The Other Side of Calvinism

Rating:
Summary: Can anybody take a step back?
Review: I've been studying trying figure out my beliefs on predestination. It's obvious that scripture teaches that God predestined us to something (at this point I believe to salvation). I'm slowly leaning towards what I believe Calvin preached. What started my intrigue into the subject was the question, "If God is completely soveriegn (which how could anyone argue with that fact), then how can man have any ability to choose?" As I began to study and became obsessed with finding the answer. I read RC Sproul's book Chosen By God, and fell in love with it. It was like he was reading out of head. So I am now to the point "Okay, Calvin, how do your adversaries react to your interpretations?" Only to find out that everyone, though with fluffed feathers, has not written much of anything to refute Calvin. So here's what I need. Whether you are calvinist or arminian doesn't really matter all that much. Have you read any books which are anti-Calvin which deal fairly well with Calvin's points? I saw the The Other Side of Calvinism on a website and it sounded exactly what I was looking for, however most of the calvinists who reviewed it said that it did not accurately portray Calvin's views. The "other side" the arminians, if that is what you want to call them, say the opposite. Do Calvinist know what they believe? Do Arminians?

Is that where the argument becomes stagnent. One side refutes biasly about the other side, and the other side refutes biasly the first side? I'm looking for some scholarly works that have accurately looked at both sides, a book which is respected by calvinists and arminians alike. Is such a book possible? Can a scholar lay each point on the line and say this is what both sides believe, these are the scriptures both sides use, this is how they refute each other? No one will possibly write such a book because no one is brave enough to be as critical about their own beliefs as they are the oposing side.

With that being said... I would like something "Arminian" so that I could hear what the non-calvinist say. Calvinists I would love to hear you recommend a "arminian" book, one that best critiques "calvinist" doctrine. If you could help I would deeply appreciate it. Your Brother in Christ, Sam [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: The definitive work opposing Calvinism.
Review: This book is the definitive work opposing the heretical belief of Calvinism. I currently study under Dr. Vance and in his book, he clearly and correctly defines the all beliefs contained in Calvinism. In this book Vance presents the Biblical arguments necessary to totally refute Calvinism. It is hard reading, however, any person who is interested in learning the truth about Calvinism and equipping himself or herself to refute it, will not be disappointed. I definitely encourage anyone who is studying Calvinism to read this book!

Rating:
Summary: Thank you
Review: Thank you Dr. Vance, for a book that is not afraid to call out heretics by name (II Tim. 2:17 & 4:14)... finally.

Rating:
Summary: HERESY EXPOSED!
Review: I have not much time, but, I must say any Calvinist who has read this book, and is still a Calvinist is just willfully rejecting the truth of God's word.

Rating:
Summary: The other side of "Arminianism"
Review: It's obvious that the anti-scriptural calvinists that are rating this book have never read it. Calling Dr. Vance an Arminian is just plain stupid. I know it helps the cause of calvinism to make this split, and put all into either "Calvinism" or "Arminianism" but there IS a middle ground: BIBLE-BELIEVER! This is the only book on calvinism (pro or anti) that really deals with what the bible says, and in the right context. Glory be to God for a book that exposes a church-killing heresy!

Rating:
Summary: A waste of time
Review: As one who has been an arminian and who is now a calvinist, I read this book with much interest. Truth is THE important issue. Not labels. The very size of the book lead me to think that the author had possibly done his homework. What I found amazed me. The author continually misrepresented the true positions of calvinism and quoted many sources that were inferior. He never fully delt with the arguments brought out in Jonathan Edwards' "Freedom of the Will" and many times quoted an author for just a sentence or two and completely took the quote out of context. Also, he would quote a bible verse and not even discuss the calvinist's interpetation. He seems to have a problem with God being soverign even though he states that he believes in the soverignty of God. He also attributes some things to mere "chance". Even most arminian scholars disagree with that. Overall, this book does little for the thinking arminian to further his cause.

Rating:
Summary: Merciless! (And I LIKE that!)
Review: You say this book won't serve as ammo against the fleshly logic and "evangelical correctness" of doctrinaire Calvinism? HA! I have shown these arguements to two articulate and over-educated "defenders of sovreign Grace" and their responses have demonstrated otherwise, to say the least! One will no longer speak to me (odd, since he used to love baiting me at every chance) and the other literally-- LITERALLY-- shook with rage by end of our first discussion (and he teaches at a Baptist Bible college! )

The truth is this: Vance has tapped into something so simple it plum amazes me! Calvinism IS logical, DOES make sense to man's finite mind, and answers virtually ALL comers with tidy precision. And THIS is exactly why a New Testament Christian should AVOID it like the plague! It feeds the mind and stifles the soul. I agree with Vance that Calvinism has hurt the Church's mission-- he is simply TOO correct about this. In my experience, every bird that ever "refuted" my contention that Calvinists invariably lose their zeal for winning souls to Christ was also a NOTORIOUS slacker in personal evangelistic work. ("By their fruits...") Vance shows no mercy, and he is simply correct.

Especially good is Vance's section on "Calvinism and the Baptists," which, to me at least, was LONG-awaited.

I praise God for you, Vance, and pray your book finds many hands! Amen!

Rating:
Summary: The Other Side of Vance
Review: I find it truly amazing that some people laud this book as a sound work of theology. I wonder if they have truly read through all of the 700+ pages, or if they are simply giving it the thumbs up because of personal prejudicial conjectures toward Calvinism. In my opinion, you can only praise this book, unless you agree with Vance's theology. To the average layperson, Vance's theology might seem sound, but to one more knowledgeable, it is certainly dangerous. Vance's system boils down to synergism (regeneration is in cooperation with man), which implies a grace which cannot stand alone (see page 523), and antinomianism. Although Vance denies the antinomian charge, he fails to prove why he isn't. According to Vance, a sinner doesn't necessarily have to make Christ the Lord of his life at the time he believes on Jesus Christ for salvation (see pages 577-586). After reading this book, I am convinced Vance does not understand Reformed theology or Christian theology in general. If you're looking for book as ammo against Calvinism, this surely isn't it. Don't waste your time on this one.

