The Sunday Reader: Vol. 2 | #1

Should We Try to Convert Non-Reformed Christians to Calvinism?

Rev. Spotts answers this common question from personal experience.

Training Children for Church

Visitors are often surprised by how small children at PURC are able (for the most part) to sit quietly through our services. It’s certainly not because our kids are naturally more self-controlled than others! Here are some practical tips for helping your little ones thrive in church.

Don’t Reap to the Edge of Your Field

Michael Kelley explains an important principle behind the command not to glean the edges of fields (Lev 19): “To use the language of Leviticus, we tend to reap to the edge of our fields. We use all of everything we have – all our money. All our time. All our energy. All our everything – and sometimes more. As a result, we don’t have anything left “just in case.””

Bible Reading Plans for 2019

Personally, I prefer plans that work through several sections of Scripture at once.

A Letter to an Inactive Member

If not for you personally, perhaps this will help you find balanced words to address someone else in your life.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

Should We Try to Convert Non-Reformed Christians to Calvinism?

I’ve been asked many times whether Reformed Christians should try to convert their non-Reformed brethren to Calvinism. It’s a good question. Indeed, it’s one I should have asked before attempting to convert all my companions, by which noble combat I soon forfeited the majority.

Having been reared in a setting where Reformed theology was equally misunderstood as it was opposed, I was “converted” to Calvinistic Christianity at age twenty-one. For two or three years after, I poured an ocean of polemics upon my corner of the Internet. Looking back, I find little fruit was gained for all my brave tilting at every Arminian windmill. I wish I had taken the advice I am about to give.

Overall, I've found it unhelpful to go out of the way to convince non-Reformed Christians of the Calvinistic doctrines of grace. This is not to say I hide or avoid these topics. Not at all. Especially if the other person brings them up. But I understand much better now that knowledge uncoupled from a demonstration of love comes off as a clanging gong. Demonstrating love takes time. Familiarity and trust must develop so that one’s brotherly intentions are understood, not just asserted. It is hard, if not impossible to achieve this over a few brief interactions, let alone from behind a social media handle.

What I have found effective

I have found greater success broaching these subjects in times when my non-Reformed brothers have confessed struggling with assurance, sanctification, and perseverance. My own bitter experience taught me that only the Reformed doctrines of grace can provide sure anchors against these storms. Thankfully, times of severe self-doubt are also ideal opportunities for pointing others away from themselves to the overcoming grace of God given in Christ.

I direct them to Bible verses such as,

I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:6)

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thes 5:24)

The usual objections about “free” will are often disarmed by explaining that grace operates at a level deeper than will power. The Spirit goes to the root of our choices, to our very nature, and begins converting our corrupt hearts. Spiritual “new birth” and subsequent growth transforms people miraculously from within, like water into wine, so that our dispositions and preferences change.

Only sovereign grace can explain how die-hard sinners can go from unbelief and habitual sin to willing faith and holiness. Only sovereign grace can assure the downcast of finishing the race. Only sovereign grace can explain how it is that believers who sin every day will never choose to sin once they pass on to glory. Think about it. In the resurrection, God doesn’t have to take away “free” will to secure heaven from future sin. Rather, the Holy Spirit finishes his work of freeing us from corruption and temptation, so that we never will to sin again!

I find that in such times of anxious fear, these truths are readily received and savored by nearly all Christians. Rather than being theological abstractions, they come as practical correctives to self-assurance. Indeed, for those who feel themselves losing the battle, there is nothing more refreshing than to discover that salvation was always God’s victory, and is assured through Christ for all who believe.

Careful with That Sword

So, in conclusion, I would advise my Reformed brethren not to go spoiling for a fight or to make yourselves a holy nuisance. Especially if your abilities and doctrine have not been approved and encouraged by your pastor or elders. Many valiant but weak-handed warriors have mishandled this heavy sword, wounding the very ones they wanted to liberate. In addition to studying how best to communicate Reformed doctrine, Invest time in demonstrating your love and directing others to the gospel. Remember, Calvinism is not the gospel. The gospel is the good news that Christ Jesus saves all who trust him alone for salvation. Calvinism simply explains why the Gospel is always effective for the elect.

