elect. This is a logical fallacy that is only true based on the Calvinist's assumptions. The elect are the ones who choose. Who makes the choice? The elect! Gee, it works every time!

So where do I distance myself from the folly? While humanity is depraved, no man is without grace. God wills that you be saved. God wills that the world be saved. Thus, through His grace, he cuts through human depravity to allow us that freedom. Free will is not something that humanity naturally has. It is a divine gift from God, allowing us to either accept or reject His salvation. What's your choice?

It's Sunday Morning, Do You Know Where Satan Is?

Well, if you're a pastor, chances are, he's knocking at your door.

I'm growing to hate the devil. I've always disliked him. I always find him when I don't want to see him. He's always bugged me on Sundays. There is a common myth that Satan is the ruler of hell. Satan is not the ruler of hell. When the last day has come, he's going to be just another being in eternal torment. I shed a tear for all of those who are going to be there. I jump for joy that Satan will be there. Be gone with ya, buddy. I won't miss you.

But he got the best of me this morning. Truth be told, it was my fault for giving in, but he got me. He always pays a visit on Sunday. This time, I answered the door. I was having some major computer issues at about 8:00. I couldn't print anything that I needed to print. It sounds like such a stupid thing to be angry about, but I was angry beyond belief. I threw something. I knocked over a trash can. I slammed the lid of my notebook computer. I screamed at my computer. Finally, my wife got in my face and told me that God was not going to bless the service. My response was, "I don't give a bleep." She told me she wasn't coming to church. I told her I didn't want her there.

You're saying to yourself, "That's horrible. This guy's a pastor." Yeah, it was horrible. I calmed down, apologized, and repented. We prayed before service and I confessed that I felt spiritually unprepared to preach. It was the only time I've truly felt that way. Satan set out to ruin our worship service. As a spiritual leader, it's my job to defend my people from this attack, and I failed. Then the guilt set in. Truth be told, the guilt is still there.

This post is very much a confession. I have sinned and I am sorry. I am sorry to my wife, my congregation, and to God. It was not godly, it was wrong, and I have sought and received forgiveness.

I asked my people to cover me in prayer during the service. God answered. Our service started slow but finished strong. It was a great time of worship. Satan, you failed. You will never win. Repentance kicks your tail every time. God forgives and you lose. You will always lose. As I rejoice in the grace that God has given me, your hide is being chapped for the fires of hell. Have fun with that. I actively pray for your demise.

But to everybody else, I write this post for several reasons. First of all, when you go to church, watch out for the devil. He is like a roaring lion looking to devour you. He'll try to get you when he can do the most damage. Prepare for his attack. Secondly, you need to know your pastor isn't perfect, whether you attend my church or not. You may be appalled at what I said. You should be. But even your spiritual leaders need grace. We're all on the same journey. I don't sin every day, but sometimes I get caught in a weak moment. Finally, Satan can try to wreck your worship service, but as long as you're repentant, he won't. Grace triumphs over sin every time. Ask for grace. Don't relish in sin. Should you choose grace, God will whip Satan's tail for you.

A Place of Healing?

"The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:6 (NIV)

So that's what the burning in my mouth is. I thought it was that whole can of jalapeno Pringles that I ate. I know it wasn't the buffalo wings.

That's some tough stuff from James. Here's some more tough stuff:

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." James 3:9-10 (NIV)

Ouch! When did James write this epistle because I'm sure he must have been in all of our churches? I wonder, did he zip to our day and age, then get in his Delorean and head back to the first century?

I know that the Bible was written to a myriad of cultures long gone. I know that it wasn't written to people in our day and age. What I do see, however, is a striking revelation that in several thousand years, despite the preaching of many to the contrary, humans have not changed one bit. Not one! We are still the same prideful, spiteful, vindictive, and hurtful people that we were in Jesus' day.

Verbal abuse is not a laughing matter. It can carry long-reaching consequences. I would come home from school as a kid, crying because of the frequent barrage of taunts, slanders, verbal barbs, and downright hatred that I received as a child from my classmates. The old "sticks and stones" retort that we used when somebody said something mean is a lie that is only stated to cover up our pain at the words somebody else used. Truth be told, the words hurt more than any savage beating provided by sticks and stones.

This being said, I still have my head full of the lies that others have told me. I still have my head full of thoughts of my own worthlessness. When I contrast those words with the Truth of Scripture, I begin to understand my value; God said that I am worth the blood of His one and only Son! God said that about me! On the cross, He determined that I was more valuable than Himself, pouring Himself out as an offering for me so that I may be healed. The truth is that I am created in the image of God, and Jesus came so that I may have that image, an image that was tarnished by sin, restored fully by His grace.

Thus, when I encounter fellow Christians, grace should flow from their mouths, and I should be blessed by them, and I should bless them. I go to the church, even as a pastor, to find healing for my soul. Yet, I have found that even in the church, I can have my soul torn by the verbal barbs that are aimed at me, not to build up, but to tear down. Why?

Christians, listen to me! When you direct your verbal comments to another Christian, you are insulting the image of God! Would you call God some of the names that you call your brethren? When I step into the pulpit, provide counseling, or otherwise provide ministerial assistance to somebody, I am speaking and acting for God. When you identify yourselves as Christians, so are you. It's time we let our tongues practice what they preach.