Mr. Bluedorn,
I am struggling with an issue concerning Calvinism and those who call themselves Calvinists. I affirm Reformed theology; I believe it most accurately represents Biblical doctrine (thus, historic, Biblical Christianity).
The specific issue in part is something called “hyper-Calvinism.” I know having a thorough understanding and knowledge of Scripture is mandatory when it comes to the doctrines of the Bible, but I was wondering if you could either send me some information on hyper-Calvinist doctrine concerning soteriology along with ways to recognize hyper-Calvinism when I encounter it.
Thank you.
Aaron
Dear Aaron,
“Hyper-Calvinist” is an epithet – an abusive nickname – thrown about by some people against others whose views they think amount to fatalism – God ordained everything, so we don’t need to do anything. People are going to be saved or damned whether we do anything or not.
For example, to the thorough Arminian, any Calvinist is a hyper-Calvinist because Calvinism is simply extreme predestinarianism, and predestinarianism is necessarily fatalism – to their way of thinking.
The people who make this charge are generally negligent about actually learning what the object of their ad-hominem attack actually believes or practices. They resort to name-calling instead of intellectually engaging the matter…. Read the rest of this post here.
Hyper-Calvinism is legitimately applied in some cases, and is often attributed to those who advocate a supralapsarian order of the decrees and/or who deny the well-meant offer of the gospel in favor of what some Calvinists refer to as the “serious” offer as opposed to a well-meant offer. There is no reason to believe that this term is not sometimes appropriate when viewed in light of what is often considered mainstream Calvinistic belief. Certainly some Arminian brothers and sisters will use the term too readily to refer to what is generally considered garden variety Calvinism. But the term is often considered appropriate when applied to groups like the Protestant Reformed Church. Iain Murray’s book, Spurgeon vs Hyper-Calvinism: The Battle for Gospel Preaching, reflects–I think–the most appropriate context for the use of this term.
Earlier today, I read a post by a friend concerning Calvinism. I also completed lesson 12 from your logic book (Fallacy Detective) with my 13yr. old and 12 yr old today. In the situation with the friend, I never feel adequate to defend my thoughts about it all, but after reading this article and your reference to ad hominem, I think I have a better handle on how process these arguments. Thank you for making logic theologically practical for me.