Sometimes we talk too much about Calvinism.
The doctrines of grace are important – God has saved each of us, absolutely, undeservedly – our faith is not of ourselves, but of God. We get it.
But how often do we reformed folk talk about God’s deep, genuine desire to see all repent and come to the knowledge of the truth? Consider these words:
“Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” – Ezekiel 18:23
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9:
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:4:
Intellectually, we distinguish between God’s “Moral Will” or “Revealed Will” and his “Sovereign Will” or “Mysterious Will.” But think about those terms for a moment.
If God’s moral, revealed will is that no one should perish, but all should come to a saving knowledge of the truth – shouldn’t this be the aspect of God’s will we spend our time reflecting on? While it’s true that God sovereignly chooses who will experience this grace, is this really worth as much time and meditation as we’ve put into it?
Let me illustrate. God says in Malachi 2:16: “I hate divorce”.
Now, it’s true that God allows divorce in accordance with His sovereign Will. Every divorce that occurs does not thwart God’s Divine plan, and He will use it all for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. Although the divorcees mean it for evil, God means it for good.
But are these really the truths about divorce God wants us to dwell on the most? Yes, they’re important. But the most important thing that we humans are to know about divorce is this:
God hates it.
I would argue that’s more important a truth to base our lives on than the fact that God allows it.
So yes, God has ordained that I be saved, and that humbles me and makes me in awe of God. But I also have to recognize that this is a theological truth, not a moral imperative. The truth that “God desires that none should perish and all should come to a saving knowledge of the truth” is not just theological – it’s moral.
In other words, God has revealed to us that He is allowed to sovereignly will that some perish, and some be saved. But are we allowed to will that?
Absolutely not. as St. Augustine has said: “There’s a world of difference between what God is allowed to will and what we are allowed to will.”
So if we’re apathetic about the salvation of anyone, then we’re not just theologically incorrect. We’re in sin. If my brother is divorcing his wife and I shrug my shoulders and say, “Well, it’s all in God’s sovereign plan”, I’m in sin, because the most important truth in that moment is this: “God hates divorce,” not “God allows divorce”.
Now if I’m vexed over my brother’s divorce, I need the truth that God allows divorce to comfort me – but the doctrines of grace have to come as a healing balm to a heart already anxious for God’s glory, not as an anesthetic. God’s moral will, in other words, is always primary, and His Secret will his always secondary to our meditation.
The doctrines of grace are beautiful, life changing, and important. But if we lose sight of the God who wept over his people Israel, and excuse ourselves from doing the same, we’re talking and thinking too much about Calvinism.
godstory.wordpress.com 
“So if we’re apathetic about the salvation of anyone, then we’re not just theologically incorrect. We’re in sin.” Great point, Nick. Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller) is an avowed atheist who has given one of the most insightful statements on this I’ve ever read from a peson without the Holy Spirit. He said, “I love the fact that there are people that talk to me after the show and pray for me and give me Bibles. I never understand the atheists that say it’s [Christianity’s] OK as long as they shut up. They [Christians] believe that there is eternal life. They believe you can be saved. What could be more hateful than shutting up?” Another good point.
Tim
P.S. On “the divorcees mean it for evil” – I don’t think every divorce is meant for evil, at least not by both parties. A person who is the victim of infidelity, abuse, or impoverishing abandonment may need a divorce in order to get out of a poisonous relationship or to be able to protect children. God still hates the divorce and what led to it, but I wouldn’t say that each and every divorcee means evil in pursuing a divorce.
I went to a women’s retreat a couple years ago thru church and the main speaker touted her mantra, “Oh well”. She would say that if “such n such” happened, “oh, well”. “If your parents, brother, friend, etc. never got saved, “oh, well”. “All that bad stuff that happened in your life: oh, well”. Because God is sovereign and none of it matters. Besides the fact that none of it matters, it was all his will / desire. It was so troublesome. A young woman was there crying her eyes out and asked out loud, “You mean all that *stuff* that happened when I was young was God’s plan for me?” The speaker, “Yep.” No compassion, nothing. It was heartbreaking to watch. I think one of the dangers of Calvinism is misunderstanding God’s desire for God’s will. Maybe that is hyper-Calvinism? Not sure.
It smacks of the brand of hyper-Calvinism I’ve seen, that’s for sure Susan. It also makes me want to smack a hyper-Calvinist, but I refrain.
Tim
Great point, Tim. Yeah, Susan, you’re correct – that’s hyper-calvinism at it’s worst. I think hyper-calvinism is what most non-Calvinists think Calvinists mean when they talk about the doctrines of grace. It’s pretty discerning of you to see the difference.
Thanks for sharing that story – I’ll use it as an illustration in the future.
Blessings, Nick
“But how often do we reformed folk talk about God’s deep, genuine desire to see all repent and come to the knowledge of the truth? Consider these words:”
What, have you forgotten that in Calvinism about 95% of the Bible is dismissed as lies told to accommodate to the stupid. Calvinists mock (nay even condemn as heretics) anyone who takes the Bible literally when it talks about Stephen seeing Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Saith the Calvinist: “Only a fool would believe that God has eyes, or hands, or feet, or a butt, or that he can sit on a throne.” Quote the Calvinists that all throughout his burning in hell, it will not make it true! Calvinists routinely deny everything the Bible says. If the Bible says God gets angry with sin, the Calvinist says “God has no emotions.” If the Bible says God demands repentance, the Calvinist says “no he doesn’t.” If the Bible says “be baptized for the remission of sins” the Calvinist says “baptism has nothing to do with the remissions of sins.” If the Bible says “God so loved the world” the Calvinist says “No, he only loves the elect.” If the Bible says “Esau I have hated and laid his mountains bare” the Calvinist says “Esau I have hated and condemned to hell for all eternity.” If the Bible says “a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things” the Calvinist says “no man can be good.” If the Bible says “God sends the rain on the righteous and unrighteous” the Calvinist says “there are no righteous.” If the Bible says “We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the things we did in the body, whether good or bad” the Calvinist says “there is no judgment based on works, and no temporal or proportional punishments for the sins of the saved.” In short, whatever the Bible says, the Calvinist denies and it and says the opposite 95% of the time.
Greg Dutcher just wrote a book, Killing Calvinism, that addresses some of the ways that our own sin can hurt a perfectly good doctrine. Your article is another reminder of that!