Calvinism's TULIP pt. 1
So begins my very basic walk thru the five-points of Calvinism. I hope to share, in very abbreviated form, the thoughts behind each of the points and then to discuss some of the implications of those beliefs on everyday faith and life. First, the 'T'.
The first letter of the acrostic TULIP refers to 'Total Depravity'.
Calvinists believe that the Bible teaches that human beings, apart from God's intervention, are by nature not inclined to love God or to seek Him, but are rather inclined to pursue their own interests and to reject God. In other words, humanity is 'totally depraved'.
Those who oppose this view would argue that human beings can, of their own free-will, choose to seek and to love God.
Someone once used a little illustration to explain it that goes like this: A man is laying at the bottom of a drinking well. The man is 'dead'. In other words, if someone were to lower a ladder to him, he cannot grab hold of it and climb out. He is dead. You can lower ladders, ropes or paramedics to him... he's completely unable to respond. This illustrates the view of Total Depravity. The man represents (here's a big theological word for you) 'unregenerate' man. In other words, man before coming to faith, or however you want to phrase it. The ladder represents the gospel being offered to him. So, in the picture, the man cannot choose to receive the gospel because he is spiritually dead. What, then, would it take for the dead man in the well to be rescued? First he must be regenerated, or made alive again. So the Total Depravity view says that man cannot choose to accept the gospel until God first does a regenerating work in his heart. Get it?
The opposing view would have the man in the well crippled, not dead. Those who oppose Total Depravity would likely agree that God needs to do a work first - but they would view that first work of God as the 'lowering of the ladder' in the above illustration. They see man as crippled in that well, so unable to crawl out on his own, yet capable of making a choice to 'grab the ladder'. Or in other words, to accept (or reject) the gospel of their own free will as it is offered.
A good Calvinist would point to a number of Bible passages, including Genesis 6:5, Jeremiah 13:23, John 6:44, Romans 3:10-11 & 8:7-9, 1 Cor. 2:14, and Ephesians 2:3.
So chew on it a bit. I'll have a bit more to offer on Total Depravity later and then we'll move on to the 'U'.
The first letter of the acrostic TULIP refers to 'Total Depravity'.
Calvinists believe that the Bible teaches that human beings, apart from God's intervention, are by nature not inclined to love God or to seek Him, but are rather inclined to pursue their own interests and to reject God. In other words, humanity is 'totally depraved'.
Those who oppose this view would argue that human beings can, of their own free-will, choose to seek and to love God.
Someone once used a little illustration to explain it that goes like this: A man is laying at the bottom of a drinking well. The man is 'dead'. In other words, if someone were to lower a ladder to him, he cannot grab hold of it and climb out. He is dead. You can lower ladders, ropes or paramedics to him... he's completely unable to respond. This illustrates the view of Total Depravity. The man represents (here's a big theological word for you) 'unregenerate' man. In other words, man before coming to faith, or however you want to phrase it. The ladder represents the gospel being offered to him. So, in the picture, the man cannot choose to receive the gospel because he is spiritually dead. What, then, would it take for the dead man in the well to be rescued? First he must be regenerated, or made alive again. So the Total Depravity view says that man cannot choose to accept the gospel until God first does a regenerating work in his heart. Get it?
The opposing view would have the man in the well crippled, not dead. Those who oppose Total Depravity would likely agree that God needs to do a work first - but they would view that first work of God as the 'lowering of the ladder' in the above illustration. They see man as crippled in that well, so unable to crawl out on his own, yet capable of making a choice to 'grab the ladder'. Or in other words, to accept (or reject) the gospel of their own free will as it is offered.
A good Calvinist would point to a number of Bible passages, including Genesis 6:5, Jeremiah 13:23, John 6:44, Romans 3:10-11 & 8:7-9, 1 Cor. 2:14, and Ephesians 2:3.
So chew on it a bit. I'll have a bit more to offer on Total Depravity later and then we'll move on to the 'U'.
Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon, Calvinism, Total Depravity
3 Comments:
I seriously don't understand how people don't believe in total depravity. Good explanation of it... Mike Beates always teaches it as "being dead on the ocean floor with your eyes X-ed out.... you're dead" And then he draws a stick-figure on the board with Xs for eyes... Boxerman did that, too.
Ah Boxerman... my first real teacher of reformed theology... :)
By LeAnne, at 9/22/2006 2:18 PM
Awesome, Pastor Darin!
I like your "Arminian Advisory" button, mind if I steal it from your blog?
You might check the "walk" through the points at my blog. My commentary isn't nearly as good as yours, but I have compiled a boatload of Scripture on each of the 5 points.
I struggle with the Atonement (I know, bad Reformed Christian). I believe in a hybrid position, that Christ died for all men (potentially), yet atoned only for the Elect (actually). For now I call it Efficient Atonement, basically that the atonement was sufficient for all and efficient for the Elect.
Anyway, sorry to get ahead of you on this topic - I look forward to reading more of your writings...
Scott
By Anonymous, at 9/26/2006 2:40 PM
Hey Scott, thanks for the comment and the encouragement. I looked over your blog today - you've got some great stuff there on these issues. I'll send some folks that direction as we continue the discussion. Keep up the good work! Email me at dshaw@ccnh.org and I'll send you the Arminian Advisory label we made.
Leanne, I remember the x'd out eyes! Another one for our t-shirt line. Thanks for the shout from Bosnia... maybe we can be community for you for a time until God replenishes the field for you!
By Darin, at 9/26/2006 11:40 PM
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