If You Used To Be A Calvinist ...

I realized Calvinism is a philosophy, not a proper theology. Calvin was a lawyer turned theologian. His ideas were too much influenced by his education (which is natural).

The reason I changed my view is God led me away from it. I had preached a sermon of the cross. The next morning God convicted me that I had moved from Scripture to philosophy. The exact reason was Penal Substitution Theory. This was Calvin's understanding and the basis of Calvinism.

I purchased a couple of dry erase boards and hung in my office. I wrote down my beliefs with the corresponding passages. I erased passages that did not support those beliefs (did not support them without adding my own philosophy). I was left with no passages on the board.

I believe God's Word is what is written in Scripture. Therefore I had to come to terms with the fact that Calvinism was not biblical.

 

I will do this -

I have found that as the Spirit guides we change our "theologies". I became a Calvinist because I realized that my doctrine relied too heavily on man in terms of redemption. So Calvinism served to correct one error and bring me closer to a biblical view. But I could not remain there any more than I could have remained where I was prior to Calvinism once I understood the error.

As Christians we grow in the Spirit and we grow in knowing God. Young Calvinists often move past Calvinism as they mature. Old Calvinists normally stick to Calvinism as if it were the gospel itself.

There is a time with many that true growth ends. This is often related to physical age and just how long one has leaned on their understanding (how invested they are in their traditions).

We now see a movement within Calvinism (within Reformed Churches) to arrive at a more biblical view of the cross. I do not know how this will look but at least they have identified a problem with Calvinism.

 

There are two reasons I was persuaded. First was a conviction by God that I was not leaning on His Word but my own understanding. This drove me back to Scripture. But the second was a lack of Scripture supporting Calvinism.

What persuaded me was the realization there were no actual passages (biblical text) supporting Penal Substitution Theory as held by Calvinism.

I need to be clear here. I do believe everything is predestined. I did not go from Calvinism to Arminianism.