May the Lord bless your service for is kingdom.

Persuading Others of Perseverance

Recently, a friend was invited by fellow Christians to discuss her belief in the doctrine of perseverance of the saints. Some of those attending are not persuaded. How would you prepare for such a discussion? Here’s some of what I shared with her. I hope you find it helpful.

The Issue

Reformed Christians have long recognized a certain unhappy logic to the belief that one can lose salvation. If some whom the Spirit regenerated are later damned, it would mean salvation rests decisively upon one’s will, even if only to continue believing. In this case, the basic difference between those who persevere unto eternal life and others who don't would not be God’s grace given freely in Jesus Christ—both groups having received the same Spirit—but that the former were more willingness to continue cooperate. Remember, however, this ability to will faith is not itself morally neutral. Belief in Christ is absolutely good and right.

Reformed believers understand this perseverance in faith to be a gift of God imparted by the Spirit, part of the “first fruits” of sanctification. By contrast, those who think salvation can and sometimes is forfeited by genuine believers imply that faith’s decisive fortitude must be found within, and it makes all the difference in who is saved and lost. Therefore, if not explicitly teaching salvation by good works, any system of doctrine which denies perseverance fundamentally degrades the Gospel into salvation by good will, which is essentially the same thing. It’s a subtle shift away from faith in Christ alone to faith at least partly in ourselves.

Where to Begin?

The best resources are probably right at your fingertips. Namely, I recommend you carefully read the Canons of Dort (official URC version). They were written to address this very issue. In particular, the Fifth Head of Doctrine (p. 278 in the version linked above) concerns Perseverance of the Saints. The entire Canons are worth studying in detail and are probably better than most books and articles in terms of compact clarity.

Bible Verses on Perseverance

Here's a site called Five Solas that lists all the Scripture references one could hope for, such as, "he who began a good work in you will complete it to the day of Christ Jesus," and, "they went out from us in order that it might be manifest that they were not of us, for had they been of us, they most certainly would have continued with us."

Most Important

Now, most importantly, let's pray together for God to grant grace both to you and them, to have opened hearts and winsome character. After all, our goal is to comfort one another with the sure mercies of Jesus. Grace to it! I'll pray for you even now. Let me know how things go or if you have additional questions.

Rev. Spotts

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #28

The Winged Women of Zech 5

As a follow-up to last week's sermon, here's some biblical and archeological background for understanding what those winged women probably represent.

The Church Needs Fewer Men Who Feel “Called” to the Ministry

“We need fewer men who feel “called to ministry” and more men who aspire to the office of elder. But if we dump the language of calling, how do we know if we should pursue ministry?” Here are five indicators.

I Am Not My Own

A beautiful recollection of a life well lived, Orlena Lynn Boyle (1922-2018) was a missionary to Japan and China. Especially recommended for women and girls interested in foreign missions.

What Calvinists And Arminians Can Agree On

Despite their stated beliefs, most of those who do not profess to be Calvinistic nonetheless agree on this: we should pray for the salvation of others.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

Can You Make Your Election Sure?

Lately, our evening service has been going through the biblical doctrines of grace confessed in the Canons of Dort. This topic lends itself to many questions and opportunities to dig into the Word. For instance, a member wrote to ask how we should understand 2 Pet 1:1-10:

At the beginning of this passage, Peter makes it clear that all good things come from God's "divine power" and that "through them you may become partakers of the divine nature..."  He then lists a set of qualities that make us productive and fruitful members of God's kingdom.  It is clear that these things come only from God.  Later he says that we must "...be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure..."  What does it mean to  make our calling and election sure? The wording seems to assume that we can take action on our own that affects our election which would contradict the rest of scripture... Can you shed some light on that for me?