Rating:
Summary: The OTHER side of "The Other Side of Calvinism."
Review: I was quite intimidated by the size and impressive bibliography of this book when I first saw it. I had never seen a critique of Calvinism this large. I thought this might finally be a book that would cause me to seriously rethink my Calvinism. However, after reading his entire theological argument against Calvinism, and carefully thinking about several of his points, I am an unrepentant Calvinist, and I offer the following critiques of his argument. 1. Dr. Vance lists and quotes from several books that he never refutes. 2. He allows his Dispensationalism to get in the way of his interpretation very often. For many good resources on Dispensationalism, see the bibliography in "Dispensationalism, Rightly Dividing the People of God?" by Mathison. (as well as the book itself.) 3. Many of Dr. Vance1s arguments are purely ad hominem. He appeals to the personal bias of the reader and just labels an idea with an "of course this is wrong2 sticker. 4. His exposition is truly awful. I say that sincerelly. For good Calvinist exposition, see any good Reformed commentaries in the last 200 years.(Especially Hodge) And see "The Cause of God and Truth" by John Gill. 5. He is not very scholarly in his refutation. He merely states what a Calvinist says in general about a certain text, but does not list the Calvinists arguments to prove his assertion. Of course a Calvinist would say that such and such a text teaches unconditional election, but what are his arguments to prove it? Vance does not grace us with that information. And believe me, it is not because it doesn1t exist. 6. Vance also builds straw men arguments and then blows them up. 7. Vance acts like two Calvinists disagreeing shows how contradictory the system is. Well, of course no one agrees on every jot and tittle. The question is, does the scripture as a whole teach Calvinism? To this, all Calvinists are unified in saying 3Absolutely!2 8. Sometimes Vance states what a Calvinists believes and then does not refute it. He merely assumes is to be wrong and then goes on. 9. There is absolutely no spirit of Christ in this book. It is truly the most offensive and sharp piece I have ever read. 10. Vance often uses very poor logic. Such is the case in statements like the following which is supposed to be an argument against regeneration before faith... 3What happens if a man dies after he is regenerated but before he believes on Christ?2 I simply can1t believe Vance is being that illogical. If God ordains all things, including the day of your death, is He going to ordain your death inbetween regeneration and faith? That1s just rediculous. Vance gets so illogical in this book that he, at one point, sounded as if he was saying that God1s omniscience was inconsistent with Calvinism. I couldn1t even follow the argument. 11. I feel Vance was very dishonest. If he has read all those books, I don1t see how he could have still argued what he did. 12. Vance also acts like being a Calvinist is the same as being a stupid fool. He overlooks the fact that Calvinism has claimed some of the greatest minds in all of history. Does he think these men were so stupid as to not think through the issues as much as he? (Edwards, Owen, Luther?) 13. Vance sometimes quotes an Arminian, and then a Calvinist and says they are saying the same thing, and takes no time to prove it. Overall, I found this book to be very weak in scholarship. This is the worst book I have read to date on Calvinism. Many stones were unturned, and he did not list the good Calvinist arguments. There was also suprisingly almost no appeal to biblical Greek or Hebrew. The flaws are endless. As for books refuting his ideas, consider the following. For books on unconditional election see 3The Sovereignty of God2 by Pink, 3Predestination2 by Clark, 3Calvinism and Evangelical Arminianism2 by Girardeau, etc. For books on total depravity, see 3The Bondage of the Will2 by Luther and 3Our Accountability to God2 by Pink and 3Original Sin2 by Edwards. For books on limited atonement see 3The Death of Death in the Death of Christ2 by John Owen, and 3The Satisfaction of Christ2 by Pink. Also, to correct a flaw in Vance1s thought. Calvinists do not confuse the accomplishment of the atonement with it1s application. They merely state that there is never one without the other. See 3Redemption Accomplished and Applied2 by Murray. For books on Irresistable Grace, see books on Calvinism in general and the works of the Puritans. See for the perseverance of the saints 3The Perseverance of the Saints2 by John Owen. For books that show the philisophical problems with non-Calvinism, see 3Religion, Reason, and Revelation2 by Clark, 3The Freedom of the Will2 by Jonathan Edwards, and 3No Place for Sovereignty2 by Wright. For the issue of evangelism see 3Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God2 by Packer. As far as prayer, see Pink1s works on prayer. It1s simple. If God ordains all things, He ordains prayer as well as His response to them. For general works on Calvinism see 3The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination2 by Boettner, 3The Grace and God and the Bondage of the Will2 edited by Ware, and 3The Cause of God and Truth2 by Gill. And for the practical side of Calvinism, see 3Putting Amazing Back into Grace2 by Horton and the many statements in the above books. I plead with all my non-Calvinist brethren to read these titles prayerfully. I promise you, Vance did not refute them, though he may have listed them. I would encourage all to read the verses Vance tackles with an open mind. See if his interpretation really does holds water against the sense that the Calvinist would ascribe to them. May God grant His church the truth.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent work exposing Calvinism for the heresy it is
Review: This is a Biblical effort to expose Calvinism. Personally, I am surprised by the few who say it isn't scholarly. It makes me wonder if they might be Calvinists themselves Vance allows the Bible to take Calvinism apart piece by piece. Dr. Vance has done the body of Christ a great service by giving us this excellent work.