There are many myths on both sides of the Calvinism/Arminianism debate. This has lead to needless arguments on issues that neither side holds to. While it would be great for there be a list of myths concerning Arminianism, I am a Calvinist and I felt that I should address what I am most familiar with.
So I have compiled a top ten list of myths concerning Calvinism. Some of these are held by non-Calvinists and some are held by some claiming to be Calvinists. The popularity of some of these myths may well be the fact that they are endorsed by some claiming to be Calvinists but in reality are unauthorized ambassadors of the doctrine. Anyone who is familiar with the history of Calvinism will know that none of the Reformed giants such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, Jonathan Edwards, or Loraine Boettner (who gave us the five points of Calvinism in the form of the acronym TULIP) ever endorsed these myths.
1. Calvinism denies God’s universal love.
A good Calvinist is deemed as one both faithful and familiar with Scripture. Therefore, he/she will not deny such biblical references to God’s universal love such as John 3:16.
2. Calvinists believe that God is the author of sin.
Most Calvinists believe that all things (even those deemed as evil) come from God. Yet, God is not the author of sin. Sin is that which separates one from God. Since God is never tempted by evil (to do evil), sin is more accurately something whose origin is not that of faith in God but of rebellion against God (Rom. 14:23b). For the events that transpired concerning Joseph in Genesis came both from his brothers and God, but deemed as evil from his Joseph’s brothers and good from God (Gen. 50:20a).
3. Calvinists believe God arbitrarily chooses people to be saved.
The doctrine of unconditional election teaches that God chose the elect on no foreseen merit or condition in the individual but out of God’s sovereign choice. This doesn’t mean they are random. God has his reasons which rest in his incomprehensible (I repeat incomprehensible–Rom. 11:33) secret will.
4. The doctrines of Calvinism came from John Calvin.
Calvinism no more came for John Calvin then gravity came from Newton’s law of gravity. We charge Calvin with systematizing very important and biblical doctrines. And this understanding didn’t originate with Calvin. One need only to take a look at the writings of Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and even Martin Luther.
5. Calvinism ignores human responsibility.
Calvinists never deny moral responsibility, but they do preach that man will never choose that which leads to salvation because of the corruption of their minds, hearts, and wills. They are predisposed to sinfulness. To say that ‘it is impossible for someone who is predisposed to choosing evil can’t be morally responsible for it’ doesn’t take God into account. God is morally good but yet will always choose to do good, just like man is morally bad and will choose to do evil. In the same way we attribute glory and honor to God for the good He does, God attributes condemnation and judgment to fallen man for the evil he does.
6. Calvinists believe that no one can do any bit of good.
Calvinists correctly teaches 3 things concerning this: (1) Man can not do any spiritual good (2) Man can not do anything or does not have anything (1 Cor. 4:7) to merit salvation or settle his account of sin (3) The good that an unbeliever does at the root is sinful because it doesn’t come from faith (Rom. 14:23). Fallen man can do “good” but their motive lies in civility, compulsion or threat of punishment from civil authorities, or pride and recognition—to name a few.
7. Calvinism renders evangelism pointless.
There are means to ends. While some extremists (hyper-Calvinists) hold to the idea of evangelism being fruitless, most recognize that God has not only ordained end or results of salvation to the elect but that He has ordained the means. Paul highlighted those means in his missive to the Romans—faith from hearing the good news being preached and the good news being preached by evangelists (Rom. 10:14-17).
8. Calvinism teaches that men are no more than robots.
Most learned and educated Calvinists believe in what’s called “concurrence”. That is that God cooperates with man’s will to cause them to do what He has ordained (Eph. 1:11b). This is seen in the story of Joseph and his brothers. The best example of this is the crucifixion of Jesus. Joseph’s brothers nor the conspirators against Jesus can say they were forced (by anything or anyone) to do what they did.
9. Those who reject Calvinism reject the gospel.
The doctrines of grace is an elaboration on the gospel. Simply put, the gospel is this: "God saves sinners". It is wrong to say someone who doesn't embrace the doctrines of grace (which is five counter-points on Arminianism) doesn't believe the gospel. Calvinists and Arminians/non-Calvinist both believe the gospel (God saves sinners), we just don't see eye to eye on each other's explanation of the gospel.
10. Belief in Calvinism comes from the same illumination that leads to salvation.
Such a statement implies that all who adhere to the doctrines of Calvinism are also saved. Yet there are Calvinists who are not saved—this is evident upon fruit inspection (Gal. 5:22-23; Matt. 7:16-20). There will be Calvinists, Arminians, universalists, Baptists, Lutherans, and Catholics in hell just like some of these will be in Heaven.
