This Week in Calvinism - January 18, 2013

• It's always interesting (and sad) to hear atheists decry Christian and Calvinist beliefs as evil and yet never hear an explanation of how they account for things like good and evil or how they can tell the difference between the two.
  
  
• T. C. Moore writes:

  Theology changes the way people live—for better or for worse.

  Can't argue with that.
  

  Good theology leads people to live worshipful lives of discipleship (following Jesus).

  Agreed.
  

  Bad theology leads people to worship idols of power.

  Yes, it does.
  

  Calvinism is therefore bad theology.

  Absolu... Wait. What?
  
  
• Moore also goes on to say that the "Calvinist conceptions of power as control and special chosen-ness are directly responsible for centuries of racial injustice and oppression." Another T. C., T. C. Robinson, responds.
  
  
• How do you refute the Calvinist doctrine of total depravity taught in Romans 3:10-11? Simply claim Paul is using hyperbole.
  
  
• It's much easier to make the case that Calvinism teaches that "humans are nothing more than God's actors on God's stage performing their lines and given roles" if you refrain from using any scripture to support your position.
  
  
• Larry E. Ball warns, "Calvinism which is first of all a theology of grace is also a theology of sovereignty. Only God himself is sovereign, not man or the politics of man. This is a threat to the autonomy of modern man in modern America. ... Look out, Calvinists; if persecution comes to the Church, it may very well begin with you."