So I’m sitting in a systematic theology class today and my professor begins talking about Calvinism and Arminianism.

For those of you who don’t know where I stand on the issue, I don’t want to go into it a whole lot, but I basically believe in somewhat of a synthesis between the two but with a definite leaning toward Arminianism and human free will. I’ve done a lot of study on the issues, and I understand all of the positions very well. I believe being too extreme toward either way is unhealthy, and I have even written articles on this site saying as much.

My professor basically said that many people don’t realize the practical implications of being highly Calvinistic. Though there are certainly many Calvinists who still evangelize, he gave an example of what he meant.

A couple of years ago he attended a teaching session. In the small session were quite a few Reformed (Calvinistic) missionaries who had been out on the mission field for a number of years. They asked the Reformed professor who was teaching the session (not my professor, but a different one) whether they could really tell every person they met in the mission field that God loved them and had sent Christ to die for them.

Because Calvinists believe that Christ only died for those whom God predestined would come to faith in Him, the professor replied that you could not in fact tell everyone that God loved them and died for them. The reasoning is that we can’t possibly know whom God has elected, so we can’t speak for Him. The professor went on to add that you really couldn’t make the statement to a church full of people that God loved them and Christ had died for them because you can’t know who in the congregation is part of the elect.

So here’s my question, and I would love for someone who is a Calvinist to chip in at this point (not to argue but discuss; I really just want to know): how do you, a Calvinist, witness to someone? If I can’t tell Steve that God loves him and died for him, how do I share the “love of Christ” with Steve? As a person who leans toward Arminianism, I don’t believe that God loves Steve because Steve is incredibly lovable. There is nothing inside of Steve that makes God say, “Wow! I HAVE to get Steve for my kingdom!” Rather, God loves Steve and me and everyone simply because He is that kind of God. He loves me even though I’m unlovable.

But if I can’t share that kind of wide-eyed, loving, self-sacrificing God with Steve, what do I tell him? “Steve, you should put your faith in Christ on the off chance that He elected you to be a Christian”? Though this is obviously a caricature of a statement, it’s not that far off. Clearly there are more unbelievers than believers, so there is a greater chance that Steve isn’t chosen than that he is.

All kidding aside, what does a Calvinist say in the midst of sharing the Gospel? I truly am all ears.

Tags: Calvinism