Andy Naselli

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A Primer on Hyper-Calvinism

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Phil Johnson wrote a lucid article in 1998 that those using the term “hyper-Calvinism” would do well to read:

Hyper-Calvinism, simply stated, is a doctrine that emphasizes divine sovereignty to the exclusion of human responsibility. To call it “hyper-Calvinism” is something of a misnomer. It is actually a rejection of historic Calvinism. Hyper-Calvinism entails a denial of what is taught in both Scripture and the major Calvinistic creeds, substituting instead an imbalanced and unbiblical notion of divine sovereignty.

Hyper-Calvinism comes in several flavors, so it admits no simple, pithy definition. . . .

A fivefold definition: The definition I am proposing outlines five varieties of hyper-Calvinism, listed here in a declining order, from the worst kind to a less extreme variety (which some might prefer to class as “ultra-high Calvinism”):

A hyper-Calvinist is someone who either:

  1. Denies that the gospel call applies to all who hear,
  2. OR Denies that faith is the duty of every sinner,
  3. OR Denies that the gospel makes any “offer” of Christ, salvation, or mercy to the non-elect (or denies that the offer of divine mercy is free and universal),
  4. OR Denies that there is such a thing as “common grace,”
  5. OR Denies that God has any sort of love for the non-elect.

All five varieties of hyper-Calvinism undermine evangelism or twist the gospel message

Read the whole thing.

HT: JT

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  1. I just listened to a (thankfully rather unimportant) youtube clip by a guy who puts John Piper into the “heretic preacher”-corner. He actually starts with 1.Ti 4:1 and comments on his “heretical remarks”.
    [see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5T7CkSbpOs&feature=related%5D

    Why? Because Piper says that “God loves all people”, and has “special love for his bride”.
    The Clip definitely falls into no3 and no5 of Johnson’s article.

    Having written a paper on Spurgeon’s critique on hypercalvinism, I got really frustrated! And I took the courage to write an Email, althought I’m an equally unimportant guy ;)

    Here’s a line:
    “Please get the Gospel clear. Fight for it.
    But don’t fight WITH it against other Gospel Preachers!”

    The “Youtube-Hyper-Calvinist” did answer. And did so quite nicely.
    So here’s my encouragement to all the average guys like me, who are not blogging (yet): Have the courage to not only agree with this blog, but stand up and contend for the Gospel.

    Not because you figured it out. But because you want to help the Hypercalvinist to become a “Piper-Calvinist” – a Calvinist who loves missions and who loves the love of God for all people!

    >For Christ’s Fame<

  2. “Phil Johnson wrote a lucid article in” is a bit like saying “Eric Clapton did a good job playing the guitar in,” or “Meryl Streep did a pretty good job acting in,” or “Handel wrote a pretty nice song in….”

    It’s what he does!

    (c;

    Proving that you can be a friend and a fanboy,
    d