THE DIVINE NATURE

First, let's sort out what is meant by, “you may become partakers of the divine nature." As mere creatures, we can never grasp, let alone partake in God's essential being. The “partaking” which Peter has in mind is the Spirit's impartation to us of God's communicable attributes, such as virtue, brotherly affection, self-control, etc.  Over time, the divine image comes to be reflected in us.

Unlike sin which results in spiritual bondage, this godly nature produces true freedom. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor 3:17). Sanctification can therefore be described as a process of liberation from corrupt desires unto holy preferences. We are no longer simply depraved but are “being renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Eph 4:23). In this way, partaking in the divine nature means that believers can begin to sincerely will the good, albeit imperfectly.

MAKING YOUR ELECTION SURE

Now that we've been set free from sin unto godliness, one might wonder whether good works determine our final destination? Perhaps God's election is based on foreknowledge of how different people would use or abuse their liberty. Not at all! Growth, however vital as evidence of spiritual life, does not itself serve as the ground of God's eternal decision to elect and call certain people to salvation. Otherwise salvation would not be entirely of grace:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:8-10, ESV)

So what might Peter have in mind when he tells us to “be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure” (NKJV)? This is one instance where confusion is largely resolved by comparing translations. The ESV, for instance, renders the text, “brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” 

First, the word translated “fall” (πταίσητέ) here means “to stumble or loose one's footing.” Elsewhere, we find this term descrbing believers in the midst of doubt or sin. James 3:3, for instance, admits “we all stumble in many ways.” When discussing apostasy, however, a different term is used for permanently “falling away” from the visible church (ἀποστῆναι). It is reasonable to presume the kind of descent Peter has in mind is not from profession of faith to denial, but from confidence in one's salvation to doubt.  The preceding verse highlights this by noting a person who has “forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.” Clearly, he is elect and called, or else he would not be cleansed, yet he has become uncertain of his status.

Second, observe the phrase “confirm your calling.” Confirming doesn't have to mean earning or establishing the ground of something. Suppose a car accident leaves me and several passengers stranded. Geico assures me a tow truck is on the way. After fifteen minutes, I become impatient and doubtful. ‘Are they coming or not?’ So I contact the rental company to confirm. The operator assures me, “the driver left ten minutes ago. He will be there shortly.” In this case, my call to confirm did not initiate the tow truck's coming. He was already headed my way. What confirming did, however, is put me and my passengers at ease concerning the status of our situation. 

Even so, confirming one's election by growing in virtue does not influence God's objective and eternal choice. The Lord is already on the way to salvage his wrecked elect! Ongoing spiritual growth, however, settles doubts within ourselves and others concerning the reality of grace at work in us.

Peter's argument relates to the so-called Practical Syllogism common among Reformed theologians. Basically, the syllogism shows how one's election and calling, known directly by God, can be logically inferred by individuals. It goes like this:

1. Only elect people receive the Spirit through calling (regeneration). 
2. All those who receive the Spirit walk in newness of life (ongoing faith and repentance)
3. I walk in a way that evidences newness of life
4. Therefore, I have strong reason to believe I have been elected and called.

Conversely,

3. I am NOT walking in a way that evidences newness of life
4. Therefore, I have weak reason to believe I am elect and called.

While this argument does not replace faith in Christ's objective work as the primary basis of assurance, it can serve a secondary role in strengthening our hope. 

CONCLUSION

In light of all this, 2 Pet 1:10 can be understood as saying, “diligently pursue abundant fruits of the Spirit which prove the reality of your election and calling.” Essentially, Paul says the same thing in Rom 8:1-4, “there is therefore now no condemnation... to those who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit...” Walking after the Spirit is not why we are no longer condemned, but is proof we are forgiven. Becoming virtuous is not the ground of God's election, but a comforting confirmation of it.

PS: I'm glad to hear our members are pondering God's riches in the Word.