To all the vociferous evangelical critics of Calvinism, I understand that you don’t like the doctrine, that it offends your sense of fairness, justice, or personal autonomy. I get that (though I think you are misreading the Bible on these points).
People of good will can and do read the Scriptures differently, and we can learn from one another. I understand that Calvin and his followers were far from perfect (and that some Calvinists in our day have acted arrogantly), but perhaps you should look in the mirror, too.
Please don’t dismiss Calvinist Christians as heretics or as those who ignore God’s clear Word. Though we are a minority, we are mainstream in Christendom. Don’t you realize that you are biting the hand that feeds you? Without us, don’t you see that there likely would have been no Reformation?
This is the doctrine that stood up to the abuses of Rome and put God, not man, back at the center. Without Calvinism, you likely would still be paying obeisance to an unreformed, utterly corrupt Roman Catholic Church. That may be fine for some people, but not for you. You grasp all this, right?
Now, if we must, let’s agree to disagree … and get back to work.
