Greg Koukl - Tactics & Calvinism

Taken from our blog, Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason looks at the question, "How do you reconcile Calvinism and employing tactics to defend Christianity?". For more information, visit http://www.str.org.

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• calvinism
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[Isaiah538]

Christ will witnesss even if we don't, but God has given us the honor and privledge to be His ambassadors, even if it involves suffering. We are led by Him, and love compels us to witness.

The Apostle Paul knows full well that faith is a gift, for Christ appeared to Him and spoke His faith into existence sovereignly. If God's choice of Paul had to do with Paul's faith, he would have said. Instead he says the contrary so often. Rom 9, Eph 1-3, John 3, 1 Cor 12 (faith in Paul's list of gifts).

[GuyWilliams100]

Dear theo4Christ,

If it is true that our efforts (to persuade others to accept Christ) are irrelevant/unnecessary, then it doesn't matter whether we witness or not. Everybody who God wants to end up in heaven will be there. Why should I live a life of pain and suffering as an evangelist when my efforts are irrelevant? If the answer is "God says to do it", then God wants us to spend our lives doing painful things that don't actually cause any eternal result. Your answer is flawed.

[theo4Christ]

@GuyWilliams100 It seems correct to say that our effort in the salvation of others is irrelevant when it is all God's will to save some and not others. However, this by no means says that we are not to witness to others. I say this because Jesus says to go unto all the world and preach the Gospel. Therefore, we sow God's seed to as many people as possible, and the Holy Spirit uses us (not because He needs us, but because He wants us) to do what He wants (whether saving a person or not).

[GuyWilliams100]

I think using Abraham as an example in this sense is weak. God could have given Abraham and Sarah a son without them having sex. Inactivity by Abraham would have in no way prevented Abraham from having a son. This example stands in contrast to the question being asked here which is "Does the activity or inactivity or clumsiness of the Calvinist (in witnessing) have any causal effect on whether a person ends up in heaven or hell?" If NOT, then our efforts in witnessing are irrelevant.

[tomopotamus]

You realize that Calvinism isn't a religion, right?

[twanablevins]

Very helpful thank you

[calvinismisacult]

Calvinism is a cult!

[TheGiftofChrist]

I can't imagine a Calvinist that would not be willing to defend what they hold dear to their heart. Imagine if Paul never stood his ground when it came to the Christian beliefs being challenged by other pagan religions.