Calvinist theology has been debated and promoted for centuries. But is it a theology that should last? Roger Olson suggests that Calvinism, also commonly known as Reformed theology, holds an unwarranted place in our list of accepted theologies. In Against Calvinism, readers will find scholarly arguments explaining why Calvinist theology is incorrect and how it affects God’s reputation. Olson draws on a variety of sources, including Scripture, reason, tradition, and experience, to support his critique of Calvinism and the more historically rich, biblically faithful alternative theologies he proposes. Addressing what many evangelical Christians are concerned about today—so-called “new Calvinism,” a movement embraced by a generation labeled as “young, restless, Reformed” —Against Calvinism is the only book of its kind to offer objections from a non-Calvinist perspective to the current wave of Calvinism among Christian youth. As a companion to Michael Horton’s For Calvinism, readers will be able to compare contrasting perspectives and form their own opinions on the merits and weaknesses of Calvinism.

Contrary to what many philosophers believe, Calvinism neither makes the problem of evil worse nor is it obviously refuted by the presence of evil and suffering in our world. Or so most of the authors in this book claim. While Calvinism has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years amongst theologians and laypersons, many philosophers have yet to follow suit. The reason seems fairly clear: Calvinism, many think, cannot handle the problem of evil with the same kind of plausibility as other more popular views of the nature of God and the nature of God's relationship with His creation. This book seeks to challenge that untested assumption. With clarity and rigor, this collection of essays seeks to fill a significant hole in the literature on the problem of evil.

Paying particular attention to the issue of God's sovereignty, Jerry L. Walls and Joseph R. Dongell critique biblical and theological weaknesses of Calvinist thought.

Does God love everyone? When Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, did he die for the sins of the elect only or for the sins of the whole world? Can anyone respond in faith to the gospel message? Or is the act of believing a gift of God only given to a subset of humanity called the elect so that the rest of humanity is unable to believe and destined to spend eternity apart from God? What does the term elect mean in the New Testament? These are fundamental questions about the God of the Bible and the salvation He provides in Jesus Christ. This book invites you to sit as an unbiased juror and consider the traditional principles of TULIP Calvinism as explained by the leading Calvinists in their own words, then to weigh their proffered Scriptural evidence to make your own determination. This book will address exegetically all of the most commonly cited proof texts for Calvinism, with a thorough consideration of the "pillar" passages like John 6:44, Romans 3 and 9, and Ephesians 1:4. This book will defend a middle ground position (called NULIF - "new life") between TULIP Calvinism and Arminianism and demonstrate that you can tell people with confidence that God loves them, Jesus died for their sins, and they can be saved by trusting Christ for the forgiveness of their sins based on his finished work at Calvary. HUTSON SMELLEY is an attorney, Bible teacher and seminary student residing in Houston, Texas with his wife and seven children. He has a degree in Biblical Studies from the College of Biblical Studies, a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Houston, a M.S. in Mathematics from Texas A&M University, and a J.D. from the University of Houston. His website can be found at www.proclaimtheword.net.

Many sincere, Bible-believing Christians are Calvinists only by default. Thinking that the only choice is between Calvinism (with its presumed doctrine of eternal security) and Arminianism (with its teaching that salvation can be lost), and confident of Christ's promise to keep eternally those who believe in Him, they therefore consider themselves to be Calvinists. It takes only a few simple questions to discover that most Christians are largely unaware of what John Calvin and his early followers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries actually believed and practiced. Nor do they fully understand what most of today's leading Calvinists believe. Although there are disputed variations of the Calvinist doctrine, among its chief proponents (whom we quote extensively in context) there is general agreement on certain core beliefs. Many evangelicals who think they are Calvinists will be surprised to learn of Calvin's belief in salvation through infant baptism and of his grossly un-Christian behavior, at times, as the "Protestant Pope" of Geneva, Switzerland. Most shocking of all, however, is Calvinism's misrepresentation of God, who "is love." It is our prayer that this volume will enable readers to examine more carefully the vital issues involved and to follow God's holy Word­--not man's teachings. "The first edition of this book was greeted by fervent opposition and criticism from Calvinists. In this enlarged and revised edition I have endeavored to respond to the critics." --Dave Hunt

This work is foundational for those who are just beginning their Christian experience as well as the well-informed Bible student who is interested in effective evangelism and the topic of salvation. It's the ideal book for college and seminary level courses on Soteriology in that it gives a lesser known, but extensively biblical, view of the so-called “Doctrines of Grace,” as taught by Reformed Theology and identified by the acronym known as TULIP (i.e., Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints). Dr. Badger exposes these teachings for what they are: the abhorrent doctrinal results of the Reformation. In the attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church a line of thought known as Calvinism, Five Point Calvinism, or Dortian Calvinism developed throughout Europe and England. And for nearly 500 years since Calvinism has run rampant over the teachings of the Bible. John Calvin, one of the leading Reformers followed Augustine's ideas of God's having decisively and unconditionally selected some people, but not others, for eternal salvation. Calvin popularized the notion and it became the skeleton over which the other dogmas were hung for a period of about three-quarters of a century until it was finally solidified at the Synod of Dort, Netherlands, in 1619. The Five Points of Calvinism have become the heart and soul of classical Reformed Theology to this day.Dr. Badger first explains the manner in which theology and truth claims may properly be approached, followed by a brief chapter on the history of the leaders of the Reformation. A biblical view of sin and guilt is then presented, followed by a chapter on the Calvinist's unbiblical view of man's Total Inability to believe the gospel offer. He explains why Total Depravity is not Total Inability to believe and why such teaching obscures the true nature of man as a bearer of the image of God Himself. Two chapters are devoted to the doctrine of Election and include an explanation of the Calvinist and Arminian views on the matter. Two possible alternative Free Grace solutions on the subject are given, the second of which is favored by the author. Dr. Badger then addresses the doctrine of Limited Atonement and shows it to be an unnecessary fabrication that merely concurs with Calvin's other notions of man's inability to believe and God's supposed election of only some. A chapter on the supposed imposition of Irresistible Grace by the Holy Spirit (Regeneration) prior to one's faith is shown to be anti-biblical, unreasonable, and, again, unnecessary except to uphold the other four points. The doctrine that Saint (believers) must Persevere in the Christian faith and in holiness until the end of their lives to be assured of a heavenly destiny is also exposed as a malevolent attempt to herd the “sheep” in good direction but by the use of a bad method. Threatening expulsion to Hell is not a proper method for discipleship, is legalistic, and is similar to someone saying that “the floggings will continue until the morale improves!” In all of this, Dr. Badger explains the Arminian position, as well, and shows where they also fall short of a biblical understanding. Six helpful appendices and a scriptural index follow the ten information filled chapters.Underlying the logical evaluations and biblical solutions in this work is a solidly biblical Free Grace foundation. Free Grace Theology presents God's offer of everlasting life as a free gift to anyone who believes in Jesus for it. Salvation is by God's grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (really alone!). Discipleship is to follow in the Christian life, but the results of one's Christian walk will vary on an individual basis, but at no time is one's performance a criterion for receiving the free gift of eternal life or for either retaining or proving it. Calvinistic TULIP is here not only confronted and challenged, but absolutely terminated.

THE DANCE OF ISAIAH: In the Byzantine wedding service, after placing crowns on the heads of the bride and groom to seal their union with the gift of the Holy Spirit, the priest offers them a cup of wine to drink - a symbol of the one life they will now share. Then, the priest leads the couple three times around a table in the center of the church while special hymns are chanted - the same hymns that are sung at the ordination of a priest. This ritual dance is an icon of Christian marriage: led by Christ (represented by the priest), the couple enters ever deeper into the life of the Holy Trinity (signified by the triple procession), dancing with the Lord for all eternity (signified by the circle). The table around which they dance represents the table of their home -- the symbolic altar of their shared daily life. The last hymn during this dance celebrates the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophesy: "Behold, a virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel," a name that means "God is with us" (Isaiah 7:14). It is this Emmanuel, the Lord in our midst, who makes marriage become a sharing in the Kingdom -- in God's own life. It is this dance of joy which begins life together for the married couple in the Eastern Christian Church. In the Bible, marriage is an analogy by which we understand the true nature of a covenant, and how God relates to His people. THE DANCE OF ISAIAH will take you through the covenant of God, verse by verse, describing the family of God here on earth -- the Catholic Church. Beginning with Ezekial 16:8 as a foundation, the author explains how the biblical covenant is different than the Protestant understanding of a covenant, how marriage beautifully points to the intimate relationship we as believers are called to with our divine Bridegroom, and how the covenant explains all Catholic doctrines and makes them fit in the biblical framework.